You can’t eat them. They die in a vase. What’s the point?
I used to think all of those things and more. When my husband asked me if I would like chocolate or flowers for a special occasion, my answer was always chocolate. Flowers were impractical and expensive.
And then 2020 hit. Need I say more? It was a year of global unrest, but on a more personal note, it included mental health struggles, intense grief, a cross country move, homeschooling and making new friends as an adult. 2020 was rough, wasn’t it?
It was that year at my mother’s funeral that my appreciation for flowers started to grow. Then, in 2021, my sister started her flower farm in Utah and grew the most beautiful flowers I’d ever seen. After buying a bouquet from her to put on my mother’s grave I decided I needed to grow those flowers. I needed that happiness in my life.
So in 2022 while pregnant with my fourth child, I planted a row of dahlias, a row of cosmos and a row of zinnias in my yard. Sprinkled in there were sunflowers, snapdragons, yarrow and sedum. It was the best decision! My postpartum period was filled with beauty both in my yard and on my counter.
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In 2023 I expanded my varieties even more and now I am hooked! I’ve started growing seeds indoors both to sell and enjoy myself. Snapdragons are my favorite flower closely followed by beautiful dahlias. And lisianthus! Is it possible to have one favorite flower?
I’ve come to find that beauty is purpose enough. Just adding joy to my life is a good enough reason to buy something, grow something, share something. Life is short and I want to live a contented life. This practical girl is finding that beauty surrounds us in people, in places, in smells, in tastes, and flowers.
What would you like to add to your life simply for the beauty or joy of it? Not for anyone else but just for you? I would love to hear in the comments!
Happy gardening!!
