Nature’s Valentines

Sunrise from downtown San Anselmo

Chocolate is fattening, florist mark-ups are exorbitant, and restaurant reservations are impossible to get (not to mention that your Groupon won’t be honored even if you do snag a table).

Fortunately, nature supplies a lot of wonderful valentines for free, at least for those of us lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. The run-up to Valentine’s Day here is always my favorite time of year because it’s our spring, with an incredible display bursting forth.

Here are some of the confections I’ve been enjoying on my walks around town this week:

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What is your favorite no-calorie Valentine freebie?