Happy Easter: Sponsored by Nature, in Blue & Purple

A fully-blown Blue Tree across the street from Whitmore's penthouse.

A fully-blown Blue Tree across the street from Whitmore’s penthouse.

No matter how enjoyable the process of storytelling, not even pecking out  patterns of words while chained indoors to a little electrified box of plastic and metal can trump the pleasurable sights discovered while strolling the streets of San Francisco on Easter Morning, led by my guide, Frisco’s own wise and witty Whitmore the Whippet.

Frisco's own Whitmore the Whippet, who requested I dogsit him a bit.

Frisco’s own Whitmore the Whippet, who requested I dogsit him a bit.

I used to wonder why novelty companies never made hay while the spring sun shone to produce a line of Easter holiday decorations. If they could deck our front doors with boughs of holly and pine cones on Christmas, why not do the same with boughs of cherry blossoms and decorated eggs on Easter?

A walk outside answers that. Nothing even the sharpest manufacturing marketer could concoct could improve upon the finery offered by Nature.

And for some reason, this morning’s Easter walk with this town’s most celebrated Whippet (who I have the privilege of watching for a bit), offered a feast dominated by blues and purples. There’s always some yellow, red and pink poking up here and there but blue and purple is less common, at least it seems to me.

To one who knows nothing of horto, horta…horti...well, the science and study of species of trees, bushes and flowers, the impact is wondrous.

So much so that, at least for once, one feels compelled to drop any earnest endeavor to learn and remember the names and details of each colorful life form encountered to instead take it all in, concoct original names for each flower, plant or tree, and simply enjoy it. It won’t last. Nothing beautiful from Nature ever does.

Happy Easter.

Cornflower Winkies in a front lawn on Steiner,

Cornflower Winkies in a front lawn on Steiner,

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Pale Pacifics among the grass daisies.

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Cerulean Stalks, from the land of Suess.

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A Violet Lazy-Head bush on the corner of Eddy.

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Mauvy Daisies. I think. (I recently learned there was a Mauve and that it was the color of the 1890s.)

Striped Blue Tinies.

Striped Robin-Egg Tinies.

Yellow-Eyed Purp Bush.

Yellow-Eyed Sapphire Bush.

Purple Peeps Plant,

Deep Turquoise Peeps Plant.

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The Periwinkle daisy bush of Alamo Square Park as differentiated by its leaves.

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Pale Cerulean Babies, off Divisadero.

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Old-School-Mother’s-Day-Corsage Plant stalk on the corner of Golden Gate Street, out a bit early this year.

The True-Blue Something-Or-Other.

The Peacock Something-Or-Other.


Categories: Easter, Holidays

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6 replies »

  1. Okay, I can identify a lot of these plants for you! But I kind of like your blue and purple designations better than anything–helps hang onto the mystery and ‘undefinableness’ of it all. San Francisco is big on these shades, as your photos amply point out. As for the ‘blue tree’ at the top, though it looks like a mature example of Ceanothus, the so-called California Lilac, it may also be a wonderful South African native with marvelously fragrant purple flowers whose name I’ve forgotten, but which I call the ‘Grape Kool-Aid Tree’, because it smells just like the drink. If the flowers have a spicy herbally fragrance, it’s Ceanothus. Greetings to Whitmore and Happy Easter to you.

    • Thank you! Actually, a few years back a plant expert woman selling plants at a street market showed me a ceanothus and told me about it. I bought it and planted it in my front yard and it is fantastic. When I left for this current stay with Whitmore, all its purpleness was blooming away – and it does smell great. It is the closest thing out West which reminds me of the smell of boxwood you encounter all over old Virginia – a California version. Happy Easter to you – and thanks for the feedback!

  2. Beautiful, Carl! Happy Easter! We are so looking forward to the blooms here on the East Coast! That last photo…one of my favorite flowers…agapanthus. Love seeing Whitmore, as well.

    • Never heard that name – agapanthus……I should have taken classic Greek in school, I might better know my plant names. And thank you for your wishes. I think it may well be my favorite holiday. Hope your own went well and that Mr. Smokey is ready for all the returning scents of spring back east. Whitmore is a funny and self-possessed and somewhat mysterious fellow. A dog who keeps his own counsel while showing great affection. It’s pure pleasure to be in his company. Cheers!

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