Most mornings here in Charleston (even now, with the heavy weather of summer upon us) I walk down to the Battery and meander back to my house via some quiet backstreet or cobblestone alley—with the hope that I might catch a glimpse inside a jewel-box garden.

"My funny husband sent this photo. He is in the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan. Too bad the military does not make a seersucker camo pant."