Finally last week, my first camellia of the year opened fully to show off its golden anthers, set off to perfection against the delicate frill of pink petals.
They've been developing bit by bit for weeks, teasing me with glimpses of their pink petticoats. Finally last week, my first camellia of the year opened fully to show off its golden anthers, set off to perfection against the delicate frill of pink petals. I think it's called 'St Ewe', but I wouldn't put money on it. Yes, so delicate for winter, but the warm weather had coaxed it out of hibernation to cheer me up.
It's a reminder that spring is just around the corner, but don't assume things can't get worse before they get better! Last year in February we had snow in the Midlands where I live! Friends in London have been boasting camellias in full flower for weeks, and I'm sure they look wonderful in warmer parts of Cornwall and the southern counties too. It's an example of how temperature influences so many plants in our gardens, often putting our traditional gardening seasons slightly out of sync when we get an unexpected warm spell.
Of course, when it comes to camellias, all varieties are not the same. Some naturally flower earlier and others later, so by choosing varieties carefully you can ensure a long season of colour from February through to April. By doing this you can enjoy some of them without experiencing the damaging affects of frost.
That's been my problem. No sooner had my first camellia fully opened than we've experienced three successive nights of hard frost that have sadly browned both anthers and petals on these delicate blooms. Thankfully a lovely double-flowered variety is just developing, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a milder week ahead to enjoy these new flowers in pristine form.
Adding a few winter flowering plants really pays dividends, providing another reason to get outside to breathe in some of the freshest air of the year. And my camellias aren't alone. An azalea is developing earlier than I've ever seen it before, daffodils will soon be opening...yes, sping is in the air!
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