A POX ON WATER DAMAGE!

I always try to take in the big Spring Celebration at Rogers Gardens -
(a lovely garden nursery/gift shop in Corona Del Mar, CA)

Fuzzy chicks make me happy...

as do bunnies

Cute bunnies aside, I come to see the flower arrangements their floral department create to FILL the gift shop.

We took a little Coastal train ride with friends to Carlsbad

Great views all the way on the Surfliner.

Shopping Carlsbad - fun in spite of a little rain...

My son braved the weather of Winter in Yosemite to capture the fire falls.
Only ONE time each year - in February, and providing the weather permits,
is this particular waterfall lit by the setting sun which turns it to 'fire'.
At just the right moment, it pours molten sunset down the face of El Capitan.
He had been defeated by the weather two previous years.  It was well worth the wait.

 View his photography here and here

And then we lost our baby.
OUR BAILEY - RIP SWEET GIRL

she left a big giant hole in our hearts

And the ugly kept coming in the form of

THE VERY BAD, VERY UGLY

SLAB LEAK

I actually felt we caught it in time, but the insurance company still ripped up over 1/2 our floor

and a lot of walls, took down the built-in cabinets and removed moldings and packed our belongings and furniture into a pod on the driveway.

Once again, we were without a kitchen.

A LITTLE FLORAL INSPIRATION

I'm a fall baby.  Born in October, I always love the end of the year seasons, when the air turns crisper, colors turn warmer, and the promise of family gatherings and Christmas cheer are on the horizon.

On the other hand, Spring is a pretty magical time, too.  I love the new growth in the garden, and picking new plants, and bringing the outdoors inside a little with plants, flowers and accessories.  Nature can be heady.  Moss can be magical.  Spring casts a certain spell...

It cast a rose spell on us - The Hubs and I had a slight sprinkler problem and some plants had to be removed for the repair - which left a little room in the garden for more roses....  Here's what came home with us...

Carding Mills (David Austin English Roses)

The Alnwick Rose (David Austin English Roses)

Sweet Mademoiselle (David Austin English Roses)

Bolero (Romantica)

I love the look of these multi-petaled English roses and the amazing color and fragrance.  We actually went back for another of the white romantica rose, Bolero.  Once it bloomed we were stunned at its size (4") and beauty.  It has over 100 petals and opens up with just a blush of pink in the center and has a wonderful scent.  We fell in love.  

I look forward to the Spring Celebration at Rogers Gardens, a plant nursery in Corona del Mar, California, each year. They are are a serious nursery, and a large one, but more than that - they also have several gift shops, a restaurant and an on-site florist.

Each Spring, their team of florists fill the largest of the gift shops with dozens of beautiful fresh arrangements for their Spring Celebration. It's a bountiful display of their considerable talents that looks beautiful and smells even better.  I can provide a look for you here ....I wish I could also send the aroma!

Hope you enjoyed the little floral tour - its back to the garden for me - I have to go plant roses!