|| Chrysan bunch in baker ferns

Being a Virginia resident, deeply touched by the strength and courage of the VT students. Very many people wore orange and maroon last Friday for the memorial. While driving on the roads, I saw people attached heart-shaped belts at the back of the car. They floated with the winds, very free and inspiring.



Unfortunately I had to attend another funeral service of a colleague this Sunday morning. A young soul left the world because of a rare cancer tumor. I saw devastations in the face of the parents and words were so useless for any comfort. There was Buddhist chanting, but the sounds could not make peace in the heart. Life goes on. It is not fair to judge what is the time to move on, appearances could be deceiving, so let us not judge each other.


It is a fool who let go loved ones, although I pray that I would always have them around, thought it is a modest request, it is so not easy.

|| Verizon Center

It actually snows in April, yes, it does. I turned the curtain open yesterday morning, oh my, the snow covered roof tops, cars, shelters, and all over the trees, and it kept falling from the blue sky in the morning. The snow coverage is the best this winter season, amazingly the end of the 1st week of April, and we finally caught up with a real winter sensation.

I was persuaded, very reluctantly, to go to a hockey game in the DC Verizon Center. It matched the weather well, to have a kiss with the ice before it all comes to an end. By the way, this is the official cherry blossom week, but the peak had passed just this last week. I was correctly informed of the blossom calendar, but misjudged the actual timing. I was lured into driving three hours plus metro one hour for a three hour game in the downtown gallery plaza because we could stay in the Capital One corporate box which I heard is well worth going. Well, at least I did not misjudge this one.



All right, this is the Verizon center. It was spectacular. Actual game sites have so much excitement, can't help it, but join the craze, the fury, the scream. Yes, the commentator has the deep and deep tone to call out the names of players with scalloped spotlights shedding on the icy court. Hockey games are not difficult to follow, it was like a smaller court for soccer on ice. Well, I thought I should hale for the host Washington Capital, but it was certainly the win of the Buffalo Sabres. I accidentally wore all white, which I was very happy with, because it looked like I was with the majority Sabres fans.







The court was full, and half wearing team's shirts. Love them, sometimes flipping the People's magazine, and you see shots taken from the game court, couples, those smiles were the most genuine and admirable. Now I see why we love games, crank it up, no matter what we have to deal with, unleash the passions, even though it is just for the moment.


Backyards in the early morning, the snow was all gone by the time I came back from DC.




Cleaning up the car while waiting for Wei's pick-up.

|| Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Spring of 2007

I took this good Friday off, first time and unexpectedly that I am joining the Spring break crowd, but "flying" solo.

Beautiful blooms throughout the area, Chinese redbud, Korean early lilac and numerous narcissus. Tulip displays in bright colors in the front of the conservatory.











These two pale pink and white sorts are my favorites:







Below are rather growing quietly along the paths and wild walks, delicate and modest shapes of greens of shrubs, among which daffodils, jasmine and pansies add some curious flavors.







Walking in the meandering gravel paths, I breathed in and out, but not washed over. I looked at the layers of natural plants, the highs and the lows. Suddenly thought of a trip back in high school to She Shan. That was a gloomy and weeping day, however the mountains and the creeks were so refreshing in the raining fogs. That was mesmerizing experience. Today is a very pleasant day, high shine and breezy.















Chinese Redbud