Do you have a favorite flower? Did you choose a special bloom for your bridal bouquet, or for the boutonnière? A bachelor button, an orchid, or some people like the beauty of a simple carnation.

My love of flowers inspired me to paint original watercolor greeting cards. On my trips, I find my picture albums peppered with portraits of beautiful blossoms. You may see the essence of that flower only once, for by daybreak the following day, its delicate colors may have faded.

On a recent trip to Victoria, British Columbia, we visited the famous Butchart Gardens on a rainy afternoon. What a joy it was to stroll through the carefully manicured grounds. Several of the cards below were inspired by our travels to that garden. Others were painted over the seasons of prior years.