peace lily | Russel Ray Photos

San Diego has had a very long rainy season this year, possibly the longest I’ve experienced since 1993 when I moved here. It started early this winter, with .37 inch in November 2014, 3.95 inches in December, .42 inch in January 2015, .04 inch in February, and .89 inch so far in March. We even had hail earlier this month!

The rain, spread out over several months, means that plants have a better opportunity to drink up some of that water. When that happens, every plant seems to bloom whether or not it’s that plant’s blooming season.

Here is a representative collection of Photographic Art stamps made from pictures taken this past week.

Need a unique gift?
Birthday? Graduation? Marriage? Anniversary?
Choose Photographic Art by Russel Ray Photos at Fine Art America.

I have many flaws but one that has always bothered me is that I have never had much capacity to express sympathy and sorrow.

I remember when my granddad died in 1978. He had suffered through about 70 heart attacks during the previous ten years but kept on going…. Until the day that I told him I was officially going to graduate from Texas A&M University. He died in his sleep that night. I was a serious juvenile delinquent when he and grandma adopted me, and I think he knew that I would be alright once I graduated from college.

When I attended the funeral — I was 23 — everyone except me was crying. I tried to cry but the tears wouldn’t come. Granddad was 69. At the time I thought he had lived a long life; he was dead. Move on.

Same thing happened in 1983 when my best friend died of leukemia when he was just 25.

I finally cried on 9/11, and the tears have been flowing again since Monday.

For today’s Friday Flower Fiesta, I want to share nothing but predominantly white flowers, the color of peace, and I want to dedicate this Friday Flower Fiesta to the 264 injured in the Boston Marathon bombing; the three dead: Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, and Lingzi Lu; and Sean Collier, the MIT officer, killed last night.

Peace Lily