Popcorn Popping

Sum was fascinated by these silvery mornings last June so I'm giddy just thinking about how fun it will be to introduce her to honest to goodness Utah snow. She thought this frost was the real stuff. One of my very favorite things about Australia is that it turns into The Garden of Eden every spring. With, I swear, probably 80% of the trees/bushes exploding in glorious blossoms, Aug/Sept/Oct is soooo beautiful here.

Wattle, these little yellow puff balls, are a native that grows everywhere in Canberra. They delight me. All of a sudden what you thought were just regular old bushes and trees morph into clouds of yellow glory with hardly any green visible.

Then there's the jacaranda trees. They're pretty much unreal. The blossoms fall like purple snow and you feel as if you've jumped right into a storybook.

 I laid under a grove of them on the temple grounds on my last visit and was transported to I don't even know where.

These were growing like weeds in the grass at the playground, seeds having been blown over from a house across the street.

 Real Lorax Truffula trees - I found them!

sweetest flowering bush

 Even the weeds on the side of the road are breathtaking. Fields of yellow, blowing in the breeze. Seriously gorgeous and everywhere.

Happened upon a grove of cherry blossom magic one day on our walk...

Then of course there's the stunning celebration that is Floriade, held here every spring.

Our kids earned over $100 nervously busking there for their first time ever - a little fact of which I could not be more proud.

They were so awesome. Summer thought she was totally a part of it but didn't sing her 'Skidamarink' song loud enough to be heard over Will's guitar. Annie could take it or leave it, happy to play the violin. Kenna was mortified and hightailed it out after 30 minutes, but Will stayed on for another 30, jammin' up a storm with dollar signs in his eyes. Darren was too nervous to even join us, but he did stroll by with Des in the stroller then shot me a text saying "doing great - gotta play louder."

But back to spring, we're delighted with our beautiful gardening neighbors who bless our lives with their talents each day.

Mostly I'm just in awe at this beautiful land that transforms each year into a place I'm sure I'll dream about the rest of my life.

If you ever plan a trip to Australia - come in the Spring!