FOREIGN FLORA

 With so many blooms and colors permeating the Charleston landscape each year, the city's historic area is a veritable garden in itself. Yet although Charleston is famous for its azaleas, camellias, gardenias. oleanders, pittosporum, Confederate jasmine, lugustrum, four o'clocks, hydrangeas, and cherokee roses, all are non-native species, brought to this subtropical climate as experiements by botanists. Fortunately, we do have plenty of native flowering species as well, including redbud, bignonia, magnolia, dogwood and syringa.

 The peak blooming season is early March through May, and sweet fragrances fill the air along with the buzzing of  honey bees, who are so delirious with loads of nectar that you can actually pet them as they probe flower petals - and don't worry, they rarely sting unless you threaten a hive.