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.”
FLOWER
I coddle and smother my plants. I tend to over-correct problems out of guilt. An example of this is how I have tried to protect one of my camellias.
‘White by the Gate’ must be really tasty. My deer neighbors seem determined to eat its leaves and buds. They even bite the mesh to get to the leaves. Its shape has been deformed during overnight raids.
Early last spring I haphazardly constructed a piecemeal enclosure made of all sorts of things(junk) I found around my shop and garden.
When the deer smashed this in to get to the leaves, I further fortified the structure with stakes and sticks. It was an ugly mess, but the shrub was safe…sort of.
I have not been able to walk steadily since April. I did not stray far from the house for fear of falling until three weeks ago. During these months of my absence, the Camellia grew. Twigs and leaves grew right through the plastic mesh protection. The new growth became tangled and deformed from being enclosed for its safety.
I removed the old mess of enclosure yesterday. In the process I ripped off quite a bit of new growth. Is this really safety? It seemed more like restraint.
The new enclosure is taller, simpler, sturdier and bigger. There is enough room for the new growth without it having to poke through the fence and get nibbled on. It will probably need to be taller and sturdier.
The Camellia will be able to grow without being distorted and weakened by its protection. That restrictive fencing reminded me of the damaging effects of paternalism.
There is also the irony of saving the flower buds while hurting the mother plant.
Sigh.
FLOWER is back in her neglected garden.
I am thrilled by any sign of spring. I am grateful for every early flower.
One of my Camellias, ‘White by the Gate’, has burst into bloom.
These blooms are perfectly symmetrical and make my heart sing.
The blooms are irresistible. The leaves must also be hard to resist.
You guessed it. The deer are here chomping on most things green.
Therefore,’ White by the Gate’ is now “white in a fence.”
Daddy’s windmill is standing guard as an additional deterrent.
Deer tracks are everywhere.
Fear not! I have a plan. Stay tuned.
FLOW
Camellias are my winter roses.
The large bloom is ‘White by the Gate.’ It will have a few blooms at a time all winter.
The smaller pink is ‘Jean May.’ She has been blooming for months and will continue until a hard freeze.
I love them both for blooms in the cold. Such a sweet winter treat!
Flower
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!
Flow
I am grateful for the winter blooms of ‘White by the Gate’, Camellia japonica.
If it were not for the nip in the air I would swear it was spring by looking at it in full bloom.
This steadfast bloomer is striking with its dark green, glossy leaves and pure white, double blooms.
Could it be any more beautiful?
I love this lovely “rose of winter.”
Flower
It is dreary and misty here, but I had to get out.
The garden calls despite the weather.
The whites were bright today.
This is their time to shine.
It is lovely to spy some white on a dark day.
Flow
It is hard work protecting my precious plants from the local deer herd.
I have to be diligent. If I wait, it is too late.
This week I noticed the front of my ‘Professor Sargent’ Camellia japonica was missing.
Yes. the entire front of an evergreen shrub had been eaten overnight.
Good thing I keep a selection of posts and fencing handy.
Now Professor Sargent’s front and flowers will be safe.
I circled the yard to check on ‘White by the Gate.’
It was safe and blooming inside its year-round fencing.
Edgworthia also has its own enclosure.
I am not sure if the flowers would get eaten, but the leaves were nibbled on last fall.
I guess I will start enclosing my daylilies as they sprout.
No point in growing snacks for the local wildlife!
Flow
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.)
Flow
floweralley 