An EXPLOSION of Color!

 With over ten inches of rain at the house since the first part of June, everything is blooming in great, colorful profusion. It is HIGHLY unusual for us to have had this much rain this early.  I'm NOT complaining.

These two photos are only the lower patio.  There is much more to photograph.  However, these are the flowers I see on a daily basis from my computer desk or reading chair.  To say that I love looking up and seeing all this color is a major understatement.

In February when the chain link fence (that wasn't even visible due to plants) was torn down, there was very little left.  Even the bougainvillea were hacked down.  Yes, everyone told me it would come back, but I never imagined it would come back this fast or luxurious.  Thankfully.  The fuscia color is so intense.  From the second floor living room window, it fills the windows with color.

The second photo is the view from the kitchen window looking down the walkway.  It is a sylvan glade of green and color.  The plants are happy and so am I! 

Indeed, now with all the new plants and different shade patterns, Velcro has found other sunning and hiding places to enjoy her daily sleeping or hunting life.  I spotted her the other day in a little patch between the butterfly lilies and the oleanders stretched out like the Cat Queen that she thinks she is.

As I write this at 2PM, the clouds are rolling in with the look of rain coming in a few hours.  It seems to hit about 5:30PM each evening.  How do I know that?  Well, it often knocks out the satellite TV at the thirty minute time frame that I watch the news.  The ONLY time all day that I watch the news.  Oh well, I'm probably better off not knowing the news.

There is more to photograph - the night blooming cereus have started blooming.  The oleanders have finally gotten leaves now that the cutter ants have left.  The orange flowers that pop out everywhere are blooming everywhere too.  Little by little, the yard is beginning to fill in in the empty spots left from the February devastation.  I'll share more with you as time goes on.

The birds  are having a field day with the avocados, the pomegranates and of course the lemons blooming and fruiting.  The white breasted hummingbird flew full force into the window the other day.  Bad maneuver.  But, while laying on the ground, under my watchful but distant eye, it came back to life and flew off.  It is back daily at specific times.  IF the TV is on, it flutters up to the window and hovers there for quite a bit of time.  What the heck is that all about?

Nature is a wonderful, joyful thing to observe.  I am blessed.  Life is good.