I love the fall season with the changing leaf color and crisp, blue sky, fall days, but I realize many of the beautiful plants that have filled my garden with color are soon to fade. By early November and, in some years even in mid or late October, we can expect our first frost. This weather change stops growth, results in the death of the aboveground foliage and signals the perennials to go into their winter sleep and the annuals to end their splash of colorful blooms. Unfortunately, annuals last one season, die back and never return.
You might ask, what can I add to my late fall and winter garden to replace my summer beauties? As I look out my bedroom window, I can see hundreds of blossoms on one of my favorite fall blooming plants, a pink, flowering Camellia sasanqua with double blossoms and bright yellow stamen in the center. There are two species of camellia, C. sasanqua and C. japonica. Camellia sasanqua blossom in late October through November and as soon as the sasanqua stops blooming, you can extend the blooming season by planting a Camellia japonica. What a winning combination in a yard! Since Camella japonica bloom in December and January and one new cultivar series called ‘April’ into early April when most other plants are not blooming, Camellia japonica are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful additions to any winter garden.
Take a stroll through one of the area nurseries and you will be captivated by the beautiful array of camellias. Among the many varieties recently developed by horticulturists, you can select from white flowers, red flowers, orange flowers, pink flowers, and even find varieties with double blossoms and others with single blossoms. I am happy to report they are deer resistant and immune to most plant diseases. They are also evergreen and their shiny, green leaves add…
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