| by Shane Harris, Regional Extension Agent |
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Published in The Outlook and
The Dadeville Record
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Camellias Remain in Old Alabama Gardens
 Within the last
month or so, I have found a new
interest in camellias. Azaleas have
always been my favorite, but I guess whatever is in bloom at the time
just
really grabs my attention. Since they began blooming in January, I have
taken
notice of all the different shapes and flower colors of Japanese
camellias found
growing in central Alabama. One may think a camellia is just any old
camellia, but once you see one that is very different and quite
beautiful, you
will have a new found admiration too. What
strikes my curiosity the most is the different varieties and the
longevity of
these camellias. I can’t help but wonder
what variety it is and who may have planted it?
Most are in old gardens and around long established homes;
which proves
that camellias have been prized for many generations.
There are a lot of different camellias, hundreds and
hundreds worldwide. But in Alabama, you
will likely
not find that many, unless you visit an avid camellia grower and
collector.
Most large camellias found in home landscapes were planted years ago
and are
varieties that were once popular 20 - 30 years ago. “Professor Sargent”
and
“Debutante” are two examples of varieties seen quite often. There are many more, but identifying
them
can be difficult unless you really know your camellias.
Over a week ago I visited Massee
Lane Gardens
in Fort Valley, Georgia, which is home to
the
American Camellia Society. While there,
I had the opportunity to learn more about camellias, tour the gardens,
and see
hundreds of camellias in bloom. It was amazing to see so many different
varieties, shapes, and colors. I was so
overwhelmed and intrigued that I had to buy a book on camellias just to
keep up
with them all.
It seems most people today have less interest in
camellias and would rather have other types of flowering plants instead
of
camellias. If they knew how many
beautiful camellias there are, I think people would change their mind.
My new
found love for camellias has inspired me to plant more in my garden. I hope to add the newer varieties but I also
hope
to collect the old long lasting ones that have brought joy to those in
years
past. Besides, camellias are the
state
flower of Alabama
and who doesn’t want to preserve and honor that legacy.
Fruits Workshop Rescheduled
Due to rain a few weekends
ago, the Selecting Fruits and Pruning
Workshop scheduled for February 18th was abruptly postponed. However, as a result of the strong interest
and response from many, many people, we have chosen a new date to do
the
workshop – Saturday, March 11, 2006. The fruit workshop will be
conducted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at the farm of
John
Neighbors near Alexander
City. This workshop is designed for homeowners,
Master Gardeners, commercial growers, and anyone interested in growing
fruits. The three hour workshop will
include
a discussion on fruit selection and individual fruit pruning
demonstrations.
The workshop will be held
outside (again weather permitting) on the farm and orchard of John
Neighbors in
Eastern Coosa
County, southwest of Alexander City. The
farm is located on Hwy. 259 in Coosa County,
near the 8 mile marker. It is
approximately 7.5 miles southwest of Alexander City
and 7.5 miles
northeast of Equality.
The workshop is scheduled to
begin at 9:00 a.m. and end about 12 noon. There is no charge for
participants. People interested in
attending,
however, are asked to register their attendance by contacting the Coosa
County
Extension Office at 256-377-4713.
Johnny-Jump-Ups
If
you are looking for some unique color in late winter and early spring,
try
planting a bed or container of Johnny-jump-ups. Similar but much
smaller than
pansies, Johnny-jump-ups are those cute little flowers that resemble
violets and
are found in garden centers and plant nurseries this time of year. They too are part of the viola family but are
ideal for planting around bulbs and larger flowers and are more heat
resistant
than pansies. Although Johnny-jump-ups
are annuals, they reseed madly and may be considered perennial-like
since there
is a good chance they will return year after year.
For more information, contact the
Tallapoosa County
Extension Office at 256-825-1050 or visit us online at www.aces.edu.
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