Pages

To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

THE COLORFUL SIDE OF SPRING

If you are reading my blog regularly, you know that I took a seven hour road trip for the Easter holiday. I never tire to take pics of the different landscapes, skies, trees, hills and mountains.


The trip going up North into California was dry and sunny, even though the forecast for that whole week was rain. So, I enjoyed the purple fields with a little haze in the distance...


Not to forget green hill sides, because by May and for the rest of the year, they will be brown


 We had so much rain this "winter" that the yellow weeds we mostly see around May, were already displayed gloriously, while some trees are still bare!


But our trip back the rain did not let up for SEVEN hours, going from North to South California. Very unusual in a desert climate we have here. 


I do not want to end on that dreary note. By the Flying J gas station (cleaner bathrooms) I saw these "little violins" like we call them in Holland (African Violets...oops, no, pansies they're called here), defying the rain and the wind and blooming dapper.

16 comments:

young-eclectic-encounters said...

What a pleasant little mini vacation for me.

CorvusCorax12 said...

gorgeous pictures, still pretty gray around here but it shouldn't be to much longer for the colors to explode

Barry said...

Beautiful photos. Amazing what a little rain can do to a desert climate.

Stephanie V said...

Such diversity of landscape. I love the west coast for just that reason. In a few hours of driving you can experience it all.
The pansies have such lovely faces.

Clytie said...

When I lived in California we frequently made trips from Modesto to Portland (Oregon). These pictures remind me of some of those trips! How I wish I had taken more pictures ... but I adore yours! Thanks for renewing the memories!

rainfield61 said...

I just cannot rest my camera if I am there.

California Girl said...

Let me guess...lupin, mustard, green hills along the Central Coast...how'm I doin'?

antigoni said...

Amazing photos!

Jeannette StG said...

Johnine,
Happy it was relaxing for you:)but I hope you'll get a vacation this year that is a little longer!

Gabi,
Hope for you, very soon!! Forgot where you live...

Barry,
What may seem to be "a little" to you, is "a lot" for desert dwellers:)

Stepahnie,
Thanks for the reminder that they're pansies (only a citykid can make that mistake LOL!)
Of course there is also a long(er) stretch that is pretty boring and I turned to knitting my scarf:)

Clytie,
Didn't know you once lived in CA!! Ugh, I know what you mean, I have that with Europe, when I see a blog, I think "Oh, I've been there too...but not pics!

Rainfield,
We've made this trip a few times a year for twelve years, and I still take pics!

California Girl,
It's mainly the 5 freeway and the 99. I don't know if that's considered central coast? sorry, I don't know the names of these flowers -I lack an outdoor's education here!

Antigoni,
Thank you Antigoni -I remember how exhausted you were last year of all the Easter celebrations -so, take it easy for a while:)

BryM said...

BEAUTIFUL pictures!! Looks like you had an amazing trip! :)

Jeannette StG said...

Brym,
Thank you!
The hill sides were quite spectecular:)

S said...

Ooh! Such a lush hillside - it'd be nice to sit there and read! The pansies photo is pretty too :o)

Midwest to Midlands said...

Those pics are great and those pansies are hardy flowers. What is in the purple fields? Have a good weekend!

Jeannette StG said...

Sreddy,
No reading, Sreddy, painting...PAINTING these lush hills!!! (just kidding:) )
Yes, I didn't expect to be able to get a pic at a gas station!

Jane,
(am glad you kept your blog name-smile)
Sorry, I am terribly in names of flowers, but California Girl-see her comment above -suggested lupin...

Suburban Girl said...

Such pretty scenes!That rich blue sky over the yellow green hills is amazing.

Jeannette StG said...

Rebecca,
Thank you, Rebecca! So lucky I pass these hills every time I visit my kids!