Along the back fence of our garden is a Bird of Paradise plant. When we first moved in I decided it had to go. That plant has been hacked at and dug out more than once.....and here she still is. Turns out she suits the garden that has grown up around her after all and these are her first flowers since reclaiming her territory.
So much energy and beauty poured into the creation of those blooms. I waited until they were half dead before picking them. Even as they were wilting and dying they were still opening and blooming.
Every time I see those flowers I hear Brian Ferry's "Slave to Love”.