Monday, March 24, 2008

Aromatic Wonderland



When you walk in our backyard right now you feel like swooning. The lilacs are in bloom, (and they're hard to grow in Los Angeles), a vine named abelia is in bloom and has taken over every wall with the most exquisite freesia like fragrance, but lighter. On top of that the citrus are all blooming-- it's orange blossom time.

Here's the picture that has been on Dinah's wall since she was little. It was a photo poster, a kind of diorama of weird knicknacks with intense color. I had it laminated years ago and it was hard to photograph. Linda Davick's posted her childhood wall picture, which certainly relates to her work, and so does Namowal's.



I don't think this has influenced Dinah at all. I don't see a horse in it anywhere.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you do the gardening? It sounds/smells wonderful.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Too bad you can't upload the garden scents onto your blog. It sounds lovely.
As for the poster: Lions and Tigers and Dice, Oh My!
Actually, it's way cool. Plus I didn't notice any scary tikis ;)

Linda Davick said...

The word "abelia"--I just can't take it seriously. It reminds me of the book Amelia Bedelia. Do you know of it? "Amelia Bedelia is a housekeeper who takes her instructions quite literally. Reading the list of chores that her employer has left her, Amelia begins with 'Dust the furniture.' How odd, Amelia thinks to herself. 'At my house we undust the furniture.' Nonetheless, she dutifully locates the 'Dusting Powder' in the bathroom, and proceeds to sprinkle it all over the living-room furniture and floor. Next she is asked to 'Draw the drapes when the sun comes in.' So of course, Amelia sits down with a sketchpad and gives it her best shot.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Linda, for coming up with that book title. I was trying to think of it as I read the post. I think I heard the author or someone else talking on the radio about it once, about how wonderful that rhyme sounds.

Anonymous said...

Hey Namowal: Go here: http://digiscents.com/blog/
(Digital Scent Technology Blog)

Sally said...

I'm a gardening slut. I like choosing the plants, take care enthusiastically at first, then forget about them until it's rescue time or chop back the jungle. But I especially love fragrant plants, and I research in the big Sunset book before I buy them.

Linda, I remember reading the Amelia Bedelia books to Dinah and finding them great fun. I just looked at the poster and the image is much bigger than what I posted-- and I spotted a donkey lower right.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I forgot to photograph Mom's paneling with the face in it Easter Sunday. I will try to get a photo Saturday!

Anonymous said...

I am having near orgasmic joy over being able to plant onion sets and swiss chard seeds here in SW Pennsylvania while you are enjoying late Spring. There is something so satisfying about getting your hands in the soil and starting a new season. Soon the asparagus will come up and if it is a normal year I will pick about a pound a day of the best tasting asparagus you can't buy anywhere. The stuff in the stores takes days to get to you, mine takes minutes till it gets steamed. My tulips and daffodils are up and sorry about the flurries yesterday. The lilacs haven't even figured out it is Spring yet. Not a leaf. Enjoy seeing and smelling your garden, I like eating and sharing mine. Last year I had 56 heirloom tomato plants and costata romanesco zucchini's which I hope will win a prize at the county fair this year. They are fantastic.

Sally said...

fearless, that sounds so wonderful. We're usually away in Colorado for a chunk of the summer, and the growing season in Colorado is about a week and a half. Ever try roasting that asparagus?

Anonymous said...

I will give roasting them a shot.