a day in the life of a latvian mom

There has always been one wildflower that has felt a little more special to me than all the others.

In Latvian, it’s called ilzītes.

My name is Ilze, and ilzīte is the affectionate, diminutive form of it—the kind of name someone uses with warmth and kindness. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved the fact that there is a flower that shares my name. The plant is known by its Latin name, Anthemis tinctoria L. It often grows along sandy roadsides and dirt tracks, brightening places that many people simply drive past. Its cheerful yellow flowers are simple but beautiful.

Ever since we moved into our house, I’ve hoped to find some growing nearby. Somehow, I never found any.

Until today.

As I was walking along our little road, I noticed a single yellow flower lying almost flat in the middle of the track. It had probably been hit by the underside of a passing car. Seeing it there made me stop and look more carefully.

About half a metre farther on, I found the whole plant. Then another. And another. Three little ilzītes, all growing right in the middle of the road. That didn’t seem like a place where they would survive for long.

I didn’t have a trowel or any gardening tools with me, so I knelt down and carefully dug them out of the sandy road with my fingers. Fortunately, the soil was loose enough that I could lift them without too much trouble.

Back at home, I planted all three beside the house in our sandy soil. They’re still very small and look a bit battered after growing in the middle of the road, but wildflowers can be surprisingly resilient.

Now I’ll just have to wait and see. I hope they settle in.

Ilze