Gardenias & Shasta Daises

Recently, I was working in my yard when the blooms on my gardenia plant caught my eye. I took off my gloves, laid my clippers aside, and allowed my mind to linger on those flowers. Inhaling the intoxicating perfume, marveling at the intricate way the buds unfolded to create the bloom, and fingering the waxy leaves, I could feel myself relax as I stood there, entranced by the beauty of the flowers.

Close to the gardenias grew some Shasta daisies, one of my mother’s favorite flowers. Maybe it’s just that my mom loved these blossoms so much, but something drew me to ponder them as well.…