I can’t believe it’s mid-May already, even though my students won’t let me forget it for a second (5 weeks left till last day of school). Spring is exploding and about to turn to summer, so here are some escapist Wednesday Morning Links…

Why don’t you spend a Saturday going to see some wildflowers? It’s pretty hard not to see them, even in the middle of the city, or along the 5 (see pictures below). I’m interested in trying some of the hikes listed by Tom Managan, who shares my love for the Mariposa lilies. With the rain we’ve gotten in the Bay Area this winter, all of the sites he’s listed are sure to be aflower. Another way to get up-to-date information on local wildflowers is via the California Native Plant Society (find your local chapter here). Click here to view the East Bay chapter’s upcoming events. The Yerba Buena chapter covers San Francisco and San Mateo counties, and here’s a link to the Marin chapter, which has a great journal of recent reports of wild flower sightings.

How about a leisurely trip to a museum? I was recently in Los Angeles and spent a day at LACMA. I was glad to see their new addition, but happier still to visit the tried and true galleries that I’ve walked since I was a child. The modern art room pictured below and the large hall on the ground floor of the Ahmanson building (the space currently holds Tony Smith’s “Smoke”) hold particularly fond memories. On my to do list is the newly reopened Oakland Museum of Art, which is getting stellar reports. I have to admit that thinking of museums makes me wish I lived in New York or a European city though…and if I were in New York I’d be at American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection at the Brooklyn Museum and American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity at the Met (Roberta Smith reviews the two shows for the NY Times and recommends going to the Brooklyn Museum’s exhibit first, and I never disobey Ms. Smith). And if I happened to be in London I’d be at the Victoria and Albert for A Fairyland of Flowers: Beatrix Potter and Cicely Mary Barker.

I like to call this “Variety and Balzac”

After all this escapism, you’re bound to be thirsty. My advice: Txakolí Txakolí Txakolí! The widest selection of this wonderful young Basque wine (authenticists insist on 100% Hondarribia grapes) can be found at my favorite wine shop, Paul Marcus at Market Hall. Try classics like Amestoi (which also makes an incredible rosé version) and the venerable Txomin Etxaniz. Then move on to the delicious upstart Urkí (make sure you roll that rrrrr!). After some experience with all of these, my current favorite is Talai Berri, which artfully balances the citrus and effervescence that is evident in all great txakolís. My husband is still loyal to his first love, Urkí. Try a few and report back—what’s your favorite?

And make sure to buy two bottles or live in regret. This stuff goes fast.

One last flower link, I can never hold back. I just discovered this most amazing and sedate rose called Fortune Teller in Morcom Rose Garden, which I usually refer to just as “the Oakland Rose Garden.”

I recently walked through the garden on the way to brunch at Camino. A nice little 1.5 mile walk from Rockridge to Camino is a perfect way to build the appetite and ensure that your Sunday gin fizz (Gin, citrus, cream, gum syrup, egg white, sparkling wine) is well deserved. Apparently the garden is about to be updated thanks to the passing of measure WW. Read all about it on A Better Oakland (even though author V Smoothe isn’t as excited about the roses as I am).