Happy Holidays!

The casually (crazily) decorated tree in our town square. I'm taking a break for the holidays - enjoy yours! Happy 2014!

***

Below, to make up for my holiday hiatus, a glance back at 2013...

Spring springing...

A mostly-London summer...

...(with a touch of Paris)...

...(and Norway)...

Autumn gold...

Let it snow!

Recent weeks VII: Color

It was T-shirt weather yesterday, go figure! So I'll move back in time too, with glimpses of our November color and last November rose.

After the storm

Raindrops linger about this mystery bloom (my botanical knowledge is woeful), but all is calm once more.

Summer, fading fast

Sigh...this year, it went by too quickly.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Pink

A bit late to post today (I'm still disorganized from recent travels:). This pink bloom (dahlia?) stood out in bright lunchtime sun.

Visit more pink themed photos right here!

Postcard from London: St. James's Park

Lazy, hazy day. Still in London, but back to regular Princeton posting by end of next week. Thanks for bearing with my 'postcards.'

Bright spot on a dark, stormy day

At Prospect House, a lunch canteen and former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's home (previously shown here on a sunnier day).

Rhododendrons and azaleas

They're past their peak, but better late (to post) than never! Apparently, rhododendrons have 10 or more stamens; azaleas have 5 or so. (Thanks for kind comments re: Mr. L's photo yesterday - hope it'll spur him to contribute more:)

Q for Quintessential

Quintessential Spring scene! I've shown my quota of blooms recently:) For querying minds, this is Princeton's policy school. Architect: Minoru Yamasaki, of New York's World Trade Center.

More at ABC Wednesday.

The Institute Pond

I like imagining luminaries like Einstein and Gödel strolling here, once upon a time. Have a peaceful weekend.

Flowering tree and tribute to a young woman:

"Amy Brockob 1970-1993 / Who loved this place / Missed by her friends"

Pink blooms

I hope you don't mind more blooms. It's been such a grey winter, seems we all deserve Spring flowers.

Bird on forsythia branch

Another welcome sign of Spring: the birds are back, carrying nesting materials or singing among the blooms.

Spring springing!

I found out this popular magnolia was cultivated in 1820 by a former officer of Napoleon's army (he finally made flowers, not war). Hope you have a relaxing weekend.

The neighbor's magnolias

Emerging after a long winter's sleep.

Wild daffodils

I spoke too soon about our un-blooming wild daffodils, they just needed a touch more sun.

At the gardening shop

Our wild daffodils aren't quite in full glory, but Mr. L snapped some garden shop blooms. Enjoy your weekend!

A touch of Spring

Crocuses and the first Spring turtle, basking in the bright lunchtime sun!

Hothouse flower

Orchids at Duke Farms public park (I showed some park grounds on Tuesday). Enjoy your weekend!

C for Confused Cherry Blossoms

Until last week, we were having an unbelievably mild winter. I've even seen people in shorts and, here, confused trees bursting into cherry blossoms - unheard of in mid-winter! Linking to ABC Wednesday.
{P.S. I'm back from travels and look forward to visiting your blogs soon!}

Cold, crisp morning

Two seasons in one: budding plants (I think) amidst the morning frost yesterday. Nature's gone doolally here!