Winter is over — lastly.
After an unusually moist and extended wet season, spring is right here, rewarding us with hotter climate, bluer skies (the previous few days however) and beautiful flowers blooming throughout California.
The shifts in our seasons could also be delicate, however Californians can decide them out nonetheless. You’ve despatched me dozens of notes about what you like most about spring within the state, together with outside live shows, lush hillsides, contemporary strawberries and, after all, wildflowers.
Here’s what you despatched in, evenly edited for readability.
“Several years ago I converted my front lawn into a native plants garden. My favorite part of spring is watching hundreds of honey bees busy at work on buckwheat, sages and native spring flowers. I like to sit quietly in my garden and listen to their hum.” — Christena Veach, Altadena
“My husband and I call late March through mid-May ‘bunny season’ because every time we walk the coastal bluff trail near our home this time of year, we see at least one or two little cottontail bunnies hopping about in the brush. I’m especially excited to get to share ‘bunny season’ with my 1-year-old son this year. He thinks bunnies say ‘meow,’ so it’ll be hilariously sweet to hear him mewing about as we stroll.” — Sarah Wilson, Playa del Rey
“Let’s not forget how amazing we all feel — at least I do — with our longer days. More sunlight. I know even my chickens are happier, laying more eggs as the days get longer.” — Kathryn Krogstad, Madera Ranchos
“My son and I just spent spring break traversing California from Riverside to Monterey to Chico, touring some of our state’s excellent colleges. From the snow-draped mountains in Los Angeles to the unending fields of wild mustard throughout the state, California is putting on quite a show right now. Even the Grapevine was beautiful, with its carpet of velvet green and the poppies just beginning to bloom. I think I fell in love with California all over again.” — Julie Corbett, Danville
“Warmer weather means we can leave the back door open all morning for our dogs and cats to wander in and out. They love it, and it’s fun to see how excited they are to greet the sun.” — Jan Elliott, Sacramento
“The blossoming trees are like a breath of fresh air: acacia, plum, dogwood and most of all cherry trees lift my spirits tremendously. This was especially true this year after the intense rains we had.” — Richard Solomon, Oakland
“Spring is here for me when fresh-picked, organic strawberries show up at our local farmers’ market. They smell amazing and we buy too many and eat them all. Then we start freezing them for smoothies, cook them down for jam, bake them into muffins and galettes, and eat them with ice cream. I’m sad when they are gone, but then peach-nectarine season is here.” — Marcie Keever, San Francisco
“My favorite thing about spring in Los Angeles is when the jasmine starts to bloom in people’s gardens. At night or in the early mornings, when the petals are opened the widest, I’ll be walking and suddenly encounter a delightful scent. Since I’m originally from New York, it was a comfort to see that Los Angeles really did have seasons — and that these fragrant flowers were a sign of spring’s arrival.” — Sophie Hessekiel, Los Angeles
Where we’re touring
Today’s tip comes from David Diaz, who lives in Fairfield:
“One of my favorite places to visit in California is San Francisco City Hall. I’m a native of Southern California and moved to the Bay Area in 1998. Having worked in the city, my job required me to visit various buildings in San Francisco. It was the building that stuck with me the most, especially given all its grandeur and history.
I loved it so much that I asked my girlfriend to marry me in City Hall during Covid in November 2021. She’s a transplant from Ohio, and we wanted to have the quintessential California experience.”
Tell us about your favourite locations to go to in California. Email your options to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We’ll be sharing extra in upcoming editions of the publication.
And earlier than you go, some good news
What books greatest outline Los Angeles? “The Day of the Locust”? “City of Quartz”? “Inherent Vice”?
The Los Angeles Times collected the opinions of 95 writers to know the town’s literary identification, and sorted their suggestions into 110 titles throughout eight classes, together with books from the Eighteen Eighties via 2022.
Here is the Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf.
Thanks for studying. I’ll be again on Monday. Enjoy your weekend. — Soumya
P.S. Here’s right this moment’s Mini Crossword.
Source: www.nytimes.com