a week ago, driving past my neighbor Sophie’s garden i spotted the most beautiful peony… an extreme rarity here in Southern California… later walking back specifically to photograph the sunny, happy bloom.
a few days later, 90 & 100 degree temperatures followed by howling winds crispy fried, strewn petals, leaves asunder…
so much for my grandiose plans to construct a super duper floriferous design in celebration of Holy Week.
it is typical here to get a weeks’ preview of summer at the end of April before a cooler May and June gloom (my favorite)…was feeling disappointment with everything lately.
then i remembered Sophie’s peony and a few other garden photos taken prior to the maelstrom…
but it wasn’t just the picture that i was grateful about, it was my neighbor Sophie.
Sophie has an amazing green thumb and is knowledgeable about exactly what plants need to thrive, a ‘plant whisperer’ if there ever was one… i’ve seen plants from every climate zone flourish in her garden from vanda orchids native to tropical rain forests to magnificent pink and white dogwoods one would expect after a snowy winter.
but even more than her talents, she is a genuinely lovely, generous and kind individual and was a dear fellow plant enthusiast friend to my mom.
wishing kitten’s secret garden friends a blessed week!