On the contrary, as far as I know, camellias do not need a dormancy period, since they can flower in fall, winter and spring, and keeping broad leaved evergreens of most types in a not so bright area through the winter might kill them , since most older literature says they still need light even during the winter months. I've had mine indoors for years through the winter, and usually get winter or spring blooms on mine at a temperature in the seventies during the day and bright light, but they do need humidity in the winter. Just be careful with the watering as well, as they hate sitting in standing water , and I have lost a few outdoors that didn't have the water in the saucers romoved soon enough. They like moisture , but not soggy soil.

DTD - I know what you mean about not seeing things that bloom in late fall or early winter...but I'm lucky (!) in that I have two small active boys who drag me out in the yard any day the temp goes above 40. So I am always thrilled to have stuff to look at in December and March when I am hanging out in some random corner of the yard playing some random game while trying not to freeze. George - I do realize I made a mistake with the spring blooming purchase, but I didn't read the tag correctly until I got home, and I want to do the best I can by my April Tryst. Claire - The problem with my backyard is that I never use it. I have a very steep lot (we have a walk-out basement) and I don't spend much time back there. Some day we'll win the lottery and I'll build my dreamt for bluestone patio with wall seating and an outdoor fireplace, and then I can perfectly site camellias and magnolias and all kinds of things, but for now, the only thing back there is weeds and the compost pile. So it sounds like the winter sun is more of a danger than the winter winds which might mean along the left woods (left when you are facing the house) might be the most appropriate. It would be almost completely shaded in the winter, especially in the morning, but the sun is high enough in the summer for it to be at least half sun, possibly more. Definitely need to do some more thinking on how to protect it from winter winds. BTW. Here is a closer view in winter of the area you guys seem to be steering me towards. I am assuming a line of woods behind doesn't really give any protection. The prevailing cold strong winds come along the point of view of the camera. From Dec2008snow Thanks so much for all your ideas! Lisa

I have been going to Logee's since the late 60's. They used to have even more rare and unusual things, when Joy Logee Martin ran the place. I had a small greenhouse then, so it was an incredible source. Prices were good too. But in the last several years, it's gotten so much more commercial, and they offer only about half of what they used to have. The prices are quite high for the size of the plants, But I'm sure this has arisen out of necessity, with higher costs of running a business nowadays. As for the camellias there, they do offer a couple of hardy ones, but you get a very small, rooted cutting for a fairly high price. What you get from Camforest or some other online nurseries, even with shipping, are much more established plants. I don't know if you've considered the fall flowering types, but they are quite hardy too, and bloom when little else is blooming. Good luck with whatever you choose. Monrovia offer a few hardy types also, and they will now ship to local garden centers at no charge! You pay them online and pick up at your local nursery. I know they ship to Forest Hills Nursery in Cranston. I have a couple of things on order that I will pick up probably in April. Not a bad deal.

Thank you, Melodye! they do look similar! It would seem that they make this sort of rows around the canes, but with very different sizes and sometimes touching each other, as if fused into a "thworn" (wow, sorry, that was really bad). I just got home and remembered that two of the roses you see in the full-bush shot are actually becoming hips, one of them is getting some blush with the sun. I don't know if you've seen it form hips, but if you have maybe they're somewhat distinctive? When they ripen I'll come back with a photo. It's nice that you mention it can do well in 45C temps, here we usually don't go higher than 40C, though I remember once we were at 43C and everyone was dying (figuratively, of course); at those temps this rose is pretty active, though the blooms can burn because of how dark they are. Thanks again!