For the first time in the four years we have lived in our current home, the nine Japanese camellias (C. japonica) in the garden are all blooming concurrently. This is likely due to the bitter cold of the past winter, which resulted in a shortened bloom season. Since all predate me, I know the names of just a few.
Japanese camellias (C. japonica), March 28, 2015
First (top) row: ‘Memphis Belle’ introduced by an American hybridizer in 1968, ‘Glen 40’ registered in 1942, and ‘Jordan’s Pride’ (also known as ‘Herme’ and ‘Brillant Gem’) introduced from Japan in 1859
Second row: First 3 unidentified, the one on the right is probably ‘Pink Perfection’, introduced from Japan in 1875
Third row: Undidentified (the two red splotched are from the same tree)
All the camellias in the first and second rows are planted near the property boundry on the west side of the house (just outside my kitchen window), ‘Memphis Belle’ is the last in that line, so it could have been added after the others. The house was built in 1952, and some of the camellias are quite large, so I would guess they are at least 40 years old. They get nearly full sun in winter when the trees are bare and two to three hours of late morning sun in summer.
The two camellias in the third row are planted against the back of the house and are likely to be younger. Despite getting only an hour or two of sun per day throughout the year, they bloom surprisingly well.
If anyone has a ID for the splotched bloom, I would love to know it’s name.
Male Northern Cardinal, on ‘Jordan’s Pride’ in the February ice storm, waiting for a spot at the bird feeders.
Hortitopia 