spring – Page 22 – Ink, Yarn & Beer

Tulips

Spring flowers are full of color, and the bulbs are the shortest-lived and most cheerful.

Sitting still is hard.

It feels good to hold a pencil.

There is a beautiful botanical garden nearby. Originally slated for a development, it was found to be unusable for housing. The owner donated it to the city – so I am told. What has happened since is just wonderful, and continues becoming more wonderful! Not only does it continue to expand, adding different sections, but is always a work-in-progress, from volunteers, and from the changing of the seasons.

Yesterday, after reading and knitting for a few hours in the afternoon, I realized it was Saturday. (I’ve been in a fog with a melt-down, jury duty, and catching up with things at work that didn’t get done during the two days I was gone.) Suddenly, I just wanted to get out of the house, and go see some plants and take some pictures. Of course, my favorite place to go is the gardens!

Spring cleaning has been done in the gardens – undergrowth pulled out and removed so new plants can grow. I was not disappointed. The matilija poppies are just beginning to emerge their new growth for spring. Hummingbird sage is in full bloom. Other salvia plants are sending out buds. The redbud is in flower, with brilliant red and pink blossoms amongst heart-shaped leaves. Bulbs, such as narcissus, are making themselves visible and easily found with their sweet fragrances. Amaryllis, too, are emerging. Bees are busy in the lavendar; fruit trees are beginning to renew their cycles.

The evenings, though lengthening, are still early. Sunset is about 6:30 p.m. The sun was lower in the sky, and tilting through the leaves and branches, backlighting everything from the west. People like me were wandering around, just enjoying a stroll, taking pictures, enjoying an outing with family and friends.

This is the time of year when last year lingers in old leaves on trees, and fallen leaves providing nutrition for future growth.

Never ending . . .

Spring . . .

Nothing like cold weather to make you want to be warm, but nothing beats that first hint of spring in the air. The wind changes, the buds swell, leaves from crocus, tulip, and hyacinth emerge through the crusty snow. In a drab winter world, that brilliant green is a visual excitement.

Soon, a new pattern will emerge here. It is being written up over the next few days.

A Walk in the Garden

The weather this spring is so incredible this year. There are breezes in off the ocean, the skies are blue, we have cool weather. And we have had rain. The result is that flowers are in bloom everywhere, and a few miles down the road, we are blessed with 33 acres of an ever-changing and evolving botanical garden, the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden. I believe all the plants are native to California, and most are drought tolerant – perfect for the xeriscape garden – and incredibly beautiful.