Flowers from friends are double lovely, and I used every single stem we picked from the zinnia hedge running along the deck – me, my friend and her delightful sister (who had stories of dairy turned apple farmers and Chicagoans turned Wisconsin organic growers).  The strings of garden lights came on as the twilight settled, warm and welcoming as the company had been.

Zinnias don’t ask much – not even much time.  Remember, I planted an extra patch along the outside of my garden?  The seed packet said 45 days – and it did not lie.  They put up their little green leaves, and I helped them get taller by pinching out the first buds.  And now – well, you just have to marvel at where all those petals came from, in colors that would make any sunset blush.