With the advent of fall things in the garden have been happening rather rapidly. I've been very busy planting many new plants, creating a new garden, dividing and filling in, and preparing the greenhouse for the winter. While scurrying about doing all my chores I passed by my very large fall blooming pink camellia and I happened to notice some evergreen plants growing below the tree. There were seven evergreen seedlings growing under the camellia and I thought to myself-dare I hope? Dare I hope for seedlings from the camellia? I have had camellia seedlings before and tons of camellia apple seedpods but I have not had luck really getting more camellias from the existing camellias-until now.
Still skeptical these seedlings were camellias I dug through the pine needle mulch until I reached the seed. And sure enough! These seeds are clearly the apple seedpods I posted about a few years ago. I now had confirmation that these seedlings were indeed camellias. It seems the conditions were just right for the camellia apple seeds to sprout and give me two clumps of several baby camellias. And do you know what that means? Yup, another chore for me to add to my already long list of chores to be accomplished in the garden-and time is running out. Like I need another chore this time of the year. I now have to dig these seedlings and pot them up until they get big enough to either give away to friends or sell at a plant sale. Still, it was a delightful chore and one I surely should not complain about since mother nature did all the propagating for me....
in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden
Your excitement is very infectious, made me have a huge smile on my face. I will be extremely happy if I found some camellia seedlings too. Hope more seeds sprouted for you.
ReplyDeleteAlthough you didn't need another chore on your fall list, this has to be one wonderful surprise that you didn't mind adding!
ReplyDeleteLove it when I get babies from my favorite plants! Happy Autumn!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful surprise!
ReplyDeleteA garden gift! I hope the camellias do well!
ReplyDeleteThat is exciting!!! I have a baby on one of my Prickly Pear and am also excited about that.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature was kind to assist you in seedlings!How Awesome....
ReplyDeleteHow very exciting! If camellias were hardy here, I'd be begging for one. You know, to make it easier on YOU--ha!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. To Jean, you can create more prickly pears any time by removing one pad, letting the scar heal over and then rooting in soil mix. Or just throwing it on the ground in spring works, too.
I gave up on growing camelias here a while ago. I pull out crepe myrtle seedlings all the time. Hooray for free camelia seedlings!!
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun find. Hope you put them to good use. You never know what the flowers will look like. I have 5 seedlings we dug up in Wilmington at Meg's daughters house, very old plants too. Now I need to take them from the pots and plant them.
How wonderful for pleasant surprises like this. I have a lot of free propagation here too. My garden is flooded with cosmos.
ReplyDeleteBtw, Tina, your caption has been posted. Thank you.
That was a great find. My Camelia has those apples on it but none has tried to do anything. Mine is pink also. It blooms in Jan. so it's putting on the buds now.
ReplyDeleteYou are very diligent with your resources Tina. I salute your trait. In this part of the world, seeds which germinate are our problems too. We have lots of tamarind, Zysygium and santol (Sandoricum koetjape) seeds which germinate so profusely on the ground. If we don't uproot them they will become seedlings and eventually grow which later give us problems to cut. Pulling these seedlings are not easy because we have plenty, as in plenty!
ReplyDeleteLike Monica, if camellias were hardy here, I'd gladly take one of these seedlings off your hands:)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of fall chores, at the rate I'm going, it might take me till next October to get mine all done!
Thanks Monica! Not sure how these will winter over as Maine can be cold for plants like that. Tina sent them to me in the mail and they st on my deck for over 2 months with in the box that they came in with no care at all so maybe they are tough. I may bring them in the house. Have not made up my mind yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your nice comments!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the seedlings! My only Camelia succumed to the heat the summer before last. :(
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the baby camellias Tina. That is wonderful even if it means more work. This time of year (and spring) it's crazy in the garden, isn't it?? I'm sure you'll get it all done ~ you always seem to! Hope your plant sale was successful too ~ did you bring home any new??!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bonus! I hope you keep one for yourself. I too wish Camelias were hardy where I live :)
ReplyDeleteCamelias are my favorite flower. I grew them as a kid in my native Australia. I've been pining for them for the last 30 years since moving to KANSAS.. Exciting find.
ReplyDeleteHi I pulled my seedling out of my orchid plant then transplanted it to its own container. I am watering it daily. It's about 10 inches long. The roots tore a little bit. Do you think it will be ok?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Lisa (Hayward, CA)
Yes! I do think your seedling will be fine! Plants are tough and the camellia seedlings seem to be very tough. Baby it for a bit until it gets settled in and puts on some new growth and you will be in the clear! Good luck!
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