Could this be any prettier? I'm going to have one of these in my house at all times. This entire post is about peonies, so rest your eyes a while, and your mind, too, on these gorgeous blooms. Did you know the peony is the official floral symbol of China? It's deeply connected to royalty and honor. . . .
The hissing of summer lawns
It's only 8am but the sun beats down hard from a deep blue sky, belying the thermometer, which reads 67 degrees. We're walking Riley before the heat of the day takes hold. It's July in San Jose, Calif. and here in the valley, it can get sweltering. The neighborhood is still mostly green despite a . . .
Will we ever see the rain?
If you don't live here, California drought is just a headline, a TV news story, someone else's problem. But here in California, it's serious stuff, being called "unprecedented." Lifestyles must change. We're facing a 30 percent mandatory cut in our water use (over the average use in our city) to . . .
Color, carnations and kindness
Carnations are such happy flowers and this color combination is bright and cheery. These inexpensive little bouquets get a bad rap. They're pretty. They're hardy. They last a long time. And they come in just about every color under the sun. Best of all, they're super-affordable. I don't know about . . .
Diggin’ in the dirt
Are you excited about spring yet? Yeah, I know. If you live in some parts of the country you can't get excited just yet. But hey, like death and taxes, spring does come. Eventually. It just came sooner here. Which means it's time to garden. Well, I don't really garden. I'm good at killing plants, . . .
Yes, my darlings, spring has sprung
Spring. It's sprung, at least this week and at least in the San Francisco Bay area and on the Monterey peninsula. And in Sonoma. Here's what I found on my street: Down in Big Sur, the succulents are plump and green: Some are even flowering: Flowers in the wooden box at the Big Sur River . . .
Flowers when you’re dead
in a bucket-Union Square SF florist who wants flowers when you're dead? nobody. J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye That's right. Nobody. I don't like those funeral wreaths and huge formal things on stands artificially arranged in a cross or a heart or who knows in white or red and . . .
Sparkly blooms and trying to keep warm
January in the San Francisco Bay area can be cold. grey and wet, and this one's been colder than ever--this past week, lows in the 20s! That's pretty rare.Even though I was raised in the Snow Belt, where winter meant huge snowstorms, icicles and temperatures well below freezing, I still hate our . . .
Miracle of a single flower
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. -Buddha . . .
The cycle of life
Rose Garden, San Jose, 2011 Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again. ~Sarah Ban Breathnach The morning air is chilly now when I let the dogs out, reminding me that autumn is just a few weeks away. When it . . .