Rosa "Duchesse de Brabant"

This was apparently one of Theodore Roosevelt's favorites, often wearing it as a buttonhole. Perhaps it grows differently here in southern California, as it has very little scent and the blooms last only a few hours once cut, so not the ideal boutonnière here.  On the other hand, it grows enthusiastically with very little attention or water, and the loose blooms are really charming. In my garden, it is usually paler than this deep pink, but it enjoyed the recent rains!

Camellia

An unidentified Camellia japonica, growing in our garden. This particular one is admirably hardy, having survived growing about a foot from the foundations of the house, for many years in utter shade while smothered with overgrown Cape hawthorn, being sawed off almost to the ground, and at least two termite tentings. The flowers have a tendency to wither rather quickly, but I have to admire its persistence.

This one is I think in the "formal double" shape, with its series of neatly overlapping petals, without revealing the stamens. The color is a salmon pink; I would say it is "Ed Combatalade" were it not for the pale pink stripes. Time to head over to Nuccio's, perhaps ...

An unidentified mushroom

An unidentified mushroom, found near our compost pile this afternoon, under a very large and spreading pine tree. It has a distinctly purple cast to the cap, which intensified since I picked it. It measures about 3.5 cm from the soil line to the top of the cap, and about 2.5 cm across at the widest point. It might be somewhat old, as it feels rather harder than might be expected. Possibly a blewit (Clitocybe nuda)?

Decorated granite moth?

Possibly Digrammia decorata or decorated granite, although it looks nothing like the one pictured here.  This is a common moth here in Fullerton

Photographed early this morning, in a sheltered spot on the side of my house.

Pink clouds

Unidentified mushroom

This specimen was about 2.5 in/6 cm across with brown gills; it was found growing under a pine tree.  We tried to make a spore print to aid in identifying it, but it was too dry.

For keys to identifying mushrooms, try MushroomExpert.

Winter clouds