Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Cherished as the quintessential Southern tree, this evergreen typically grows 60 feet tall or more with a spread of almost the same size. The large, leathery leaves often have a fine brown fuzz on their backs and are very attractive. The trunk, when it is visible, is smooth, grey, and beautiful. The most wonderful part of this tree, however, is its large fragrant flowers that can often be seen floating in a dish of water on dining room tables across the South. This tree is native from North Carolina to Florida, and from Arkansas to Texas.
Ronald Glasshoff
June 9,1948 – December 26, 2014
Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Boss, World traveler, Gardener, Mountain man, Nebraskan, many called him Friend
Come to the Woods to Visit Me
by Carol Glasshoff
Come to the woods to visit me down by the roots of my tree. Give me to the earth when my winter comes. Mark my place among the trees. I’m here where life can be found resting with the seeds.
Let the spring surround you with new life; bird songs, and budding green leaves. Look to the sky and remember me. Always give thanks for the sun and the rain. Water a new flower for me.
Visit the garden on warm summer days. Keep company with the blossoms and the bees. Remember my heart blooms forever in yours. Take comfort in the shade of trees.
Come to the woods when autumn leaves turn golden and red. Rustle up memories of walks taken. Kick up the leaves for me. Let acorns dropped by gusts of wind bring you joy. Let them help you remember. Smile when you recall I am never far away.
Remembering My Dad by Erron Ramsey
Some of the fondest memories I have of my Dad are related to time spent together in the outdoors, working side by side with him. Before I was barely big enough to lift a shovel of dirt I was “helping” him dig holes and jumping in to see if it was large enough for the newest tree he was planting. Later he helped me plant and landscape my first home. My Dad showed his love through hard work and making the world around him green and beautiful.
Things I learned from my Dad by Michael Glasshoff
One of the greatest life lessons that have I received from my Dad was that he was never afraid of hard work and with it come many rewards. These rewards will be received in various forms, whether it is forging friendship during late night work sessions, or planting memories with his family on the farm or in his garden. Even in the process of the work itself; one should always be thinking ahead, never cutting corners so it would be a job well done the first time. He taught me that a real man always did the right thing without fail.
Remembering His Spirit by Jayne Ricciardi
We say that my dad’s spirit visits us through the bright red male cardinal. It is a fitting reminder of my dad. As the son of a farmer from Nebraska, he appreciated hard work and tending to the earth in his yard and garden. The red color of the cardinal is a reminder of his time at the University of Nebraska, and all the cheering for his “Big Red” football team. The cardinals that visit the bird feeder in my yard and nest in the bushes by my patio send me greetings from him. They are reminders to pause for a moment in my busy day to remember him and appreciate the beauty of the world around me. If you see a cardinal today as you walk through the woods, know that my dad is visiting you too.