Friday Flowers: At the Winter Market

The random nature quote of the day on my sidebar on Thursday said this:

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.

Luther Burbank

Our local farmers markets are open year round and we visited the largest one last weekend. It was very cold outside but several vendors bundled up and sold their wares from early morning until mid afternoon. The large, two level market building in the first picture was bustling with people who came to buy meat, cheese, baked goods and a large array of other foods and goods.


The flower displays caught my eye and were a spot of sunshine on a grey, snowy day. I received a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers the day before from my husband as a birthday gift, or I might have purchased a little bit of summer here.



I wanted to get some apples and went outside to visit a vendor who has been at this market in all seasons for over twenty years. The temperature was well below zero and a single display apple of each variety was out on the table. I selected what I wanted and my basket was filled by a person in the large heated trailer where the bulk of the apples were protected from the cold.


I had to smile as I watched these Old Order Mennonite boys admiring a display of cell phones. The vendor was demonstrating how to use them but it was unlikely that he made a sale. Many OOMs do not have telephones at all, or may have one shared line with neighbours in an outdoor shelter. They are less tempted to use the phone for personal use and gossip if it is placed in an inconvenient location. I do wonder if this generation will continue to follow the traditions of their elders.

There is something for everyone here, from flowers to food with interesting people to observe. No wonder they do not have to close for the season.