Camellias – open to the public

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We will have our first ‘open to the public days’ 13 and 14 April, then each weekend after that in April and May. This is the first time we have been open this early – it gives people a chance to see the sasanquas in flower – and flowering they are.

Early varieties like Mikuni Ko, Sparkling Burgundy have been out for a while and now there are heaps – Violet Weymouth, Gay (such a great single white), Rainbow, Pure Silk, Narumi Gata – lots and lots – and the birds and the bees are loving them. Who said you need natives to attract the Australian native birds and bees into your garden – we have rosellas, king parrots as well as honey eaters and honey bees and a couple of different stingless native bees. See pics in a earlier blog.

Also, lots of folk lining up for that first open weekend 13 and 14 April – people wanting just the one special camellia – someone the other day wanted just one Betty Ridley and couldn’t get it anywhere – and folk wanting to plant a hedge or screen – some 5 metres, one 30 and one 60 metres. So there is a lot of interest in camellias.

We are still doing mail order for small quantities, we try for a minimum of three, but drop us an email if there is something you are chasing after.

And the big news today is that we have lots of flower buds on C. nitidissima – one of the yellow flowering camellias. Sometimes a bit shy to flower, our shrub is now about 3 to 4 metres tall and has dozens of buds. Can’t wait to see flowers again.

A bit hot today – like 33C, but the start of autumn will see cooler days and then the camellias will own the garden – again.

Get out into it.


Open to the Public, camellias, vireyas

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Our open days will be on again for the next two weekends;

  • Saturday 14 May and Sunday 15 May – 8.00 am to 3.00 pm
  • Saturday 21 May and Sunday 22 May – 8.00 am to 3.00 pm

Please be aware that we do not offer EFTPOS – cash only please.

The following Sunday 29 May, we will be at the Glasshouse Sustainability Expo at Beerwah – see us there.

Half Aspasia Macarthur, half Margaret Davis

Camellia nitidissima/chrysantha

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What a glorious day – in fact, a perfect weekend – and we are so glad that our change of plans meant that we were able to be open to the public this weekend.

On one of our garden walks with some visiting camellia lovers yesterday, I was showing off our beautiful Camellia chrysantha , (also called C. nitidissima), and lamenting that, apart from the first year we planted it out in the garden, for the past 8 years, we have not seen a flower. We have been somewhat disappointed with this, as the plant is beautifully healthy, putting on an abundance of new growth – like now – but alas, no flowers.

Then, one of our visitors exclaims ” Is that a flower bud there?”. Closer inspection revealed three of four branches with a dozen or more round yellow buds, about 12 or 13mm in diameter, tucked tightly in the leaf axils of the older growth. We are pleased!

We have asked ourselves, is it because of the weather? are the conditions just right? is it now getting the right amount of sun/shade? We don’t really know, we are just pleased. We took photos, just to prove the point!

Buds on c. Chrysantha

So this afternoon, we wandered the garden again, as we like to do after a day working the garden, interspersed with talking camellias and rhododendron, magnolias and michellias with visitors, (and selling a few) and we see about 8 little round, yellow buds, on the ground, under the chrysantha bush. Oh the horror!!

What we are now thinking is that, among the abundant bird life we ‘enjoy’ in our garden, one or more has taking a liking to little yellow buds. We know that, when the chooks free range in the garden, they are often seen pecking at new shoots and little flower buds. Maybe one of the many miners, or rosellas, or blue faces..

Maybe when the tree gets bigger, the number of buds will out strip the bird’s enthusiasm to pick them off. I don’t know how big it will have to get, it’s 3 metres tall now.

Meanwhile, we think we know the answer……

Open Days – Camellias

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Change of plan – we are open this Labour Day long weekend – that’s Saturday 30 April, Sunday 1 May and Monday 2 May – 8.00 am to 3.00 pm.

Our first couple of open days have worked very well with a good number of folk visiting. The sasanquas are flowering well and we have good stock available. It is still a little early in the season for most of the japonicas although we have managed to pick blooms from about 30 varieties in the garden.

Another fairly torrential rain event yesterday did not do the flowers any good, but the cooler weather has meant that the flowers are opening well and staying fresh. Such a great time in a camellia garden, if a little damp under foot.

Open again Saturday 7 May, just the right time to get Mum a camellia for Sunday – Mother’s Day. We are closed for Mother’s Day on Sunday 8th. See our earlier entry for more open days.

Please note, we do not have an EFTPOS facility.