Spring in full flower in Northern California…
From my garden in the cooler San Francisco bay area
emerging apples from early spring blossoms…
Ripening cherries…
foxglove’s enticing hues and patterns…
Poppies and erigeron fronting an espaliered apple tree. Having a smallish garden,
I love placing fruit trees amidst roses and perennials. After my grandfather died,
my uncle, a polio survivor, had taken over the daily working of the ranch and orchards,
and I remember how keen he was on helping me pick out my first fruit tree, an espaliered
Bosc pear. He loved watching John Wayne westerns, and had equally as much swagger,
toughness, and kindness… He is one of many I miss this weekend…
Wide open canopy of a walnut grove at my mother’s ranch in the San Joaquin
valley less than two hours drive east into the heart of California…
I used to spend summers barefoot in these orchards, or up at dawn to grade
pears and peaches that were being sent off to markets or the local cannery…
My mother still has memories of walking these fields with her dad.
Memories can be so bittersweet…
Makes me so happy knowing you’re experiencing all this beauty. How very fortunate you are with this lovely bounty all around you. Your mother’s place looks like my kind of heaven. Beautiful post, T. Say a prayer for our military and their families, we all owe them so much. xx’s Marsha
Wishing everyone was surrounded by beauty.. hoping and praying for our military and our gulf coast neighbors, too. Thank you for your comment Marsha,
The ‘walnut grove’ would make a fabulous painting. I have a special love for paths….they invite me in to linger.
Great photos and color !
you must live in heaven!
We’ve been dogged by rains all through the spring…a sunny day seems like heaven!
amazing photographs-really fantastic! what would the blue markings on the trees be?..does it indicate variety?
you are one blessed girl, but you know that! thank you for sharing. Colx
Hi Colette. The blue markings inform where to place irrigation troughs that are carved out by disk dragging tractors around the trees, for flood irrigation.
How blessed you are to live in such a luscious place and to have loving memories of your grandpa.
Blessings…
xx
The perfect beautiful, memory-filled posting for Memorial Day weekend. Thank you so much.
Trish,
What a lovely post about a nostalgia…I have that too, and times like this make us slow up a bit and reflect…thanks for the gorgeous photos of the walnut grove, etc.
bisous!
Kit
Hi Kit! Visiting childhood places (and getting a year older!) really stir up the memories!
Beautiful post. The new camera is impressive.
Trish, what a lovely tribute to your family and those special ones who are gone but always in our hearts. The walnut grove at your mother’s ranch reminds me of something from Giverny.It is too beautiful. It is no wonder that you garden as you do, it is in your genes,my dear. My love of gardening also comes from my mother who grew peach trees from the fruit pit, and could coax anything into growing for her. She treated her plants like children, with patience and nurturing and love. It works everytime.Your new camera is working wonders! Thank you, Nella
What lovely memories, Nella! Your mother sounds like she was alot like mine. She’s 80 now, and its hard to keep her from climbing her fig tree!
Trish,
How nice to hear about the people you miss! You said it so well : “Memories can be bittersweet.” I know I know!!
All the pictures are again fabulous!! And the grove at your mother’s ranch … I can feel and hear the trees!!!
Love this post Trish!
Have a nice week my friend!
xx
Greet
Trish , These close up photos are fantastic, especially the fox glove and cherries. Looks like you have been lucky enough to know some very beautiful places to live and wander around. Daily beauty is a real blessing.
Sharon
Those pictures are absolutely fabulous! I love the foxglove,,,,and don’t even mention the figs!!!!!!You can add a green thumb to your many talents!!!!Maryanne xo
The beauty here leaves me speechless! the cherries on the vine and the foxglove so brilliant ! and the trees… are those live oaks? i can only imagine a childhood here…. lucky you.
Hi Kellie. This one of several walnut groves at the ranch…more than 30 year old trees. Other sections have 75 year old trees. Have to admit, I used to always focus on the fruit…this time the trees themselves really inspired me!
this photo is fabulous !!
bonne soirée
véro
The walnut grove is so incredibly beautiful, how I would love to walk along its path. I am at my parent’s house in France right now, gorging on cherries and strawberries. The gardens are filled with colorful roses. I really enjoy this time of the year.