What does it say about me that I like the petals that have fallen, and the patterns they create, as much or more than I like the blooms on the trees?  Here you see the mossy trunk of a tree, the green of the lawn and the pink of the fallen cherry blossoms.

See what I mean?  I love the textures and the way the pink petals have drifted to the edge of the grass, with the contrast of the concrete sidewalk.  It is so random and really catches my eye.  One second the petals are like this, the next they are gone.

Have you ever seen a rosemary plant in bloom?  Unless you live on a coast, I’d wager  you haven’t.  So below is a close-up of how it looks.

Who knew that rosemary had these lovely small lavender flowers in the spring?   I didn’t know until last week when I noticed them!

Walking along the street I noticed someone (a child maybe?) had set out this offering to the flower gods.  It is composed of spent white camellias blossoms and the bright yellow heads of dandelion.  I love the fact that no distinction was drawn here in the value of the various flowers…dandelion right there with camellias.  Someone has a non-judgmental eye for beauty!

See what I mean about the fading camellias?  These spectacular shrubs have been brightening the landscape here since late January, and are ending the show now in early April. In case you are unfamiliar with this species, you are looking at a pale pink blossoming camellia.  Some of the flowers have stayed on the plant as they have aged and turn whitish, then yellowish and then finally brown. Camellias have given us a pretty long running gift of pink, red, and white.  I bid you a fond farewell, camellias, and look forward to seeing you again next January.

Did you realize that gardeners are the most optimistic people?  Just check out the last sentence in the last paragraph and you will witness my proof.

And did you know that tea is made from a variety of the camellia?  From wikipedia we learn:

Camellia sinensis is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce the popular beverage tea. It is of the genus Camellia (Chinese: 茶花; pinyin: Cháhuā, literally: “tea flower”), a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae.

Typically, I don’t go for azaleas and rhododendron.  They are just too bright and gaudy for me (and I love gaudy marigolds…go figure).  But this foliage caught my eye and I decided to take their picture, because I think they were begging me to.  Lots and lots of people love these showy flowers.  Just not me.

Back to the pink confetti.  Oh, how I love you!

Our Italian word for the day:  confetti

Ciao for now, tutti!