Patty Howe of Woodstock planted this Japanese Lilac in memory of her stepmother in 2004. It is about 30 feet high now. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen

WOODSTOCK — Behind Patty Howe’s home is a flowering Japanese Lilac that she planted in memory of her stepmother, Mina Belle.

When the sun shines the blossoms turn white, right now they are still ivory colored, lamented Howe.

After her stepmother died in 2004, Howe and her brother dug up a little shoot from the tree on the corner of her property on Mason Street in Bethel. She had lived there for 50 years.

Frances, Howe’s birth mother, passed away when she was a baby. Her father married her aunt so her step-brothers are also her cousins.

Howe said she was raised by her grandparents in South Woodstock, but her stepmother was a big part of her life, too.

Known around Woodstock because she helps at town office and also on voting day and Howe sits to do puzzles at the Woodstock library every week as well.