Design Inspiration from Nature

Thanks to a faithful reader for reminding me about the loveliness of blooming Jacaranda trees. In Southern California, these purpley flowering trees are a botanic harbinger of summer. They line so many streets in our neighborhood that the skies appear to have produced lavender snow. Will someone please build me a Jacaranda flower snowman with a tulip nose and poppy eyes and a celosia mouth?

With the abundance of purple in the natural world this time of year, I've been inspired to add a touch of lavender to my rooms. If you aren't a fan of pink (which defies explanation), a bit of purple in a room is a nice feminine touch without shifting into full-on girly mode. Who knows, husbands might even dig purple (especially Lakers fans husbands)? Images borrowed from DecorPad.