“Jennifa”, he says in his lovely southern drawl, “I planted these for my granddaughter. I told her I planted them so that when I’m gone, she could enjoy their beauty and remember me. They are called, Autumn Blaze.”
Mr. Whicker, 85 years old this fall, stops in his truck often to talk to me on my walks. He’s a gentleman’s gentleman, a farmer who makes the Energizer Bunny look lazy. He always asks about my family and then tells me of his, how they’re doing, how proud he is of them. I just had to capture these trees he had planted a few years ago.
To gain perspective, the charcoal drawing here might help you a bit. The above drawing is of the area of fence to the LEFT of his driveway up to his house. It is not pictured in the charcoal drawing. But the drawing below, is of the RIGHT of the driveway, you’ll recognize it right away. If you turned around 180 degrees from these views, you would see the Field. It sits as a second front yard, outside his fenced in front yard, and just across Silver Dapple Lane.
I wonder if Mr. Whicker realizes these trees are a gift to more than just his granddaughter. They certainly are a gift to me, and to all who have an eye to enjoy them. I have a couple more of these Autumn Blaze paintings for you…tomorrow…hope to see you then.
Jennifer,
Lovely paintings and story. I checked out you charcoal painting in 2009. Just wonderful.
Seems like you live in a wonderland.
Jane Young (EDM member)
Thank you Jane! Wonderland? That’s a lovely thought. Some mightnot think Kernersville, NC a wonderland. But I think it might be true, that just about anywhere can become beautiful and enchanting if we just have the eyes to see it!
What gorgeous trees! I agree, a gift for more than just his granddaughter!
So nice that you have a friendship with this neighbor. Hope that you showed him these paintings!
Hi Sandra…I haven’t been able to show Mr. Whicker these paintings and drawings yet. Though he did actually purchase the charcoal I had made a couple of years ago. I’d like to assemble them all in a little book for him…wouldn’t that be fun!