Camellias in Bloom

I was fortunate that my 50+ Camellia bushes remained unscathed by the recent ravages of ice storm PAX.  In fact, the blooms have been magnificent this spring!  I was just flipping through Martha Tate’s book, Margaret Moseley’s A Garden to Remember,  admiring the loveliness of Mrs. Moseley’s Camellia collection.

Camellias add such strength to a garden because the leaves are a deep green and remain all year long. Camellias can grow to be 25 feet (or more) high and wide!

Camellias are a must have for the purposeful gardener. I use camellia blossoms and leaves to create colorful flower arrangements and also for boutonnieres. Pictured below are a dozen arrangements created with Camellia blooms, ranunculus and roses. Adding a touch of the unexpected such as home-grown camellias completes a lovely eye catching centerpiece.

According to Margaret Moseley, beginning gardeners should purchase plants in collections. Research the colors and petal configurations that appeal to you, then begin adding them to your landscape/garden.

I am fortunate to have Jim Stutts down the street. We have over 50 of his Camellias in our landscape and side garden thanks to him.  He is our regional Camellia expert, and very generous to neighborhood newcomers sharing his passion for Camellias.

So if you are changing up the garden or your landscape this spring, start your list of Camellias. They will add good structure to the garden and grace your table with bountiful blooms!