Camellia japonica

*edited to replace crappy out-of-focus shot with better photo* (I know, it doesn't really matter, but I can't help myself.)

This afternoon I was throwing the ball in my back yard for India, my dog. She's not much of a retriever, but loves the attention, and likes to run around a bit (before collapsing on the grass, rolling over, and presenting her belly for a rub, which is kind of - in her opinion - the whole point of the exercise).

Anyway, while I was scratching her belly, I looked left and gasped right out loud.

I had seen it before - one of two camellia bushes in my new back yard. But since it wasn't blooming yet, I didn't know what color it would be.


Turns out, the blooms are a lovely dark pink, with yellow in the middle. I cut a few, and plopped one in a pretty blue bowl that Clare gave me.

Perfection.