Peppers At the Farmers Market

 Now that we are past the longest day of the year, the asparagus and early lettuce have given way to more substantial produce. These sweet peppers all sported hues from the warm side of the color wheel. Some showed lovely mottling as they transition from green to yellow or orange. Shoppers rooted through the shiny pile, searching for perfect peppers for their recipes. Tasty or not, each one was an objet d’art.

Bird Topiary and Forget-Me-Nots

 A dear friend has been on the trip of a lifetime. It included a visit to Hidcote, the century-old garden in the Cotswolds. I have wandered along those same flower-filled paths. A favorite memory is of walking down the steps guarded by two friendly looking bird topiaries. Bright blue forget-me-nots edged the steps and spilled over the circular path. They are a flower full of symbolism, and a necessity in most English gardens. It was the first time I saw them in such profusion. Now I understand why people love this cheerful little flower so much.

June Roses

 Roses traditionally represent the month of June. While long-stemmed beauties from the florist shop are expensive and considered exotic, the truth is that roses are a rather hardy flower. If left to their own devices, they will clamber over decrepit chain link fences, creep along above roadside ditches and bloom on the edges of neglected properties. While red is not my favorite color for a rose, I will always welcome their open faces and bright yellow stamens, wherever they appear.

A Perfect Spring Garden

 A garden is a fleeting thing. Plants may flower only once or go to seed after repeated blooms. Hungry deer or insects may chew up a flower in its prime. Startled animals might tromp through the garden. I feel lucky to have seen this garden in a state of perfection. The larkspur and cornflowers stood tall, a symphony of cool colors. Here and there a poppy nodded its hot, fluttering head. Happy bees hovered. One day later, heavy rains had knocked petals from the poppies. The larkspur were sodden and tangled, tipped over at odd angles. Yes, a garden is a fleeting thing.