Waiting For The Azaleas

First the buds pop. Then, in the blink of an eye it seems.....azaleas everywhere. Like over night! The only words I can use are orgasmic, ecstatic, sacred, astounding, ethereal, and unfortunately evanescent. Yes, this apotheosis of blossoms and range of Pantone colors from white, to yellow, to shades of orange, and a complete continuum of pinks, reds, and violets, only lasts about two to three weeks at best. Then, we have solid green hedges for the rest of the summer and fall. As soon as the last flower drops, we begin our long wait until next April/early May (depends where you live) when the azaleas will grace us with their presence once again.

Note: No Southern home would be without an azalea bush. Then for the complete summer we have night blooming jasmine, crape myrtle trees, and magnificent magnolia trees. (See the vine in the photo - thats the jasmine creeping over the bush.)