Queen of the Night

With all the carrying on here at the house, it was lucky that I stepped into the greenhouse yesterday morning and noticed the single swelling bud on the night blooming cereus.

These blooms open at dark and close forever with the coming of dawn. It's a one shot deal and easy to miss -- but as we finished supper, I remembered to take a flashlight and check to see if this was the night.

The intense fragrance greeted me as soon as I opened the door and there she was, in all her glory -- the Queen of the Night.

It was a fitting close to a lovely day -- a delicious lunch in Asheville with members of the extended family -- and a day that saw the coffee maker repaired, the shower drain unclogged, and the oven (we think) in working order once again. All thanks to John.