I almost missed it, but today, in my greenhouse, I spotted my first camellia flower of the 2017/18 season. Camellia sinensis 'Benibana-cha', flowering on a scruffy little plant about a foot tall that has been in the same 2 litre pot for several years. It has plenty of buds to come but sadly its new growth … Continue reading First of the season.

There is a plant in Area 1G labelled 'Dainty'. All the above blooms were photographed on the same occasion. They are not the full extent of its repertoire. The name 'Dainty' has been used for at least three different varieties and this one should correctly be 'Dainty' (California). It was selected as a sport of … Continue reading Tricoloured trials.

This was the first thing I saw when I reached the species section yesterday, Camellia caudate, around 3m tall, lying on its side. Though rarely flowering, its superb foliage has made it one of my favourites. It was growing in an area that is always wet, probably from springs underground. Looking at the base of … Continue reading More wind damage.

I posted this montage on Twitter but didn't have space for the names. Last Tuesday at Mt Edgcumbe the camellias were really getting into their stride. I spent the day taking photos and these are some of the highlights, names below. Row 1, Masayoshi (probably), Dainty (California), grijsii, General Lamoriciere, Sundae. Row 2, Felice Harris, … Continue reading Mount Edgcumbe montage

I just nipped out and took photos of three of my camellias. I was struck by how diverse they were and how likely it is that a lot of people would hold strong opinions about where each of them sat on the refined/vulgar spectrum. I can honestly say that while they appeal to me in different … Continue reading A matter of taste

I took the precaution of doing my voluntary day at Mt Edgcumbe yesterday, having seen the forecast for today. It's raining and foggy, it was a good call. Yesterday it was blowing a hoolie but at least it was dry and sunny. When I checked through the collection last summer, there were three sections that … Continue reading 4, 5 & 8; a tale of slippery slopes.

On closer inspection, it turns out I have photos of more than half of the plants in area 6. Of the eighteen I have illustrations for there are issues around nine, so area six is going to be problematic for a while yet. I have put my notes about these issues under the tab for … Continue reading Six, a footnote

There are a few areas which I have been putting off tackling and area 6 is one. It must be one of the oldest parts of the collection and the large bushes were cut back hard about four years ago. They are only just getting back to flowering freely so there has been very little … Continue reading Six

It was a terrible day for taking photographs, when it wasn't actually raining it was desperately dull. It was however, mild, and that had brought a number of plants into flower since last week. Peter Betteley left his camellia collection to the park and amongst it are two bushes, planted side by side and both … Continue reading Mt Edgcumbe roundup

It can be very easy to decide that a plant is labelled incorrectly: the flower is white when it should be red, single when it should be double. It is almost never as simple to decide what it actually is. There is in Section 1G a low, wide spreading plant that is flowering white in … Continue reading What’s in a name?