Now is the time to move Camellias, since they are blooming. A blooming Camellia means the roots are somewhat dormant, the right time to try a relocation. I'm still moving plants out of the project "room", and messing with the irrigation system. I moved a formerly shrub Camellia japonica that I trimmed into standard some time ago to this shadier spot. It has no place in the new version of the "project room", and the foliage and flowers were always sun burnt in the old location, anyway. It may do better here, where it will be more shaded, and I like the height it gives, floating above the big daylily clump. Unfortunately I photographed it at an odd angle. It looks tilted, but is really quite vertical--or more vertical than that, anyway.
The formerly shrub Camellia sasanqua has always been in the wrong spot. Now who would plant what is destined to become a small tree right in front of a window? It wasn't I, it was professional landscapers getting sloppy because they were at the end of a months long project and were in a hurry to finish. Last winter I limbed it up into a standard because it was jammed into that corner, doing no one any good, not even itself. I've been prowling around the yard for a week now trying to figure out where I can plant it.
I could just trash it, but it's made a cool standard that I think will continue to improve. Not only did I limb it up last year, I also topped it--it was 12' tall, I think. I don't want to trash it. That low shrubby C. sasanqua next to it needs a new spot as well. There is also a volunteer Ligustrum japonicum, splendidly healthy, growing in the low sasanqua as well. I might have myself a free shrub for a big pot on the balcony.
The formerly shrub Camellia sasanqua has always been in the wrong spot. Now who would plant what is destined to become a small tree right in front of a window? It wasn't I, it was professional landscapers getting sloppy because they were at the end of a months long project and were in a hurry to finish. Last winter I limbed it up into a standard because it was jammed into that corner, doing no one any good, not even itself. I've been prowling around the yard for a week now trying to figure out where I can plant it.
I could just trash it, but it's made a cool standard that I think will continue to improve. Not only did I limb it up last year, I also topped it--it was 12' tall, I think. I don't want to trash it. That low shrubby C. sasanqua next to it needs a new spot as well. There is also a volunteer Ligustrum japonicum, splendidly healthy, growing in the low sasanqua as well. I might have myself a free shrub for a big pot on the balcony.
The camellia looks lovely in the garden with the rose and daylilies, a pretty addition beside the wall and the gate.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo ♡
I will just let the plants pass, but that last shot of the big mouth is so goo, you are so quick in getting it in focus! so cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks dianne!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, when I appear they swim up and then hang there at the surface with their mouths open like baby birds, indicating that I should feed them immediately. Funny fish.
I too love that photo with the fish mouth open. They are funny fish aren't they. And why would those goofball gardners plant a tree in front of a window? Crazy!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about camelias. I bought a blooming one recently at Walmart - very pretty Sasanqua, but my soil is too alkaline for them. So I plan to grow it in a pot. Hopefully, that's not a no-no. This will be my third try. I like your homemade standards.
ReplyDeletesherryocala they will grow happily in pots, but do your best to keep the pot shaded and cool, because camellias have shallow, small, sensitive root systems that do not like heat.
ReplyDelete