first roses

First of all, I apologize to anyone who had a blizzard this week-- hold on! spring is coming to you too!

But here in California we seem to be having a mini-early-heat wave; mid-eighties, anyway, and yesterday saw the arrival of the first rose to bloom: Golden Celebration, top photo.

Of course, the true first is always chinensis mutablis, a real bee-pleaser, followed by Lady Banks, covered with clusters of tiny yellow flowers-- but they're so far out ahead I don't really count them.

Meanwhile, it seems that mockingbirds must be building nests in the sycamore trees outside this window-- and making a racket as they chase off jays.