The mayflower man
Florence man continues annual tradition of placing mayflowers at gravesites
FLORENCE — The annual blooming of the colourful and pleasant smelling mayflowers on Cape Breton brought with it the return of a tradition carried out by a local man that spans decades.
When the flowers bloom, usually during the first two weeks of May, Cyril Reashor can be found at his favourite spot to pick the flowers along Highway 125 near Balls Creek.
He then places the official flower of Nova Scotia at the altar at St. Stephen’s Church in Florence and at the gravesites of his parents and his late wife.
“I’ve been doing this long before my mother died and she died in 1971,” Reashor said.
“I’ve been taking to them to her grave ever since. She always liked mayflowers and I always made sure I had a bouquet for her when she was living. After she died I kept it up.”
Just like the people and places who receive his annual gift, there’s a common method to his picking he sticks to each year.
“The way I pick them I like to get a bunch of buds with them too so that they’ll come out as well. I put a little stone at my wife’s grave with a hole drilled in it so I can put just a bunch right on her headstone.”
While driving past his favourite spot last week Reashor noticed some were still blooming even though their season is just about over.
“If you pick them now as soon as you pick them the flowers will be dropping off. They passed their term.”
Though he picks them for other people, Reashor is a fan of the mayflower, too. In fact, a freshly watered bouquet is still sitting in a window at his home.
“They are beautiful in my eyes and there’s a beautiful smell off them as well. When you come home and into your house if you have a couple of bunches you can smell them as soon as you come in the door. They are a beautiful flower.”
Neighbour Evelyn MacDougall is a great admirer of Reashor’s efforts.
“To me it was very, very touching and I thought what a beautiful thing to do,” she said.
“I think what touched me most of all about it was that he had been down to the church and took a big bouquet of these mayflowers and put them at the statue of the blessed virgin. That’s why I was so touched with this story.”
A veteran of the Second World War and former mail carrier for 23 years, Reashor has always considered the annual tradition a sign of respect for his church and his loved ones.
However, because he turned 90 last week and St. Stephen’s is set to close next month he’s not sure how long the tradition will continue.
“Three hours there picking, for an old fellow that’s awhile. I don’t know if I’ll be doing it next year. They are not easy to pick. There’s bunches for the graveyard and a bunch for the church, a couple of bunches for home, and a bunch for a friend of mine. It takes awhile to pick them and clean them and I have them already to put in a dish when I bring them home.”