*under construction*


03 July 2009

Home is Where the Ranunculus is... or Was...

Yesterday, sitting at a light, waiting for it to change, I happened to glance over and I noticed that the flower fields were empty. The flower fields are a short-lived annual pop of pride for my little village.
*
How did I miss them this year?
*
Time. It marches on,
with
or
without
you.
I've been so buried in the renovation of Museville that I haven't paid attention to much else in months.


Lamenting over the sad fact that I had missed this years blooming, I came home and looked for past photos - The fields of ranunculus are so beautiful...
you should see them, too.


Well over half a century ago, English Horticulturist Luther Gage moved to my little Village and brought with him a collection of seeds which he planted on an acreage overlooking the Pacific -- these were the first ranunculus ever planted in North America.


People come from all over each Spring to bear witness to these lovelies...


Some stay at the resort above the fields, but all enjoy our quiet little beach town...


And the gorgeous flower fields...

... that I cannot believe I missed this year!
... and I live here!
I need to slow down and smell the flowers more than I realized!
I am too hooked on them to take them for granted again!
Head over to Julia's hooked on Friday party to see what beautiful things others are hooked on today.
Slow down, enjoy it all, and have a
Happy Weekend!

29 comments:

Karen Deborah said...

that is insanely gorgeous, what country are you in? LOVE the windmill!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

You missed it??? How dreadful. They are exquisite. There is a famous ginkgo tree near me that always turns the most delicious colour of yellow in the fall. Families have there photographs taken underneath it every year. It is a stunning tree. I shall never forget the afternoon one year I drove by and noticed all the leaves had dropped and .... I had missed it! I know the feeling....and it stinks!

Wishing you a very happy 4th!!

lulu said...

ranunculas are my fav flower!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR POSTING THESE! love your blog...

Blue Muse said...

I'm in southern California, Karen Deborah =) That windmill is part of the old Anderson Inn.

These completely cycle in about 8 weeks - they start blooming late march/early april and are gone by the end of may.

Oooh I'd love to see that tree, Pamela!

xo

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

What a BEAUTIFUL little corner of the world you are in. ahhhhhhhh.

Peggy Montano & Paintings said...

these are breathtaking photos. Thanks for posting them.

DesignTies said...

Ooooh, bummer that you missed the flowers this year :-( But at least you have the photos from previous years to enjoy. Thanks for sharing them with us, they're beautiful :-)

Our lives today are just too busy and hectic. I think we all need to slow down and smell the flowers....

Have a happy July 4th :-)

Kelly

Terry said...

These place are almost too good to be real. I never know.

Alicia said...

Divine & know I know where you're charming village is & its name. I've been once & hope to return. Have a firecracker of a weekend but glad you survived your trip to Santa Fe & your aquaintance with our monsoon season.

Cass @ That Old House said...

Beautiful, bountiful, and slightly bonkers -- what gorgeous fields of flowers!

Ranunculus are a fave -- thanks for sharing.
Cass

Blue Muse said...

Terry, they do look unreal, don't they? I promise though, they are very real =) You can read all about them here:
http://www.theflowerfields.com/

I live in the true village (our city has expanded from that years ago) and the fields are south of my daily haunts unless I'm cruising down the freeway, and I suppose I took them so for granted that I never thought about going up there this year - that and the 15677678765433 projects we've been working on here at Museville renovating =) Sad, either way!

ALICIA! Next time you are coming this way, let me know! I'll take you to lunch or something!

Unknown said...

Your blog is soothing eye candy! I am so glad you commented on my blog and now I have found a "must read" to add to my blog. After the 4th, I will spend more time "leisurely" reading your post! XOXO-

Jenny said...

That is absolutely gorgeous! I have to say that time seems to be going by pretty fast to me as well. I can't believe it's July, what happened to March?

Kimberly said...

These are one of my favorite flowers, and beleive it or not, I've never seen them actually growing, only as a cut flower!!! How sad for me!! One of these days...:) KIM

niartist said...

Ooooo! I wanna see it in person! I've gotta make plans to come out 2010! :) I tried to call you today - twice, no answer. Hope you're well - probably just busy, I understand!

Unknown said...

That's a wake up call! What beautiful photos...
Have a wonderful weekend!
~Really Rainey~

Unknown said...

They are beautiful - never seen anything quite like it!

So often we long to travel to far off lands, and miss the beauty on our doorstep :)

Thanks for visiting me in my far off land of Ireland.

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Um...Send surfboards. Really.

vicki archer said...

How wonderful they are - I love ranunculus and would love to see so many of them together, they look extraordinary massed like this, xv.

Lylah Ledner said...

Dear kind Isa...

How awfully sweet of you to stop by and notice my figs :-) So glad you did, as I might have missed the opportunity to take a peek at your spot in the world.

The flowers are exquisite....and I know just how it is (don't we all) the tension we feel when we almost missed it.

As an "older woman" it's my goal to not miss much ... if anything that the little hands in my home front do or say.

blessings...lylah

Linda said...

How Lovely!
I would love to see them up close.
Have a Great Weekend!
Hugs

Viera said...

What a beautiful place you live...and flowers are just gorgeous. Have a lovely weekend
XX
V

a quiet life said...

dear isa, i have missed you and all the beauty you share...

even if you missed the blooms, its so kind of you to share! this looks like its worth flying down for next year, i adore this kind of bright color in my life~

i am slowly getting back into life online, so much has been missed, time to catch up, i can't wait to see how museville is coming, off to catch up~

Blue Muse said...

Jain, they bloom from the end of March through May -- if you really do fly down, I know of this really cute guest house you can stay in ... =)
xo Isa

donna baker said...

It is funny, but I had never seen rununculas anywhere except potted plants. Didn't know they would grow so well in nature instead of a hothouse. Incredibly beautiful flower fields; does your city plant them or a garden club of some sort? Must take a lot of work on someone's behalf. I'm coming to a wedding in LaJolla in Aug. I'll be thinking of your little corner of the world.

Valerie said...

Oh my. These pictures are amazingly gorgeous. Are the scents in your area as lovely as the beauty? Phenomenal!!

Anne @ The City Sage said...

Oh my goodness! I had no idea such a think existed! Ranunculi are my absolute faves, and to see so many would be fabulous! Next year!

mimi charmante said...

This is so familiar... Would it happen to be south of Oceanside somewhere? I could swear I drove by this years ago and assumed they were tulips! I adore ranunculus! Such gorgeous photos~
xo

Tracie said...

I adore your blog and follow regularly...happened to browse back a few pages and stumbled upon the flower fields.....We are moving to your town this weekend...back home for me....can't wait to show my children next spring.