California Dreaming

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,

Pink Rhodies

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,

California Poppies

brilliant orange poppies, a flower that begins blooming in early Summer and lasts most of the Summer where I live.

Pink Rose

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.