While patiently waiting for Spring to arrive at Fintry, my husband and I have escaped to Southern California which has fast forwarded us to late Spring, early Summer.  How easily you can be transformed to another world in just a few days.  After arriving at our hotel in Northern California,  I was pleased to see the following morning an array of single red roses outside our hotel window.   Travelling through from Sacramento to Los Angeles, there were acres upon acres of fruit trees, orange and olive groves and on occasion we saw some cherry blossoms.  It does seem strange that there are so many flowers in bloom when there are still deciduous trees not out in leaf.  

 We are currently now in the Pasadena area and fortunate to be staying with friends.  Their garden is only small but once again it is lovely to see the abundance of bougainvillea blooming along with lantana, annual white alyssum and there is a beautiful camellia bush in flower just outside the back door along with a summer jasmine climbing along a trellis close by.  I also came across a pot of mixed cyclamen that I usually just grow as an indoor plant.  After leaving a few feet of snow, I was even happy to smell the scent of fresh cut grass.  

I am not much of a fan of american football, but my husband and I participated in a Super Bowl party along with a number of locals and I actually have to say that I enjoyed being part of it.  It is always great to meet new people and along with good food we had a great time.  I am not sure though that the guests were too happy with the score!

We continue onto the Palm Springs area tomorrow and I will again be looking out for different plant material and landscapes.