I am in my grandparents home. When I was a child I lived 200 feet away, around the corner or through the back yards- whichever route was the choice of the day. My Grandmother had a row of camellias in front of the house planted in the perfect spot: on the North side of the house in shade. Camellias bloom in January and February in the "cool" months of California. I have always loved them. When I returned five months ago to this house I wondered how the camellias were doing. Well they are still gorgeous:
There are five bushes. Here is a sampling from each bush
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| bowl of one of each |
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| the most prolific pink |
The Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino (near Pasadena) has a wonderful selection of camellias in their Japanese gardens. (Camellias are native to Japan) so last week I took a lovely day trip to the gardens.
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| The gardens has a wonderful collection of art |
Also a spectacular rose garden. It is rose pruning time but these beauties (Jump for Joy) had not had their turn. Lucky me
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| Jump for joy |
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| stocks |
I found the camellia gardens and they were filled with color
In a very tranquil setting. Yes there were many other people visiting this day...You just don't notice that they are anywhere near
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| Japanese garden walk |
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| tea house and restaurant |
But to my surprise the camellias were not as showy as I remembered. The docent said it had something to do with the heat last July being so intense (118 deg). So when I returned home I returned to my front porch and the plants that have been neglected for at least twenty years.
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| red with bee |
and I appreciated all the love my Grandmother had for her garden, I have the red ones in a glass bowl. I promise they will be loved and appreciated ( and fed) for as long as I am in this home
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| red in glass bowl |
