I think that it must be my mother who instilled this deep love of flowers in me. I like all flowers, especially the little seedlings who emerge triumphantly in the spring. I get deeply excited seeing their arrival.

I got a bunch of magenta-violet tulips from our friend who came over for dinner this week. It feels so nice to receive flowers. They make me feel happier just looking at them over my computer screen. And tulips are lovely as they elegantly open up. I think they are a bit underrated in the market place, next to the roses. I like tulips much better than roses.