A handful of mixed zinnia seeds tossed into a sunny corner of the garden has given me a fascinating laboratory for observing color. The zinnias blossom into bold, saturated hues— cheerful pinks, sunny yellows, and deep orange reds. Very satisfying. But as they begin to fade, pigments in the petals alter. The magentas adopt an orange blush, the yellows deepen to ochre, the reds darken, and the pale pinks transform into a range of violets, from lavender to deep purple. Twice as much beauty!