My real love behind flowers

Most recently I was bored (thanks social distancing) and just looking through my instagram account. It is interesting what one learns about oneself from simply looking at one's pictures. It was a Nancy meet Nancy kind of moment.

Many of my photos are of the many places I have been blessed to travel to and explore. One of the common themes is my love of nature. Huh... really. No no, I am not going all let's go rough it in Algonquin Park or climb Mt Fuji. I realized, I love the look of fresh fallen snow on evergreens, the blanket of red, orange and yellow trees in the fall and the lush green of gardens in the summer.

Every year I look forward to my own bridal bushes covered in white flower and my summer wine bush pretty in pink in June. My burning bush turns a beautiful crimson red ever fall, but my favourite are my peonies. In a short time my two bushes have really grown and produce such pretty flowers at the end of June. For at least two weeks, my house has some pretty summer colours that just makes my home feel that more inviting.

My liking of flowers is clearly visible not just throughout my house but even in my office at work. There is something about flowers that just makes a room feel complete, not to mention they add can add character to a room. Tulips at spring, hydrangeas in summer, mums in the fall, pointsettas at Christmas, there always seems to be a seasonal flower that makes it's way into my home.

But then it hits me! Eleven years ago when I last travelled to Portugal, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my beloved grandma (now deceased). Her front garden full of purple hydrangeas, her back garden not only had vegetables growing but she even had a vineyard. When I walked into her front room, there they were a variety of vases full of colourful flowers to brighten up the concrete of her walls. Aside from many other great qualities, I inherited the love of flowers and the garden from my grandmother Florence. Lucky me!

It makes sense now, whenever I put together a bouquet of flowers and display them on a table, I always say to myself, grandma would approve!