Winter in Florida isn’t really “winter” and Spring in Florida lasts about five days. But being a four seasons kinda gal (not the Four Seasons from New Jersey, but the four seasons that I experienced when I lived in NJ), I still like to pretend it’s a real spring — break out the floral prints and sundresses, drive with windows down and music blasting and pick up fresh flowers from the market.

I especially love tulips. The best part of real spring is when perennials pop up from the freshly thawed ground, tiny little buds rising up to signal that at long last, the sun is strong, the temperatures are rising and life begins anew again. Tulips, daffodils, gladiolus — they’re all gorgeous. But tulips are my favorite because they remind me of a little tulip garden my mom planted when we lived in Lincoln Park, NJ for a few years during my early childhood. Continue reading →