Chinese Version
10-05-2020, A Monday

In 2017, I captured many photos of morning glories, from August’s Almaden Valley, October’s Filoli Garden, November’s Beijing countryside, and December’s Beijing Fengtai home. The blooming morning glories in 2017 witnessed the journey of my mother’s declining health. Especially from October to December, within two months, my mother went from walking-and-smiling to having difficulty swallowing, which made me see clearly: “life becomes even more fragile in late stage.”

10-30-2017, my mother and my aunt holding hands while walking together happily

12-14-2017, my aunt feeds my mother who had difficulty swallowing smoothies, my mother worked hard to swallow the food.

In 2020

There is a 2 x 1 meter (width x height) white fence in front of our Waltham home.

This year, due to the quarantine, I could not go anywhere. But I wanted to have fully blooming morning glories against the white fence in the hot summer to remember my late mother (10-25-1928 – 05-02-2018). So I planted some morning glories in May.

When the weather was getting warm, I watched my morning glory ivy crawl up the white fence, I thought my morning glories will bloom in August. Now September is already gone, just like a popular song: “Looking at it three times a day, watching it missing its blooming.”

In October 2020, the morning glory on the white fence finally showed buds. I am looking forward to seeing blooming morning glories. It is a good feeling filled with sweet wishes. You love the flower, so the flower brings you happiness (人爱花，花悦人).

The tender feeling towards morning glories let me recall my mother’s longing for life along with time’s harsh effects on her late life.

The love of flowers, beautiful and simple, causes time to stop, creating enchantment. I am very thankful to my mother who taught me one of the biggest joys in life: the love of flowers.

Little Episodes

Almaden Valley in 08-2017, morning glories on the roadside.

Filoli Garden in 10-2017, morning glories on the wall

11-2017, morning glories in the wild countryside.

The joyful expression of the blooming morning glories.
They are tangled to tomatoes, in an orchard.
They formed a flower wall, in Filoli garden.
They were lovely and brilliant, across the Pacific Ocean.

12-2017, morning glories in home.

Joyful life:
Summer morning glories, blooming in late winter, tender and pretty.
Uneven branch, with buds, rearranged, my father enjoyed the sight.
My aunt fed my mother smoothies, my mother worked hard to swallow, a touching sight.

04-2018, morning glories accompanying my mother while she was watching TV.

10-2020, morning glory buds on the white fence in front of our Waltham home.