Do you ever get a phrase or line of lyrics caught in your head? The line “It’s been a hard day’s night. And I’ve been working like a dog,” has been floating in front of my eyes, thank you Beatles.
Strange idiom! I’ve never expected a dog to work as hard as we did this weekend.
It was the moment of truth. Spring isn’t yet in full bloom, but it’s making excellent progress.
Randy Magnolia at South Coast Botanic Garden
Last week I mentioned how garden weeds continue to proliferate in Southern California despite a semblance of winter dormancy.
So there was more weed pulling.
And completely pot bound plants needed a change in environment. I’m always so frustrated with myself when I have neglected this chore and end up breaking a nice pot because the roots can’t otherwise dislodge. Yes, there was pot breaking.
South Coast Botanic Garden, Daisy
With a heavy dose of physical exertion I can get entirely lost in the rhythms of working outdoors. I do wish the same sense of bliss would come over me when cleaning the house. I didn’t get a lot of that done this weekend.
Calla Lilies, South Coast Botanic garden
And now, Monday, Monday! Back to the computer. Back to sitting in my office for the better part of a day. Closed up and indoors…while outdoors spring is calling my name.
Dutch Iris, South Coast Botanic Garden
I have a nice window, but, that’s not like being outdoors. So I’ve circled some dates on the calendar and made plans for some field trips.
California poppies in the cactus garden, South Coast Botanic Garden
I haven’t been to Descanso Gardens for a while. I could look forward to the Garden’s Cherry Blossom Festival. I don’t want to miss that!
And I won’t miss the annual Wistaria Festival in Sierra Madre. Would you like me to bring back some photos of a Wistaria Vine weighing in at 250 tons and over an acre in size? It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Pink Powder Puff
I might decide to wait until April to visit the Ranunculus Flower Fields in Carlsbad. Nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers–a festival of the most gorgeous blooms–are just now beginning to get underway. So maybe we’ll make that visit in early April when they will be in full flower.
Don’t these sounds like wonderful weekend events for someone spending the week closely connected to her office computer?
It’s a good thing I can visualize the outdoors when I’m stuck indoors. Here’s what I’ll be picturing.
My little friend at the South Coast Botanic Garden
A lot of good visualizing and looking ahead to some outdoor experiences will go a long way this week. I can be patient.
Silver Torch Cactus
The seasons are changing. I’ll bet in the Southern Hemisphere it’s beginning to feel like fall?
Heavenly Bamboo
“All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep in the soft earth. I can feel it’s energy, and spirits soar.” Helen Hayes
breathelighter 
Loved this! Blessing my friend! Less work and more play hopefully soon for you!
Deb Wilden
Thanks my sweet friend! It was a good weekend even with a lot of work! I’d rather be outdoors any time! Hope you’re doing well. I miss seeing you! 🙂
Glad you got some satisfaction with your garden duties. “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” now without my garden. Thanks for the field trip suggestions as well–maybe I should go to a few of your suggestions to enjoy a moment or too in the garden if its a public one.
It’s really true about finding the garden satisfying. I sometimes feel like I don’t spend enough time on a regular basis, so chores pile up and then I’m not enjoying it as I normally would. We got a good jumpstart this weekend, so if we can keep a little steadier pace we’ll enjoy it more! If you haven’t been to the Carlsbad Ranunculus Gardens that’s a must for anyone. It’s breathtaking! We’ve only been once, and it was a few years ago, so I’m looking forward to seeing it again. If at all possible I really recommend that one. 🙂
It was a gorgeous day, wasn’t it? Sometimes I miss gardening. Then I remember how afraid I was of the huge grasshopper living in my favorite cabbage rose bush. *L* I do miss that rose bush, though.
You made me laugh at your grasshopper comment! So funny! It is true that once in a while I encounter something unpleasant, but for the most part I’m not too concerned with insects. I do well. Now rodents? That’s another story! LOL!
We’re still weeks away from any kind of gardening chores and I’ve got boxes of new supplies in my living room to prove it! Even so, I do enjoy seeing flowers in bloom in other areas, whether in our country or someone else’s. It is a beautiful World, isn’t it, Debra? 🙂
You’ve said it best, John! It is a beautiful world. I so appreciate that you notice! I comment very frequently that despite living in a very congested urban landscape, almost every week I see signs of wildlife, or notice trees and flowers that are breathtakingly beautiful. I feel like I see more because I really want to see it. You do have to pay attention. I’m sure that in many ways those of you buried under winter are going to be even more appreciative when spring thaws! I am sure the new supplies will be well utilized soon! 🙂
Great photos – Love the legend about Heavenly Bamboo.
Thank you for commenting on the Heavenly Bamboo, Laurie. I loved that, too, and I’m not much of an artist, but if I can come up with some kind of a decorative sign I’d love to copy this at home. It makes me smile! Thank you, too, Laurie for the retweets! I’m so slow to pick up on Twitter, that I didn’t at first notice! I really appreciate it!
Debra, this post is such a treat. I’m ready to see some pretty spring color myself and am looking forward to your coming posts of your garden tours. Have a lovely week.
I’m sure you’re seeing signs of spring, too, Andra. I keep noticing every little change right about now. Many of the trees haven’t yet started to bud, and I always know spring is really here when my neighbors’ sycamore starts to put out green leaves. It hasn’t quite happened yet! I did purchase tickets for a couple of tours and put other dates down to just mill about on my own for any gardens that don’t require much of an entrance fee. The benefits to me after I’ve walked around for a couple of hours absorbing the landscape is a dramatic shift towards relaxation and also some added enthusiasm for my own garden chores. It’s good for my emotional health! 🙂
You make me want to move! Still cold and dreary here but soon….The flower show is going on in Philadelphia which is a big deal here. Hope to get there to get a really bad dose of spring fever! Wonderful pictures.
I think it would be great for you to get to the flower show, Kate! Just to be around that much beauty and color for a day would do wonders for the spirit! That old groundhog did promise a short winter, so spring can’t be too far off now! 🙂
We’ve had 2 rain free weeks (!!!!!) and spring is beginning to tease us. I’m still wearing all the layers, but beginning to look forward.
That’s right, Fiona! We may just be getting the tease for spring, but everything and everyone gets just a little more active! I’m glad you’ve had some relief from the rain! It’s life-giving and necessary, but too many days of rain and I do think it begins to work on our ability to stay emotionally buoyant! The “looking forward” part of seeing signs of spring is wonderful! 🙂
Lovely, lovely, lovely. That Randy Magnolia bloom is my fave! 😀
It’s always nice to share with you, Nancy. I am starting to feel energized by all the signs of spring! And then when we move the clock forward next Sunday I’ll be fully charged! 🙂
It’s always a great feeling when Spring arrives. You do that inner rejoicing that you’ve survived another Winter and good times are ahead. Yes, we’ve noticed we’re now in Autumn. The nights are cooler, the days are shorter and there’s a crispness to the air every morning. I’m not quite ready for Winter so I do hope we have some warm days left xx
Usually after a long summer I’m really ready for autumn. I do think if we had perpetual spring and summer we’d probably burn out and completely overdo it, so we need to rest a bit with each cycle. I enjoy your activities and seeing what you’re doing both as a family and in the kitchen, knowing that our seasons are directly opposite. I like trying to picture how we compare and contrast, because I see so many seasonal comparisons between where we live! oxo
I’m going to visit again tomorrow for a breath of this fresh air you’ve given us Debra. We’ll be buried under snow by the sounds of it and I’m definitely ready for spring flowers. 🙂
Oh more snow, Kristy? My goodness! There can’t be that many more days of it, do you think? I am quite sure you will be ready to “burst forth” just like the spring bulbs…you just need some consistent sunshine. You’re so kind to say you’ll stop by for a bit of spring from my end. Someone asked this morning to share about my weekend, and after he’d told me how very cold the weather was I replied that I just didn’t want to inform him of my weekend activities, I felt like my response would be cruel! I feel quite confident that in just a few short weeks we’ll all more or less be in the same season! LOL! Hope you’re enjoying the time to hibernate and let go of some of your blogging duties, too. It’s very nice to hear from you!
It’s one of the things I love most about spring – the feeling of hope and renewal!
I’m sometimes almost a little embarrassing to note how much more cheerful I become in spring! I think so many of us do! We’re just like the birds and flowers, I suppose! 🙂
Hello Debra.
I’ve been absent from wordpress for a while. The Australian summer has been a hot one. We’ve had bushfires, floods and heat, heat, heat. During February I had a dear friend, Aussie now living in Petaluma CA, to stay for a while. It was wonderful. As for Autumn, although the days are still quite hot the early mornings and late evenings have a slightly cooler autumn softness to them. Unlike most people I know, I’m longing for winters chill on my cheeks.
Your photos are wonderful, as usual. My favouite is the Dutch Iris.
I may not get to read all the blog posts I’ve missed. My unread emails are now over 2500. My nephew keeps threatening to hit the delete all button, but I still live in hope of catching up one day.:)
Take care
Tricia
I’m glad to hear from you! Your summer sounds like some of the ones we experience! The fires, in particular. How lovely have had your friend come for a visit. I hope you had a nice long time together! I have to smile at the idea of 2500 emails! Your nephew may have the right idea. 🙂 I always think we need to be very kind to ourselves when it comes to blogging and keep up. I can be a little compulsive about these things, and tend to think I can do it all…of course, I can’t! On the other hand, I always say about such things that I, too, live in hope. We don’t have to face reality any more than we want to, right? LOL! Take care, my friend. Dip in when you can, and take breaks when there are other things more important…like just taking a break!
Many signs of spring here — flowering plum, flowering crab apple, daffodils, but our camellia buds remain shut tight. Some trees are in bud, some in flower, some in first leaf. We leave for Seattle tomorrow.
It really is an artist’s dream right now with all the beautiful clean colors! I hope your trip to Seattle is for something fun? I have actually never been to Seattle, which is just too bad given what a wonderful city I believe it to be, and it shouldn’t be that hard for me to get there! I hope you travel safely and well, and have some time to enjoy! 🙂
Love the pictures again as always! They’re beautiful!!!!
Thank you, Kelly. There must be something built into each of us to enjoy the beauty that spring always brings! I always begin to feel energized with longer days and the beauty of the first buds! 🙂
What a treat! I felt as if Spring already has started. If you go to the Wistaria Festival , I would enjoy seeing some photos of a Wistaria Vine weighing 250 tons! 😀
I have tickets already for the Wistaria Festival, Marie. I’ll definitely be taking photos. I’ve never seen it before, and I always intend to go. So this year I bought the tickets early! 🙂
These are beautiful reminders of spring renewal.
Thank you for visiting, Tammy. Spring is always hopeful, isn’t it? I am getting excited about Daylight Savings Time this weekend. It doesn’t take a lot to get me enthused. LOL!
I love “our” field trips! Especially when they involve a garden or two 🙂
Goo dto hear you got outside and got your fingers in the earth Debra, nothing quite like being outside absorbing a few rays, feeling the warmth – or the chill or whatever!
Hope the weekend bring syou more warmth and sun my friend
I’ll bet you’re getting eager to get your fingers in the dirt at the allotment, Claire! Can’t be long now. Now that you’re home I’m sure you’re getting the seeds started, too. I’ll look forward to seeing what you grow this year! 🙂
I’m just itching to get my fingers in the dirt! We’ve had about six inches of snow today, so, all I’ll be digging for a while is snow for a snowman. No worries, however, as I’ve your stunning photos, cheerful spirit, and hope that you’ll be telling about another sunny field trip soon, Debra.
You’ll get out in the dirt soon, Penny! I just know you will. 🙂 And you’ll be sharing some photos, too!
It seems we are both on the same wavelength regarding spring:) I was just in Palm Springs.. I don’t think that’s near where you are? It was so glorious there, the bedding out plants just lift the spirit. I wish you luck with your computer work and hope you get it done quickly so you can get outside to enjoy your little field trips. The Ranunculus Flower Fields is one that would catch my interest! xx
I knew where you were! I could certainly recognize the area. 🙂 Yes, Palm Springs isn’t that far and we are able to visit frequently. I’m so glad you had the chance to warm up and spend good time with friends. The contrast between Palm Springs and the photos of your snow covered outdoor furniture was reason enough for me to know you enjoyed yourself! 🙂 Hope you can keep the warmth for a little bit longer!
Next time, I’ll let you know when we are down there. How long is the drive for you?
I hope you do get the chance to come back to Palm Springs sometime, Barb…preferably again next winter when you’re ready for some sunshine. PS in just a few weeks will begin to get hot, hot, hot! 🙂 We live about 90 minutes from PS, depending on time of day…you know how traffic is here. We don’t measure distance in miles, but time according to traffic patterns! But we have a trailer in the San Jacinto Mountains and go there frequently year-round. We come “down the mountain” to have breakfast or dinner in Palm Springs, and that’s about 20 minutes maybe? I’m just glad you had a good time. It made me smile when I saw where you were because I knew you were thawing out! LOL! oxo
What beautiful photos my friend to release you from stress, pressure and Monday 😀
Cheers
CCU
Thanks for commenting on my beautiful garden photos, CCU. I always enjoy sharing them. I get a lot of pleasure from nature, and my enjoyment is heightened when I can share. 🙂
AHA! Cherry Blossoms Festival, where that’ll be? I gotta make room for that one.
AMAZING, amazing flower collectio, Debra!!! You got great eye, excellent photography here. The pink one is wicked crisp and sharp. The Silver Torch Cactus is very fasvinating!
I read about the Cherry Blossom Festival at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada, Rommel. I can’t imagine what it really is, since we don’t get cold enough for true cherries. But I’ll probably check it out anyway. I like Descanso Gardens and haven’t been there for a while! 🙂
It does raise doubt. I wanna go. Care for a meet? Ow wait, you’re with your family, I bet.
I’m not sure when I’m going to be free, but one of these times you betcha! We will meet!
Weee! 😀
Dear Debra, I so look forward to taking those trips with you–via your blog. Your curiosity about California and nature and all that fills your mind with such wonder is a never-ending delight to me. Peace.
You are such an encouragement to me, Dee. There are times when I’m lost in some of my interests and do question that my writing may not transmit as well to others, so your enthusiasm is so welcome! Thank you!
I hope you took some time to breathe lighter 🙂
Seasons changing. It felt like it for a while. But it seems summer’s going to be with us for a bit longer now here in the Southern Hemisphere. Coastal New South Wales had plenty of rain this year all through the summer months. And weed pulling is a never ending task. We poor pensioners do not always find enough time for gardening. I wonder what keeps us so busy that we cannot even look adequately after a very small garden? When some guys at age 100 can still do it!
By the way, we never have it here that cold that weeds can’t grow!
Debra, I love all the pictures. They’re very beautiful. I very much enjoyed this post. T.Y.
I think you’re busy doing so many interesting things that keeping up with a garden is indeed a chore, Uta. We can’t be in two places at once, unfortunately! 🙂 I wish I could convince myself that pulling weeds was excellent exercise! Maybe that would improve my perspective. Ha! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos at the Botanic Garden. I am using some of these garden experiences as my opportunity to practice my photography.
Great post Debra. Your photos are really lovely.
Thank you, Rosie. I am glad you stopped by…the Southcoast Botanic Garden is another winner! It’s an excellent place to practice photography! 🙂