DAY of the APHIDS 1982

“Canada day” . (It used to always be called “Dominion Day”, since 1867…just a bit of history there). My mother’s first day of summer in Victoria, B.C. She’d don her train engineer overalls, tie a blue kerchief on her head, grab a mason jar, a paintbrush and head out. 

She’d start with the Nasturtiums, planted in the spring mud, by the steps of the old porch. They grew like weeds. The aphids loved them. 

She'd brush quite a few into the jar, add a nasturtium, and tie the top with a white handkerchief.

We’d watch the little creepy crawlies scuttle back and forth over the flowers.

My mother cut the grass with her old electric mower, and chop wood for the winter. Then we’d pick sweet peas to stuff into her antique pitcher. 

Sweet peas tall as trees, up the side of the house, peeking into the dining room windows. Bees buzzing to and fro; dopey with the  heady scent.

I’d stuff sweet peas into my mother’s antique pitcher. I still use it to this day…

In the afternoon, my mother baked. 

Walnut slice, with chunks of nuts peeking out from sticky centers, piled high on a short bread base, orange icing melting over each piece. A gooey, sweet mess we’d eat with homemade iced tea. Real tea, floating with lemon wedges.

We’d watch the aphids in their jar. They were very organized.

  Then it was time to make Dundee Cake, one loaf for us, one to give away. 

A rich, pound cake made with butter, eggs, sugar, and  raisins with cherries, soaked in hot tea till they were plump. Like fat little aphids. 

When the cake had barely cooled, it was wrapped in a tea towel, and I’d take it next door.  

In the early evening we’d set the open mason jar out on the grass, giving the aphids their freedom. 

They probably went right back to the Nasturtiums….

In the dark, we’d hear fireworks, hidden from our view down at the waterfront. Bursts of sound, car horns blaring, over crickets chirping in the dark warmth.

This year, I will stand outside to see fireworks exploding  over the North Island. With just the crickets, singing long and low, in the deep silence of the night….

 PHOTOGRAPHS 2025  Happy Canada Day!!