Down to the nubs

Here's the crown of one of the big plumerias by the library, down to its winter basics. Quite a change from the mass of fragrant yellow blossoms that form by the thousands in spring, summer and fall.

Robert has never liked their seasonal leaf-drop. He thinks they look too bare, and a little desolate.

I think they look sculptural, armatures I can hang my spring hopes on. That's a rare thought in a place where the four seasons are warm, bake, broil and hurricane.

But even now, you can find a few hangers-on around town -- our equivalent of the last rose of summer. A sweet farewell.