Camellia Glen – It’s Camellia Season – Open Days

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It’s June 2, winter has begun, and the evenings are just now getting cooler.
We have had a few showers of rain over the past 24hours and more wet weather is forecast – we need some rain.

Time flies, the sasanquas – the autumn camellias – have been flowering for weeks now and will continue for the next month or so. The early flowering japonicas started spot flowering a few weeks ago and many are now in full flower. These will continue up until September – by then it is too hot again for our camellias to be flowering well.

Our ‘open to the public’ days have again been well received with folk coming to walk our gardens and to purchase camellias for theirs. We will have more open days as well as a number of external open gardens, shows and events. Here are some details:

Open Days
All our open days are from 8.00am to 3.00pm

Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5 June 2016
Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 June
ALSO – 11 and 12 June – Gardening on the Edge – Maleny Garden Club – Maleny Showgrounds – open gardens and plant sales – lots of interesting camellias available.
Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19 June
ALSO – 18 June – Open Garden – the Sheahan garden, Palmwoods. Supports ‘Give Me 5 for Kids’. Plant sales – including lots of camellias.
Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 June
ALSO – 25 and 26 June – Open Garden at Kellyfield Camellias, 958 Kidaman Creek Road, Curramore via Maleny. A great camellia garden, sausage sizzle, morning and afternoon teas, beautiful camellias for sale. Open 9.00am to 4.00pm. Entry by donation. Supports ‘Give Me 5 for Kids’.
Saturday and Sunday 2 and 3 July 2016
ALSO – 2 and 3 July – supporting the Daniel Morecombe Foundation – Open Garden at Camellia House (Daniel’s old home), 116 Woombye Palmwoods Road, Palmwoods. 10.00am to 4.00pm, wander 5.5 acres of mature gardens including 700 camellias and much more. Sausage sizzle, refreshments, bric-a-brac, memorabilia, classic car display on Sunday morning including Aston Martins. Lots of beautiful camellias for sale. Entry $8 – supports Daniel Morecombe Foundation.
Saturday and Sunday 9 and 10 July 2016 – CLOSED
BUT see us at Queensland Garden Expo, Nambour Showgrounds, 8, 9 and 10 July. Best garden show around.
www.qldgardenexpo.com.au
Saturday 16 July CLOSED
Sunday 17 July
Saturday and Sunday 23 and 24 July
Saturday and Sunday 30 and 31 July – CLOSED
BUT – see us at Queensland Camellia Society Annual Show and Sale on Sunday 31 July – Brisbane Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Auditorium. Open 9.00am to 3.00pm – Camellia talks, Camellia advice, Camellia plant sales, Camellia bloom competition and displays. Refreshments available. Entry $4.00.

After that, we will be available, as usual, by appointment.

Most of our plants are available in 140mm pots with some in 200mm sizes.

Come and visit, wander our gardens and see these beautiful plants in flower.

Silver Tower

Camellia Japonica ‘Silver Tower’

Camellia Glen – Camellias – Open Days 2016

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It’s late March and it’s camellia time again. Our first sasanquas – Mikuni Ko, Sparkling Burgundy, Bonanza, Gay and a few others are in full flower and looking wonderful. But it is 30 degrees celsius out in the garden and the flowers need a drink. We have missed all the recent rain but our plants are looking good. Perhaps the cooler nights will kick in soon.

The sweet pollen fragrance from the sasanquas is all around as you walk the garden. The tea camellia, Camellia sinensis, is flowering – and the bees are loving it – there are hundreds of bees in these bushes, as well as all the sasanquas. All the nectar loving birds are into them as well – makes a mess of the flowers, but that’s ok. Who says you need natives…..

The early japonicas, Arejishi and Alba Plena have their first flowers. The others are all budded up and we will see more and more over the coming weeks.

We have had a number of visitors wanting camellias already and people are asking when we will start our open days. So, we start just after Easter – weekends unless specified, as detailed below. Our open days just mean that we are open to the public, you can wander the gardens, and we will have plants for sale. Most of our plants are in 140mm pots.

We start our open days this weekend – a bit early, but we have people wanting to visit.
So here is a schedule as best we know. If in doubt, please email to sales@camelliaglen.com or phone 07 54450333.
Nursery times are 8.00 am to 3.00 pm unless otherwise stated.
We do not accept cards, so please – cash.
We will also be available at other time during the week – please contact us, as above, to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Open Days
Saturday and Sunday 2 and 3 April 8.00 am to 3.00pm
Saturday 9 April 8.00 to 3.00
Closed Sunday 10 April
Saturday and Sunday 16 and 17 April 8.00 to 3.00
Saturday and Sunday 23 and 24 April 8.00 to 3.00
Monday 25 April Anzac Day Closed
Saturday and Sunday 30 April 1 May 8.00 to 3.00
Monday May 2 – Labour Day public holiday – closed
Saturday 7 May 8.00 to 3.00
Sunday 8 May – Mothers Day – closed
Saturday 14 May 8.00 to 3.00
Sunday 15 Closed (QCS Sherwood)
Saturday 21 8.00 to 3.00
Sunday 22 May Closed (HMAQ visit)
Saturday and Sunday 28 and 29 May 8.00 to 3.00

More later.

Dates to note:
Maleny Garden Club – Gardening on the Edge – Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 June
Kellyfield Camellias Curramore (Maleny) Open Garden – Give Me 5 for Kids – Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 June
Camellia House, Palmwoods Road, Palmwoods – Open Garden – Saturday and Sunday 2 and 3 July
Queensland Garden Expo, Nambour – Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8, 9 and 10 July
Queensland Camellia Society – Show and Sale – Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens – 31 July
Brisbane International Garden Show, Strathpine – 6, 7, 8 and 9 October

More information available later.

Come visit, walk the gardens and see these beautiful plants in flower.

Get out in the garden and get dirty….

Beatrice Emily

Sasanqua Beatrice Emily

 

Open Days 24 and 25 October

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We are open to the public this weekend – Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October – 8.00am to 3.00pm.
This will be the last open day for this season….after this, we will be available by appointment as usual.
We will have a bunch of camellias available – sasanquas for the sunny parts of the garden – a few hundred in 140mm pots and a nice collection in 200mm pots. We are selling out of some varieties – but that’s the objective. Japonicas – for the semi shade spots, at least part shade – we have a thousand or so across more than a hundred varieties. Most are in 140mm pots, but again we have a small number in 200mm pots. We have some hybrids and a few species well.

We need to make some room for new season plants, so drop by and pick up some of the best camellias we have grown.

Camellia japonica Royal Velvet – one of the best garden camellias

This is a great time to plant, there is new growth showing and getting plants now to either pot up or plant out will result in some amazing growth over the next few weeks. For those who planned, yes, a month or so ago was a better time to plant – before the new growth started, but if you are careful, there will be little damage to the tender new shoots and leaves.

When you are planting out, remember to tickle the roots out so that the new roots will not continue to grow in the curled shape of the pot. This helps make a healthier plant in the long term. A light application of fertiliser now, added to the backfill, will give the plants a good run into spring and summer. Water in well – and that means a slow half a bucket worth of water to get moisture right down into the soil. Mulching now will suppress weeds as well as keep the root area cool and reduce evaporation.

Look out for little caterpillars and aphids in the new foliage. Squish the grubs and you can hose off aphids.

Camellias will make a great addition to any garden, as a specimen plant, a forest or a hedge. Come in and see us, and we can advise you on what might suit your site best.

Get out into the garden – its good for the soul.

Sasanqua Barrys Chance - for the full sun

Camellias – Queensland Garden Expo

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This weekend, at Nambour Showgrounds, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10, 11, and 12 July, Queensland Garden Expo is the premier subtropical gardening event in Australia. About 300 site holders including over 60 nurseries with thousands of plants on sale each day.
We will be there, site #291, with more camellia varieties that can be seen anywhere – except at our nursery.
We will have hundreds of camellias, sasanqua for sunny spots, japonica and hybrids for part shade, and some species. We will not have every variety available, but there will be something for everyone.
We will be open to the public again the following weekends – 18 and 19, 25 and 26 July and 1 and 2 August.
See us at QGE or come to one of our Open Days on the following weeks.
Great time of the year for gardening……especially for camellias.

Camellia japonica 'Clarence Hearn'

Camellia japonica 'Contemplation' - with bees

More Camellias – nursery open this weekend

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The camellias are getting serious – lots of them are flowering. The sasanquas – the Autumn flowering ones – are at the end of their flowering season, but that’s ok because the japonicas have started. We have about 400 camellias in the garden – drop by, wander the garden and take a look. There are vireya rhododendron, some azaleas and the magnolias have started; these all will continue for the next couple of months.

The nursery has several thousand camellias for sale – sasanquas, japonicas, hybrids and a few species – plants for sunny spots and some for part shade – some with really big flowers over 12cm to some with 2cm ones. Over 200 different varieties to choose from, so whereas we do not pretend to have them all – far from it – we can usually find something that you will like.

Our plants are mostly in 140mm pots with a small number of larger pots.

It is a great time to buy and plant camellias as you can see the flowers at their best now. The plants are also in their winter dormancy now, so planting now means that they can get established in their new position before the new growth starts in spring. Watch out for bud grubs at this time of year – these little grubs can bore into your flower buds from the tip and chew the centre of the flower. Stick a fine wire down the holes and squish ’em. Or can also use a grub and caterpillar spray if you prefer. See the website for lots more information on ‘camellia culture’ – all specific for South East Queensland and surrounds.

Get out into your garden this weekend.

Camellia japonica - Shirley Norup - buy one this weekend....

Camellia Sale and Garden Open to the Public

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We plan to be open this Sunday  17 May. We have hundreds of plants available for sale and about 250 different varieties – sasanqua flowering now, japonica for the part shade, lots of hybrids and some species. Come and see these beautiful flowers. Also open following weekends 23 and 24 May and 30 and 31 May 8.00am to 3.00pm.

Camellia Glen – open Saturday 11 May 2013

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We are not open Sunday – Mothers’ Day – but we are on Saturday. 8.00 am to 3.00 pm. Lots of camellias to look at and lots for sale – over 200 different varieties. The sasanquas are still in flower with the early varieties like Mikuni-ko just about finished after almost 3 months, the mid season ones in full flower and the late varieties just coming into flower.

And then the japonicas are starting to get serious – the early flowerers like Alba Plena, Arejishi, Takanini still going, Tama No Ura showing lots and lots of flowers as are Grape Soda and Carters Sunburst, and its ‘pink’ sport, Carters Sunburst Pink and I spied a couple of blooms on Mrs D.W. Davis Descanso. But then, with 300 in the garden, you’ve got to be unlucky not to see a bunch of camellias in flower at this time of the year. We should be able to pick 30 or 40 blooms for our display.

We continue to do mail order for those who can’t get to us. Just email your wish list and we will see if we can help.

The 35 new reticulatas we planted out recently are all doing well with flower buds on many and some still putting on new growth – a hangover from the crazy seasons we have had in summer and autumn.

Anyway, as the days get cooler, we will see more and more flowers. Look forward to seeing some of you tomorrow. We will be open again for the weekends 18 & 19 May and Saturday only 25 May.

Keep in mind Gardening on the Edge in Maleny over the weekend 8 & 9 June and then the Queensland Garden Expo in Nambour 5, 6 & 7 July. www.qldgardenexpo.com.au

C. Japonica Grape Soda

We also have small numbers of Vireya rhododendron available for sale as well – and there is always one of those flowering.

Vireya rhododendron Haloed Gold

Nursery and Garden Open Saturday 4 August 2012

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We will be around the garden again this Saturday 4 August, so please come and visit, walk the garden, buy a few plants. Our camellias are flowering their heads off, some are pretty much finished and some are in full flight, including most of the reticulatas. Retic Valentine Day Variegated is a sight and so is hybrid Nicky Crisp – just covered in flower – Royal Velvet, Midnight Magic, Cherries Jubilee – the dark black/reds – are looking great.

We have had a number of folk visit during the season, and it is great to be able assist so many people with their camellia needs. Without doubt, the camellia is growing in popularity among keen gardeners and novices alike. With so many varieties that suit SE Queensland conditions, there is normally plenty of choice. We are running out of some varieties, but we are confident of having an even larger range in time for the 2013 season.

Now that the sasanquas have pretty much finished flowering, these can be pruned back to a desired size and shape – so long as you are not in an area that will still get frosts, as the new growth can get damaged. Leaving for another month or so will not hurt as the new season growth will not be started by then. Leave your japonicas until they have finished flowering – just be sure to do your pruning before the new growth starts – it is psychologically difficult to prune off new growth. If you  are wanting to fertilise, early spring is the best time – and don’t forget to keep keep your plants well mulched. This keeps the weeds down and soil moisture in.

Still a great time to wander the garden full of camellias – ours is full of colour with the camellias, vireya rhododendrons, magnolias, michellias and now the peach blossom is magic.

Get out and enjoy it!

Nursery and Garden open this weekend

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We are being treated to the best ever weather – a little cooler at night with temps down below 10 degrees C and sunny days to 22 C. The camellias are loving it although the air is dry, there is still lots of moisture in the ground and the plants are looking great. I did manage to replace the garden mulch that got washed away in our recent wet weather and as well as keeping the moisture in and the weeds out, it makes the gardens look great.

For the last two weekends, we have been open and had a great bunch of people through, some just wandering the gardens enjoying the flowers, but most just cannot resist the temptation of adding to their camellia collection. Some come with a wish list of plants they want and in most cases we are able to satisfy. We still have about 200 different varieties and a few thousand plants available for sale – most in 140mm pot size only. We will be open this weekend – Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 May – 8.00 am to 3.00 pm and we are looking forward to playing in the garden again!

The sasanquas are still flowering – the early ones like Mikuni-ko and Silver Dollar – are all but finished, and the japonicas are starting. It is amazing what a difference a week makes – last week we saw the first flower on our sasanqua x reticulata hybrids Flower Girl and Dream Girl – and this week they have dozens of flowers. In the garden, early standouts are Alba Plena and its sport Fimbriata, Wildfire, Arejishi, Susie Fortson, Little Man, hybrid Isaribi with its lovely fragrance, and so many more coming into flower, I cannot possibly list them all here. It looks like another great season.

The colour on the Vireya Rhododendrons that are in flower is amazing – from yellows, orange, bi-colour, the burnt reds of Deep Heat, the reds of Birat Red and Inferno, white Gwenevere, fragrant Stephie and Strawberry Parfait and pink Bob’s Choice and Pink Dream – all make the garden jump out at you.

What a great time of the year to be a gardener!

Dates to remember:

Sunday 27 May – Glasshouse Sustainability and Garden expo at Beerwah

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June – Gardening on the Edge – Maleny Garden Club open gardens – Maleny High School Hall

Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July – Kellyfield Camellias, 958 Kidaman Creek Road, Curramore, Maleny – 9.00 am to 4.00 pm – displays of japonicas and reticulata camellias.

Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July – Queensland Garden Expo, Nambour Showgrounds – simply the best garden show in Australia – some bias shown here – come for the day or for the weekend – check out options and package deals on the website – www.qldgardenexpo.com.au

Wow – Nitidissima has flowered!

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Nitidissima in Flower - June 2011

On wandering the garden this morning to pick blooms for our Open Days this weekend, guess what we found! A flower on C. Nitidissima!

This is the first of about a dozen buds to open. Beautiful colour and form – about 5cm across with recurved petals and a big boss of bright gold stamen. Both the buds and the flower colour are a lot stronger than the last time we photographed it six years ago as a very young plant.

Sadly our attempts to propagate it have been largely unsuccessful. We had five cuttings strike two years ago and they grew for almost a year, but then they all gradually died. We will try again!

Beautiful day today, check your flower buds for bud grubs – we found two today – they eat the centre out of the buds and spoil the flower. Now is the time to dis-bud if you wish to get better quality blooms. Just twist off every second bud.

Have a great time in the garden – don’t forget you can see us at Maleny ‘Gardening on the Edge’ next weekend – 11/12 June.  We are having lots of people visit us here on our open days – we are open all this weekend and next weekend, 8.00am-3.00pm Saturday and Sunday.