Thanks you very much for your responses and interest in helping me solve this mystery. The Ornamental Pear doesn't bear fruit that I can see. I see the cherries on the Ornamental Cherry tree because they're Robin favorites for eating. We've thought and thought about what's changed in the last few years. The only thing that's changed in that spot is my father had to have a new septic tank installed on the far side from 2 trees right next to the Pear tree 3-4 years ago. They weren't sure they could save the tree but were able to cut a minimal amount of roots/limbs off one side to dig and install the new tank. The tree didn't show any set back the next year or since. They were especially careful about saving the tree. I'm assuming the tree roots have grown into the septic area. I also assume something in what roots now take up from soil around is different in nutrient content. I'm ignorant about biology of how that would effect color of blooms but must assume both digging and septic installation changed soil structure and soil composition/texture around the tree. That septic installation could be the obvious answer to changes in the tree even as far as blossom color. Can't think of another environmental change that's occurred. You ask when trees were fed. I'm assuming my father fed them when they were planted in 1979 and maybe a few years after that. I don't think they've been "fed" in many a year. Tops of these trees exceed height of second floor roofline and their combined expanse is 2/3 entire length of main part of 2 story colonial. I don't have a camera and if I did I wouldn't know how to post them. Now that the rain has removed most of the blossoms guess I'll have to wait for next year to see if color change returns. Wouldn't want to do anything to damage the tree itself by experimenting on a 29 year old tree. Well, thank you again for your responses. It was very kind of you to share your experience.

Yes, I know Chrysanthemums go through color changes as the flower ages, I have dozens of varieties. Here I'm talking about fresh flowers, not aged or frozen. Nantyderry sunshine will not age to intense pink-violet, nor will Bronze Elegans. It is actually 'heard of' as several people reported it here on this forum and other fora. It is just the mechanism behind it that is not found/explained. I was sceptical too untill it happened to me. I bought a very big pot of a red Echinacea (do not remember whether it was Hot Summer or Tomato Soup). It was late in the season so I decided to overwinter it in my basement. As there was only one plant there was no possibility for confusion. Next summer the whole big plant was blooming in a colour of an ordinary E.purpurea. And it was NOT a seedling inside another plant. The whole big plant changed colour of the flowers, the rest of the plant(foliage , habit) did not change. I have also read reports from other countries , that people were experiencing it with Echinaceas.

Your mature plant must be beautiful in bloom! The flower heads should be removed just below the head as they become spent, but this plant does not respond well to heavy pruning (especially below foliage). Planning for size at planting is better than trying to contain them with pruning. It is generally recommended to allow some heads to drop seeds for replacement plants, or to purchase new stock, so they become established as the original plant reaches the age of decline. Then remove the older plant. If I recall correctly, there are some cultivars that are more compact.

Thanks for the comments! Xica, it gets full bore full sun all day every day. Amazing. I water it two or three times a week in summer and then once every week to ten days in winter. It's done great for three years now. It DOES get pretty large. The little rosette is now a 3 foot tall shrub that's probably 4 or 5 feet across. I love it, although if I had known it would get as large as it is I would have tried a different spot for it, but as it is I'm leaving it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?? I agree it's fun to see what sort of new-ish plants we can grow here. I also agree that focusing on low water plants is best. In Southern California these plants thrive with very little irrigation, which is why I wanted to give it a try here. I've got a few fun Grevilleas growing and blooming too, another low-water staple from So Cal. Of course, for every success like this Pride of Madeira, I have three or four disasters that melt in summer, or winter, or never grow at all, LOL, but it's fun to experiment a bit, as long as the bulk of a garden is composed of work horse plants that love it here. Thanks to folks who looked at or commented on the pics. I'm going to harvest some seeds in the next week or so and see if I can get some seedlings. I'll try again in autumn too when it's easier to keep seedlings going outside. Take care all, Grant