Camellia love

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A few weeks ago, temperatures plunged to the 20 degree mark and turned our camellia and magnolia blossoms into shriveled brown tissue. For the camellias, more buds opened and they bounced back nicely.

Taylor's Perfection is one of my all-time favorites. It is a profuse bloomer and is just now getting ready to explode with blooms.
Magnoliaflora - a delicate pink beauty.
An unknown variety. The label said "Mrs. Charles Cobb" but every image search I've ever conducted shows a decidedly red flower. I think this is something different.
C.M. Wilson, the oldest camellia in our garden, started sporting red blooms a few years ago and I've not bothered to cut them out.
 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

Randy Emmitt said…
Phillip,

Wow on that Magnoliaflora, to me it looks like a slight peachy white not pink.

Hate your new word verification...
February 23, 2012 at 3:49 PM
sweetbay said…
Taylor's Perfection is beautiful.
February 23, 2012 at 4:13 PM
Lisa at Greenbow said…
I think it is facinating how the last camellia has multi colors. The bees must have been busy around this shrub.
February 23, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Les said…
Similar story here with our camellias. Just a minor set back to what has been a beautiful season.
February 23, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Unknown said…
We have similar tastes, it seems. Absolutely love Taylor's Perfection! I have "Mrs. Charles Cobb" in Atlanta, and it is also much more like yours, and decidedly not red. (And she's living in Cobb County, so I figure that has to account for something!)
February 23, 2012 at 6:41 PM
Rosedale Garden said…
My star magnolia's have started blooming again, thought the frost had gotten them. Daffodils going wild.

Mary
February 23, 2012 at 8:00 PM
serial tiller said…
Seeing your camellias I am sorry I only have one! I have another question. When is the master gardener's plant sale this yr?
February 23, 2012 at 8:06 PM
Larry said…
Hi Philip... I'm so sorry to hear what happened with the magnolias but your camellias are spectacular. I'm curious as to whether your magnolias were earlier than normal this year. This is a huge concern for me this mild winter, but so far we are mostly below freezing at night and daytime temps in mid to high 30's so the ground really hasn't thawed out as of yet... it could end up being a touchy situation... Larry
February 23, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Jess said…
I just bought a Taylors Perfection today. By chance. It really looks like a rose.
February 23, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Patti said…
I just love camellias! My neighborhood here in Atlanta is filled with them. My power walks have turned into garden strolls since I stop so often to admire.
February 24, 2012 at 5:26 AM
aquabluerose said…
So Beautiful to see, Phillip!

gerri XXX
February 24, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Dirty Girl Gardening said…
Have always enjoyed Camellias.
February 24, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Phillip Oliver said…
Randy, I agree, it is more peachy. I don't have word verification turned on so I'm not sure what is going on with that.

Larry, yes the magnolias were early! So far, everything is early. We are having very mild temperatures this winter. It worries me too.
February 25, 2012 at 3:28 PM
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