When I was planning my southern garden, I knew I had to have a Camellia Walk.
Many years ago, when I lived in Massachusetts, I would regularly visit the Lyman Estates. It was there that I saw my first Camellias. A visit to Mr Lyman’s greenhouses in February was an incredible sight. There were greenhouses where grapes were ripening during winter, fragrant Jasmines & Daphne. One greenhouse was devoted to Camellias and they formed a spectacular avenue. It was a southern garden in a series of greenhouses.
I know that this was where the seed for our move south was sown. I wanted to garden & live where it was possible to have Camellias bloom in the winter. I am by the way Canadian, a native Montrealer, so I am no stranger to long, grey, dreary winters. Below, my antidote…
the entrance to The Camellia Walk …AKA …The Winter Garden.
Truly Southern with its swept dirt, curved path; it leads from the back of the house to the compost & (former) chicken house.
Underplanted primarily with evergreen ferns & Lenten Roses (Helleborus orientalis), it never looks bare even in the dead of winter. In fact, that is when it comes to life!
