Re: Cementary Plants now Cemetary irises

In a message dated 98-04-07 09:53:09 EDT, you write:

<<  C e m e t e r y  is the correct spelling, though a lot of people
 in the South (TX included) say cem-en-tar-y.  When  irises bloom in the
 cementaries, we take pitchers with our camrys.>>

While wearing trousers made of calvary twill.

All this brings to mind the opening chapter of Shirley Abbott's fine memoir
"Womenfolks: Growing up down South", in which she observes "Like any properly
brought up Southern girl. I used to spend a lot of time in graveyards." This
is a good book about the rural south, and by implication, about some of those
folks who were planting the cemetery irises, continuing a tradition that we
are told started with the warriors of Islam who planted them on the graves of
their fallen companions. It has been observed in rose literature that, in this
country, and in the previous century especially, roses were a favorite
ornament for women's graves, especially mothers. I wonder if irises were
originally mostly on male graves.

Anner Whitehead, Richmond,VA
Henry Hall Henryanner@aol.com
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