I have a japonica camellia outside my side door and I baby it. I cover it with sheets if there is an early freeze and I hand pick out fallen leaves from its branches. When it blooms in late-November and December it brings joy to my heart. I too take picture after picture of the blooms, they are individual, varied and very photogenic. I want to get a few sasanqua camellias for my yard as well so I can enjoy some February blooms.

The second thing that captures my heart is my child’s face. He’s seven now and has lost an upper and a lower tooth so he looks somewhat like a jack o’lantern, and he presently has a black eye due to a hula hoop incident, but his sweet face just blows me away.

And Barbara – I had a cyclamen that brought me pleasure for years, I forgot about her, I need to purchase another.