I am glad I made it home in time to see the Professor Sargent Camellia japonica in full bloom.
These flowers have an unusual bouquet quality due to the two-tiered arrangement of petals.
The difference in petal length is most pronounced as the blooms first open.
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This gorgeous camellia is a favorite snack of our deer herd. I have been fencing it in and trimming it up to protect it.
New blooms appear for weeks through February and March. The flowers have perfect symmetry during all stages of blooming.
White by the Gate is one of my two Camellia “winter roses.”
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All I need is a tiny reminder of what is to come. These little signs of spring get me through the dark, short days. My Professor Sargeant Camellia japonica has sent out one perfect bloom from all of its hundreds of buds.
On this shortest day of the year, I am grateful for this one bright, red reminder of the beauty to come.
That’s all I need is a little faith in sunshine and spring. We have made it to the solstiice gardeners. It gets brighter from here.
Happy Holidays
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The blooms always stop me. I have to pause by each shrub. I must touch a flower.
White By the Gate is blooming for the third time since February.
Professor Sargent’s blooms are too heavy for its limbs.
Each looks like it belongs on a lapel, perfectly round and tight with petals. Just add a pin.
Perfectly formed. Too pretty to pick.
I will take some to my mama if the freeze does not burn them brown.
How could something so beautiful just appear here? All I did was plant a twig.
If you are a gardener, you understand my amazement.
Miracles appear each day in spring.
Bringing me back to life.
Hold on folks. Spring is sneaking your way. HOORAY!
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My two Camellia japonicas blooming has reminded me of a fairy tale,
Snow White and Rose Red (Schneettweichen und Rosenrot).
My sister and I had some relation to this story.
She was a redhead and I a blond.
That is where the link ends…I hope.
As with most fairy tales,
the good little girls turn the monster (bear) into a prince and marry him and his brother.
Mothers, let’s rewrite these PLEASE.
Leave in the good and kind,
but change the reward to a self-fulfilling ending instead of a wedding.
(No offense Princes.)
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floweralley 