It was the peonies

When I moved to a new state five years ago I left behind 25 years of friendships, business ownership, community, and most importantly, my son. Coming to North Carolina was a fairly easy choice; my daughter and family were here, the climate is so much better than in Texas, and I would have the chance to plant some of the flowers I loved growing up in California.

At first it was a lot of the busyness that comes with moving cross country. It was near the start of the pandemic which kept us from meeting new people or venturing out much other than to see the grandsons we adore. Then I needed a surgery that took me down an unexpected road of pain, permanent nerve damage and a long recovery. Our brand new house literally fell two inches (the foundation cracked) and it took us two  years, a lawsuit and way too much money to get the situation corrected. My son was having his own struggles that I worried constantly about. Most of all,  I could see and feel myself aging at a too rapid pace.

I knew I had to change some things; mostly for a way to combat the worsening anxiety that  I’ve lived with my entire life. 

And then, along came the peonies. And then the hydrangeas and roses. Next was my first raised bed full of tulip and ranunculus bulbs followed by dahlia tubers. 

This year I am growing 22 different types of flowers, with many different varieties; all from seed. Scented geraniums, dwarf lilacs, Floret flower farm dahlias and zinnas, pansy and poppy varieties from as far away as the Netherlands and New Zealand. Cosmos, tweedia, sweet peas, sunflowers, foxglove and more.

I didn’t see this coming; I had never had a burning desire to garden, but it has truly changed my life. I wake up every day with a new purpose and passion for tending to a bountiful garden. It’s totally addictive and feels like a miracle when each new plant blooms.  The healing powers of nature are real.

Now I’ve combined my former career with this current passion by photographing “portraits” of the blooms I grow. These photos have won a few awards, landed me a spot in a beautiful new art gallery, and are hanging in a few homes across the country. 

People ask me what my next step is with all of my flowers and photos. Im not exactly sure, but it doesn’t really matter. The actual experience of planting, tending, growing and arranging blooms for a photograph has been the greatest gift. My sincere wish for anyone struggling with change, worry, rapid aging or pain is to find a path that is as fulfilling and purposeful for them as my flowers are for me. Start with small steps doing something that has always caught your attention. Maybe begin with a few peonies.