Retire in Style with Lolita

I was pleasantly surprised to find these creations with succulents at Minter Gardens. Please click to enlarge pictures.

We went to visit Minter Gardens in Chilliwack. The scenery was refreshingly beautiful.

I bought two Kalanchoe plants at the garden section of our local grocery store. They are succulents and the flowers are so very pretty. Very inexpensive too. Please click to enlarge pictures. They bloom for long periods. I never kept them after blooming is over. This time I will try and save the plants and see if I can make them bloom again. I read also that it is easy to propagate them.

I love orchids. Last year I had several and tried to nurture them but none lasted more than 6 months. Last Sunday at a church fund raiser I bought a Cymbidium orchid. Looks healthy and really pretty. This is the first time for me to have a Cymbidium. My previous orchids were Phalaenopsis or Moth orchids. Apparently Cymbidium orchids are the least demanding of indoor orchids. Please click to enlarge pictures.

Our lovely Sakura Kanzan (Cherry Blossom) tree is in full bloom. Please click pictures to enlarge The Kanzan Cherry tree is the most numerous type of Japanese cherry trees in Vancouver and suburbs. Its blossoms consist of over twenty, dark pink petals which open around the middle of April. It has a very short flowering period, just a little over a week and the petals start falling off. Main roads and many residential neighborhoods in Maple Ridge are lined with Sakura Kanzan trees. Ours is in full bloom since yesterday. Our neigjhbor has three small ones in their backyard and all in bloom too.

Our class did a "flash mob" during Earth Day celebrations at Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge. It was fun dancing in the park with my grandchildren around! Please click picture to enlarge.