Reflections on Flowers

The long dry season this summer seemed to go on forever. Watching the grass wither until it crunched under my feet finally made me surrender the garden to its fate.

And then came the rains. Not the hurricanes, which usually bring us some autumn moisture, but long warmish days with lashes of rain nonetheless. Small creeks flooded and the James River ran over its banks as it made its way down from the mountains. A friend’s house, near the flood plain, had water up to her front door.

Through much of it, our roof leaked. Finally, it was patched until such time as we can have it replaced. Gratefully, now when the skies glower, I can enjoy once more the feeling of being safe in a dry house while listening to the plonking sound of rain on a tin roof.

The bonus of all this rain is the flourishing of the garden flowers. Zinnias, blue salvia, dahlias, and snapdragons. Their evanescence is part of the attraction.

Soon it will be time to put in the bulbs and pansies. And perhaps set a few pots of mums on the porch steps. The asters and floppy pink chrysanthemums are blooming and will take their turn in the house with some of the “Autumn Joy” sedum. I have learned to pick those before they are fully blooming. Otherwise, they don’t last long enough to go through the trouble of arranging them.