FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, this camellia has bloomed on my birthday - not a day before. It was a brithday present, to celebrate my 50th birthday. This camellia is about 12 feet from my computer where I sit every morning (almost) of my life... it is one of the first things I look at each day. It sits right next to my driveway, so it is impossible to ignore it especially when it is in full bloom. Every year, the first bloom of the season has opened right on schedule. But this year, the seasons seemed to have gotten off to an early start. Everything started to bloom early as we experienced the warmest year in recorded history. So I guess I should not have been so shocked when I looked out the fogged up window (from the air conditioner) and saw red. Well, OK, maybe magenta is more accurate. 2 weeks early... there it is.
The temps are still quite summer-like. It was in the low 70s when I got up, will be in the 80s today. At least we are not hitting the upper 90s anymore, tho I hesitate to complain after so many people were in the hundreds last summer, day after day after day. The humidity is so high it is like breathing soup. Our 10 inches of rain from a week ago has long soaked in the ground, but it seems we get a little rain each day, then a burst of sunshine, just enough to make it like a sauna out there.
The dragonflies have almost all disappeared. The yard is now filled with butterflies flitting from place to place. I have several butterfly bushes, phlox, blue sage, and fall camellias all in bloom to keep them happy.
The roses are sending out a new round of blooms.
The dragonflies have almost all disappeared. The yard is now filled with butterflies flitting from place to place. I have several butterfly bushes, phlox, blue sage, and fall camellias all in bloom to keep them happy. 
6 comments:
Hmmmm...maybe the camellia is saying something like "hey, it's 20years that I've been right on time, give me a break, I'm getting older, too."
Love to see the butterflys !
And, happy birthday to you a bit in advance.
Indeed. This months National Geographic has a great article on the changing weather....
Beautiful pictures!! Happy (early) Birthday!
Happy Birthday early Possum. Is it the 16th? Mine is the 19th. I will be 39 again, and again, and again. Your flowers are lovely. I have a Lakewood Jasmine that is blooming. The little bees love it. The scent is heavy on the air. It must call them. Good you survived all that water. We were lucky and the storm marched right on by (Tampa area) with only some rain. CYA next time.
It must be just about your birthday! You probably didn't want climate change for your birthday present, but I guess it's free with your subscription to life. What to do? Happy birthday anyway.
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