Excursion

Mother and I went on an excursion a couple weeks ago. I've just gotten some of the pictures developed and thought you may enjoy some of the spring flowers we saw.

Leaving town, we drove past this gorgeous hillside of color. I think it is a member of the ice plant family but I don't know the name of it. This grows in profusion around Southern California, probably because it doesn't require much water and it loves the sun. The flowers are typically this vivid pink or a brilliant red color. It is so shocking to see it that you can't help but stop and look. (Click on this and any of the pictures to see an enlarged version).

We drove up to Running Springs, California, home of the famed "Daffodils." I write this in quotes because although these flowers grow anywhere, going "up to the daffodils" means going to this specific spot on Fredalba Road. You can park in the parking lot at St. Catherine's and walk the about a quarter of a mile onto the private hillside of several residents.

As you may know, last year there were fires all over Southern California. Quite a few houses burned to the ground. The fire trucks weren't able to even get in to the fires for the larger part of a day and night because of heavy fog, smoke, and uncontrolled fires. I wondered if I'd find anything up there. But there stood the little house that the originator of the Daffodils used to live in. She died some years ago, I think, and other people keep up the hillside as best as they can.



The fires came right up to the back of the property. In fact, the heat must have been so bad that well over half of the bulbs were cooked in the ground. I can't think of another explanation for why there were so few daffodils there.


Still, the fires didn't kill off everything. This jaunty little cluster of Grape Hyacinths didn't seem too bothered by the fire. You can see all the charred trees behind them.

This private little heaven was born out of a widow's grief. A woman lost her husband and as a way to keep herself occupied and coping with her sadness, began to plant flower bulbs. She started out with 100 and ended up planting over 100,000 over the course of several years. Usually there are hundreds of thousands of flowers covering the hillside. This year was a bit different. Many lay cooked in the ground.

The founder of this place created a series of meandering paths back and forth across the hillside. Every so often you'll come to a little flat area with a bird bath and benches to sit on. All around these are barrels with hyacinths, tulips, and other beautiful spring flowers.

You can smell these hyacinths before you see them. One lady said, "I love the smell of these out here, but in the house they make me nauseated." I agree.

There are quite a variety of daffodils on this hillside. Midway through the walk there is a display that identifies all the various types of flowers. I like these dark-faced beauties very much. They are a lovely contrast to some of the more pale and delicate daffodils on the hill.

I love this picture. I think I may blow it up and frame it.

Mother loved the flowers, even though there weren't as many as there used to be up there. We were probably a week early. As you can see in the background, the flowers haven't all bloomed yet. (That's St. Catherine's in the background).

I was delighted to snap this photo of her with such a big smile on her face. I think I just said a Laurel and Hardism and she cracked up.

This was our trip. It was beautiful weather, a gorgeous sky, and cool air. Mother was happy, I was lighthearted, and it was delightful to be able to enjoy the spring together this year. I hope you have enjoyed being part of our very happy day.