In the fall, I went home to Ohio to attend the funeral of my uncle Larry, my dad's brother-in-law. It was a sad time for our family, but seeing my parents, aunts, and cousins made it all more bearable for everyone.
My mother is an somewhat fanatical gardener, and though it was the end of the summer, her flower garden was in full bloom. I took some pictures of their bounty, and through the long, rainy winter, like to take them out to look at them from time to time.
With spring's arrival throughout most of the US, I thought I would share some of what we have to look forward to in the coming months. Here in California, the brillian orange California poppies are already making an appearance along the side of the road.
My mother grows a number of different kinds of flowers. These are dahlias, and the ones at the top of the post are Black-eyed Susans. I love the vibrancy of yellow-hued flowers; to me, they look like happiness personified.
My mother has a small vegetable patch in her yard, and when the local rabbits don't invade, she usually has a good crop of lettuce, bok choy, and tomatoes. She uses the cabbage to make kimchi for herself and her friends.
Though I usually think of Hawaii when I think of Hibiscus, I found this one in the middle of Ohio, growing in a pot. Sitting outside with tropical flowers blooming around you can make you feel like you've taken an exotic tropical vacation, without ever leaving home.
These delicate pink buds are impatiens. They look like spring to me. Impatiens are found all over the United States, in different varieties and colors.
Happy Spring! I hope that wherever you are or wherever your journeys take you, you take time to notice the beauty all around you.
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.-Buddha
