Flowers That Move Me

Last week Nathan and I were at our friend Bev's house for dinner, and I complimented her on some beautiful hydrangeas in her dining room. She said that she just realized that flowers that come from bushes "move" her more than cut flowers. I thought it was interesting that she said that the flowers moved her, as I had been moved by pictures of these flowers that same day, courtesy of The Bride's Cafe, not even being able to articulate what happened.

It's just a simple cluster of sweet peas (the light pink and white flowers) and ranunculus (the darker flowers), but it moved me for two reasons: 1) Sweet peas tie for my favorite smelling flower (gardenias being the other), and ranunculus tie for my favorite looking flower (peonies being the other).

I planted sweet peas in my parents front yard, and their fragrance takes me back to my high school days. I made my own Senior prom bouquet of sweet peas from my neighbor's yard and my own. I remember the photographer at prom commented on how wonderful they smelled. My parents gave me a bouquet of them from the florist before my Junior Miss pageant for good luck, but they didn't smell nearly as good as the home grown ones. I haven't seen any since moving to Georgia, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't grow them here if I tried, between the red clay and no sun in my yard.

I'm not sure why, but I have a vivid memory of ranunculus growing in the beds of the San Luis Bay Inn in Avila Beach. They were so "petally" and beautiful, and in combination with the beach sunshine and the gorgeous view and my family, I immediately loved them.

So here they are... be moved! :)