(Click on the picture to see it full size, use a back button to return to this spot.) Azaleas started to open up around the beginning of the month, reached full bloom by the end of the second week and now only those on the shaded north sides of buildings still have their flowers. As every year, the River Oaks garden club organizes an “Azalea Trail” weekend, when it is possible to visit gardens of several old mansions (turned into museums) and in addition 3 or 4 houses of club members. Of course you have to pay but it is usually well worth it. Lately we have concentrated on visiting only the private houses – not only are the gardens beautiful, but it also offers a peak into the houses of the upper classes – River Oaks is as affluent as you can get in Houston.

This year one house attracted my attention because it was described as a house once occupied by Heddy Lamar. Heddy Lamar was an Austrian (or Czech) actress and her claim to fame is that before she arrived in Hollywood she starred in the first ever completely nude film scene in a movie directed by a Czech director in Prague. I did not dig any deeper but I am sure there is an interesting story hiding here somewhere. The house was very pleasant in it’s own right and next to it was newer building with a very interesting roof. It must be nice to have money. The second house we saw was equally interesting, even though in a different way. It was all professionally decorated and while it was tasteful and often clever it totally lacked personality – obviously money is not everything.