Right now the kitchen in the Garden Home Retreat cottage is my favorite place to spend time. It is spacious and full of light. The kitchen faces east, so the windows let in the morning sun and reveal views of the pasture and Daffodil Hill.
During January and February, when I’ve grown weary of the winter view out of my windows, I create what I like to call a “botanical shadow box” by placing a single interesting plant in front of the window. The window acts like a picture frame for the plant and the light coming through the panes backlights its form. So far, my botanical shadow boxes have included an olive tree, a lemon tree, angel wing begonias and prayer plants.
Of course, the windows also frame some pretty awesome outside views, too. Right now the best view is from the kitchen because the windows look out over Daffodil Hill. We have planted more than 100,000 bulbs there that range from early-, mid-, to late-bloomers. It is truly a sight to behold. The display emerges slowly, only about 10 percent bloom in late February. By the middle of March the flowers are at their peak and then in April the Hill becomes a quite green expanse with no sign of its early spring glory.
Yesterday I picked daffodils until my bucket was brimming over. It truly looked like a pot of gold and I truly value them as much as gold. I only wish that everyone felt the same way.
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