Vancouver is famous for its Magnolia trees, and today at lunchtime I took this photo of a Magnolia that is just finishing its bloom. I missed the full beauty of it by a couple of days. Where this Magnolia is blooming, there is a long walkway through a park close to where I work, and it is bordered by Magnolias on both sides. When they are in full bloom, it is beyond spectacular. Today everyone ventured outside at lunchtime to have a look at the strange yellow orb in the sky. And the sky was an unusual color -- someone said the color was called "blue" and the strange yellow orb was called the "Sun". Whatever it was, I was able to snap this picture before the clouds and rain rolled in again.
Vancouver is also famous for its Cherry trees, and we are in the full bloom of our Cherry Blossom Festival. Almost every street in Vancouver is lined with Cherry trees. In Kitsilano, the Cherry trees on the streets leading down to the water all bloom at the same time. You have to see it to believe it. It looks as if all the trees are covered with white and pink snow, with the sparkling blue water at the foot of the street. I never get used to seeing it, and every year it takes my breath away. I can't take credit for this picture, but it is a very typical Vancouver scene, with the city and the mountains in the background.
The other day as I was strolling through my 'hood, I saw this very unusual flower. I have never seen anything like it before, and I thought it was quite beautiful. It looked quite cheery growing along the side of the boulevard, and if any of you gardeners out there happen to recognize this, and know what it is, I would love to know the name of it. As I walked past, it seemed to have this cheeky attitude, "Look at me! Look at me! I'm prettier than all the other flowers." It's one I would love to have in my little terrace garden on my tree house.Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly -- and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing. ... Omar Khayyam
21 comments:
thats just flat out beautiful ,JO !!! Thank you.
Oh I know just how gorgeous the magnolias are! I photographed the tree across the street the other day and today I see the blooms are already dropping. But around the corner is a different type of magnolia that is just in bud. This truly is a beautiful time of year in the city with all the cherry blossoms in bloom at the same time.
What beautiful tress you have to enoy. I can just imagine their scent. We have some trees blooming here too. I can't wait for my lilacs to bloom. Thank you for sharing the spring pictures.
Your Southern California friend who was born and raised in Hawaii says:
I am in a rough dilemma here in a semi-desert clime and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger threatening to water-ration and charge violators more for their water usage:
I love a tropical, thick, deep green vegetation look! I want that look around my house. Although I love flowers and plants in general, I do not want graceful desert grass waving in the wind in my back yard.
My samurai ancestors are probably turning in their graves.
~~ Lorna
The magnolias are beautiful,and the picture of the city with the mountain background is breathtaking....awesome really,nonone can get used to being around such beauty,the true essence of it being that it grows prettier everyday!
I don't know what the white flowers are called,but they sure seem like a bunch of pretty,sassy belles,mischeivious and playful .
nice snaps jo...
And I love that you took your time to notice a few wild flowers....
they are lovely and the final quote was interesting....
Lovely pictures Jo.
Beautiful walk in your town - thanks.
Love Magnolias, they are on the on the sidewalks of the neighborhood I live in. But when I saw your pic, I realized that I am so used to white magnolia's, that it didn't dawn on me that these pink flowers (first pic) were also magnolia's, LOL
I painted a 24 x 24 inch magnolia and is on my slideshow Celebrity Collection of flower paintings. (Jan.09)
I am fairly certain the white flowers are a variety of Magnolia too. Do they have a beautiful perfume? I forget the name, but wee see them here, & they are lovely, delicate, & fragrant.
Jo I suppose you do enjoy a sadistic streak eh? They are predicting overnight snow in Detroit...gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
;-p
Vancouver is just beautiful! I see we here in Washington state share the same awe of that yellow orb and blue surrounding it...it comes so quickly, then leaves just as you begin to bask in it's glow...but you know, the mist and clouds are pretty good for your skin, and don't they give us an even better appreciation of the sunshine? ( we tell ourselves that, anyway)
Jo... how beautiful and amazing!! Can i come visit you!!
Yes Jo it looks like your photo of the white flowers is a star magnolia. 'magnolia stellata'
http://www.garten.cz/a/cz/3576-magnolia-stellata-royal-star-sacholan-hvezdnaty/.
It's lovely isn't it and yes, I remember how Vancouver was always beautiful in the springtime.
Sharon.
They should hire you to work in the Department of Tourism (if there is such a dept.!) I want to see Vancouver sooooooooo badly!
Oh my God, so beautiful! It's as one fellow blogger Julochka (from Moments of Perfect Clarity) said..."it's as if the entire plant world is overtly having sex". Vancouver is a place I'd so love to visit.
You've convinced me that Vancouver is the place to be, and I've already told my husband that the next "getaway" vacation should be at a Bed and Breakfast (I hate hotels) there.
Thanks for these pictures. I was just outside and it's only in the 40's in Chicago. At least I have some hope that the warm weather should be hitting us in a more consistent level, soon. I hope.
Beautiful pix, Jo. The white ones are magnolias too, if I'm not mistaken. Those have just started to bloom here in New England too.
Beautiful, thank you!
Absolutely beautiful! The trees have yet to begin blooming here. I always think of blooming trees as nature made party decorations.
Beautiful pictures Jo! Magnificent scenery in your "hood," and I loved the quote too! :)
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