Camellia japonica

Today’s my day to blog, and I’m at a bit of a loss. My son’s 19^th birthday is today, and he’s away at school in New York. This is a first for our family-celebrating a birthday without the guest of honor! So how does this relate to a gardening blog? Well, when I think about planting, I typically think about planting for the season. Today, however, my thoughts are turned toward planting to remind us about special events in our lives. For instance, every fall, I look out my kitchen window and see a beautifully blooming Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle). This tree was a gift given to my husband in memory of his mom. I look forward to those purple blooms, but more importantly, as I look at that tree throughout the year, my mind is filled with fond memories of my mother-in-law and the times we spent together. Underneath my living room window, I am eagerly awaiting the beautiful blooms from my Camellia japonica, a gift given to me from my sister in memory of my father-in-law. So today, as my family celebrates Ben’s birthday, I will be deciding what to plant to remind me of my son and the change this signifies in our family. I’m thinking of something with strong beginnings in its framework with lots of potential for growth over the years. I already have the spot picked out in my yard; it too can be viewed every time I’m washing dishes and will put a smile on my face as I think about my son and what he might be doing at that moment. No time to mope, it’s time to plant!

Camellia japonica shrub. (photo by Mary Gabbard)