January in the San Francisco Bay area can be cold. grey and wet, and this one’s been colder than ever–this past week, lows in the 20s! That’s pretty rare.
Even though I was raised in the Snow Belt, where winter meant huge snowstorms, icicles and temperatures well below freezing, I still hate our chilly, wet, overcast northern California winters.
About now, I start missing sunshine and the bright colors of summer. That’s why it’s always a pleasure to walk by the flower vendor at Union Square, who always has a beautiful selection of vibrant blooms.
Just before New Year’s I was looking for flowers at Trader Joe’s. The quality of their floral selection has really declined, and even though I saw some lovely roses, I couldn’t be sure they’d open.
Then I saw these tiny potted rose plants:
View from above so you can see the sparkles.
At first I thought the plants had aphids or some other pest. Or that droplets of water had remained on their leaves. But I was really looking at silver sparkles that some brilliant person had decided to sprinkle like fairy dust on these beautiful little blossoms. In honor of New Year’s Eve.
Well, of course, I thought that seemed an obscenity, a travesty–taking nature’s beauty and tarting it up.
But, I did buy them, because I thought the tiny flowers would make an unobtrusive centerpiece on our big dining table and I couldn’t find anything else that worked as well. When I got them home, I used a little sticky tape to remove some of the sparkles. Yes, there were way more than what you see in the photo.
A great reminder that nature is perfect and needs no embellishment. Just look around you.
Those flowers are beautiful. Last month I visited SF and it was my first time there during winter. Even though the temperature wasn’t much different from other times I’ve been there, it rained the whole time. I think I’ll stick to summer when ever though still cool, it almost never rains.
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Beautiful flowers and they do have a way of making it feel warmer even when it is cold outside.
It’s true that nature needs no embellishment, but hey, if someone wants to add sparkles to anything, I am all for it.
Sparkle is the NEW BLACK.
Those flowers are beautiful. Last month I visited SF and it was my first time there during winter. Even though the temperature wasn’t much different from other times I’ve been there, it rained the whole time. I think I’ll stick to summer when ever though still cool, it almost never rains.
Looks like you found yourself some color therapy. It works!
Flowers do make things look brighter and remind us that spring will come. I love having some on the table when it gets all bleak and dreary outside.
A little bit of sparkle doesn’t hurt either.