My photo work with flowers has radically altered my relationship with them. I talk to them. They are sentient beings to me; they are my friends, and we talk daily. I find myself speaking to them as old friends. And many of them are dying, introducing the idea of Fall.

It does hurt a bit; I will admit that.

Flowers are honest; they are like dogs in that way. They never lie. When the color fades, I pull them out, say goodbye and toss them in the garden. I’m guessing that is how they would like to go.

This week marks my return to normalcy. I’ll rest for the next few days, but on Thursday, Maria and I are heading to Bishop Gibbons to resume work there. Covid still hovers, but there are times when I forget all about it, and times it reminds me it isn’t finished with me.

I’m moving forward. Life goes on, and on.

I want to take a minute to say hello to our friend Katherine, who is in a hospice care center in Minnesota with pancreatic cancer. Thinking of you, Kathhering, and I hope these pictures bring you some light and comfort.

Flowers die well, I see; they are an inspiration for me; I hope to die that gracefully when the time comes. I figure I have another month of flower pictures to take, but there is a feeling of change and goodbye around the garden.

As some flowers die, the begonias just spring to life. So are several of my other plants. My raised garden beds have been a wonderful success.

I don’t see this as gloomy; I see this as life. Our challenge is to accept life as it is and not as we might wish it to be. Think how boring and uninteresting Spring would be if the flowers didn’t die. Winter is the best thing about Spring, it brings the world to life.

Katherine, there is beauty in life and beauty in death. I am touched by how much those around you love you as they prepare to say goodbye. Thanks for asking for my flower pictures.