Of cut flowers, tulips are my favorite. Usually they come with buds all squenched up as tight as little fists. Appearing to be stubborn and unyielding. They flop quite nicely in vases [say: vos ez] with no need of artful arranging. Simple flowers in deliriously beautiful colors. With absolutely perfect leaves.
I have learned to trick them.
Warm water in the vase just melts their resistance, and Lo! they open slowly to expose the fragile pistil, anther and stamen of their souls.
Some cats are like this — wild and frisky, touch-me-not. A warm caress will tame them into purring. People, too . Cold hearts can be softened with two-lips.
I can hear the tulips on my desk purring now, on this snowy February morning.