Wednesday, February 02, 2011

ABC Wednesday: "C" Is For Camellia ~ Charming and Captivating


Pink Camellia, formal double bloom. Norfolk Botanical Garden. Posted by Picasa

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size." ~ Gertrude S. Wister
I have officially cracked up, gone crazy, become a real cuckoo.... I thought it was Tuesday, all day until about 5pm. I lived through Tuesday, but it was obviously a day to simply forget. So, now I am a day behind on everything, at least in my mind.

It is ABC Wednesday and today's letter is "C". I bet my faithful friends and readers who know me thought I would post pictures of my cats..... the crew....but I have been saving this picture since last February. Today, "C" is for camellias. Camellias are the winter's color with delicate petals and yet cold hardy. Norfolk Botanical Garden is home to the Hofheimer Camellia Garden contains around 750 different types of camellia bushes and the garden overall, contains more than 1700 individual camellia plantings and is one of the largest collections in the southeast. All shades of pink, coral, red, lavender, white and variegated blooms cover the bushes at this time of year. Nestled beneath the tall pines, they seem to love or at least tolerate the shade. The mass plantings are not far from the garden's Bald Eagle nesting site.

Speaking of the eagles... they have built a new nest and the Eagle Cam is in full swing for 2011. Each year they band all the eaglets and typically attach a small transmitter to one of them. It allows the scientists to follow the wanderings of the young ones until they mature and find a mate, building their own nesting spot. Eaglets with the transmitter are named and it just so happens that last year's is named "Camellia".

ABC Wednesday is brought to you this week by the letter "C". Our camellia will also be seen at Nature's Notes... and don't forget to check out the eagle cam... it is amazing to watch from January to July.

(end of post)


19 comments:

Beverly said...

So pretty...one of the flowers that doesn't grow this far south.  I stupidly clicked on the webcam, but I guess you can't see too much at night.  I'll have to try tomorrow.

Cheryl said...

Gorgeous capture. Much needed as I look out the windows at snow piles so high I can't see the world. I wish we had a conservatory or arboretum nearby. Sure could use some color besides black and white.

Cheryl
ABC Team

Ginny Hartzler said...

This shot is amazing with the way the light is! I don't think i've ever seen a camelia!

Vicki said...

Gorgeous! Love the lighting.

kenju said...

That camellia looks to be lit from within. So beautiful!

I get behind a day (or two) all too frequently.

kenju said...

That camellia looks to be lit from within. So beautiful!

I get behind a day (or two) all too frequently.

Carver said...

That's a beautiful camellia. I have a white one and red one but haven't seen the pink. You were asking about where I live, I'm in the central part of North Carolina (trianle area). Sounds like we're having similar weather. I'm almost relieved to see from the forecast that we will be getting cold again so hopefully the plants won't get too ahead of themselves with the unusually warm past few days.

Leslie said...

This is a stunning photo of a gorgeous flower! A neighbour has a tree and I love to stop and take photos - both regular and macros - whenever I go for a walk when it's in bloom.

Leslie
ABCW Team

Roger Green said...

It's OK to be a bit cuckoo. I'm feeling a bit cuckoo.  Or maybe a lot today.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Roger Green said...

It's OK to be a bit cuckoo. I'm feeling a bit cuckoo.  Or maybe a lot today.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Roger Green said...

It's OK to be a bit cuckoo. I'm feeling a bit cuckoo.  Or maybe a lot today.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Roger Green said...

I'm feeling a little nuts myself...

Roger Green said...

I'm feeling a little nuts myself...

Leora said...

What a lovely flower!  It's hard to imagine seeing spring again, with the winter that we have had.

colleen said...

I hate when that happens! (forget what day it is).  I kept thinking of the song "You Light Up My Life" while looking at your flower shot.

sandra said...

Comely Camelia... so pretty. i like the sun bean on it. you did good to save it, perfect C  but you get and A+

Michelle said...

I know what you mean...this weather....but this photo is just stunning and helps me look forward to summer.....

Gemma @ Greyscale said...

Beautiful lighting on this gorgeous flower! Love the soft, romantic pink of this camellia!

Colleen said...

Such a gorgeous flower.. love the delicacy of the colour.