Capturing the beauty before the freeze

We’ve had a very mild, even warm winter in Charleston, especially during January. That all came to an abrupt end last night and this morning when the temperatures dipped to 27 degrees, rare but not too unusual for this time of year. Still, we had just about forgotten about winter.

Knowing the freeze was coming, I headed over to Magnolia Gardens with my camera yesterday afternoon to record the beauty of the many flowers in bloom early this season. There were still daffodils blooming everywhere; year-round blooming azaleas, purple blossomed Japanese magnolia, and even a spectacular iris, the first of the season.

Here is a close-up of the iris: http://www.flickr.com/photos/camas/6860904333/in/photostream

Needless to say, most of what I saw yesterday is now just a beautiful, pleasant memory. That is how the weather is these days. Strange. The red-breasted robins had been here for weeks, totally confused by the weather. They just left two days ago, probably sensing the Arctic Express headed our way.

In a way, I really like this cold weather because it is such a bracing tonic and change of pace from what we normally have. Overall, it’s hard to find a better winter climate than what we have here.

This is my favorite scene from yesterday. In back of the main house at the gardens, there is a large azalea which was in full bloom. From a short distance, it had that wonderful late afternoon sunlight directly on it, giving it a warm and beckoning glow, dazzling in the perfectly clear and crisp light of that winter afternoon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camas/6860878203/in/photostream

Here is a set of selected photos from yesterday’s visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camas/sets/72157629296222271/

Gypsy Spirit

February 12, 2012

I am amazed flowers are still blooming in your winter even though its been a mild one until now. So wonderful to know the joy you get from nature…..me too. hugs p

By Sunday afternoon my Camellia blossoms were all brown if they were pink or black if they were red. There are still a lot of buds to open up so all is not lost! The poor robins are frustrated at the frozen birdbath this 24° morning! Will pour some hot water in it soon as I post this…stay warm!!

Nice Iris – If you look at the code for the closeup you will see a “> just before the www. If you insert target=new between the two characters, people will get to your images without leaving the OD. Also you can just type the word here for the link. I like going to your albums but then have to fight through lots of back buttons to return to the OD.

These are beautiful! Thanks for sharing ~Anna

Willy & Wilma

February 13, 2012

Am looking forward to the new life you will have at your mother’s home. She is fortunate to have you as her caretaker. Willy

gray tabby

February 14, 2012

my youngest brother lives in charleston. i miss the huge white magnolia trees up here. grew up in florida where they were everywhere! love the smell of them. my sil says he saw a tree just covered in robins. i haven’t seen any yet here at the house. looking forward to them coming. and the juncos, the winter birds, to go away. take care,

Beautiful, doomed blooms.

~seafarer

As always your pictures are beautiful… you capture the true essence of whatever you photograph! I’m planning a trip south sometime after my AK trip, hopefully it will be beautiful down there then… I am concerned that the cold snap got my flowers…

Beautiful flowers! Thanks for sharing these. So nice to see such gorgeous blossoms in the middle of winter. 🙂 Winter has been fairly mild here, too. We even had dandelions blooming before the latest snowstorm! 🙂

Actually adding the two words target=new will only open the outside pages in a new window outside of the OD. It leaves me on you page while opening up another. It’s good to see some of the Old Timers still writing here.

RYN: exactly! our challenge is trying to capture/hold the interest of young people. Yes, we are definitely a community weekly. 🙂