Topic: Spring is coming.

[Gardengirl]

Took this photo of my white camelia this morning in the rain.  Loads of buds opening, hope they don't get
ruined by frost.

[Mrs Ava]

Oh Pat, its glorious!  Fingers crossed for fine weather!  ;D

[Ragged Robin]

lovely Pat, mines still in bud, hope it looks as good as yours.

[budgiebreeder]

Looks great Pat.I've been out to check mine not a flower in sight yet,plenty of buds though.

[Gardengirl]

I don't know whether this is an early flowering variety, but every year it blooms very early.  The others wait until spring has officially arrived.  I suppose I could cover it with muslin if there is a danger of frost ???

[eileen]

What a lovely photograph Pat - there's something special about a pure white, perfect bloom isn't there?   ;D I've got buds on my dwarf rhodie (Bluebird - lilac flowers) at the moment but no sign of them opening yet.  :-/ All my snowdrops are in flower though - gorgeous!!  8) Cheers Eileen.

[Garden Manager]

I have just the one camelia (a pink one), which because of my alkaline soil i have to grow in a pot.  It is just about ready for potting up now but every year since i got it it has got better and better (this would now be its third flowering year).  

Strangely enough it sems to do well inspite of a fair degree of neglect, particularly in the summer months.  It has been in the same pot of compost since we got it and has not had to have any ericaceous feeds at all and the leaves remain a healthy deep green.  

This I am surprised about since last summer particularly i had to water it with tap instead of rain water (our tap water is limey like the soil) in order to save this years flowerbuds. this seems to have had no detrimental effect on the plant.  

I know that eventualy i will have to start feeding it to keep the leaves green but I know that once I start i will have to keep in doing it, so I will leave it as long as possible before I start!

Oh yes, i almost forgot, its got loads of buds on it this year so providing we dont get any frosts at the critical time it should be spectacular.  ;D