Delayed Gratification

It was the scent I noticed first -- rich and sweet and spicy.

Oriental lilies are some of my favorite flowers but all the ones I planted in past years have succumbed to encroaching growth, reckless romping dogs, or who knows what.

So when I was browsing through our grocery store's new garden center in search of potting soil, this pure white beauty seemed to be calling my name.

I enjoyed its fragrance while I took its picture -- but then I bought another -- one without open blooms --only buds.

Partly this decision was based on the superior traveling powers of the plant in bud as opposed to one with a heavy flower nodding. But mainly it's because I love the anticipation of watching a bud swell into bloom and unfurl itself, petal by petal.

What about you? Do you ever choose delayed gratification over instant?