By Anita Garner
Years ago I moved into a cottage in Mill Valley with a lush backyard garden planted by the person who lived there before me. I was grateful every season for the gardener who created the magical retreat. Every time I looked out a window something new was blooming and that first year I had no idea what would appear next.
My one and only Grand lived in Woodland Hills. Mill Valley to Woodland Hills on California’s I-5 was a regular road trip every few months. Between visits, they sent me photos of The Grand and and I sent them photos of whatever grew in the garden. On my phone are hundreds of pictures of The Grand and many, many photos of flowers. Am I the only person who saves pictures of tiny bouquets for years? 
In these photos, the coffee tables change, the vases change, the blossoms change, but the one constant is the plaid couch. I loved that couch. It was already vintage when I bought it and even more nicely worn in after I had it a while. Finally, the couch sighed its last. That’s when I realized that in all these pictures, lovely as the flowers are, the couch still draws me in. I miss it.
A plaid fan knows it’s not just for fall and winter, and once in love with plaid, you don’t break up. You might date a few other patterns, but you’ll always go back. Someday another plaid couch will come knocking at my door and I’ll invite it in and take pictures to show you.
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