Topanga at Springtime

Pink Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), Topanga, CA, Photo by Kathy Vilim

The sweet, delicate fragrance of Jasmine drifts through the open window from across the street .. heady, overpowering, delicious.. intoxicating. Stronger for some reason in this pre-dawn darkness.  My cat purrs huskily atop my cocooned body as we both drink it in.

Springtime in Topanga Canyon. This is the time of year to enjoy the scent of Jasmine: while the grass is long & green & wild, and the hillsides are full of wildflowers.  And it is just this one kind of Jasmine, Pink Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) wildly growing over fences with reckless abandon that surpasses all others.

The delicate Jasmine blooms will not last when Summer's heat is upon us.  So, this is the time to enjoy their heady fragrance in Southern California.

March: Mountain Lilacs in the Canyon

                                                Ceanothus oliganthus, by Kathy Vilim

What does my world look like today? Well, Topanga Canyon is very green.. St. Patty's Day Green, in fact.  Yet for much of the country, still dealing with the last snows, that is hard to embrace.  Besides the green grasses growing everywhere, there are Mountain Lilacs blooming (Ceanothus oliganthus), pale blue or white blooms that cover the hillsides, imparting an undulating softness.  I photograph them, hoping I do them justice.

A coyote barks into the night. There have been lots of them lately.  This morning I was delighted to see a deer in my back yard!  She jumped effortlessly over my picnic table on her way down the path from my house.  A rare sight when you are a few miles from Los Angeles.  I wanted to leave water out for her.. but wouldn't that be an ambush with coyotes in town?  It is hard to know sometimes how to help wildlife.  I decided to let nature decide that one.

A toad croaks.. crickets.. butterflies appear.. all sure signs of Spring! The Sycamore trees and the Walnut trees both putting out new fresh green soft leaves.. Even in Topanga where the Seasons pass with the blink of the eye, there are gentle signs of Spring.