Driving from Washington to California in late Spring is marked by a remarkable change in “seasons” the further south you travel. The dominant flower in the Humboldt District of Northern California during our trip was the native rhododendrons, huge tree-like plants of purple and pink,
a typical Spring flower in the Pacific Northwest.
We didn’t have to drive much further, though, before we started seeing the California State Flower,
brilliant orange poppies, a flower that begins blooming in early Summer and lasts most of the Summer where I live.
When we finally reached Mary’s house in Santa Rosa, though, the dominant flower was the beautiful
roses, seldom seen before July here in the Pacific Northwest, already past their prime.