The Orange Tree

Most days in Paris, I would head off to whatever the destination of the day was -- only to return pretty late at night or just in time for "last call" for dinner. That meant I only saw this flower shop through the windows, not open. (It keeps very limited hours anyway.)

Finally, I was heading out planning to go elsewhere and saw it open with plants spilling out onto the sidewalk. Perfect! Set up my easel and went to work.  Randy asked me if I wanted him to find out when it closes -- but I said there was no need. 

Wrong. About forty-five minutes to an hour in, the shopkeeper comes out and starts taking in all the plants. Closed until the next day -- Sunday -- when I had other plans.

I worked around the issue. I'd already established the orange tree (afraid someone would snatch it up) and open door. There was plenty left to do to show the sunflowers in the window and old building facade that proved there had long been a flower shop in this spot. 

This is one of my favorite paintings of the trip. Its patina makes me wonder of all who stood in this spot and carried out their everyday lives over the ages.

What does it say to you?