Jillian gifted to me a beautiful hydrangea for Mother’s Day last year. At first I planted it near a gardenia – a spot draped in shade all morning long. It soon became apparent, however, that the relentless afternoon sun proved too harsh for this delicate flower.

The dilemma of where to replant it took days to solve. I wanted to see it from the porch, but it needed protection from the sun.

Then it dawned on me. Place it next to Susan’s azalea. Susan and Jillian were close friends. We lost Susan unexpectedly, so I went to the place where I find the most solace on this planet – outside with the trees – and planted an orange azalea in Susan’s memory. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before – Jillian’s hydrangea next to Susan’s azalea. The two of them belong together.