A Year of Gratitude – July 14, 2024

My gratitude was waiting for me in the shade of the barn this morning. The sun was so bright and the air was so hot and humid that I was happy to be standing in the shade of the old barn.

As I was standing in that sliver of shade that runs the length of the barn, I marveled at how numerous the blooms are on our hydrangea this year. It’s been so hot yet all of our hydrangeas are putting forth more blooms than I have ever seen from them.

I love hydrangeas. There isn’t a color or type that I don’t fancy. We seem to add one or two more each spring. There’s always a color or type that we don’t have and neither my mom nor I can seem to say no to one. This time of year, I find myself so glad that we don’t.

The reason is simple: our gardens are filled with colorful blooms from the hydrangea this time of year. The spring bulbs, peonies, and poppies are done for the year. We won’t see their blooms until next spring. It’s time for the hydrangea to have their moment and they are really making the most of it.

Some plants bloom when the conditions are perfect. They need just the right amount of sunshine, warmth, and rain to bloom. But not hydrangea. Even in the heat of the summer when rain seems to always fall short, they find the energy to create such lush foliage and blooms made up of hundreds of little blooms held together to make something magical.

This bloom hasn’t had the time it needs to fully come into its own. It will. I have faith. If I give it the time that it needs, it will reward me with a festival of blooms. I plan to enjoy them and to take their reminder that with time and a good dose of faith, beautiful things are possible.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.