Thursday, May 07, 2015

May Flowers

What a week.  Again.  It seems like spring is always spent going full speed ahead.  This week did.  But.  We survived.  And now it's Friday.  Friday Fave Fives with Susanne.
Here are my Fave Five from Willow's Week.
[Insert small note: as I am typing this, it's RAINING!  Any amount of rain is a miracle which we so desperately need.]

1.  I love poppies.  They just pop up in my garden--well, it is the California state flower, after all.   I picked a tiny bouquet and brought them in to the kitchen.  They're wonderful while they last--but poppies don't work well as cut blooms--within a day they had all wilted and dropped their petals.



2.  Sunday was the annual local hospice sponsored Garden Tour.  This year's chosen gardens were...undistinguished.  We had expected more focus on water wise, drought tolerant gardens considering the dreadful state of our lack of water here in Southern California.  Still, it was fun to wander around other people's gardens.  I did notice a color theme.  Lots of orange, terra cotta, and green.








3.  Also on Sunday afternoon, we grabbed a bit of lunch with The Professor's sister and her two sons.  Since our own children all live far away, we especially appreciate the time we can spend with our nephews and their little ones.

4.  Once a year,  the performing arts dept at the university presents "Arts Under the Stars, a free evening of outdoor art, music, film, theatre and dance performances by CI students."  Dragging our blankets, jackets, caps and chairs with us, we joined the throngs on the lawn in front of the university library and enjoyed ourselves immensely.

5.  Lunch with one of the nephews after teaching one day this week.  He works near where my Thursday classes are held.  He recommended Thai food, and I happily agreed.  And at the same time, some legal advice and information.  It is so very useful to have a lawyer in the family :)



14 comments:

Faith said...

I learned something new this a.m. before leaving for work!! The CA flower is poppy! I never knew that....and yours are soooo pretty!! Too bad us Northeasters couldn't bottle up all the snow we had this past winter and mail it off to CA for your water drought...we sure had enough wetness. We are all happy the temps have been in the 70s and 80s this week and SUNNY! I didn't get a hike in, in the last 2 weeks because of doing yard work, housework, practicing driving with my teen, etc. (I saw your comment on my last FFF :) ) Your week sounds so special full of happy moments...Have a Happy MOther's Day!!

Monica said...

I love flowers! Especially the kind that just "pop" up! :)
I hope you all will get more rain this year. We aren't off to a very good start. Thanks for sharing those beautiful gardnes! awesome!

Barbara H. said...

So glad you're getting rain! "Arts Under the Stars" sounds just wonderful. Glad you could combine lunch and lawyering - it would indeed be nice to have someone to ask such questions over lunch!

nikkipolani said...

Yes, the garden tours have started around here, too, and many are water-wise. Enjoyed seeing some of the pictures from the tour near you.

And wasn't that rain amazing?? We got a pretty good drenching here.

Anonymous said...

Your poppies are so bright and cheerful. My lilacs are about to burst into bloom,as is the "little princess" crab apple tree. The bleeding hearts are out,too. Do you remember all these Midwestern spring blooms? Mary

Jerralea said...

I love the bright colored poppies, too. Your garden tour looked like it would be fun - I love seeing how people landscape.

Glad you had family time this week, as well.

ellen b said...

I've always loved poppies! It's good to get some advice from a family lawyer! Have a wonderful weekend.

Gracie Saylor said...

This past week I have seen CA poppies up here near Mt. Hood, too :) Happy Mother's Day, Willow!

Gattina said...

I have never seen poppies of this color ! Ours are all red !

Mereknits said...

The poppies are so gorgeous, what an amazing color.
Hugs,
Meredith

snoopydogknits said...

Such pretty garden shots... fellow and orange in abundance. Lovely! Ros

Bethany said...

Happy Mother's Day Willow!!! Gorgeous photography on this post (as usual)! I hope you're having a good spring this year. I am beyond busy with all the college/graduation/high school activities going on right now but loving every moment with the kids. Sending you a hug! (p.s. you're not going to believe this but I've gone almost all vegetarian... just a little meat every week and no dairy (gasp)... I keep thinking that you'd find that very funny! But I'm feeling really good. Yay!)

Susanne said...

I love that happy little orange poppy! Reminds me of my grandma. Funny right when I was reading this there was a news story about the drought conditions and how so many are changing their lawns to drought tolerant landscaping.

The outdoor of evening arts sounds like lots of fun! And how nice to visit with your family.

Susanne said...

Oh and Happy Mother's day!