Crocus painting by Shelley Ebbett
There are many in the valley who, at this time of year, make it a part of their tradition to walk out on the open prairie, specifically in search of that first crocus. It’s a teaching of connection to the land, an appreciation of nature, and in the case of the Teetaert family of Regina Beach, the crocus provides a unique connection.
As Kristin Teetaert and her son and daughter, Finn and Alice, get ready to head out for a hike, Kristin grabs her camera to record their crocus-hunting afternoon. “We are fortunate that the hill behind our house has several crocus plants that return every year. The most exciting part for me is when I find the first fuzzy buds poking through the dead grass. They seem to come out of nowhere.”
She says, these days, it’s her kids who generally find those first buds. Then she goes out daily to photograph, as the crocus shows its soft colours. It’s because Kristin is not only enjoying the experience with her children, she’s also connecting with her Mom, Shelley Ebbett, who lives thousands of kilometres away. Kristin photographs the blooms, then sends the images to her Mom, who lives in Calgary.
Shelley is a gifted painter who looks forward to recreating the images that her daughter sends. “I get my reference photos for my paintings every spring from Kristin, who often will lay on the cold ground to get that perfect shot for me.” Ebbett says this unique way of capturing and celebrating the coming of spring has been a family affair for years. It’s become a tradition and something she looks forward to, “Sometimes, I think you could describe me as a country girl stuck in a big city. That’s why I ask Kristin ,who has virgin prairie with wildflowers basically in her own backyard, to send me photos of these crocuses. It brings back memories of growing up on my family’s farm by Fulda, Saskatchewan. I remember my sisters and I seeing the first crocuses of the spring on a side hill overlooking a ravine on some nearby farmland of ours.”
Both women agree the small flower is a connection to the past and present. Now that the grandchildren are also looking for the crocus each spring, it is a tradition that is most likely to carry on into the future.
By Carol Rose GoldenEagle
