Oh, Dave, those are extraordinarily beautiful plants! And pictures! As Kal said, they are so beautiful it's hard to believe they're real. (Nevertheless, I do believe they're real.) I was just looking last night at the Potomac Camellia Society's website and thinking about the Ackerman hybrids. I can certainly see why you think highly of Spring's Promise! The entire plant, along with its prolific blooms is _gorgeous_! And all your others are beautiful, beautiful too. You put me in the mood to snap a picture, and if I can get it loaded, I'm posting a picture that is only half on-topic for this thread. On topic for bud hardiness, but an hiemalis, not a japonica. Our Shishigashira started blooming here in mid-to-early October as best I can recall, and about a month ago we had the impression that it was done. No!!! My husband cut a flower from the Shishigashira today! Bear in mind that we've had an extended cold period in early January here (at the same time you were experiencing the same cold wave) where the official low one night was 13 degrees and there were several nights in a row with lows close to that. This has set me to wondering how many other years it might have bloomed in mid-winter and we just didn't notice because we didn't walk where we might have seen it. The plant is mostly hidden now by much larger plants blocking a view from our usual vantage point. I planted it maybe 20 years ago, before so many azaleas got planted on one side of it. I did plant the (now huge) Hugh Evans at the same time on the other side of it, though, and now I'm wondering what I might have been thinking at the time and whether I knew then how differently the two camellias were going to grow. Oh, well! Now we'll just have to figure out how to transplant the camellia with those largish pots still attached for soil layering... ;) Our Shishigashira is planted in too much shade. However, she has reliably bloomed heavily anyway! So it's a variety I'd recommend for your shady spots--or any spot. And apparently it is exceptionally bud hardy. It hasn't been gibbed, and has barely been fertilized at all (cottonseed meal once in awhile and mulch every fall from the tall deciduous trees it is growing with). I'm going to see if it works to link the picture of Shishigashira that I just took. Dave, how did you embed your pictures? That would be ideal, of course. Best wishes, Mary P.S. It's snowing here now, and sleet is probably on its way too. Glad we got the bloom picked first! It's brightening up the kitchen right now (Professor Sargent behind it). Here is a link that might be useful:

Your camellia came back from its roots within the last 10-11 years, right? So it's really just reaching its (second) maturity now. The regular watering due to your sister's rose probably helped, but my guess is that it would have eventually bloomed anyway. Camellias are not fragile plants, and only need regular watering when first getting established- during their first 2 years. I don't know where you are, but in places with moderate temperatures and rainfall, older camellias can be completely ignored and will still bloom for months each winter. Camellias do respond well to a little attention such as regular watering during dry spells, a good mulch (pine straw is commonly used here in the Southeast), and an annual feeding after they bloom. Also, they are shade-loving, but do need some sunlight to bloom well. Your camellia is obviously older than 10 years, but has recently been putting its energy into re-establishing its roots and leaves- it's only just getting around to producing flowers, and my guess is that you'll have more and more flowers each year as it reaches maturity for the second time... Since your camellia has only recently become active again, its blooming "schedule" may not be re-set yet. Some camellias are already blooming now, but most bloom in winter, and some not until spring. That said, camellias seem to be a bit delayed here with buds and blooms. We had an unusually mild winter here last year- perhaps that has something to do with it. I also wanted to add that camellias aren't quite like once-blooming roses. A mature healthy camellia will bloom for more than a few weeks- most will bloom at least 2-3 months before quitting, and some will even go 4-5 months... Sorry to ramble on- I hope you'll post a photo of the flowers when it does bloom.

I'm no expert on Camellias, I can only share my experience in zone 5b/6a. First year, fall planted 3 'Snow Flurry' in part shade, planted in almost a mound of soil:peat with plenty of leaf mold top dressing, and wrapped in microfoam...I lost 2 1/2 of 3 plants...they just dried up...the foam tents shed all the winter precipitation off and away from the root zones that had not had time to establish very well. Next spring, replanted the two that died completely, pruned back the 1/2 plant that lived...nice bloom...left off the microfoam and the plants all came through the winter OK. The 1 plant of the three that's really thriving is the one completely under the oaks, surrounded by a yew hedge (ie, more protection). Doing it over again, I would: 1) spring plant 2) choose an Ackerman hybrid or another hardy type 3) choose a site with as much natural winter protection as possible 4) maybe skip the microfoam SB

I read the disasters people north of Tulsa are having with their camelias. I only grow two in my yard because of a lack of space. If I had more space I would definitely have more camelias. I have Snow Flake planted by my front door in west sun and it is now 3 years old and had almost 100 flowers on a 3 foot bush that was only a foot tall 3 years ago. I also have a double red camelia (do not remember the name) and it was planted 3 years ago in hot noon sun and some afternoon west sun. It is a winter bloomer (Feb. - March), and it bloomed the first year, but not last year, the buds froze. This year the plant is filled with large buds that have already survived 8 degrees, but winter isn't over yet. At least the buds are still alive and doing better than last season. I water the camelias often in the heat of summer, and a friend told me camelias hate water. I water them daily when the temperature reaches the 90's here in Tulsa. I also help people with their gardens here and there are many, many landscapes which have many healthy blooming camelias planted both as specimens, and some as blooming hedges, especially the pink senu-doubles called 'icicle'. Others that do well here are Snow Flurry, Winter Storm, and a new variety to Tulsa called 'Hanna jiman'. There are many more that are spotted through Tulsa that I've never seen before, nor know their names, or I'd be happy to share with you. I do plant in an acid compost soil, and mulch with pecan hulls around them. God bless, and happy growing. Joe