At last, spring is in the air …
Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are heralding the warm-up, so I dug out my one small white trumpet vase that was once part of a bigger Victorian centerpiece called an epergne—French word for saving—that radiated 2 to 7 “branches” that held small glass, metal, or silver trumpet vases as shown in today’s photo (held upright by the use of a more common flower frog) … look up epergne on eBay—intact epergnes are a S-P-E-N-D-Y collector’s item.
Photo by ShakataGaNai via Wikimedia Commons
Photo by Clinton & Charles Robertson via Wikimedia Commons
That’s when a little birdie (named Megan) told me that she and her “nestlings” are already crafting their May Day doorstep surprises.
Right now, flowers are our fancy here at the farm. And that why I’m as happy as a spring chicken wandering around my own little paradise, watching for new blooms, but …
You know that I also love a virtual vacation—especially when I can talk you into tagging along.
How about it? Let’s roam the sunlit countryside, visiting flower festivals across the U.S.
Are you game?
First stop: the Sequim Lavender Festival in Sequim, Washington.
Photo by Kgrr via Wikimedia Commons
Southward we go to the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival in California.
Photo courtesy of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce
Wagons east to Tyler, Texas, for the Texas Rose Festival.
Photo by Robert Nunnall via Wikimedia Commons
On our way back up north, we’ll head for Holland, Michigan, and the Tulip Time Festival.
Photo by BazookaJoe via Wikimedia Commons
Hold on to your bouquets because we’re landing at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, New York next.
Photo by C.C. Tsao via Wikipedia
The last destination on our whirlwind tour is the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia. It looks like an old-fashioned good time with a bounty of beautiful blossoms.
Photo by Glenn Grossman via Wikipedia
Now … aren’t you glad we don’t have a long ride home?
Mary Jane, did you ever read the Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh? You had mentioned in February about her victorian dictionary of what flowers meant. So, I bought that for my sister who was a florist and she sent me the book above. A New York Times Bestseller, it is a fabulous read!
Speaking of flowers, we leave next Tuesday 4/22 for the Netherlands and part of the tour will include visiting the tulip gardens and learning about their flower industry. I can hardly wait!
It’s on my list now! Thanks for the recommendation. ENJOY the Netherlands. Share pics!!! Better yet, put me in your suitcase.
Once I started reading this book, I literally could not put it down until I finished So good!! And it would be fun to travel somewhere with you too. Farmgirls on the loose in the Netherlands!
My favorite plant worthy place, is Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton MD. Just spectacular topiary and also many ” garden rooms” of flowers and such. A lifetime love/obsession of the late Mr. Ladew whom I met as a child. The full out life-sized running horses and fox hunt topiary is world famous.
Beautiful pictures!!
Fortunately, San Diego had more rain than usual during the Winter so we are having beautiful flowers this Spring. With almost no cold weather during our Winters, I have not lost flowers and some are in full bloom at this time. I do have water barrels to catch any rain from my roof and I also compost. It is a little bit of Country Living in the City. The wild parrots have returned and are roosting in the tall trees. Fun to watch and some with color look like flowers flying through the air.