Pride and joy.
Dad's camellia is his pride and joy. However about six years ago we nearly lost it. Under instructions from dad I gave this beautiful shrub a hard prune. It was huge and dad feared the branches may break under heavy snow. Every branch I cut hard back. What a mistake! The next year all leaf and no flower. I checked the garden books, which I should have done before the prune, only to read that camellias can take years to recover from pruning and refuse to flower. We were both distraught. My mother had loved this shrub. The following year no flowers. The third year we were in despair when we noticed one or two buds! The next year more buds and this year it has been at its best. What a relief!
Pride and joy.
Dad's camellia is his pride and joy. However about six years ago we nearly lost it. Under instructions from dad I gave this beautiful shrub a hard prune. It was huge and dad feared the branches may break under heavy snow. Every branch I cut hard back. What a mistake! The next year all leaf and no flower. I checked the garden books, which I should have done before the prune, only to read that camellias can take years to recover from pruning and refuse to flower. We were both distraught. My mother had loved this shrub. The following year no flowers. The third year we were in despair when we noticed one or two buds! The next year more buds and this year it has been at its best. What a relief!