There is an exception. I love camellias. I have loved them all my life. We live in an area that is not ideal for camellias. They are not native to the area. But I love them so we have them.
Every year we have tons of buds on our camellias. And every year they freeze, turn brown, and fall off. Fortunately, there are almost always three or four buds that make it to flower and warm my heart as winter comes to an end. This year we have six or seven flowers and more buds that might open.
The leaves of the camellia are a lovely green so even if we have no flowers we still enjoy the bushes. Not this year. I was too late with the deer deterrent and the lovely little beasts spent the evening munching on my camellia, stripping one side of this bush. I'm sure the leaves will return with no permanent damage.
I don't blame the deer. I'm sure they are grateful for the delicious treat I provided. They will no longer be interested in my camillias when I spread the deterrent and I will enjoy the few blossoms I have. Logic would tell me not to grow these lovely plants in our area. But logic doesn't appreciate my love for them. Every day I go out to admire the few blossoms. And sometimes, that is enough.
14 comments:
It's so nice you keep giving Mother nature the chance to produce these lovely blooms for you. I'm glad you have been successful with your endeavor...I have tried unsuccessfully to switch my hydrangea blooms from pink to blue for several years..I tried every trick in the book and a few that prob aren't...to no avail! Someday maybe..I just LOVE blue hydrangeas!
Nice post and great shots.. enjoy!
I'm sure the deer will be quite thankful for your treat. I love the photos and hope the few buds you have left provide you with a little joy.
Your camellia blossoms are beautiful; no wonder you like them so much. We have the same problem with deer enjoying our roses too much. Fortunately we've discovered Liquid Fence and so far that has done the job.
I, too, love Camellias, but I don't like the clean up factor of gazillions of flowers dropping at once! I keep my pretty well trimmed back so I can keep up on the clean up. I do use them for cut flowers and they're very nice in a vase.
Such beautiful flowers.
I do hope you get more blossoms to enjoy this year.
I bet the deer thought they hit the lottery....
How interesting-- we had several camellias in Washington, and the deer never once ate a leaf or munched on a flower. We would have blooms for a very long time. I'm surprised "our" deer didn't develop a particular taste for that treat. I understand your love for them.
They are indeed beautiful. I cannot grow them as my soil type would not suit them.
Enjoy your pretty blooms, and long may they last......
Alot of years our Wisteria does the same thing. It looks like this year they may bud late enough to not get caught by a freeze. Some years the buds are there late Feb or early March. The buds are just beginning to set this year, so we might actually get to see blooms.
I love Camellias too, but have never tried to grow them. One of my brothers (Georgia) grows some beautiful camellias. I love to visit when they are in bloom
So beautiful! I was tempted by some supposedly hardy camellias at the nursery last year but resisted. Maybe this year I'll give in!
I've often shook my head in wonderment as to why their blooming season is in the winter? Mine is full of beautiful pink blooms now too, but it was painful to watch it bloom for the past few months and get frozen each night.
Like you, I live in a forest, close to nature, AND at high altitude. Any plant that grows in the very short summer season is cherished by me - and by the wildlife!
We have the heat and the rabbits here to contend with. I've given up on ground level plants. Everything I want to grow goes in pots I can wheel around into the shade during the hot part of the day!
Sam
I cant wait to get to NC to visit my sister where she grows Camellia or we go to Pinehurst to walk thru the rows of Camellia ..Sorry the deer are eating yours..
Post a Comment