My Friend Nick

Nick
Photo Coutsey of Carmen Day Williams

Nick was a silversmith on the Island of Cedar Key; he earned his living by making custom pieces and repairing jewelry. His hobby was gardening, and he was a master gardener. He and I swapped seeds and cuttings over the years.

His yard always flooded completely with salt water in every hurricane or tropical storm that hit Cedar Key, but in spite of this he had one of the most beautiful gardens on the island! 

He harvested seaweed by the truckload that he used as mulch as it broke down it fed the plants. He grew all kinds of veggies, plants and flowers. He also grew Papaya trees in back of his house and when they were in bloom their fragrance perfumed the night air in his entire neighborhood.

Nick had a gregarious nature with a fantastic sense of humor, and he loved to cheer you up with some of his stories that would always make you laugh. He was one of the great characters of Cedar Key and Cedar Key had quite a few of these!

I had known him for quite a few years and had moved away by the time this story happened; I always visited him when I came to town. My visits to Cedar Key never seemed complete till I stopped by and had a visit with Nick.

Tina and I had gone for a ride around the “Big Dock” and we stopped by his house for a visit. After hugs and greetings we sat down for some catch up conversation.

In the center of the table sat a shot glass of water with a tiny white flower with the stem sticking down into the water, to keep it fresh.

Eventually someone mentioned the flower, and Nick said, “Oh yes Annette, how do you like my miniature gardenia?  It smells so good that’s why I brought it in.” I answered, “I love it Nick, but that’s a Grand Duke Jasmine not a miniature gardenia.”

And the friendly argument was on. He bristled slightly and said, “Annette you don’t know what you’re talking about, I know it is a miniature gardenia,” conversation grew quiet for a minute and I answered, “Nick I do know that is a Grand Duke Jasmine.”

He said, “I’ll show you that you are wrong.” He got up from the table and got his gigantic Horticulture book, he took great pride in his knowledge of Horticulture. He looked through the Gardenia section and couldn’t find it listed.

He closed the book and acted a bit disgusted that he didn’t find it.

I suggested, “Nick look in the Jasmine section.” He answered a bit huffy, “No, I will not because I know it’s a miniature gardenia I don’t care what you say.”

“Okay do you mind if I look?” “Be my guest” and he shoved the book across the table to me.

I turned to the Jasmine section and immediately found it listed as The Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine! “Here it is Nick” and I turned the book around for him to see. He said “Nope, that’s not it.” There was a picture in color of the flower and also a full size leaf in color. He absolutely refused to admit he was wrong.

“Nick go outside and pick a leaf and compare it.” “Absolutely not” he answered in a very huffy manner! “Okay” I said, “It’s not really that important to me, you believe what you want to!” I thought he was seriously angry and I did not want to argue and have a serious conflict about a flower, and I knew I was right.

Looking at the top photo above, the plant in discussion is the one at the left entrance of the door going into his house, he is sitting on the doorstep. 

I hushed and all was quiet for a couple of tension filled minutes, and I’m thinking maybe we should leave? Tina had stayed out of the discussion. I was just about to suggest that we leave and suddenly he started laughing that deep belly laugh! His anger had been pretended!

A Portion of Nick's Front Yard
Photo Courtesy of Carmen Day Williams

He said, “Annette if anybody in the world knows what that flower is it would be you!” Still in a little bit of shock I asked,” Why do you say that Nick?”

“Because, I stole those cuttings from your yard,” he was laughing so hard he almost choked! He told me he was passing by on his bike when mine was in bloom and it smelled so heavenly he could not resist taking some cuttings. 

He said, “I know you would have given me cuttings if I’d asked, but stealing them was so sweet, I just didn't bother to ask.”

Nick's House On The Right
Photo from Tropical Storm Debby

I was so happy that he had not really been angry for being wrong and also very happy that he had taken those cuttings with or without permission. “Nick I need some cuttings from you now, when we moved out to the mainland, mine died the first winter.

I didn't realize how much colder it was in the woods than on the island and I didn't cover it well enough and it froze and died. 

Chuck’s grandma Collins gave me the first cuttings I had of that Jasmine and she told me the name of it when she gave it to me, I hated so much to lose it. And now I’m happy to find all is not lost!”

Another Portion of Nick's Front Yard
 Photo Courtsey of Carmen Day Williams

He got up and went outside and brought me six already rooted cuttings, this was so Nick, he was a wonderful character and I miss him so much.

I wrote this little story in memory of Nick not long after he passed away in 2011, and I intended to eventually publish it on my blog. Yesterday Carmen posted the great photo, and sent me others and gave her permission to use them.

Rest In Peace my friend!!!