Flower Showers, Spring Serenade, Gourmet Greens and Tangerines

The spring sun has been playing hide and seek with us. Panchito's morning walks have been mostly cloudy with cool breezes. Not exactly the kind of weather that makes me want to get out of bed let alone go for a walk. It is May right? What's going on? Panchito leads the way on his morning walks. Sometimes he keeps us (him and I) on the same paths, other times he feels like exploring. Those walks on the same paths sometimes make me forget that I get to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The architecture, the trees, smells and sights begin to go unnoticed and taken for granted.

This morning the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, flowers in bloom and the wind was gentle. God it feels good to be warmed by the rays of sunshine! Deep breath, ah how I love the smell of spring. I think Panchito also loves the smell and warmth of spring. He sniffs the unfrozen ground and all of it's surroundings like it's all new territory. Pausing to wait for him while he sniffs around a gentle breeze blows over us. Suddenly we are showered with small white flower petals. When did the tree fully blossom? It was a sight to behold, it felt like being in a snow globe or rather a flower globe. Even Panchito took notice, he stopped sniffing the ground to point his nose up in the air and sniff. I love when he does that! I aimed my gaze upwards to watch the flowers showering over us, I catch the sun's rays peaking through the tree branches. Softly in the distance I hear a flute.

I close my eyes to better hear the flute notes. It's a sweet serenade with melancholy notes, yet make one feel euphoric. Music, sunshine, and flowers can evoke such grand emotions in humans. I peer around the tree to see it is once again the young blind musician who often plays his flute for passersby. Though music on the streets of Prague is not an uncommon sound it is one that always makes me stop and take notice.

Panchito decides that he has sniffed enough of that patch and starts leading us away. As we make our way back home those melancholy flute notes serenade us and begin to grow ever more distant. For a while it felt like all the morning's beauty belong to just Panchito and I. I love mornings like this, a great way to start off my day. The only thing that would have completed the experience would have been if hubby had been with us, next time.

On sunshine warmed days I like to eat light vibrant foods. This salad was inspired by the morning's events and it was a perfect way to end the day with a plate of vibrant fresh veggies and fruits. Enjoy!

Gourmet Greens and Tangerines Salad
Wild Arugula
Baby Spinach
Mâche Greens
Tangerines
cherry tomatoes

vinaigrette dressing

1. Rinse the greens and set aside to drain off extra water. Rinse and halve the cherry tomatoes, set aside. Use a sharp knife to cut away the peel and white pith. First slice off top and bottom of the tangerine, then slice down the sides. Next cut into wedges.

2. Toss the greens and arrange the cherry tomato halves and tangerine wedges as desired. Serve with your favorite vinaigrette salad dressing.

Checkout these other great salads :

- An Organic Gardener's Salad with a Citrus Dressing , The Ardent Epicure

- Fresh Spring Bulgur Salad, Tamara Novacovic via Honest Cooking

- Sweet Onion Salad with Orange Vinaigrette , Natalie McLaury via Honest Cooking

- Chopped Salad w/Blue Cheese Dressing – My Nepenthe, White on Rice Couple

- Carrot and Avocado Salad , Jenn Cuisine

- Garden Salad with Warm Goat Cheese and Society Garlic Flowers, Kitty Morse

What is your idea of a perfect salad?