Hope and love

I thought my ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) was dead all winter long and noticed one day a few months back that it had tiny leaves all over it.  Now it is almost in bloom, and since it is related to the rose family as well as the Hawthorne tree, it can be considered a symbol of love and hope, according to the Victorian language of flowers.

If you haven't read "The Language of Flowers," a novel by Victoria Diffenbach, I highly recommend it.  The main character finds her way after a life in foster care, through understanding flowers and choosing them for others.