Our backyard camellias are near the end of their blooming cycle. The paper thin petals are starting to wrinkle and, as a result, they become a short-lived dramatic landing strip for natural light. 

Sacramento is know for its camellias. These shrubs/trees are green all year with some varieties blooming in the fall, but most showing off in January and February, the rainy season. The fragile petals soften up in wet weather.  We had the first rain of the year yesterday, a good all-day soaking, that affected camellia blooms throughout the city.

We put this wood bench in the backyard and left it there. The azaleas are blooming through the slats. Note the green fungus on the wood. I think this bench will go the way of those abandoned barns that are one good wind away from collapsing.

bloom at its peak

bloom with gnat

tight bud

one more day like this

The Camellias in Sacramento are usually roughed up by rain at this time of year, but since we are in a drought,  the blooms are impressive. Shots were taken yesterday afternoon–note the gnat on the lower left bloom. However, I would prefer that it rain.