Smile! Mountain Lilac

One of my fondest memories growing up was of my step-mom proclaiming that the Mountain Lilac was in bloom. She did it every year - when this hills of Valley Center turned a grey-ish, purple color. I had never seen one up close until my brother came home for a visit and on his way there, he had stopped on the side of the road to pick a branch off for her.

I was the first one to notice they were blooming this year. And I was able to find one close enough to a road for me to snap this picture. Spring is almost here :)