Bleeding Hearts © 2011 David Leaser
As a boy growing up in Pennsylvania, I remember bleeding hearts growing in the shady foundation areas of our house. I remember pulling open the petals to study the skeletal framework of the flowers. Years later, after moving to Southern California, I wanted to plant bleeding hearts in my parents’ yard, but I learned they required a cooler climate to thrive. This variety, however, thrives in California. To me, this image will always remind me of growing up. To others, it may symbolize devotion, love and unity.