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| Matthew Keith Griffin |
Keith and I were both home on leave at the same time during the summer of 1992, something that rarely happened. I was serving in the Army, Keith in the Air Force. We've both since retired from the military, but during that two-week period it was like going back in time.
We were young boys again, riding the back country roads together, enjoying Momma's home cooking. It was during that time Keith decided we "needed" to catch a mess of Shellcrackers, a great tasting pan fish usually found in the river swamp's deep water slews.
Keith had remembered catching Shellcrackers with Charlie, Yvonne's youngest brother, in a deep slew near the Double Yellow Bluff. Those slews were always full of fish whenever the Altamaha River overflowed its banks. So we rigged up several cane poles, bought a basket full of crickets, and headed for the river swamp.
The River Swamp
Keith had remembered catching Shellcrackers with Charlie, Yvonne's youngest brother, in a deep slew near the Double Yellow Bluff. Those slews were always full of fish whenever the Altamaha River overflowed its banks. So we rigged up several cane poles, bought a basket full of crickets, and headed for the river swamp.
We were still slogging through muddy water when we crossed one of the many small ridges found in the swamp. Huge White Oaks and old bald Cypress trees were scattered across this one particular ridge. I don't believe it had ever been logged before.
Near the center of that ridge was a small grove of trees, more like bushes. They were covered with dark green leaves and full of slightly cupped white flowers, very sweet-smelling flowers. We admired those flowers for a few moments, then moved on.
We caught a lot of fish that day, but never thought about those white flowers again until a few years later. We were both home on leave again when the Ludowici News ran an article about a flower discovered in 1765 near the Altamaha River by American Botanists John and William Bertram. They named the flower Franklinia Altamaha, in honor of John Bertram's great friend, Benjamin Franklin.
Little White Flowers
Near the center of that ridge was a small grove of trees, more like bushes. They were covered with dark green leaves and full of slightly cupped white flowers, very sweet-smelling flowers. We admired those flowers for a few moments, then moved on.We caught a lot of fish that day, but never thought about those white flowers again until a few years later. We were both home on leave again when the Ludowici News ran an article about a flower discovered in 1765 near the Altamaha River by American Botanists John and William Bertram. They named the flower Franklinia Altamaha, in honor of John Bertram's great friend, Benjamin Franklin.
We were very familiar with the name. For many years, the main restaurant in town was named the Franklinia. According to the article, the white, sweet smelling flower was never seen again in the wild after 1803.
Then it Hit Us Like a Train
Keith and I immediately recognized the picture in the paper, it was the same white flower we found several years earlier when fishing for Shellcrackers.
We quickly drove to Kendrick's Camp and headed into the swamps. It took about an hour, but we finally found the ridge. We were stunned...there was nothing left but rotting stumps and small clumps of palmettos. The loggers had clear-cut the place.
The mood heading back to Momma's house was a bit somber. Although neither one of us were botanists, we both felt the loss. We'll never be able to prove it, but Keith and I may have rediscovered the sweet-smelling Franklinia Altamaha, last seen in the wild in 1803.
Mike's Tip: It's not always the destination that creates the best memories. Sometimes the journey can be just as sweet. Take time to stop and smell the flowers.
Mike Griffin, an old Ludowici boy from way back.
PS - All of my stories are true, mostly true or maybe just made up :)
The mood heading back to Momma's house was a bit somber. Although neither one of us were botanists, we both felt the loss. We'll never be able to prove it, but Keith and I may have rediscovered the sweet-smelling Franklinia Altamaha, last seen in the wild in 1803.
Mike's Tip: It's not always the destination that creates the best memories. Sometimes the journey can be just as sweet. Take time to stop and smell the flowers.
Mike Griffin, an old Ludowici boy from way back.
PS - All of my stories are true, mostly true or maybe just made up :)
1 comment:
Mike... Have enjoyed reading your blog. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to future blogs!!!!!
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