Making my eyes happy

The beauty of flowers makes my eyes happy and my spirit soar.

I used to walk to work through the UN organizations in Geneva. In front of the International Labor Organization was a cherry tree which produced beautiful pink blossoms. When the leaves fell to the ground it looked like pink snow. I would deliberately walk that way just to revel in the pink.

Near our Argeles-sur-mer, France home are huge mimosa trees. When several are together you almost need sunglasses. Big bouquets in my flat are so cheery, although I had one friend who was allergic. when she visited, I put the mimosa outside until she left.

 

In Argelès there is beach a called Marenda with a long path from the car park to the sand. A picket fence protects some of the natural habitat but for a few short weeks there are thistles galore. Thistles are my second favorite flower.

And if that isn't enough to make my eyes happy, as the season goes on, hundreds and hundreds of snails decide to make their home. Only a few in this picture but it captures the mood.

 My excitement at beautiful flowers may go back to my childhood. Behind our house was a hill leading to my grandfather's garden. In the spring, it became purple with violets. One year, I might have been about nine, my mother and I took the water pitcher that was on our table every meal and filled it with violets. Water was served in another pitcher for several days. Although it leaks, I still have the pitcher, but I've never been able to fill it with violets, my favorite flower.

The simplicity of nature may make me happy as a relief from a too complicated world or maybe just because there's beauty.