When I was 11, I had a bit part in a children’s play based on the fairy tale “The Love for Three Oranges.”
One at a time, three princesses emerged from three “oranges” in front of a prince who was a little slow on the uptake. A girl who had also been my partner Card when we painted the roses red in Alice in Wonderland was the first to emerge, crying out, “Water, water, I die of thirst!” and promptly dying. I died next.
By the time the third princess split open her orange and struggled to stand, the prince had managed to come up with some water and revived her. (I don’t recall anything else about the story but am pretty sure it didn’t resemble the one on Wikipedia.)
The Love for Three Oranges came to mind recently when I noticed that the tulips above were withering too fast. They’d been forced in time for Easter, I guess. I would have liked to hold on to their cheerfulness for longer than a few days.
I’m hoping that the tiny bud you see in the photo will bloom before the stem dies. I was so happy when I realized after buying the bouquet that there was a nascent flower tucked in where at first I saw only green.
Have you noticed that peaches, for example, when forced, sometimes rot from the inside out before they are ripe enough to eat? Fruit, flowers, and people all need to slow down, don’t you think, lest we wither before we fully bloom.
And speaking of slowing down, do check out the song that Will McMillan wrote on that very topic, here. It’s called, “Can We Slow It Down?” He performed the composition recently at the Unitarian church in Medford, where, he says, it complemented the sermon perfectly.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
It seems there’s always a trade-off when we try to get Mother Nature to do our bidding! I loved Will’s song, too–I’m going to be more conscious of slowing things down . . .
For me, in retirement, things are slow a lot of the time. So it’s more about improving the quality of the slow time. That can mean staying away from social media — the same as for busier people.
I hope they don’t die too fast on you, they are beautiful! Can you plant them outside after they have died down or do you just throw they away? Tulips don’t grow very good in the south, so I know very little about them. Slow down… I so agree.
These were just cut tulips, so not for replanting. And I’m afraid they died before that little bud came out. But thanks to photography, I’m still enjoying them.
I am just now finding this generous mention of my song! THANK YOU for sharing it via your blog! I just woke up from a nap, which often seems to me to be the epitome of slowing things down… VERY gratefully yours, will
Of course! You’re welcome.
Ps: Your cut tulips were terrific — and today I saw my first set of BRIGHT RED tulips blooming in front of an Arlington bank!!!
oh, joy!