WHO'S THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL?

I was happily surprised at the little girls' joy at being in the gardens.

I was also proud of them for being actually excited about the beauty as they looked up the names 

of each variety and tried to choose favorites.

Thank goodness it wasn't a contest!

A river of grape hyacinth between infantries of tulips:

"And tulips, children love to stretch
  Their fingers down, to feel in each
    Its beauty's sweet nearer." 
(Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

One almost wanted to warn the girls, "Don't touch those petals, you will burn yourself!"

because of the hot brilliance:

Not once in the hours of garden-browsing did we hear a whine

from the girls.  They were tirelessly fascinated.

Yay!  More nature-lovers in the family!