Maria took this photo of me yesterday as I was out in the rain with my Iphone 13, trying to catch the raindrops. I went out with my new Leica later also. Looking at the photo, I was touched by how peaceful the beds looked and how easily I was near them.

I have never in my life planted a flower or take a picture of one, not until two years ago.

It was getting hard for me to bend down and help Maria with her garden work, but watching and helping her made me think I might like to do my garden work.

It woke something up in me.

And why not? I had never paid much attention to garden beds; they weren’t for me. But they would ease the lying down the problem. I thought I’d probably quit and turn it over to Maria. But to my surprise, I got addicted profoundly and quickly.

It was just an itch; I loved watching our flowers grow and learned much about caring for them from her. This stirred some buried thing in me. I can’t explain it.

I ordered a small bed from Amazon and filled it with fresh soil. I was amazed to see the Zinnia’s pop up. I started taking photos of them. Flowers and gardening opened something up inside of me.

Last year, I went whole hog. I got a much larger garden bed from the Amish, and then I bought three smaller ones from Country Products and my friend John. Gardening has changed my life.

I started taking pictures of my flowers – drawn to the bright colors and individual souls of flowers, and I started giving them away – to the Mansion, friends, Maria, and migrant workers down the road. I got hooked on the pictures.

I decided to upgrade my photography. I used my Iphone 13 and traded cameras for a Leica Q2—one of the best moves in my life.

People loved the flower pictures and showered me with more praise than I ever remember seeing. I was fascinated by the creative challenge and worked at it every day.

I took so many flower pictures that I had enough to put one up every day all winter. So many gardeners were wiped out by drought, fires and tornadoes I thought it might do some good to post mine.

It did do a lot of good. Flower photography became a focal point in my effort to take better photos. I took lessons. I got a tremendous response.

I got a Leica. I took lessons from the Leica people, from a computer photo editing whiz. I experimented every day. I still am.

And I know a lot about gardening now. I’m learning more every day.

A small Army of gardeners got behind me, taught me the names of flowers, and shared tips on how to use them. The flowers kept opening me up, widening my life and enriching it.

My better camera opened me up to the beauty and inspiration involved in portrait photography; I take photos of people I love and like, which lifts their spirits and mind. Flowers are nature’s way of smiling.

I’m experimenting with macro photography now, as well as portraits and landscapes.

My flowers had opened me up and released a deep well of artistry and creativity. They have inspired me and taught me, and challenged me.

I am pleased to enter my third year of flower growing and, hopefully, growing beautiful flowers and taking even better photographs.

I often write that aging is a trade-off, you lose some things, and if you’re alert, you gain some things. I have four garden beds running now, and soon they will all be chock full of colorful flowers.

I’m like a kid on Christmas Eve: I can’t wait for it to get warmer.