Zinnias

One of my favorite hobbies is flower gardening. I absolutely love flowers and the process of growing my own never ceases to fascinate me. How something can begin its life as a tiny seed can become breathtakingly beautiful blows my mind.

I spend more time among my flowers than some people spend with other people! I drink coffee with them in the morning and iced tea in the afternoon and evening (while they’re enjoying their water).

Dew on Marigolds

Each spring and summer finds dirty, sweaty me nurturing my favorites (zinnias, salvia, marigolds, petunias, mums, pansies, morning glories, 4 O’Clocks, Moon Flowers,  lilies, and begonias) and whatever else has caught my eye. In addition to my herb beds, flowers are a flat out obsession from April straight up to October.

Zinnias

The pictures of the day today are some of my constant companions this summer.

I hang out with a beautiful crowd.

Petunias and Begonias

If you’re a flower gardener you may have noticed something that never ceases to amaze me – different flowers can behave differently each year. I guess it makes sense that the weather will affect their temperaments and personalities. This year, my zinnias have lost their minds! They are growing so big and beautiful – I literally go outside several times a day just to look at them. The butterflies are enjoying them as much as I am.

My Morning Glories, on the other hand, are being unusually slow. They normally bloom at the same time my Four O’Clocks and Moon Flowers do but this year they’re putting so much energy into their vine that they’re forgetting the blooms. I had a good talk with them this afternoon and I trust they’ll change their ways.

Salvia, Marioglds, and Zinnias

My parents and my dad’s mom were huge flower gardeners – I guess that’s where my obsession comes from. My dad grew the most beautiful roses you’ve ever seen. I don’t grow roses because we have several outside cats who I baby like crazy, so I don’t want the thorns sticking them.

My mom’s favorites were perennials and her perennial bed was gorgeous – she had a concrete bird bath in the middle and a swing nearby. It was one of the most relaxing spots in the world.

Oddly enough, while my dad loved flowers and gardening, he somehow hated marigolds! Since they’re a personal favorite, he always kidded me when I’d include them in my flower beds. He’d grin and say, “Ohhhh, you’re not putting those out are you?”  And I’d say, “Absolutely! In fact, I think I’ll put more than usual out this year!”

He has been overseeing rose gardens in Heaven for years, now, but each summer when I plant my marigolds I think of him and I can’t help but smile.