Tillandsia Starting to Bloom

I've had this Tillandsia for several years and it has grown several clumps over that time period but this is the first time it has bloomed.  It really came to life right after the rains we received about a week ago.

Tillandsia

Tillandsia

Rain!

It's great to see rain drops in the pine tree.  The four year drought in southern California is taking it's toll and hopefully we will get steady slow rain this rainy season.

Rain drops in the pine tree

Variegated Plumeria Blooms!

My variegated Plumeria has finally bloomed!  I've had for a year and a half and this is the first time it has bloomed.  They are small blooms that are soft pink with yellow near the center.  There is even a little variegation in the petals.  The nursery where I bought it didn't know what color the blooms would be, I was hoping for something other than white, so I'm very happy.

Variegated Plumeria

Time-lapse of Cactus Blooming

I made a time-lapse video of a cactus blooming.  This cactus sits in a shady area of our balcony. Yesterday I noticed that it was going to bloom, so I set the time lapse camera up to start taking pictures every thirty seconds beginning at 8:00 AM.  This 24 second video captures about 3.5 hours of cactus blooming.

Here are some stills from the beginning, middle and end.

Another new Passion Vine!

My friend Julie gave me another Passion vine.  This one is called 'Elizabeth' and it 's a hybrid by Patrick Worley.  This bloom is almost 5 inches in diameter.

Passion Flower, Elizabeth

Pavonia Rosera

I think this is an interesting plant, it's a Pavonia Rosera. There are blooms all over the plant and the blooms last a long time.

Pavonia Rosera

This one too

Pavonia Rosera

Pavonia Rosera

Passion Vine Collector!

I'm becoming a Passion Vine Collector!  I received this Passion Vine from my friend Julie.  It has a beautiful red flower.

Passion Flower

A Red Passion Flower

Now one of the red passion vines is starting to bloom.

Passion Flower

Passion Flower

I bought three passion vines this year and this one bloomed for the first time.  The other two new vines should be blooming soon and they will have red flowers.

Passion Flower

Here are some blooms from a couple of existing vines.

Passion Flower

Passion Flower

Epiphylum in Bloom!

A few days ago there was one bloom on this Epiphylum plant and now it has exploded with blooms!

Epiphylum

Epiphylum

Epiphylum

Laelia Orchid bloom

I like to have various orchids planted around the garden.  They are such a pleasant surprise when they bloom.  Here is what I think is a Laelia Orchid.

Laelia Orchid

Lazuli Bunting Video

After photographing the Lazuli Bunting with the digital SLR, I set up the Birdcam in front of their favorite feeder.

Lazuli Bunting

Lazuli Bunting

This is the first time I have seen a Lazuli Bunting in the garden.  I noticed about 6-8 of them yesterday morning as I was leaving for work.  This morning I was able to take this picture.  My research says they summer as far south as Santa Barbara and all the way up into British Columbia.  Hopefully a few will stick around.

Lazuli Bunting

Happy New Year!

Here are a few pictures that I took on January 1st 2014.

And I found a couple of tomatoes!

Have a Happy and Healthy 2014!