The Flowers of Spring

Yesterday was the first day of spring. I don't know what the weather is like where you live but we just had another large snowfall. It will be quite a while before it looks like spring. Nothing signals the change of season to me like gardens in bloom so here are some flowers I've enjoyed during my spring travels in Europe, beginning with Kensington Palace in London.

Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London

The fields outside of London were ablaze with sunny yellow rapeseed.

The English Countryside

Across the English Channel, Paris was also in bloom near this metro stop on Ile de la Cité.

Paris in the Spring

As we moved into the milder climate of southern France and Italy, roses were in season.

Roses in Nice, France

Roses on the Island of Capri, Italy

It was hard to get a good photo of the poppies in northern Italy through the window our moving train. In Pompeii, I was able to get a closeup.

The Italian Countryside

Poppy in Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii Ruins

The unusual bottlebrush plant in Naples brought some cheer to an otherwise dreary, rainy day.

Bottlebrush Plant in Naples, Italy

Are spring flowers blooming where you live?