Commun ty Matters June 2015
Fulton Presbyterian Manor
How We Spent Our Summers
Fulton Presbyterian Manor residents share memories of summertime.
Fulton Presbyterian Manor resident Helen Epple was born to grow flowers. Master Flower Gardener: Helen Epple
“My mother and my grandma were gardeners. I always said to them, ‘Will you show me?’ and they did. When I got married, I got a book and found out how and where to put them. I put all kinds of flowers in my yard. My husband always brought them in for me. He said, ‘I never go to the store for flowers for you, I just get them in your garden.’ I said that was just fine with me.”
Those good old days of nostalgic summer when the days seemed to never end, there was always a cool breeze in the evening and childhood innocence reigned supreme. Even if we had to help out and work hard, we always found time for a little fun in the sun.
Morris said: “I worked with my dad at the coal mine. He worked in the mine, I did things outside. We raised a garden and worked.”
Evelyn said: “We played in the rocks. We milked the cows in the morning and the evening.”
Chester said: “We played with rocks, sticks and whatever.”
Janette said: “We made covers out of chicken feed mash for our pets when they died. We chased rabbits for farmers. We played in the dirt.”
Woodrow said: “We played in the dirt with the dog hunting for moles. We played in the creek. I got stuck in quicksand once and mama had to come get me out.”
Helen’s tall phlox.
Helen and her husband Vernon were married for 66 years and had six children. She moved into Presbyterian Manor after Vernon passed away four years ago.
“I milked five goats a day before I came here,” said Helen. “I made cheese all the time from my goat milk. I also used to cook everything – cakes, pies and enough noodles for the winter.” But when she wasn’t in the kitchen or caring for their farm animals (including peacocks and chickens), Helen was tending to her flower garden. “I had hibiscus, roses, violets, lilies … all kinds of things,” said Helen. “I had crepe myrtle. And then I had all kinds of annual flowers.” What were her secrets as a master flower gardener?
Born to grow flowers continued on page 4