The Fire Of Spring

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