When I drew the bedroom curtains back this morning, I was surprised to see that the Camellia in the corner of the garden was covered in buds and flowers.
It must have been flowering for a while but I just hadn’t noticed it.
I have never known it to flower this early before, usually it is February when it starts to flower.
I’m not complaining, it is lovely to have that corner of the garden showing lots of pink flowers. I’ll just have to hope that frost stays away and doesn’t spoil the blooms.
Also in the pink, are the flowers of the Chaenomeles by the back door.
I know the first flowers opened here about a week ago.
As the days have gone by, a few more have opened each day.
As with the Camellia, we will just have to hope that frost doesn’t spoil the flowers or kill the buds that are waiting to open. This shrub will flower on and off all winter, weather permitting, till April.
I do love surprises in the garden, well the flowering variety anyway ! Has anything surprised you in your garden today?
Oh aren’t they beautiful! So good to have something so bright in the middle of winter x
So glad you agree Rosemarie, they do brighten up a dull day.
Don’t you just love it when our plants take us by surprise Pauline. The sight of those Camellia flowers brought a smile to your face I’m sure.
Nothing has crept up on me as your Camellia has done – I must look closer at mine tomorrow. You never know!
Yes Angie, I was very surprised when I looked out of the window this morning and saw all those buds and flowers and yes, they did make me smile!
Oh how lovely, Pauline – and all the more so for creeping up on you like that! I think yesterday’s mildness has kickstarted the witch hazels as I found more shreds today – hurrah! How are yours doing?
Cathy, I think we are going to have a short cold spell before more mild weather arrives, I just hope it isn’t too cold! My witch hazels are not showing any signs yet of their flowers, one doesn’t even have any buds, I don’t know why as the others seem ok.
You are all pretty in pink at the moment aren’ t you? Do you know which Camellia it is? Lovely, just what you need to brighten up December.
It’s not very Christmassy to just have pink flowers in the garden Chloris. I’m afraid I don’t know for sure which Camellia it is, it was here when we moved here, but maybe it is C. Debbie.
No definitely not Debbie. It’ s darker pink, double and later flowering.
Thanks Chloris, mine shouldn’t be flowering now, it is usually March/February before we get the flowers. I’ve noticed that all my others have buds which are swelling and will be out soon, we have had so much mild weather over the last few months, but I don’t think it’s going to last.
I wish you continued mild weather so that your lovely pink blooms can safely continue delighting you and your readers!
Thank you Peter, I too am hoping for the mild weather to continue, but have a feeling that the wind is going to come from the north tomorrow which will bring the cold down from the Arctic!
Crikey Pauline. I went out and looked at the camellias today and whilst I can see little bits of pink emerging they are nowhere near as advanced as yours!
None of my other camellias are showing flowers yet Jessica, they have plenty of buds, but no flowers. If this mild weather continues, the bush should look very pretty by Christmas!
What a treat. I would love a chaenomales. I saw one elaborately trained up the end of a white-walled cottage and the contrast of the bare stems and bright flowers against the white walls was stunning. It’s a gorgeous day here so I’m going to nosey around the garden to see what’s in flower for my Christmas vase.
I have a couple of other chaenomeles Louise, but neither of them flower on and off all winter the way that this one does. I hope you find plenty for your Christmas vase!
Both of these are lovely Pauline, so nice for this time of year. I don’t really know Chaenomeles so will have to be on the lookout for it around here.
Chaenomeles is a cultivated variety of Quince. We do get a few fruit on this plant, which are edible when cooked, they give a lovely flavour when mixed with apples.
How beautiful? I do hope the flowers last. I have nothing much flowering in my garden, but busy with Christmas stuff so I am not too worried. I quite like this ‘dead’ time as I can just anticipate more what is to come. Those last remarks are really just to cover up my jealousy!!! Enjoy!
Yes, Christmas has taken up quite a bit of my time recently Annette, but today we have just got in from sweeping up the last of the leaves. Under a pile of them was a beautiful snowflake, flowering away, Galanthus Farringdon Double, it is so beautiful, so another surprise for me!
Hey Pauline,
Oh so jealous of both but the camellia is the one and only shrub I absolutely long for from my childhood in sub-tropical Sydney. Of course it didn’t bloom at this time of year back home but the deep red blooms of ‘Yuletide’ look glorious against the shiny dark green leaves. So nice to see this beautiful post.
Best,
Patrick
Thanks Patrick, I was so happy when I saw the pink flowers from our upstairs window, so much earlier than ever before. Your deep red blooms of Yuletide sound very Christmasey, with the dark green leaves.
Oh what a pleasing observation to start the day with Pauline. It is early isn’t it so fingers crossed that you do not have much in the way of severe frost and that she continues to remain in the pink throughout the winter.
Even more flowers are out now Anna, that corner of the garden is decidedly pink! The forecast for the next few days for us is that it is going to be mild, so I hope it carries on for a while.
These are lovely! I love good surprises. I am surprised, not in a good way, that several camellias I planted a couple years ago are barely blooming at all. They bloomed well the first season but nothing since. Poor planting? Immature? Need fertilizer? All the above? I don’t know.
I have two Debs, that always flower each year, one in the front garden and one in the back. I also have three in the woodland, which I thought would suit them, but they only put out a flower or two if I’m lucky. I’m thinking that maybe they don’t get enough light to ripen the wood ready for flowering. I’m sure that with you, it can’t be poor planting, even young ones flower, maybe they need a bit of fertiliser, I’ll have to see if that makes a difference.
What a nice surprise! Funny how things can sneak up on you like that when you think you already know your garden so well.
Even if you do lose a few blooms later to frost, I think to have the color now more than makes up for it. Have a great Christmas and I’m looking forward to seeing a few snowdrops soon 🙂
The Camellia is even better now Frank, the whole bush is covered in beautiful blooms which I hope will survive the frost forecast for tonight and tomorrow night. I have found a few other flowers that have been enjoying the mild weather so far.
I have a couple of snowdrops out at the moment so the flowers never seem to stop here! Christmas wishes to you and your family.