I am very blessed to live next door to Denise, a florist who for the last twenty years has cultivated a yard entirely filled with flowers. Hundreds of rose bushes, lilies, flox, sunflowers, pansies, cascading  petunias from every window box, and dozens of trees surround the historic old house. Denise built a tiny cottage in the back where she provides English teas using silver and porcelain.  This summer she opened an outdoor breakfast bakery, serving cinnamon rolls, Belgian waffles, coffee cake and cookies all set out on lace covered tables amid the color and fragrance of her garden flowers. On warm mornings, the shade trees provide comfort for guests who drink coffee, chat and devour Denise’s delicious scones or Belgian waffles.

I get the special joy of walking past her yard several times a week. I always pause to drink in the perfume and the beauty. Many times I have wished to have my camera with me. This year she allowed me to photograph to my heart’s content.