Plants Are Not Avid Readers

I have learned that plants do not always read the gardening books that tell them where they will grow and how they should behave. I have seen a fair number of Hydrangeas planted in full sun, Yuccas in shade, Dogwoods in poor soil, and tropicals that come back when they are left in the ground over winter. At my son's elementary school there are about a dozen Camellias (Camellia japonica) that are thriving in full sun, compacted soil and with no supplemental watering or nutrients. Each of these is about the size of an SUV and are in full bloom right now.

This one is by the front entrance, underneath the flagpole., -- -- and here is a close up of the blooms.
There are also several at the entrance to the library and auditorium.

As is often the case with Camellias, this one has two different flower types, ---

-- half is this dark pink, --
-- and the other half is a bi-color.
These two photos are of one of the largest at the school.
This school was built in the late 30's or 40's and has an institutional, modernist architectural style. It occupies a small peninsula on the Lafayette River and has a good number of large Southern Magnolias, Loblolly Pines and a few impressive Live Oaks, as well as the Camellias. It is quite different then where I went to elementary school at what was then brand new construction in the middle of the burbs around Richmond. It was devoid of any trees and shrubs, save for a few strays not taken out by the bulldozers. If you left the asphalt playground, you ran the risk of sinking to your waist in mud.

Bloom Day - Ides of March

It was sunny and very pleasant here with temperatures in the mid to upper 60's. Today was also the day of the local St. Patrick's Day parade in Ocean View. We rode out to the bay front for an after parade party, and even though the parade was over, there was still much to be seen. Several houses had front yard parties still going on, lots of green trash on the streets, people wearing green hats, shirts and big jewelery, and many staggering pedestrians. On the beach it felt about 10 degrees colder as the wind was coming straight off the bay where the water is still barely 50, yet that did not stop a few fools from swimming.

It is definitely spring here as the Pears, Saucer and Star Magnolias, Plums, Carolina Jessamine and some Crabapples are all in bloom. The Daffodils are just past peak, but the first Azaleas are starting to show color. In my own yard I discovered the Asarum splendens is blooming and I had to enter the dog dropping zone to get these pictures.
I have had this several years and it has slowly spread to a clump about 2' wide. The blooms are buried in the leaf litter and I wonder what it must be pollinated by. They are hidden by what I think is the plants best asset -- its mottled silvery foliage.
In the side garden next to the street the Zhu Zhou Fuchsia Lorapetalum (Lorapetalum chinense 'Zhu Zhou Fuchsia') was ablaze. I hope Lorapetalums do not become over-planted here; I certainly sell my fair share of them at work. I was told that this Quince was a long blooming variety, and it has been going about a month now. I believe this variety is Hime.Have already posted pictures of my Lilac Daphne, but when I saw it mixed with the O'Spring Holly and the new Poet's Laurel foliage -- it just said Fine Gardening Moment.
Finally, I am not a huge Forsythia fan, but this is a variegated variety with bright yellow and green foliage, and it is sandwiched between the above Lorapetalum and a purple Smokebush.
There are other things going on, but this is all I had time for today. Please visit May Dreams Gardens for more of Bloom Day.