One of the things I knew I'd miss most about leaving San Diego (land of eternal summer) were the year-round flowers, but you know, a place isn't too bad when you can come home to this during the dark and chill of January and February. This is my Winter Blooming Daphne, and in a few years when we have scratch and sniff blogging, you'll see how divinely it smells. I know it's coming every January, and it's waiting by the front porch for us to come home every evening.

Another midwinter treat is our backyard camellia. The two we have soar as high as our second story windows, and I love them. Camellias are great because they come in so many varieties, some blooming at Thanksgiving, some through these dark and cold days. Really, I'd love a few more. That's a broad hint Neel, garden-man.

A February kiss. Tide-over until Azalea time.