Jennifer Shaffer Photography

Lily of the Valley are just starting to bloom in my Humboldt Park backyard. These perennials were planted over a decade ago, sourced from my family farm in western Illinois.

Growing up, I would track the progress of Spring on the farm by the flowers blooming. These transplanted flowers always bring me back to memories of picking lilacs and Lily of the valley with my mom and grandma.
I often think about how the flowers I enjoyed as a child were the “relatives” of the blooms I’m cutting today. Keeping these plants alive is like keeping a family history alive - even though my city backyard is worlds away from the farm. Do you have plants that your family has shared over generations?

Anyway. These plates will also be available through my tintype store.

Sand Ridge State Forest, Illinois. There were cactus, too.