Wish I could attend! Have a wonderful and successful day! Sharon

Yes well I admit the flowers are mostly opening near the ground at the moment, and so this pic would have been below the snowline. The upper branches are burnt, as are all camellias in my garden to some degree. (other than the small 'Yume' that was totally covered in snow!)

Theres more about them thats appealing and not appealing. That they have very striking berries is a handsome feature thats not so evident untl they are older and theres more of them. “More of them” because they sucker which may appeal to you or not. The planting i saw was in shade and it was loaded with small dark berries that contrasted beautifully with a little light in the background. With those thorns a suckering group would be deterrent to unwelcome visitors at a larger property’s perimeter. So if its growing in a place where you want continued access or dont want a thicket of anything, definitely give thought to relocating or removing it. I dont think it has striking fall color. The crew who is putting in a sewer line in The abbuting easment weedwacked mine yesterday. I think it could grow back from a piece of root, but I want see if can rescue a hunk of the mother plant.

The hosta journals are worth saving. Mrs. and I were AHS members until I went on teaching sabbatical in 2014. We retired in 2026 and are in the process of rebuilding our hosta collection. Babka, maybe I will take the journals.