Cone heads

The first of the purple cone flowers in my yard have blossomed.

They are the descendents of the first purple cone flowers that Mom gifted me when I moved into my home a little over eight years ago.

Each year, they flower and wither, their dried seed heads standing tall and sharp all winter. They would remain there, if not for my meddling finger, crushing the forgotten flowers carefully and scattering them along the drainage ditch, hoping for more flowers to come.

The anticipation of their arrival each year is sweet. The irises and peonies have come and gone. The day lilies are still gathering their colors together to show off in a week or two. The purple cone flowers take their time. They open in fits and starts, teasing us with their curled petals until they finally reveal their full selves.

Springtime is over, but summer has a lot to show for itself.