Azelea blooms (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Springtime is my favorite time of the year in Houston. Although the annual Azalea Trail happened earlier this month without azalea blooms, they’re everywhere now. Texas wildflowers adorn the highways, especially bluebonnets. White and pink Indian hawthorns blooms are out. Everything has been brown for so long it makes the blooms all that much more appreciated.

I took the photo above a few minutes ago, trying to mix a little of the afternoon sun with the bright color of the buds. The blooms will fire off soon and be gone soon after Easter. In Chinese culture, azaleas are known as the “thinking of home bush” (xiangsi shu). No matter where I travel, when I see azaleas in bloom I always think of home.