Today is one of those “not too hot, not too cold” summer days. Bright sunshine, clear blue skies, and a delightful temperature. On a day like this, my thoughts turn to… flowers!
Over the years, I’ve had many flowering plants. Indoors or outdoors, it matters not, I adore pretty flowers. In Colorado, our yard boasted a front walk lined with day lilies and a front garden filled with roses. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve had everything from primroses and grape hyacinths to tulips and daffodils, not to mention volunteer violets and pansies and the flowering shrubs, azaleas and rhododendrons. But my absolute favorite outdoor flower (in this case a shrub) is daphne!
Not only are the clusters of pale pink flowers a delight to see, but the fragrance is nothing short of heavenly!
On the indoor side of the equation, I’ve always enjoyed green growing plants, from sansevieria to spider plants to philodendrons. But I’ve also grown a lot of African violets, gloxinia, and, my all time favorite, orchids!
Orchids can be a real challenge to raise successfully, but when you get it right, they’re a beautiful addition to any household. One of the joys of my life was seeing them growing wild on a trip to Hawaii. We visited several parks and botanical gardens where orchids clung to the branches of trees, adding vivid color to already stunning vistas.
I don’t really think of myself as a gardener, but these are some of the plants that I’m thrilled to share space with!
