Where the Lilies Bloom

Wildcrafting is a motif that represents the Luthers’ values for living a dignified, good, meaningful life. Wildcrafting underscores the family’s connection to the land; the family’s livelihood is attached to, and in tandem with, the rhythms of the land. When the earth is blossoming, the Luthers are able to gather a bounty and make money. When the earth his hibernating, frozen with winter, the Luthers too are more insular, inside of their homes and relying on what they have accrued in spring. Wildcrafting strengthens the rural aspect of their identity, which is an integral aspect of the Luther family’s self-image.

Wildcrafting also represents the Luther family’s value of education. The ending sentences of the novel emphasize the connection between wildcrafting and education: “The mountains and valleys of North Carolina are rich in these wild medicine plants. We discovered them and it was a fine education” (174). Throughout the novel, school is viewed as the place for education; it is the place where Mary Call can undo her ignorance. In the end, Mary Call embraces the natural education of the land. This education is augmented by her mother’s book, A Guide to Wildcrafting. Thus, wildcrafting blends both institutional education with the knowledge that comes from proximity to the land.