Friday Flowers: Late Bloomers

I took this picture of Grandma Anne's old home yesterday. She was my husband's grandmother, a beloved lady who has been gone for many years now. A light frost was on the roof of the house as the sun was rising. This week has seen the return of fall temperatures and there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees.

But in the past few days, I have noticed a number of brave plants blooming brightly, well past the end of the growing season. Perhaps they did not get enough light earlier, and since there is less vegetation around competing for space and sun, they now have their opportunity to flower.


We are a society obsessed with youth. Many successful performers are still in their teens at the peak of their careers. Young adults work hard to find a career that is fulfilling and financially rewarding and middle aged adults may have difficulty competing in the workplace. But there are those who find their calling later in life, even after retirement.

Many writers, painters, politicians and successful business owners did not discover their talents and abilities until middle age or older. Some people have the courage and ambition take up new challenges when their peers are settling into retirement.

I see the passion for learning and growing among many bloggers I have come to know. Some are gifted writers, poets and photographers. Others express themselves in original art or write about new hobbies and skills they are learning. While others around them are wilting and drawing back from life, they reach for the light and grow and bloom.

Perhaps the late bloomer is a young person who found school a challenge. Later than most, they achieve academic success and go on to surpass those who may have disdained them in the past.

When she was little, The Becka loved the story, Leo the Late Bloomer. I read it to her many times.

"Leo the tiger couldn’t do anything right. He couldn’t read or write. He couldn’t draw, and he was a sloppy eater. Every day and every night Leo’s father watched him for signs of blooming. Then one day, in his own good time—Leo bloomed!"

Your "own good time"...my "own good time" may be just ahead somewhere!

I wrote this post early in the week and looked for pictures afterwards. This morning I notice that Jennifer and Monarch have also written posts about late blooming wildflowers. Was meant to be :-)