This azalea grows in downtown Albany, on a little side walkway that most people rarely use, which makes it a favorite thoroughfare of mine. Its colours – that brilliant magenta against a forest of bright chartreuse – make for a combustible combination, one that has thrilled me since I was a child. Here, it sets itself aflame in the more beautiful manner – harbinger of a fiery season to come.
What floral fireworks await us for the upcoming summer season? Time will tell, and this year I’m simply going with the flow and enjoying the moments as they unfold. There’s less stress and more fun in that. May unfurls her splendor by the day, sometimes by the hour, as weather and moods shift dramatically. These blooms bring the drama to match such an emotional rollercoaster.
As for spring, there’s still some more of it, so let’s make the most of it while it lasts – it’s been such a lovely journey thus far, and I don’t quite want it to end…
