Homesteading & Gardening

RED POPPIES

As I was going through photo albums recently given to me after the death of my grandfather, I came across this picture of him in the garden surrounded by his red poppies. I have ALWAYS loved red poppies but somehow had forgotten my grandfather used to have them everywhere in his huge garden until I saw this picture. As a child, I sometimes worked in the garden weeding and harvesting. During this time I must have developed this obsession with this beautiful delicate red flower, as I worked along the side of “Poppy”, a childhood name I had for my grandfather. I wonder if the name I gave him as a child has to do anything with the flower?

Tradition carries on as I again have planted my red poppy seeds to grow tick and wild and in an abundance … but, now I know WHY I have always loved these beautiful flowers. Even now my love of them has passed down to my daughter on her new homestead.

Julie Smith is the Education Director for the Joseph Smith Foundation. She is the former owner of the Glenn J. Kimber Academy in Lehi, Utah. Julie served as a regional trainer—establishing 18 schools in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. She is a certified teacher for The Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Restoration (TJC) and taught the Making of America seminars written by W. Cleon Skousen and Glenn J. Kimber. Some of her children also traveled across the nation, assisting in teaching during these seminars. Julie taught history and Book of Mormon classes for 10 years. Julie is the mother of 5 children and grandmother to 7. She homeschooled for over 27 years, working through family challenges including pornography addiction, testimony faith crises, and teenage rebellion. She writes and teaches on strengthening the family, working with troubled youth, practically applying the teachings of scripture and the Prophet Joseph Smith, and celebrating higher standards. In her spare time, Julie also enjoys gardening, managing her .5-acre homestead, and hosting Sunday dinners with her family! Her home is a revolving door of guests and friends as her family hosts cultural celebrations and teaching events.