Spring Camelias to Enjoy

I wish I could grow camelias in my yard.  Unfortunately, our land was a garbage dump for Native Americans a long time ago and is high pH (lime soil).  I couldn't grow azaleas here, even with extra stuff added to the soil.

Fortunately, there are some camelias not to far away that I love to photograph.

Crepe Myrtles In St. Marys County

I assigned myself a project to photograph the beautiful Crepe Myrtle (or crape myrtle) trees in the County.  They can be planted in late fall to early spring, because they bloom in summer.  Recently they may be attacked by an Asian pest called Bark Scale that slows the growth of the tree (but probably won't kill it), due to a substance called Honeydew.   The substance gets on the leaves and bark and can be scrubbed off with 1 Tablespoon of soap to a quart of water or use horticultural oil instead.  You can also trim the branches and burn them.

I still found the trees to be fairly beautiful, especially compared to 2022.

I particularly like the pink ones (light or hot pink), but I did find some white and lavender flowers as well.  In the County, they are found near buildings, in parking lots, roadways and on lawns.  

Flower Visit to Annmarie Garden

We missed an earlier visit to Annmarie gardens to see the azaleas around the parking lot.  Here are what were on their way out last week.  I mostly had to zoom in close to crop out the dying ones.  We miss the large numbers of azaleas in Pennsylvania.  They won’t grow in my yard without a lot of work and special soil.  The National Arboretum is a good place to see them if you don’t mind the drive in late April or early May.  Does anyone know where azalea gardens can be found in St. Mary’s County?

                                                    So colorful

                                        Anyone know what this is?

Camellias in Bloom

There are some beautiful pink Japanese camellias nearby.  Unfortunately, they probably won’t grow in my yard, which has more of a limestone soil.  The local Native Americans used our property to toss their used oyster shells, sort of a garbage dump.  So I find other places to photograph them.  They are quite beautiful and delicate looking, with heart shaped petals.

Cherry Blossom Time in St. Marys County

The cherry blossoms were quite early this year.  The ones in my yard still haven’t bloomed yet.  I found plenty on display at the Lexington Manor Passive Park, and in parking lots everywhere in Lexington Park and Leonardtown.  The headquarters for St Marys County Schools had some gorgeous ones with lamp posts and reflections.  Generally, the photos are enhanced by having something else as the subject with the flowers used like a lovely frame.  The blossoms themselves or several trees are pretty too.

Reflections

Lamp post

Backlighting

Framed with a Tree

Delicate 

Frame a Cloud

Spring is Here

That poor groundhog must have been confused.  It is Spring here and winter for much of the country.  There are buds everywhere in Southern Maryland.

Hyacinth




Daffodils 




Weeping willow

Winter iris