Wrightia Antidysenterica

Snowflake, Arctic Snow, Winter Cherry Tree, Milky Way....all these names belong to this beautiful white flower and yet, to me, NONE appears suitable. What do you think? I prefer to use its botanical name. A unique name for a unique flower :)
I am dedicating this unique white beauty to all MOTHERS around the world as tomorrow is Mother's Day. If love is as sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love. (Stevie Wonder)
Wrightia A. is a tough plant. Tough to propagate. However, once you get it growing, it flowers all year round. Drought and storms do not bother it. I have had a row of these flowers for 3 years now and I have tried all sorts of way to make them multiply. I finally realize that the probability of it multiplying is about 20%. So the ones that managed to survived, I treasure them with my life :) But....I will go on trying...
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born! Once this flower is birthed, the plant weathers all kind of obstacles and produces beautiful blossoms all year round. Exactly like a woman who becomes a mother. As prepared as one might think she is, nobody is ready for motherhood. As soon as your baby is in your arms, you have this tendency to protect this tiny being with your life and are willing to weather all sorts of difficulties in order to give the baby a good life.

Surprisingly, this flower has no fragrance whatsoever. Being so pretty, it's kinda odd, don't you think?
I can relate to the "flower with no fragrance" bit very well. When I had my daughter 13 years ago, I remembered carrying her in my arms for the first time in the hospital, with tears of joy. I promised myself that I would give her my all and I did. For the first 7 years, I was literally like a flower with no fragrance. My daughter took over my life. She came first every single minute. Whatever I did, she was my priority. Today, I look back with no regrets. Nicole has grown into a beautiful independent intelligent young lady. As you sow so shall you reap.

Like this determined ant, I am happy to say that today I am able to search the person within myself. I got to know myself better after being a mother; how easily I break at times and how tough I can be most of the time. Looking back at all the experiences (mistakes!!!!) I went through; happy and sad times; I am definitely a stronger person today. I have a different perspective of life now. I choose to live! To live and love and enjoy my life in whatever small ways possible :)
Life can only be understood backward but it must be lived forward. (Soren Kierkegaard)
A little bit about My Mommy...
My Mommy will be 70 next year but she has a 16 year old heart! She has been the "funnest" mom since I could remember. She loves to laugh and joke. My friends love her. I swear...as she grows older...she is more goofy than ever!!! She has given me every thing I have ever needed in my life...my partial insanity, my love for sleep-ins, chicken drumsticks, and never-ending prayers!!! She is not very educated as she has no interest in studying (and never could understand why I choose to study at my age!) but she loves to read. That is how she keeps herself up-to-date with happenings around the world. (If only my students would read like her...haha...wishful thinking!!!). And, my mother will do everything and anything for me...oh yeah...me super spoilt brat :P My mother is my truest partner-in-all-crimes... *grin*