I have a dear friend who showed me way more than I ever knew about gardening. She introduced me to the plants she loved in her garden and often shared starts with me. As the years went by, my friend finally, on the day of this photo, had to say good-bye to her yard and home and move to a safer place nearer family. Just before she left, she had one more walk through of her yard, her flowers. The afternoon sun touched her as she drank deeply one more time of the fragrance of the peonies, the ones she'd grown up with on her Montana ranch. Fortunately I saw the moment and had my camera. That candid photo inspired this painting.