Camelia season is back

[mithrandir]

First flower open. A few thousand to go - on this one tree.
Almost a full frame, squared off and reduced to 25%. Sony a77, Sony 75-300mm@75mm, Kenko 12mm extension tube.

[Liz]

Oh, thats beautiful Andrew. :thumbsup:

[Larryp]

Lovely shot Andrew! I have 2 Sasanquas that are about 60 years old-very large trees, and they are just starting to bloom. I get heaps of seedlings coming up, if any members nearby would like some.

[mithrandir]

Thanks Liz.



Laurie, this tree is about 4-5m high and 5-6m wide. We don't know how old it is, but probably about 40 years - same as the house. Going by previous years experience and the number of buds, in a week or two you will hardly see the leaves for the flowers, the pavers will be carpeted in pink, and the nectar eating birds will be ecstatic.

We have other Sasanquas, all smaller, and a Japonica that's about half the size. The Japonica starts flowering as this one finishes.

[Larryp]

They are certainly a beautiful tree Andrew. My two are close to the house, so I need to prune them every year. Pruning has to wait until the local doves finish with breeding-there are always 2-3 nests in the trees every spring. I guess the thick foliage provides protection from predators, namely Currawongs.
I also have a Japonica which I planted about 5 years ago, and it is doing nicely now, with lots of buds forming .:)

[mithrandir]

This one almost reaches the roof outside the kitchen window. It only gets pruned of dead wood and branches that block the path.

There must be something about doves. We've had them nest in this tree for several years. We don't see many Currawongs - the Noisy Minors chase them away. There's a family of four Magpies back this year - caroling away merrily. I'm not sure which of the trees they are calling home.

[Larryp]

My trees are very tall too, almost to the top of the gabled roof-I try to reduce the height every year, and often wonder just how tall these trees would grow if left to their own devices.
Sadly, I have seen currawongs destroy a nest, kill the baby dove and fly off with it, presumably to eat it. We have lots of minors too, but the Currawongs only seem to be around during the doves breeding season.