And s-t-i-t-c-h-i-n-g right along...here we have the next in the State Flower Quilt series, popularly known as the "trumpet flower" (as well as a host of other names). It has been added to the growing number of finished blocks--number 24 in fact, and that means we are nearly reaching the halfway mark. This block went quick with just two colors, and may seem dull in comparison to some of the other blocks, with more going on, but the simplicity and single shot of yellow is the perfect counterpoint to the pinks, purples, and blues around it. Colors I used were golden yellow DMC #3822; stems and leaves #3349; with four strands throughout, with the exception of lettering which was 3 strands.
The yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) was designated the official state flower of South Carolina on February 1, 1924, not only for it's fragrance and beauty, but because it is indigenous to every nook and cranny of the state. It is said, "that its delicate flower suggests the pureness of gold; it's perpetual return out of the dead winter suggests the lesson of constancy, in loyalty to and patriotism in the service of the State." (This is an actual quote from the SC legislature). Over a hundred years ago, Mrs. Teresa Strickland of Anderson, SC penned it this way in a poem she wrote for the Dixie Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy--since disbanded, entitled Legend of the Yellow Jasmine:
"No flower that blooms holds such perfume,
As kindness and sympathy won.
Wherever there grows the sheltering pine,
Is clinging a Yellow Jessamine Vine."
The fragrance is beyond compare--the essential oils are used by the perfume industry because it's difficult to reproduce synthetically. But all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous, especially to livestock if eaten. Preparations made from the roots and rhizomes have been used as a central nervous-system depresssant, febrifuge, anodyne, and antispasmodic. The spring blossoms, however, are a source of nectar for butterflies, and deer often browse on the vegetation for food without ill effect. Knowing deer, I am guessing they only nibble the sweet nectar filled flowers. The jessamine grows in other regions as well, from the coastal plains, Virginia to South Florida, and west into Arkansas and Texas.
I am again, streamlining the flower block posts to save time from gathering links, etc. You can find the South Carolina--Yellow Jessamine block and pattern here. (For more general info about the project---click on the State Flower Quilt Project link in the side bar.)
OK...onward we march to Wisconsin! Number 25--halfway home!! Woot!
Oh, that one is really pretty. I don't recall ever having smelled the scent of that flower before. I'll have to mention it to my step-mom, as she lived in North Carolina for a long time, and I would imagine that it grows there too. Anyhow, I know she's been over the state line a few times. She used to be rather wild in her youth, and loved racing cars. Back in those days, I guess it was popular to outrace the police, or State Patrol over the border. Don't ask. I come from a family of bootleggers, or so I've been told. It's probably best not to go there!
Posted by: Account Deleted | February 18, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Such a pretty name for that flower. I'm not sure that I'm doing the right thing to save these from your Flickr account. I'll have to do some reading to see. Wow...just 25 more to go! That's so cool. (I've only done my own state.)
Posted by: Vee | February 19, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Thank you for these blocks. However, the Flickr site states "The owner has disabled downloading of their photos." I am not sure now how to download the image. Sorry! May I kindly ask what to do to obtain the download? Thank you and good evening.
Posted by: Mairzie | February 21, 2011 at 06:30 PM
Wowee, that is quite the project! It is going to be absolutely amazing when it is done!
Posted by: Chase Clark l Oh the Cuteness! | February 22, 2011 at 03:46 PM
As a South Carolinian, thank you for doing justice to this beautiful vine. The flowers are the same vibrant yellow as forsythia -- just beautiful. And the vine itself has a very woody stem. It is not at all delicate. It climbs everything! You did such a lovely job on this. Thank you!
Posted by: Chris | February 23, 2011 at 04:44 AM
It is so nice of you to tell about the state flowers after doing all of the work to embroider, photo, and load them, plus making the patterns accessible. I am excited about seeing WI where I live.
ps. Baby Henry is adorable.
Posted by: Mom Wald | February 23, 2011 at 02:23 PM
I've discovered that there were "browser issues" for some, so that not everyone was able to download the patterns.
Changes have been made on flickr so that this shouldn't be a problem any longer.
Enjoy!
~V.
Posted by: vicki haninger | February 24, 2011 at 07:05 AM
I have got to copy this pattern for my mother because of a funny story about her yellow jasmine. Well, it's funny now but it wasn't when it happened. My father had passed away and I was walking around my parent's home and saw waht I thought was honeysuckle growing on my dad's windmill. So, being a thoughtful daughter, I pulled all of this nasty 'weed' out. I was so proud of myself until my mother told me it was her yellow jasmine that she had been training to climb the windmill! She won't let me forget it either!
Posted by: Charlotte | February 27, 2011 at 05:55 AM