Gardenias

Blog #6 

      Last weekend some dear friends went to a restaurant in the Short North area of Columbus called "Haiku: Poetic Food and Art". This was an amazing Japanese/Asian Restaurant. The dishes were well-seasoned, tasty and creative. They had squares of paper for the writing of a 17 syllable haiku poem by any patron who wished to participate and a melodic jazz trio with a sultry singer that performed throughout the evening.  The inside of this restaurant was great, but the outside was better. 

      They had a beautiful fountain and numerous trellises filled with colorful flowers. (At least half of the seating was outdoors, but the website of the restaurant did not even mention that.)  Then, the surprise of the evening occurred on our way out.  We discovered a trellis with pristine, delicate, live gardenias. Their color is the richest, porcelain color of white, which stands out against their deep green shiny leaves. They are the world’s most beautiful smelling flower, in my very biased opinion. 

      Gardenias are native to China and Japan.  In the United States (especially in Ohio), they have a reputation of being hard to grow indoors and outdoors.  They do not stand neglect like some other flowers do. Of course, something so exquisite would be temperamental!

      I remember my father used to give my mother a gardenia corsage when they were going to a dinner/dance.   I remember how radiant she looked in her beautiful black cocktail dress or rich-colored formal gown and the sparkle in her eyes when she wore the gardenia.  When the corsage was brought home, it was returned to the clear plastic bag and the pin was put on the bottom end of the bag.  I used to go to the refrigerator often to see and smell the gardenia.  

      Then, in a few days, my mother’s gardenia would die.  Part of the beauty and charm of such an exquisite gift is that it is temporary.  This temporariness makes it something romantic and extravagant; because of. and in spite of. the fact that its beauty will quickly fade.

      Only a few times in my life in Columbus have I seen a pot or planter of live gardenias. This was my favorite part of the Haiku Restaurant, finding and cherishing the gardenias.  I have been thinking about gardenias all week!