Last year, I harvested seeds from the sole zinnia plant that survived to seed stage.

(There was NO cross-pollination.)

I started some of those seeds indoors in the same soil putting them under the same growlight. When they were large enough, I moved them to the same bed, caring for them the same way.

They received the same amount of sunlight and water and nutrients.

One plant didn’t survive. One has SIX flowers. One hasn’t flowered at all. Others have one to four flowers per plant.

The largest plant is as tall as my hips. The shortest surviving one barely reaches my ankles.

And their flowers are a variety of colors (each plant only has one color of blooms, however)!

Plants, like humans and other species, are all different. They grow in their own unique ways at their own unique times.

Yes, we can influence that growth. But we can only help so much.

We care for them and let them do their thing.

And we embrace their differences.

(smiles)