I was busy in the garden this weekend finishing up the last things on the to-do list before spring. The garden is all cleaned up with the exception of a few stray leaves that I will suck up with the lawn mower next weekend. You know how it is; you never have EVERYTHING caught up in the garden. There is always something that needs to be done, but I’m feeling good about where I am with it right now. While I was tidying up, I was really surprised by everything that was blooming. Of the things in flower I decided to stick with ‘Crimson Candles’ for this post. It’s such a beautiful vision in pink.
I could never figure out why this Camellia was named crimson when it blooms so pink. Most especially since there are crimson colored blossoms on other cultivars. The only explanation I can think of is the buds. They’re a much deeper tint and although I’m color deficient they do appear a shade of red to me. I still wouldn’t call them crimson in my opinion. Look at the fuzzy little hairs on the bud.
What I’ve read on this shrub would indicate it’s a fairly new plant, just introduced in 1995. When I think of camellias my mind instantly goes to heirloom plants from generations past. Like the one I got from my grandmother’s home. For me they also invoke visions of women from the Victorian period sauntering through the garden. I don’t know why, it just does…
‘Crimson Candles’ can reach heights of 10 feet and get as wide as 6 feet. I’m going to let mine get some height on it, but I am going to try and keep it pruned so it stays kind of skinny. I want it to form a column of sorts. This camellia blooms from January to March and is extremely cold hardy as the species goes. Its blooms are much more forgiving of cold and frost than average camellia blooms. That’s good for me because the coldest month is usually February here.
In other news, I got evaluated by the surgeon and I’ll be having my procedure on February 11th. It’s not a major ordeal; I just can’t do any lifting until I’m completely healed. I’ll be out of commission for 6 weeks after that, but at least I should be rip raring and ready to go by the time spring gets here. Yaaaaaaay! Since my hard work this weekend, the garden is all ready to go. I won’t have to be stressing about the arrival of spring and starting off the season behind. Hope this finds you all well and happy.
Good to hear that you are in such good spirits and your garden is ready for spring. I got out this a.m. and worked until it started raining. I love this camillia. Those buds are worth having the plant in your garden. Best of luck with your surgery. I know many who have had similar surgeries and are happy they did so. I hope you have such good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa! I'm glad to see you've been able to get out and play in your yard some. I"m thinking all will go well. I'm just ready to get it over with. On the up side, it's going to force me to get some much needed rest and relaxation. :0)
DeleteA beautiful camellia, Randy! This is my father's favorite shrub but their yard is so shaded, theirs never does very much as far as flowering. Thanks for sharing the pics. ~Angie
ReplyDeleteHey Angie! I'm going to eventually end up with more of them, they're just so doggone expensive. 'Debutante' will be the first on my list. It a gorgeous light pink. :0)They have them at Southern Homes, I should just break down and by one.
DeleteThat is one for my list of wants. I hope your surgery goes well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phillip! I go in for my preop the day after my birthday, then it's on to surgery the following Monday. We could try to root you one, but you know it takes like a million years for them to grow and get any size on them. LOL
DeleteI'm amazed you and Phillip have so much blooming this time of year. My garden is completely dormant. I'm envious you have yours cleaned up already. I can't get out in mine until March!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, and good luck with the surgery.
Thanks on the well wishes, Wayne! Honestly we've barely had a winter here this year. BUT February is usually a bad month here. So we will see. I wish we would get a decent snow!
DeleteCrimson Candles is beautiful! What a flower to cheer up the winter day. Good luck with your surgery-get well fast!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tina! I’m just ready to get it over with and behind me. The good part is my doctor said I should also see significant improvement in my back pain as well about 4 weeks after the procedure. That’s going to be nice! I hope he’s right.
DeleteCamellias are really starting to grow on me. I have 4 fall blooming whites that were planted when we purchased this house. I never knew much about them until moving into this house. I notice them every where in our area! They are as popular down here as the Azalea's. I am with you on the name choice though as I see your's as pink. I do wonder on the names at times.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your surgery. I am sure you will be out in the garden before you know it. Just keep an eye on those nasty weeds as they seem to pop up over night....
Skeeter,
DeleteThey are starting to grow on me too. I’m going to buy a few more and try to stagger out the bloom time. I like that fact that they are evergreen. I want more winter time color in the garden. I just recently learned that some of the blooms are more cold hardy than others so I’ll take that into consideration as well.
Looks great, Randy.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of our camellias bloomed earlier (late 2012) and I can tell that one late-blooming one would *like* to bloom soon. The buds have been full and almost-bursting for weeks, but it's still holding back.
Aaron,
DeleteIt's amazing how staggered out bloom period can be for each cultivar. I'm going to pay close attention to that when I buy them from this point forward. If only to maximize my bloom time.
Hello Randy : ) Thank you for stopping by my blog with such a sweet comment .. it takes a LOT of pictures to get one that is BEAUTIFUL like that one .. White Licorice is the rose (not very white is it ? LOL)
ReplyDeleteAre you having back surgery ? .. I have been there and done that .. you really have to be patient and let your self heal !!
How lucky you southern gardeners are to have such beautiful plants as these .. when I think camellia I always think in white for some reason. This is such a pretty one though ! certainly has wow factor : )
Joy
Hey Joy! I've already had back surgery too. This is going to be a hernia repair, and he's got to do a little more while he is in there. Nothing too complicated though. I'm counting down the days. My back surgery was an emergency surgery, I didn't even have time to think about it. The ambulance picked me up and I pretty much went straight into surgery. I've had a little while to dread this one. It'll be here before I know it though. :0)HOPEFULLY I'll be good on the surgeries for a little while then.
DeleteI am enjoying my Crimson Candles right now. The freezing weather we have had did not affect it all. I planted it right outside our dinning room window, so even if it is not fit to go out, I still get to see it.
ReplyDeleteI think this one gets the "crimson" in its name from the color of the new growth foliage. I just picked one up today at a nursery in northern VA. I liked the look of the leaves, wasn't even sure what color the flower was until I googled it when I got home. Habit is very upright vertical which should do well as a screen. Mine will be in medium shade and from what I've read its recommended as full sun or light shade so I'm hoping it does ok...
ReplyDelete