We lost our tomatoes and peppers to freezing temperatures last Monday night and snow is in our forecast for Wednesday. I’ll soon be saying goodbye to all my flowers until spring.
Columbine are among my favorite flowers. The blossoms appear soft and delicate, yet they are hardy survivors. One grouping of my columbine got hit with a strong noxious weed spray two years ago. They refused to die and even sent up tiny blooms that year. Two years later they have grown and now look healthy. They have been blooming all summer. The columbine along with the cosmos pictured below are the last flowers still blooming in my flower beds.
I sometimes wonder if my choice in flowers is indicative of personality traits I covet. I’d like to think that I can bloom in harsh environments, that I can make the best out of difficult circumstances and still appear refined and gentle on the outside. That’s what I like about columbine: their tenacity and peaceful beauty.
Cosmos are tough survivors too, but they appear to be happy dancers swaying in the wind. They thrive in the driest soil conditions while still favoring me with bright blooms. I admire those who give cheer to others amidst their trials. So as I say goodbye to the seasons flowers, I hope their life lessons take root within my heart.
Beautiful post. Why am I not surprised these are your favorite flowers? I love columbines so much that I would have had them in my bridal bouquet if I could. I’ve come to realize, however, like you, that part of their appeal is their hardiness — a quality unwrappable in satin ribbon. Have you ever been rewarded to see a single glorious columbine while on an arduous hike?
And snow already, are you kidding me?
Yes, I’ve seen a columbine while hiking. I hadn’t realized they were wild mountain flowers until that point. Truly beautiful.
What a beautiful thought to start a Monday with….thank you, Kate.
I think you do have the qualities you admire so much in your favorite flowers. You’re an awesome person and I’m so glad you’re my sister!