Woolybuns: Stop And Smell The Roses... errr... Zinnias

For the last few years, I've prettied up my deck with big pots of dahlias. Last year, I eve n got around to bringing them in for the winter so I didn't have to buy new ones every year. And it leaves room in the budget to expand the collection or add other types of lovelies. Winter weather was oddly warm though, and my hibernating dahlias woke up. In December. And the dang thing bloomed in January. Another one bloomed in March. Lovely bits of beauty against the drear of winter. But when it was warm enough to move them out on the deck, squirrels started attacking them. Fiona the cat took care of that, but then the dogs also started nibbling on my dahlias. And I didn't get around to repotting them so they just gave up on the whole growing thing and sulked into pitiful. I did finally repot them earlier this month and they are nicely saying thank you, but not to the point of blooming yet. I owe them thanks for that. By not having the big showgirls to catch my attention, I've been watching my zinnias a lot more closely. Much smaller than the dahls, they are nonetheless quite fascinating. That whole flower within the flower thing. And the buds are not all unfolding the same way, like siblings developing a unique identity. One of the first unfolded a single round of pink petals with the little yellow inside flowers marching forth in a parade of mounded progression. Others dress in multiple layers of petals, the yellow bits adorned as accessories. Then there is the unfolding bud, a shy little maiden unaware of her delicate beauty. All from the same six pack of seedlings.