Hearty yellow violas of spring have been replaced by the red and white impatiens of summer. Seasonal shade cover more pronounced now that the trees have their full complement of leaves.

A bit puzzled by my decision to buy impatiens right under a sign that pronounced, in big letters, that they were subject to impatiens downey syndrome. I’m not normally the kind of person who ignores warning signs. I never go into a parking lot when the sign says, Exit Only.

Maybe I’m just an optimist at heart. Maybe I’m willing to take the risk because I’m a creature of habit. Impatiens have always flourished on our shady deck, and I’m willing to give them the opportunity to do it again.