Author's Note: I have always enjoyed poetry. I don't know where that came from. Maybe my Grandmother, who was always jotting ideas about life into the margins of some of her precious books. That is my guess. My favorite poet has always been Don Blanding. When I ask people if they know of Don Blanding, it is a 99%, "No, I have never heard of him." He was known as the Southern California Poet for a long time and lived in Laguna Beach, CA for a while, but loved Hawaii and other places as his poetry reflects. My sister and I read his poems for many years and we both liked his writing and ideas. On my bookshelf rest several of his books: "Pilot Bails Out", "A Grand Time Living", "Let Us Dream", "Drifter's Gold", "Joy Is An Inside Job" and "Vagabond's House". His poetry is restful, calming and dreamy. I will always read his poetry. Don Blanding died in a hospital many years ago in Santa Ana, California. I miss his writing, but I have some of his books and they are well read. They will continue to be well read. In his book "Let Us Dream" he says:

"Let us dream, that in our hands, we hold

Magic to make reality a dream.........

What an interesting thought in this often troubled world. As you view these Golden flowers, allow your mind to dream of the beauty of nature that we experience daily and so often ignore in this busy world!

Gold Rush

California Poppies

Each year old Mother Nature celebrates

The days of '49. She recreates

A gold rush sweeping down across the fields.

At her command the good earth gladly yields

To each prospecting poppy plant, rich veins

Of precious ore to mine. So, this explains

How poppies tease our eyes with petal-gold

In flaunting banners gorgeous to behold.©

-----Don Blanding from his book, "Let Us Dream".

California Poppies grow in clumps of many flowers. One can see them spotted along the highways and hillsides of Southern California. They bring their golden light to the green of the grasses and fields.