fairfield, I am looking for old gardens as my interest is in the ones introduced prior to 1900. There are approximately 450 in the nomenclature books and I, and others, have located all but about 150 so I am constantly looking for these. I would like you to get in touch with me if interested in telling me where these are. Thanks

here is a good site. it may take a few seconds to load - there are many images here. Here is a link that might be useful: wintergarden camellias

It is hard to tell until you actually check and no longer see "green" (then it is too late of course). Since leaf out could take a while and may not occur until Spring, I would make sure that they remain well mulched and that the soil is as evenly moist as you can (with no periods of dry followed by wet followed by dry and so forth). About 3-4" of mulch up to the drip line should suffice and should lengthen the days between waterings. Test the soil with a finger to make sure you are not overdoing it (insert a finger to a depth of 4" and water if it feels dry or almost dry). Pick up any plant debris under the trees & dispose in the trash or compost pile while you are watering. Before watering, amend the soil if your soil is alkaline so you do not have to water a second time after amending the soil.

I have just made some cuttings of my great grandmothers camellia bushes. They have been at her house for over fifty years,(they were cuttings from her mothers camellia bushes.) They are pink,red,and white flowers from different bushes. I do not know the "type" but as I said they are very old. I am not sure how to get them to root or where to plant them in my yard....Any advice?