The bird of paradise flowers have once again come to the end of their season in San Diego. A few of them are fresh and brilliant, but most are on their way to wilt and dullness.  These are the last bright ones.  The parent stalks are being trimmed back for their dormant period when most other flowers are just beginning to bud and bloom.  When autumn comes again and other flowers are fading, these will begin to bloom.  It's a reminder of that all life fits into some sort of cycle.