When you have a chance to see something rare and fleeting, grab it. An eclipse. A birth. An albino tiger. A rare flower blooming.

We’ve had a cereus plant for many years, and, for at least five years, the plant lived exclusively in my husband’s studio. In a light filled place, it grew enormous. But its blooms were elusive. We kept just missing them.

Eventually the plant came home, and we put it outside for the summer. It could not have been happier about our hot, sunny Virginia summers. The plant bloomed over five times! And we were home to see almost every single flower.

Despite the fact that the plant now blooms more frequently, we have lost none of our wonder at the beauty. Each event still feels rare and precious. And I hope it always will.