From August 24, 2011
On the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 massacre, I offer here two representations of the concept durable. The flag speaks for itself, I think. The begonia has a different story.

From September 10, 2011
This flower has been reaching in every direction since Della and I planted it in the late spring. When we (reluctantly) came back from North Carolina in late August, it was an ungainly, straggling thing. Still, that it was alive at all was pretty amazing considering how neglected it was. Then, before Hurricane Irene, I thought I'd tuck it amid the boxwoods to get some good rain. However, clumsy me, I snapped the stem when I picked it up. I thought better of throwing it away when I saw some threads of root at the base of the stem, so I stuck it back in the soil and surrended it to Irene. It survived. And then a squirrel came along that dug it out of its pot and left it on the front step in a naked, undignified heap. I stuck it back in the earth, and Della gave it a drink. Next day, this durable beauty blessed our day with this blossom.