Camellias

I've written about camellias before, and since that time I still haven't learned much about them. I will reiterate that I love them because they open after roses and most annuals have ceased their blooming.

This year the weather was a little odd and those who have visited us this year noticed that fresh roses and fresh camellias were both on display in our home during the end of November. That's a consequence of climate change (and the unpredictable weather that results) that I can live with.

My attention is now turned toward the camellias. There will be one or more varieties in bloom in our yard until the azaleas bloom in the Spring, so Winter will not be without fresh flowers outdoors, some of which will make it into our home.

Here are some photos of the ones that are blooming now.

The plant that these pink flowers came from is in the back yard, and is covered with blooms. This simple arrangement was used on the altar at church.

This plant is in front of the house. It has the largest blooms of any camellia plant in the yard. It is doing very well this year.

These two blooms are the same variety, under natural indoor light. The photo above was taken with a flash.

Just for comparison, here is the scene above using a flash. I prefer the natural (artificial) light.

The plant that produces these blooms did not do well last year, but is covered in buds now. It traditionally blooms during Christmas time, and reminds me of peppermint.

This pretty pink blossom is actually from earlier this year. This one doesn't bloom until February, but I thought I would include it just to show how they bloom regardless of the weather.

Anyway, for those of us who enjoy gardens and natural beauty, the camellia is one of the things that keeps us going through winter.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Even without sunshine and with cool temperatures the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are wonderful. A friend took Bobby and I on a personal (although short) tour of the Kaul Wildflower Garden, where nature is at its best. I say that, because the plants are in a natural setting, and nature is showing us what she can do.*

I will post a few pictures here, but soon expect to see some of these pics and others with some science behind them on the science blog, where It's been almost a year since I wrote anything. But I'm itching to get back into science.

I'm not going to name any of these plants here. But you will see several species of Trillium, and some other early spring bloomers.

If I were an ant, and had human eyes, this is what I would see. I got down on the ground and took this picture looking up toward the sky, which you can see a bit of in the background.









Stepping out of the wildflower garden (and for one of these pictures, out of the state) here are some roses.

Early blooming Lady Banks rose is currently blooming. This one was spotted in Charleston, South Carolina last week.


This one is in our backyard.


And this one is at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.


This is a pretty rose that's in bloom at the gardens as well.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to visit the botanical gardens - something is always in bloom. Even if not much is blooming, there are interesting plants and barks and ferns and mosses, a couple of bee hives, and more.

*There are volunteers and staff members who assist nature in maintaining the garden.

Speaking of flowers, here is Brandon Flowers singing Crossfire. He's about as pretty as any of the flowers pictured here. Another example of nature at its best.

Early spring bloomers

The storm did not do the damage that I feared, and Spring is getting closer and closer.

Here are some more blooming things. We have two of these Japanese magnolias. This one is darker than the one I pictured earlier this week.

The flowers are really loaded with color.


These ornamental cabbage or kale really last the entire winter season and even at the end of their days they add a nice touch to the garden.

The pansies are another winter flower here, but this spring they have really put on a show.

Here is a solid yellow one in an old concrete planter Glenn gave me after his house burned. One of the outdoor pieces that thieves didn't steal.

Lenten Rose is an early bloomer. I was told that Dr. McElroy, the former owner of this house, had Lenten roses, and though I never found any of his, I planted these as a remembrance.

I am very grateful to Dr. McElroy (who lived here from the 1960's until his death in 2000) and to Col. Huey (who lived in this house from 1895 until his death in the mid 1900's) for the garden that they created. There are many unusual plants, and one is this leather leaf mahonia. It's not rare, but there are so many of them here, and some are very tall. They are blooming now, with these yellow flowers that will be replaced with blue berries that the birds love.


Peach trees have beautiful flowers. We haven't gotten any edible peaches from this tree, which is just 3 years old. Maybe this year.

Quince, on the other hand, produces little apple like fruits. We never use them, but maybe this year I'll can some quince jelly.

A red quince.

Snowbells. There are little clumps of these scattered around the yard.


One of the many varieties of daffodil or narcissus.


Next up...azaleas...and then roses.

Flowers before the storm

Every year the threat of severe weather makes me anxious about the flowers in our yard.

At the beginning of March, there are always camellias still blooming, and I bring a few indoors as fresh flowers always seem to brighten up a room and lift the inhabitants' spirits.







The yard is full of daffodils. We will see how they look tomorrow.



This one is already a little worn looking, but she is pretty never the less.




This Japanese magnolia is not native to Japan, but that is what everyone calls it. Its name is Magnolia liliiflora, and is native to southwest China, was cultivated in Japan, and introduced to English speaking countries from there, thus the common name.



Today's storms will certainly tear these blooms up.

Sometime during January the fountain in the back yard quit working. I figured the pump had died, and was waiting until spring to replace it. Yesterday we were outside working and suddenly heard water dripping. the fountain had come back to life!

Obviously this is a part of the yard that we have not gotten to yet. But since this is a rose garden, we have a few weeks until blooms appear. By then this area will be very inviting, both to us garden lovers, but also to the birds that love to drink from the splashing water.

Global warming

Today is a drippy, slushy day in Bessemer Alabama.



It's a perfect day to look for evidence of global warming.

Let's go outside.

Here some ice has collected on a pine tree. Much more of this, and the power would have gone out, causing me to miss the BCS Championship Game and Auburn playing tonight.




War Eagle!!! We are still keeping our fingers crossed (both regarding power...and the game).

Here a holly tree and its berries are cased in ice. The cedar waxwings will take care of these berries, at some point.




This crepe myrtle has a layer of ice on it. This reminds me of northern friends in Pennsylvania who tell me that they can grow crepe myrtles without having to protect them in winter like they used to have to.




These wisteria vines, which I will be fighting again this year, are covered in ice.



Here are some chilled, frosted rose hips.




How about the camellias. There are several varieties on the property, and some begin blooming in late fall. This one has been blooming for weeks. These blooms will be damaged by the ice, but more will open later in the week or next week.



Ah ha! Here is my evidence.

This camellia normally blooms before Christmas. I have taken pictures of its flowers in the past in December, and have used the flowers in decorating for our Christmas Party, during the first two weeks of December.

This year, this is the first bloom on the plant, and today is January 10. There are lots of buds, so I will be enjoying this plant throughout the month and in to February, most likely.



But why is it a month late blooming?

I am not a camellia expert. I wish I knew one who could come visit and identify the dozen or so varieties that we have. But I would assume that the winter blooming camellia buds enlarge and finally open in response to low or falling temperatures. The plant may have perceived warmer temperatures in the late fall, and responded by delaying blooming.

That is the, although anecdotal and without proof, evidence for global warming I was looking for.

Winter days like today make me think of Tasha Tudor and her book, Tasha Tudor's Garden, my favorite garden book. In it she describes her garden in every season, and pictures accompany the descriptions.



If I were to write such a book, I would include this picture. There's just something about evergreens and ice.



Enjoy this cold, wet, beautiful, winter day in the south.