To research the truth about where the first camellia was planted outside, You can "Google" "The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany and all Useful Discoveries vol.5. Then Choose the link that carries you to "Find it at Harvard" Click on Vol. 5 and go to page 150. There is an article there from The Charleston Horticulture Society 1839 about Col. Lucas' Camellia. The Last line in the article reads " If the double and fine varieties of the camellia should prove as hardy as the single, and can be successfully cultivated, they must add greatly to the splendor of the flower garden". This statement reveals that the editor of the journal, C.M. Hovey, and The Horticulture Society of Charleston were unaware of any double camellia of age and substance growing outside in Charleston in 1839. It seems odd they would have missed the double camellia "Rein des Flueres" planted at Middleton over 50 years prior. This documents Col. Lucas' single red camellia as the first planted outside, Whether Middleton has another camellia named "Rein des Fluers" or not, it is a double and is not mentioned.

No experience in Zone 6, but... Shishigashira, a hiemalis camellia, is described as being "remarkably cold hardy" in my Jennifer Trehane camellia book, "Camellias: The Gardener's Encyclopedia." It's not fully tested for really low temperatures around here, but I think that it's unusually bud hardy, as well as plant hardy where most camellias might not be. We cut a healthy bloom in January, just a few days after we'd had a week in which the temperature didn't get much above freezing, if any at all, and most nights were in the teens, down to 13 degrees. Then some only slightly warmer weather, and a bunch more really cold stuff (including a couple of nights down to around 11 and 12 degrees) ... and another bloom in mid-February. The main bloom period starts in late September, with most coming in October-November, so this is not the norm. But it's a beautiful low, wide camellia that's extremely easy to grow and blooms well over a long period of time, even in the shade. I can't guarantee that it will survive your winter there! I just like it so well that if I lived there, I might want to give it a try and hope that it made it. If it is at least plant hardy there, you ought to be able to count on some beautiful tiny blooms covering the plant in October and November. And it might surprise you some in December, January, and February? Our Shishigashira always has some mulch in our deciduous woods here. Other than that, we haven't done anything to protect it during the winter. Best wishes, Mary

Melissa, love the pictures! Your yard is maturing so beautifully. I too, love the headboard idea and the gaura and blue basil are amazing. Yes, our yards are bad now, but with spring we'll be happily planning and planting again. By the way, I love the purple ruellia with the firebush. Great color contrast. Sun worshiper, isn't the farfugium a great plant? I have tried every which way I know to propagate them. I have spread seed, I have chilled the seed in the fridge for weeks as I saw somewhere, I tried from leaves like begonias. I also tried to secure the flower stems to the ground to see if that distal little leaf would form roots. Nothing. I do have a 3-4 year old plant that looks like it has a baby- but the baby has been the same size all year. I think maybe it came up from the roots? Mine do get bigger. Almost like they get more than one head, but it takes a couple of years. Maybe that's why they're so expensive. I buy them when I see them though, because I rarely see them. I plan on getting more because they are so easy and always look good, especially in cool weather. Let me know if you figure out a way to propagate, and I will post if I do too. Anyone out there know? Anna

The measurement is of the counter, not including the doorway. The cabinet to the left of the hood is 15" and to the cabinet to right of the hood is 27".