Frank bemoans the lack of seasons in Sydney. Every time he does I point to some winter flower like these camellias. We have several camellia bushes (including our green tea bush) around our house and they bloom for ages through the colder months. Besides brightening the yard they make great cut flowers.
And it’s not just the camellias that are in bloom, the yard is full of flowers including: the quince scrub (not sure if it wants to be a bush, a tree, or a weed), strelitzias, begonias, roses, poinsettias, hibiscuses, sunflowers, jade, ixora, shrimp plants and, of course, the zucchinis and cucumbers (do squash flowers count?). Even the citrus trees, laden with fruit, are blooming like mad. The yard looks vibrant.
Give me year round colour over the dead of winter followed by the bloom of spring any time.
Laura Rittenhouse's Gardening Journal 