Pansies

A friend brought me a beautiful outdoor pot overflowing with pansies. They were such a lovely lavender-blue color and I smiled whenever I saw them out on my deck by the back door. The other morning when we got up we realized the deer had eaten every last blossom. I was crestfallen.

There's something very special about pansies because they're among the first hardy blooms that can sit outside when the weather is still chilly. I love the deep purple ones and when they're combined with the yellow/purple ones they're quite stunning -but these lavender blue ones are really beguiling. The color is so soft and pretty and it just screams "spring" on every level. They were a wonderful gift.

My mother loved pansies because she said they had "little faces" - so naturally, every time I look at them I see those little faces staring up at me. That aspect is a bit creepy to tell you the truth, but it's usually a passing thought and I get beyond it rather quickly. And my next thought is about how wonderful it is to see their vibrant color against a world still waking up from its long winter sleep. A true change-of-season flower. Right now they're the perfect antidote for someone like me who's stuck in the house for while. Or at least they were. I saw them every time I walked into my kitchen and glanced out the french doors to the deck - and they made me look forward to the warm weather to come. I hope the deer appreciated them as a special treat, at least.

I loved those pansies!