We partook this year of the fireworks event at the Rose Bowl, and got a little more of a blaze than we bargained for when some trees behind the stadium caught on fire. The Star-News reports that the blaze was caused by illegal fireworks, rather than the official ones.

In any case, the fireworks display was lavish, with lots of big blooming lights like bouquets of chrysanthemums. One of our friends thought to bring a blanket, so we got to sit on the grass near the Pasadena Pops orchestra as they played "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," and other patriotic music. Without visual aids until it got dark, the crowd of all ages entertained itself by doing the wave in the stands and then cheering for itself. After walking back to the car, out on the far of the edges of the parking, pretty much on a golf course, we got back too late to see the fire on the news. We arrived home tired and smelling of manicured lawn and gunpowder -- aah, America.

Photo of a palm tree on fire by Jeanne