Tradition began day after 2020 fire when flowers were left around town, along with messages of hope
By Kayla Heffner for Ashland.news
The sun will come up again tomorrow, they say, a reminder that even in the face of hardship, life and hope persevere. And this weekend, sunflowers returned to line the streets of Phoenix and Talent, just as they did the day after the Almeda Fire four years ago, helping rally the spirits of the community.
Many remnants of the Almeda Fire remain today, but the resolve and resiliency of the people in Southern Oregon is still thriving — even stronger.
On Sept. 8 four years ago the two towns were decimated overnight when a massive wildfire ripped through Southern Oregon, destroying more than 2,000 homes. The day after the fire, flowers, along with messages of hope, were placed in Phoenix and Talent.
On Saturday, volunteers from both communities carried on the tradition of gathering sunflowers along with other floral arrangements. It was a time for everyone to come together in moments of grief, but also in hopes of spreading joy.
The organizer, Cheryl Lashley, posted on Facebook, asking for volunteers to help make the bouquets in the Talent Plaza parking lot. Lacey said she wanted to spread some light and joy for both communities.
“Every single person could close their eyes who experienced Almeda and remember exactly where they were,” Lashley said. She knows quite a few family and friends who lost everything and came back to nothing.
Why sunflowers? “Sunflowers just really spoke joy, hope, light and happiness,” Lashley said.
More than 120 vases were filled with handpicked and trimmed flowers with donations from neighbors and several farms, including Annie’s Garden, Water Leaf Farm and Sugar Plum Acres.
Julie Graef has lived in Talent for 10 years and she’s grateful she discovered Talent.
“I love my teeny town, it’s so community oriented. This is just amazing, it makes me feel so good. I feel like I’m honoring the memories and the healing,” Graef said. “You know the stress and the grief. When I think about grief — we have to honor that, and this is my payback for my community. I just felt really strong about coming down and being a part of my community I love.”
Carolyna Marshall even had a song to sing as she made bouquets for people.
Others, like business owner Jack Latvala, who has lived in Talent for 30 years, expressed his gratitude for his community. “This is a really close knit community and the fire brought us together more than anything, I think. It’s really difficult and everyone needs to be appreciative of how far we’ve come, but not forget. It’s a really loving community and we are trying to keep it that way,” Latvala said.
Flower vases were placed along the roundabout in Talent, along Talent Avenue and Main Street, and also near the Talent Skate Park. Bouquets that were placed in Phoenix have already been plucked by folks there.
The remaining bouquets in Talent are free for anyone to take on Monday.
Whatever the sentiment people are feeling, Lacey said, “It is something we should never ever let go. We should remember however we need to and be accepting of whatever that is. If it’s grief that’s ok., if it’s joy because we have rebuilt and we are resilient, whatever that is, feel what you feel.”
Journalist Kayla Heffner lives in Ashland. Email her at kheffner1@gmail.com.
