The annual Spring azalea pilgrimmage in Daydreaming on the Porch

Each Spring starting in mid-March, I begin my annual photo pilgrimmage at the gardens and parks in Charleston where this most magnificent flowering shrub dazzles the eyes with its brilliant pinks, white and red blooms. Close-up the individual flowers are exquisite and delicate. The network of veins is clearlyi visible and light sparkles through in the sunlight. One is in awe looking at them and realizing how briefly they will be in bloom.

There will be a week or two for the peak bloom and so I make my way to Charles Towne Landing, Magnolia Gardens, and Hampton Park. Each year I am astounded anew at the beauty of this flower, and I’ve been enjoying them as long as I can remember, going back to my youth in New Orleans where we had several huge bushes in our back yard. I can see myself 40 or 50 years ago in that back yard admiring them close up now. The difference is that today with the wonders of digital cameras, I can capture their beauty in all their moods of light and color brilliance.

Last updated February 20, 2020