February 1998 "This month's flower": Camellia

Mieko Nagano : Oita city, Japan

We have a camellia in the center of my garden. It holds many crimson flowers among the thick leaves. When the garden was first built, I asked the gardener to plant a camellia tree. I was very happy to get the tree which was exactly the same as I had expected. Camellia hold shining dark green hard leaves all year round, and it blooms in early February just after "Risshun" literally meaning "spring stands", or the first day of spring when the chilly wind gives way to spring breeze.

I wonder from when I became a lover of camellia. I suppose I had been so before I was born. My mother also loves camellia. She has many camellia trees in her garden. I used to enjoy watching famous camellia bushes near my home when I was a child. The other day, my mother sent me a kimono coat saying it has already become too flashy to her age. The coat is dotted with batik pattern of camellia flowers on the violet silk crepe base. I have a pleasant memory of wearing camellia patterned kimono in my childhood. The camellia tree in my garden has already taken root firmly. I hope it will grow up healthy and hold beautiful flowers every year.

The illustrated Guide to my garden flowers.

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