In August last year I wrote a post “I think I broke the Garden … again“. This weekend, I think I may have broken it yet again!
When we moved into this house in the summer of 2006, the garden was lovely, but a bit wild and woolly.
View of the Garden August 2006
In this view of the garden, you can see that the planting towards the center of the picture includes a hazel tree and a camellia.
This group is basically on the left hand side of our garden looking from the house.
At the very bottom of the garden, is the shed that I was going to use for my studio, and the path from the studio only came half way up the garden, then I had to walk across the lawn.
So one of the first things we did, was put a gravel path down the full length of the garden.
Starting the path, October 2006
We had cleared a lot of the “wild and woolly” and decided that the path would look nice curving around the camellia,
then meeting up with the one that ran down the center of the garden.
January 2007
Here you can see the gravel path, curving behind the camellia – which is looking wonderful in full flower
March 2007
By March, the garden is beginning to take shape – and after the camellia had finished flowering, it was given a bit of a tidy up and it looked fine …..
February 2008
Obviously over the period of a year, the camellia grew back strong and healthy and flowered profusely, actually it grew back very strong and healthy
(Wet) July 2008
So, the camellia had quite a drastic haircut, and looked rather like a bun, but quite charming.
Shedman and I continued to clear and replant the garden, and somehow in the last 9 months, the camellia went from being a focal point of the garden,
to a rather solid lump of green, which was quite oppressive.
Well apart from when it snowed and then it looked simply beautiful
My ultimate goal, is of course to have glimpsed views and paths to entice you down the garden.
From our little raised patio outside the backdoor, which is where we sit and look out over the garden, the poor old camellia was dominating the scene, and blocking the view
and this weekend I could not stand it for a moment longer.
Oops!
Having reached this stage, I am not quite sure what I will do next. I might actually remove it completely and replant with a small tree.
But not yet, because just behind the camellia I have 5 teeny tiny blue poppies that I have germinated from seed, and nothing is going to interfere with those babies!
The hostas are in shock, because they are used to living in the shade, and the sparrows have de-camped to the Ivy and the Leylandii
but at least I can now look out over the garden and see the plants, and think about what tree I would plant there if I do dig it out completely.
Oh! and I do have another camellia of the same variety in another part of the garden.
Ooops, indeed! But all is forgiven for the baby blue poppies, of course. I hope they thrive and do brilliantly (patience is crucial with the little brats). As for the camellia…since I can’t grow them here, I say “off with its head” and put something else in…once the baby blues are established.
Jodi, I am very excited to have 5 seedling germinate, I have absolutely no idea if they will grow here, but they might do as they grow well in Scotland I believe, it is a case of watch this space!
jodi (bloomingwriter)’s last blog post..Letters Across the Pond: Sylvia’s Pocket Handkerchief garden
You really are very brave. I’m not sure I’d have the courage to do what needed to be done. I am a coward when it comes to hard pruning.
Brave or mad! Actually I don’t mind hard pruning plants are usually very forgiving
K
Jill-O’s last blog post..A Bit of a Setback
Wow that is one drastic haircut!
But I love the view you have now from your patio.
Racquel, it is a bit drastic, I had hoped that there might have been a central stem in there somewhere, not three where it has been pruned in years gone by. Thanks for the supportive comment about the view.
Racquel’s last blog post..Fabulous Foliage
If the camellia has outlived its sell-by date, it’s got to go. It’s a hard fact, but there you have it…
We gardeners are a gritty bunch.
LOL, yes we are Susan
K
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It’s nice to see how your garden has evolved. I have only limited experience with camellias, and I’ve never cut one back so drastically. Whenever I prune anything I feel like I’ve cut off way too much, only to have the plant come back in no time. Looking ahead a few months, to a more vertical camellia covered with leaves and–eventually–flowers, I think I’ll come to like it.
Thanks James, when I was going through my photos for this post, I found it quite hard to find good ones,
Note to self, take more photos of the gardens evolution
K
lostlandscape(James)’s last blog post..trying to do the right thing
If the Camelia survives this, it deserves to live, as far as I’m concerned. But your choice. I know they grow on you, as they say. I’m pruning mine to little trees. Should probably rip them out, not being native and all that, but they seem to tolerate low water and bloom profusely for months, so I’m just keeping them. Can’t wait to hear what’s next! Love the path!
Town Muouse, that is what I had hoped for a little tree – but the multi stems inside put paid to that idea! Glad you like the path
K
Town Mouse (Renate)’s last blog post..My Favorite Nurseries
Never mind Camellias are overrated anyway.
I just chucked mine in the bin er on the compost heap last Sunday as I’d had enough of it. Always promising many blooms and then the buds would simply drop off or rot away. Enough!
BTW yours looked stunning in full flower but the view is much improved after the rather drastic haircut you gave it.
IMO a slim and tall conifer would look much better in its place, you know, just like a geeeorgeous green exclamation mark.;-)
Lol, Yoldana I knew I could depend on you to say it like it is.
I will have to think about the tall conifer, as along with yellow they are another of my pet hates, but I agree it would be a good exclamation mark.
K
Yolanda Elizabet’s last blog post..Grow!
Just tell me you didn’t do this to get a better view of the pink trug?!
Too funny Dawn, I hadn’t even noticed it.
K
Dawn’s last blog post..Instant garden colour – and why men should be kept away from lofts
Think that I would be tempted to give it the old heave -ho once the poppies are bigger, especially if you have got its twin in residence. Your garden looks a most tranquil haven but Karen what’s that YELLOW patch ?
Oh Anna, that yellow patch is the polyanthas or whatever. I moved them from all over the garden the year before last and they have done TERRIBLY well
K
Anna’s last blog post..Bring Out The Oil Can
Actually I think that looks rather gorgeous at present – there’s something tall and sinewy about it, which is impressive. Although a conical cypress would look stunning there, and would allow the view behind to be bisected without being spoiled.
Thanks for visiting and taking time to leave a comment, much appreciated. I do think the view needs breaking up, and part of the pleasure about gardening is the mulling over, thanks for your suggestion
K
blueworld gardener’s last blog post..Garden tasks for April
This did make me laugh and reminded me of pruning my laurel last year which ended up with it going. I agree that the camellia was acting like a full stop – I think I would bit the bullet and dig it out and replace with something more open and airy. I have a lovely Amelanchier which might look nice there.
Good news about the blue poppies – mine havent put in an appearance at all.
PG – this is my second attempt in blue poppies – (grrrr) I love Amelanchier, but I allready have a beautiful one in another part of the garden, but something similar may be the answer. Glad it made you chuckle.
K
patientgardener’s last blog post..A plethora of blossom
HA ha! The camellia got a mohican!!!! I’m going to have to dig out my established wisteria because it’s growing over the shed which is shortly to be transformed into my new greenhouse. I wanted a wisteria for years and years and it has never fulfilled expectations although no doubt it will do something glorious this year just so I will feel bad about removing it. Actually it’s leaves go a yellow colour early on which I don’t like. Anyway, sad though it is, when these things have got to go – they’ve just got to go.
LOL, Arabella – I cannot type as I am too busy laughing about the mohican!
Arabella Sock’s last blog post..Sea Gardens
I think Camellias are beautiful in flower but dull, dark lumps of foliage the rest of the year. The shiny foliage just makes them look even worse for some reason. I think I’d use this as an excuse for a new tree/shrub that is more open and which looks better all year round. Go on …admit it…your subconscious is ahead of you here (lol).
Yep, I totally agree with you ….. about everything you said
K
easygardener’s last blog post..A mystery tree and lots of green somethings?
The camellia seems to be passing judgement on its new haircut by giving you a ‘V’ sign.
LOL Amanda, I hadnt noticed that
K
Amanda’s last blog post..Spring greens
Sometimes drastic is what you have to be..I always designate drastic to Mr Threadspider. He’s far less sentimental. I think your small tree idea is a good one-that camellia is looking pretty sulky.
The camellia is pretty, but, I see what you mean. Is it too large to move? What about a fountain in that spot? A tall one you could see around.
I love curving pathways.
Hi Sandy, Yes it is too big to move, we reckon it may have been as old as 40 years
Thanks also for your suggestion – I love all these ideas.
K
Sandy’s last blog post..a cardinal in the park
Attagirl, Karen. Take it out altogether, then you won’t feel guilty about it. You could move something like your pot of bamboo there pro tem until you work out what you’re going to do long term.
Hi Victoria, good suggestion about the pot of bamboo (well spotted) but I have another plan for that, which is a whole other “opps” story!
K
Victoria’s last blog post..Gardeners’ World and the big 1-0-0
And to think you were worried about what everyone would say. “I’ll be thrown out of Blotanical” I seem to remember!!
I still think the plan to make it a “cloud” tree is worth a try. The veiw is much improved and you are still enticed down the garden. Well worth the shall I or shant I debate. (It earnt me an extra cup of tea).
I like Victoria’s idea if the bamboo …
Hi Dobby – thanks for all your chopping help
See folks – it wasn’t just me …. ShedMan and Dobby aided and abetted!
Oopps indeed.
I was going to say how lovely the Camellia was in flower and then realised what it’s fate would be. It is so difficult with a new garden knowing what to sacrifice and what to plant. I removed some shrubs and small trees to allow for a more open aspect for where we grew vegetables many years ago.
With my recent health I persuaded Mike to plant a few more trees and shrubs thinking it would make less gardening for him. I also wanted to give a different perspective in the garden.
Unfortunately although I do often move plants trees and shrubs are a more permanent feature. Not quite the same as re arranging the furniture.
I look forward to seeing how things develop and the blue poppies.
Joanne, thanks for stopping by! Sometimes I think it would be nice if we could move our shrubs around like the furniture – just for a look see. It would make life a lot easier
K
Joanne’s last blog post..A WALK IN THE WOODS
We had one like that in our previous garden, it blocked all the light to our tiny living room, you couldn’t see anything in there even during the day. We had it thinned by an arborist, but then when I drove by the house recently I saw that the current owners had hacked it down completely. I think they can be magnificent in the right place but if they’re in the way, better to have something you don’t have to prune all the time. Funny about the poppies, did you only discover them when you were chopping back the camellia?
Hi Karen, no the poppies were placed there with lots of thought – because I was never going to do anything to the Camellia and they would be safe …. best laid plans!!
K
Karen’s last blog post..Another Mystery
I’m always envious of everyone who has Camellias as we can only grow them in pots around here and that seems such a travesty when they want to grow up and be the most tree like of shrubs. However, I do agree with you that out of bloom they’re hardly a focal point you want in the garden – they’re more of a garden boundary kind of plant.
It might be worth waiting to see if the new growth gives you a better looking plant, but I suspect from your post you’ve already mentally consigned it to coming out. I like the idea of something a bit looser in it’s place – the kind of thing which gives you enticing glimpses into the garden beyond rather than allowing everything to be seen at once. Off the top of my head I can’t think of anything more specific than that – though of course it’s your choice and your garden :0
Hope you’re recovering from your hard work Tuesday
Hi VP I agree – they are a boundary plant, and my other one is at the side of the drive. Although I suppose this one was more at the margin before we put a path down the garden.
If you do have any suggestions they are always welcome.
I have recovered from my hard work Tuesday, thank you
K
VP’s last blog post..ABC Wednesday 4: L is For…
Camellias are definitely overrated-even tasteful white ones turn brown and fall off at the earliest opportunity. Out with it! You will grow something wonderful- and lower- there.
Oh Yes Linda – those white ones can look quite revolting after a bit of wind and rain!
I did have a made moment of considering a multi steamed birch!!!! – then remembered the size of the garden (lol)
K
Thanks so much for all the great comments and suggestions – I have had such a chuckle reading the comments – a real treat.
Well so far the consensus is to remove it!
K
That is quite a pruning job, you brave soul.
Jenny’s last blog post..LACE CACTUS
You have a very beautiful garden. I’m sure I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of the camelia completely, but the pruning does improve the view. Whatever you decide I’m sure your garden will still be gorgeous.
Happy Easter, Karen!
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[...] Oopps [...]
you use the phrase “broke the garden” it made me smile.
wayne’s last blog post..Blind gardening
Hi! I agree that the view is much better with the Camelia after a “haircut” and I know that if this was in my garden right now, I’d have it totally cut down. But WAIT! Can you imagine cutting it about maybe 3′ from the ground and usind the two main branches of the Camelia to hold a huge round terracotta tray ( if they make something that big where birds can come and eat seeds off it. I hope you don’t have a cat(s) though.
Hope this helps!
By the way, I am a “student” of a blogging class and one of my assignments was to find blogs that interests me. I am glad that I found yours and will continue to tune in. I reside in Portland, Oregon!
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