TIAAers planned on seeing the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Dallas Arboretum on March 14 but the early warm weather coaxed the trees to bloom in February instead so it wasn't to be! However, making lemonade from lemons, we did enjoy the largest floral festival in the Southwest which had a theme of "Peace, Love and Flower Power" along with wonderfully cool weather that day. We feasted our eyes on tulips, daffodils, Dutch Iris, hyacinths, pansies, violas, poppies and thousands of other spring-blooming annuals and perennials. The tulips and daffodils were backed up by the pink azaleas which were followed closely by the bright red, multi-bloom amaryllis beds. Oh, and if you are wondering what to do with that old VW bus, consider turning it into a topiary by covering it with some of nature's beauties (and don't forget the "peace sign"). We wound up the relaxing day by enjoying a yummy lunch at the new Smoky Rose restaurant right across the street from the Arboretum.