Thursday, May 22, 2014

Barely Blooming
























Tank: c/o Aeropostale; Jeans: Gap; Fleece: Mountain Hardwear; Flats: Gap (on sale!); Bag: GiGi New York

Ben took me on an afternoon picnic to the rose garden. We laid out our plaid blanket and ate roast chicken, blue cheese, broccoli, and french bread with sparkling lemonade as the sun set over Portland just down the hill. The skyscrapers reflected patches of light and the distance between us and downtown left only silence and beautiful hedges and roses waiting to bloom.

We were hoping to catch the roses in full-bloom but it's still a bit early. There were some rows of roses that were absolutely insane - massive pink blossoms reaching upward as if to clamor for the sun's precious rays. And some sat quiet and dormant, not a bud to be seen. By late summer the garden will be a rainbow of colors and smells and packed with people reading the names of the roses off of placards - "Orange Sunrise" and "Dusky Rose" to themselves as they stroll. It will be full of people stooping down to smell flowers, posing for photos amongst the rows of blossoms. It'll be decorated with weddings and with engagement photos, with senior portraits and news vehicles featuring stories backdropped by roses. 

But today, it was all quiet. The sun set slowly, leaving a bit of nip in the air. There were a few people wandering about the blooming rhododendron hedges and some late picnickers. But mostly, it was us and some pretty roses begging to be admired. It's hard not to fall in love with Portland in late evenings when all its blooms close for the night and everyone just hushes, to feel the city come to a slow and lazy halt for a few precious hours.

19 comments

  1. Kansas is so far behind on blooms it's not even funny. Everything looks gorgeous there!

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  2. Great shoes and jeans! Such a beautiful photos!

    http://lartoffashion.blogspot.com

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  3. Your afternoon picnic sounds lovely (and delicious!). Gorgeous pictures.

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  4. Sounds like such a lovely afternoon! This flower garden is gorgeous!

    xo Amy
    www.urbanfrill.com

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  5. this garden is so gorgeous. it sounds like you had an amazing afternoon :)

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  6. those flowers are so beautiful!! sounds like a great day.

    Xo Natasja

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  7. Love your adorable outfit + a picnic in a rose garden sounds absolutely dreamy!! Happy (almost) Friday, lovey!! xoxo

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  8. Love your photos! I love gardens, this one looks really pretty! Here is my blog if you want to check it out and maybe follow each other.
    www.thefancyfashioncastle.blogspot.com

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  9. gorgeous top!!! goes so well with the flower blooms!! :D

    Animated Confessions

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  10. Love the print of your top, everything looks so pretty!

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  11. Such a beautiful place for a walk (and a picnic)! And the outfit is wonderfull! x

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  12. Great photos! Those flowers are too pretty! Loving your top!

    xx
    Giovanna
    www.HeyLoveBlog.com

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  13. Such beautiful pictures! Garden with roses is incredible!

    http://svlnblog.blogspot.ru/

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  14. Great outfit dear!

    xx
    http://floortjeloves.com

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  15. I love your dainty necklaces!

    http://thecoralcourt.com/

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  16. wow!
    xx
    daniella
    simplybeautifulelegant.blogspot.com

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