Turquoise Bouquet
David Van Noppen
Photo by James Beards

The signs of spring make me weak in the knees. The first sight of a robin, the first bud on a tree, the first thunderstorm that washes away the brown of winter – these are things that make my heart soar. But nothing compares to the happiness I get from the spring flowers that grow in my backyard.

The crocus is my earliest and most welcome visitor, peeking up out of leftover drifts of snow. Soon after come the daffodils, and then, the tulips. Ahhh, those tulips! They provide an ever-changing source of joy, turning my yard into a beautiful coat of many colors.

It is during this wonderful time of year that I have the luxury of bringing my own flowers indoors on a daily basis. In other seasons, the local florist helps me out. And then, of course, I often look to the many talented artists who appropriate their ideas from nature’s bounty, creating amazing flowers out of a variety of materials such as glass.

I wholeheartedly share the sentiments of Claude Monet, who wrote, “More than anything I must have flowers, always always.”