I grew up in Kansas. I have lived in northern California for over 50 years now. I still miss the forsythia, lilacs and peonies that grew so abundantly in our gardens in Kansas. Our microclimates now mean I have failed at every attempt to grow them here. But I love the camellias, bougainvillea, delphiniums and bleeding hearts I have grown here along with different varieties of Japanese maples. There is still something restful to my eyes about a drive through Kansas City in spring when there are so many different greens in the trees. The big elms have been replaced by oaks in our current landscape but I delight in the many varieties of magnolias that spring brings into bloom.
Thanks for this! There is one house in our neighborhood that actually has some forsythia, I was so surprised when I discovered it because it was also an important memory from my youth!
We moved around a lot when I was young, but the majority of our time was spent in Northern California, much of it in Sonoma County, 2 counties N of San Francisco. We're down in the urban part of the Bay Area now, but when we drive west - and see the coast redwoods - or north - and see the oaks sprinkled over grassy hillsides, my heart sings.
I love in western MD. I am waiting for the.firdt spring blooms forsythia Pusey willows crocus tulips and daffodils.Then I know winter is over and spring is here.
I live a few hundred miles north of you and once when a friend from Ohio came to visit, she was for some reason ANNOYED that there were a few big palms like yours the next street over. Apparently she thought they should only be in LA and points south?
I have a big bird of paradise clump in front of the house, on a southwest-facing wall. I used to pick and press them to send to my mother back in the land of snow because she loved them since she was young and visited her aunt in LA. I really like having roses 9-10 months a year. I did have to rip out the passion vine as it was taking over everything including the grass, roses, geraniums, and fruit trees. The fruits were kind of boring anyway.
Here in Essex, England the blossom is appearing on the trees that stretch along this village road ( more suburban than rural, to be honest !) that lifts my heart..
On the edge of Epping Forest there is a green haze everywhere along the forest roads and another heart lifter, the magnolia trees in people's ftont gardens are beginning to bud
Thanks for sharing, love hearing about what is going on in England. I was surprised about the magnolia trees, having always thought they were a southern US tree (so liked warm and humid.) There are a few in our neighborhood, but the San Diego weather, if you are willing to provide water, will grow almost anything.
I grew up in Pacific Grove, California, on the Monterey Peninsula. Our average temp year around was 68 degrees. So, no palm trees. Plenty of bottle brush plants and some bird of paradise bloomed around town, though. And lots of bougainvillea, which is probably all over San Diego, too. So, when I moved north to San Leandro (south of Oakland, across from SF) I was surprised at all of the palm trees. I always associated palm trees with southern California.
For many years there was a single palm tree on the next street over that I could see towering over the houses through my dining room window. I loved watching the subtle changes as it grew and lost palms. One day it was gone. Now I have empty sky.
I grew up in Kansas. I have lived in northern California for over 50 years now. I still miss the forsythia, lilacs and peonies that grew so abundantly in our gardens in Kansas. Our microclimates now mean I have failed at every attempt to grow them here. But I love the camellias, bougainvillea, delphiniums and bleeding hearts I have grown here along with different varieties of Japanese maples. There is still something restful to my eyes about a drive through Kansas City in spring when there are so many different greens in the trees. The big elms have been replaced by oaks in our current landscape but I delight in the many varieties of magnolias that spring brings into bloom.
Thanks for this! There is one house in our neighborhood that actually has some forsythia, I was so surprised when I discovered it because it was also an important memory from my youth!
We moved around a lot when I was young, but the majority of our time was spent in Northern California, much of it in Sonoma County, 2 counties N of San Francisco. We're down in the urban part of the Bay Area now, but when we drive west - and see the coast redwoods - or north - and see the oaks sprinkled over grassy hillsides, my heart sings.
Thanks, beautiful image!
Isn't it beautiful in the summer when the grass is the palest straw color and the old coast oaks are that dark green?
I love in western MD. I am waiting for the.firdt spring blooms forsythia Pusey willows crocus tulips and daffodils.Then I know winter is over and spring is here.
Oh, I had almost forgotten pussy willows! Loved them.
My mom always grew pussy willows and silver dollar plants.
Its been many years since I saw the beautiful early spring wildflower trailing arbutus
It grew in the woods in northern michigan . But you had to lift a layer of leaves to find it. Oh!! The sweet aroma! Nothing like it!
I've always loved palm trees and hated humidity.
I live a few hundred miles north of you and once when a friend from Ohio came to visit, she was for some reason ANNOYED that there were a few big palms like yours the next street over. Apparently she thought they should only be in LA and points south?
I have a big bird of paradise clump in front of the house, on a southwest-facing wall. I used to pick and press them to send to my mother back in the land of snow because she loved them since she was young and visited her aunt in LA. I really like having roses 9-10 months a year. I did have to rip out the passion vine as it was taking over everything including the grass, roses, geraniums, and fruit trees. The fruits were kind of boring anyway.
Here in Essex, England the blossom is appearing on the trees that stretch along this village road ( more suburban than rural, to be honest !) that lifts my heart..
On the edge of Epping Forest there is a green haze everywhere along the forest roads and another heart lifter, the magnolia trees in people's ftont gardens are beginning to bud
Thanks for sharing, love hearing about what is going on in England. I was surprised about the magnolia trees, having always thought they were a southern US tree (so liked warm and humid.) There are a few in our neighborhood, but the San Diego weather, if you are willing to provide water, will grow almost anything.
I grew up in Pacific Grove, California, on the Monterey Peninsula. Our average temp year around was 68 degrees. So, no palm trees. Plenty of bottle brush plants and some bird of paradise bloomed around town, though. And lots of bougainvillea, which is probably all over San Diego, too. So, when I moved north to San Leandro (south of Oakland, across from SF) I was surprised at all of the palm trees. I always associated palm trees with southern California.
For many years there was a single palm tree on the next street over that I could see towering over the houses through my dining room window. I loved watching the subtle changes as it grew and lost palms. One day it was gone. Now I have empty sky.
I like the way they rattle in the wind. Sorry you lost it on your horizon.