The Yellow Lady Banksia

Today is Theme Day, and participants in the City Daily Photo Blogs post a photo of the color YELLOW.

The Lady Banksia Rose, especially the yellow Lady Banksia, blooms all over Selma in early April.

In fact, it was on April 2, 1865, that Lady Banksia rosebush shed its petals over the corpse of the Presbyterian preacher. Earlier that Sunday, the Rev. Arthur Small preached his regular sermon at the church despite the boom of cannons in the distance. When Union Gen. J.H. Wilson's cavalry entered town later than afternoon, the the Rev. Small joined other townspeople to help defend Selma. The Yankees destroyed much of the town and burned its Naval Foundry and Ironworks, the second largest in the Confederacy next to Richmond, Va.

But the good preacher took a Yankee bullet, and he was laid out on the church manse beneath a Lady Banksia rosebush. Soon, attending parishioners noticed that the bush had shed its delicate petals atop his body, a testimony to their grief.

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Skywatch Friday (Battle Skies)

It's Skywatch Friday, and Southern belles anxiously watch the action as skies above the battlefield fill with smoke. The Battle of Selma reenactment was held last weekend and gave attendees an authentic demonstration of American Civil War battle tactics, fashion and lifestyle. The reenactment is held at Riverside Park where many soldiers in the actual 1865 battle fled or even swam across the Alabama River to escape.

To see more Skywatch Friday photos or to participate, click HERE.

April 2, 1865

On April 2, 1865, Union Gen. Ulysses Grant finally made it to the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., and Gen. J.H. Wilson's cavalry made it to Selma, Ala., where one of the South's biggest and best arsenals was destroyed. It was a Sunday. Spring had arrived. Lady Banksia roses were blooming. But, the beautiful day soon turned to gunshots and smoke. Outnumbered by thousands and outgunned by the Yankees' Spencer repeating rifles, one of the last battles of America's War Between the States was short, and much of Selma burned.

According to Walter M. Jackson in The Story of Selma: "Selma lay in ashes; Selma lay at the feet of her conqueror; many of her finest sons lay from Vicksburg to Gettysburg; Selma stood at the tragic decade of American history; but the spirit of Selma was not dead. Regardless of all of these things, Selma would live again, because the spirit of her people was alive and would live on and on."

The photo was taken at a recent reenactment of the Battle of Selma.

This year's reenactment will be the weekend of April 18.