Camellias and Valentines Day were certainly ‘ a thing ’ back in the prudish earned run average , but as we have grown to be more commercial with chocolates , candy , sterile long - stanch rosebush and dinner at a fancy eatery ( back when we could ! ) , I somehow long for a more simple celebration . One with scented violets , lily of the valley and yes , camellias . OK < chocolate and a steak would be fine too . mayhap some wine .
In the 19th century , long before commercial florists and jet - flown peak that come to us from South African , Israel , and South America via Amsterdam , there was the local agriculturalist . Talk about ‘ wearisome peak ’ ! There was always a turning point in an onetime , woodwind and glass greenhouse where a few camelia tree grew to cater a few flowers for a valentine .
When I was a stripling I worked at a local florist shop who had develop an even older kitchen range of glasshouse here in Worcester , MA . This was the mid 1970 ’s but there were still 100 twelvemonth older nursery about . Most , such as this one were beginning to lessen asunder , but like so many in disrepair in suburban Boston , these were 100 invertebrate foot long wonders .
I loved explore through these quondam houses looking at the in - primer coat bottom , many of which still hold crops of elephantine genus Calla lilies or anemones and genus Ranunculus . A few still raised clove pink or blush wine as those two crop were once the largest export crops in Massachusetts before moving to Colorado and finally other countries .
One day I had to drive over to one of the properties to cut some camelia for an senior customer who often requested a camelia corsage . I think that this was the first time I ever actually saw a camelia flora ( tree , really ) . In the back of one of the glasshouse towered 20 foot to the ceiling were a few old camellias , some still producing bud .
Now , for those of you in the south this must sound quaint but zany . Even in California camellia are a common landscape shrub or minor tree diagram , so I understand the want of enthusiasm , but you have to think a abrasive , snow-clad winter in New England , and the conjuration of these shrubs surviving .
As I grew older , I used to wing to LA for concern often in February . I would abide the weekend just so I could inflict Nuccio ’s Nursery in Santa Barbara and sometimes see a camellia society show at the Huntington Gardens or Descanso gardens . I only later con that there was a local camelia society here in Massachusetts that was still holding an one-year show ( one of the oldest flower establish in the country ) . These show eventually move to Tower Hill Botanic Garden , where I am presently a trustee , and I finally began entering my fresh camellia collection from the greenhouse , and even learned to become a judge . Funny how thing develop .
Near me , in Waltham , MA is one of the oldest glasshouse collections of Camellias . The historic greenhouse at theLyman Estateis well known amongst New England industrial plant people , but may not be known to others .
I sample to natter their nursery every wintertime just to experience some of the former glasshouses in the country , but also to walk through one of the most important camelia collections still being cultivated . Some of these camelia have been moved to the Tower Hill Botanic Garden collections , so I do get to see them more often in normal yr .
In my greenhouse though , I value my small collection of about 30 plants . I am surprised at how easy they are to maintain , and their show every wintertime tot tremendous joy to the prospicient , wintertime calendar month . It ’s become my 5th horticulture season , seeing the greenhouse add up to lifetime in early January as many of the camellias begin to bloom .
February , though , is mellow camellia season , not only in the S or in California , but here in my cold greenhouse , as well as in other nursery in the Northeast . I ca n’t imagine life without a bowl of camellia on the board every winter . about every mean solar day I can break up a dozen or so blooms to enjoy and to deliver to neighbors . I love image their delight and surprise as they wonder at the peony - like blossom .
My love for camellias is n’t Modern , nor unique , but maybe the fact that I am in the north , and not living in the 19th century does make it a bit more special . So many of my 19th century gardening books focus on the camellia , specially in Massachusetts as greenhouse while still a luxuriousness point , were common enough from 1800 onwards . Its a mo like livelihood story . Imagining that President Lincoln or anyone from the 1800 ’s would have experience exactly the same odour and beauty .
If you have a cool , or cold unheated room – even a glassed in clay room or porch , do render camellias in a large passel . With cold-blooded ( above freezing ) circumstance , they are rather care free . love their blossom through the winter , and mark that many species start blooming in autumn and a few are fragrant . Bring their pots out of doors in the spring to enjoy the summer rainwater somewhere in light shade , and that ’s about it . Never over stack , and fertilise after they flower with a high nitrogen , organic fertilizer such as cottonseed meal .
If you could only supply them with lovesome , indoor temperatures – your luck may be worse , but you could try an unwarmed bedroom or porch . Either manner , the camellia in the north provides so much therapy and joy , that its Charles Frederick Worth a endeavor .
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