Bloom Day Update - Yuletide Lives Up To Its Name

During the last Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, I lamented the fact that my Camellias sasanqua 'Yuletide' has always been reluctant to bloom, and that it was covered with lots of unopened buds. We went away for Christmas, and when we got home I let the dogs out in the back yard after their vehicular confinement, and there was Yuletide in full bloom, proving Christmas wishes can come true.

I am surprised more plants were not blooming - it reached 76 degrees, tying the record high. Last night neighbors were still outside after dark, enjoying the porch weather under glowing colored Christmas lights. I am always the first person to eschew air conditioning, but yesterday on the way home I was the one to actually cut on the AC in my wife's car. We tried having the windows down which was pleasant enough temperature wise, but it was also incredibly windy, and we were headed right into it. Everything in the very full car that was not nailed down was blowing around, and it was so loud we had to shout to be heard. So up went the windows and on went the AC.

I hope all of you have had a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, joyous Kwanzaa or a peaceful Muharram, and I hope all of us have a prosperous, stable New Year with few surprises.