Plant Spotlight: Cosmos (Cosmos Bipinnatus)

Hi, Cosmos.

I’m Ellen. It’s not that I’m obsessed with you. It’s just that I want to cut off your heads and put them on display in my home for all my visitors to see.

It’s not just me, either. Gardeners and floral enthusiasts everywhere feel this way. And I think it’s because you’ve landed squarely in the sweet spot in the Venn diagram of bold, lovely, and stalwart.

Your presence becomes a study in idealist living. When you finally stop blooming at the end of a long growing season, it’s a reminder that wonder is fleeting—and to enjoy it while it’s here.

And how is it that you go with everything?

Bright pink flowers are notoriously difficult to pair with other colors, yet there you are, making it work. Even if you show up in soft blush, cream, white, or even orange, you slip effortlessly into whatever’s growing nearby.

Your vibe can be cottage garden or wildflower meadow, and yet I’ve seen you hold your own in the clipped precision of a formal garden bed. Loose, but not messy. Cheerful, but not chaotic.

Who are you, really?

I could say you’re a chameleon, conforming to your surroundings; but your identity always holds fast. You are never what you’re not.

I suppose the answer is simple: you’re cosmos.

So please, keep blooming—and I’ll keep snipping.

Love,
Ellen

And in conclusion: are gardeners and lovers of fresh flowers actually psychopaths, sedated by petals and greenery?
We’ll tackle that another day.