Mother (On Naming Flowers)

Walking past Espresso Cafe, I notice they have orchids and snapdragons on the counter that they never used to have.

 The presence of these flowers changes the whole ambience of the café as it does with Henri Marc in Penrith.

 I realise I can name flowers because of my mother who grows them, who periodically brings cuts from the garden into the living room.

 At the moment she has an arrangement of azaleas and red bottlebrush.

 And I realise that the person who most appreciates flowers is my mother, that when I give characters flower names such as Wardi and Yasmeen, it is an unconscious reference to the most important woman in my life.