Beginning the Leap Day 2008 Walk at my house, I tried to get a picture of all three of my daffodils in bloom, against the bright red geranium, likewise in bloom. Unfortunately no matter how much I contorted myself it just wasn't possible. Ah well. Here's the best shot I managed to get. Heading off down the street I found a house near the corner whose allyssum flowers were all abloom. As mine OUGHT to be, except mine were eaten by bugs and their's weren't. Rounding the corner I came upon a bunch of California Poppies in bloom next to the street. If there are gorgeous poppies blooming next to asphalt you can safely conclude that it is Spring and you are in California.
One thing I noticed was that, aside from daffodils, geraniums, and poppies, the plants most spectacularly doing a Spring Thing were trees and shrubs. I have no idea what the identity of the tree with the spectacular pink flower display is, except I would guess it is a fruit tree, perhaps it is a cherry tree, nor do I know what shrub the yellow flowers are on. I just know that both are pretty. I do know that the tree featuring the little yellow bellied birds is a ornamental plum, but have no idea what the birds are. The next photo is, I think, a Saucer Magnolia. The flowers are at least as big as my hand. Very showy indeed. Finally there is a beautiful shrub whose like I've never seen before, displayed against a perfect wooden fence.
