SATURDAY STROLL

Yesterday I took a little stroll on the Clackamas Community College campus after spending time in a class and then with a dear friend (enjoyed the time, Beth M.!).  I had noticed some lovely trees in bloom, covered in large white blossoms (my lack of horticultural knowledge keeps me from naming them), so I just had to snap a few photographs.They are so lovely! 

For some reason they made me think of white butterflies...

In the area behind DuJardin building is a little forested section where I discovered this lovely little sprite of a flower.  I found it unique how the end of each petal had a twist, and then I noticed that the stamen in the center had 3 little twists on the end.  They all twist in the same direction!  How cool is that!  The golden center was like a miniature sunburst.  Pretty!!

Now I had no idea that there were trilliums growing back there!!  But I discovered a few as I strolled, some white and some with a wine tint.  Nice!  In another area of the campus I found another lovely  tree covered in little cottony blossoms.

In my travels I came across glowing daffodils and tulips greeting me.  You can't help but smile when you see these flowers.

I also discovered a colorful and textural floral plant.  Look at the hair on these little guys.  I love the polka dotted leaves.

This plant has such sculptural edges to each leaf, and I loved seeing the water drop inside, like it was wearing a diamond.   As I wrapped up my stroll and decided I should head on home, I glanced up into the sky and saw this--

Now doesn't that look like a heart?  It sure did to me, and I felt like God was saying

I LOVE YOU!

HOW I SPENT MY FRIDAY...

Friday I attended a seminar for work.  It was held at Linfield College in McMinnville, OR.  It was about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from where I live (Mapquest said 1 hour 4 min. but did not take into account the traffic).  It took me onto the 205 and the 5 Fwys (I hate freeways) and through part of Portland.  I should have taken country roads for less traffic and more scenery.  But I did arrive safely with only one moment of being lost, and that was because the college itself lacks signage.  I won't go on about the seminar.  I just want to say what a lovely campus it was, especially with all the blooming plants.  When the seminar was over, I wandered for a little while to enjoy the spring scents and scenes.  While snapping photos, a professor who works there wandered over and said he was glad to see someone enjoying the beauty. We chatted, and he showed me the oldest building on the campus, pointing out that each of the three floors had a different architectural feature over the windows.  Here is the picture of that building. 

It has a bell tower on top and every half hour the bells ring.

They are quite melodic!

I found the building to be quite interesting.  It had nice architectural features and I saw more when I spent more time gazing at it.

I love features like this on buildings as it adds character.  I loved the "hearts."

Another building had some unique features.

The archway over the doorway, and the brickwork designs above the windows were subtle and nice.

I saw a unique relief on another building (which seemed to be more design that a specific reference piece) and a quote on another building.  In one area there are metal scupltures of "students" enjoying a park-like area of the campus.They were unique.

And, of course, there is a fountain (every college must have one).  It is an old-fashioned one and not as unique as the 2 fountains on the Clackamas Community College campus, but it does fit its serene surroundings. 

Everywhere across campus there were beautiful dogwoods blooming, as well as a variety of other flowers.  I just loved the POP of color that the poppies added!

I discovered a unique twisted vine that was like a living sculpture.  I loved how unique and unusual it was and just had to take a picture.  I have no idea what kind of plant it was, just enjoyed it sculptural quality.   I enjoyed my stroll around this lovely, serene setting!  Now it makes me want to explore some more of the campuses around Oregon.