When my parents’ house burned down in 2020 (the perfect year for a house fire, come to think of it), their entire property became a charred and barren wasteland overnight. The fire was so devastating that nothing remained apart from some twisted metal pieces belonging to no-longer-identifiable household appliances. To add a dash of decency to the place, my Mother cheerfully forced bouquets of artificial flowers into the soil of large planters which once overflowed with greenery. Although the effect (from a distance) was admirable, those flowers were incomparable to the brilliant fuchsia geraniums which now bloom throughout the summer months. . .