Hello ladies...here we are today on a rare "sunny" April Monday morning in the northwest with the first installment of flower block week. Are you ready? I hope so, because my ever willing assistant (yes, we bribe her with chocolate nuggets frequently), and I--have been working overtime pulling this together. No worries though--its all goodtimes and the entries are short and sweet. Like their colorful subjects. So without further ado . . . we bring you today's sweet little gift:
Ooohh--the camellia! Another one of my very favorite flowers. We are seeing them in bloom all around our neighborhoods right now. These tender beauties actually originated in Asia and are part of the 'tea family' of shrub evergreens; though they now represent the state of Alabama as a true heritage plant. However, it wasn't always so. In 1927, the 'goldenrod' was chosen as the state flower and was recognized as such for over thirty years. Then along came the "ladies of Butler County", and they were not as fond of it. They considered goldenrod a wildflower and thought the camellia japonica L. more appropriate, as it flourished in the warm southern climate. Invariably, the decision was changed and in August 1959, this new state flower was designated.
Varieties and colors vary from white to red with shades of pink in between--but red remains the most commonly hailed as the state pick. For color inspiration feast your eyes on these.
COLORS: petal outline--mid-rose #760; inside petal lines--dk pink #761; stamens--yellow #3078; stems/leaves--#470 - 471; letters--smoke gray #645.
Ahh yes, and the flower so prominently featured in Southern literature. I always think of a cotillion with young ladies wearing camellias in their hair. Another lovely! Thanks to your assistant, too!
Posted by: Vee | April 11, 2011 at 01:23 PM
You guys make a great team! Congratulations on finishing all of the squares Vicki! What a wonderful accomplishment.
I saw a yellow camellia in your link. I didn't know there were yellow ones. I love these flowers, and have a bush of dark pink ones, that blooms every February and March here, which is nice, because it is early, but not so nice, because it always rains when it blooms, so the blossoms don't last as long.
I remember my grandma floating camellias in shallow bowls of water in the middle of her table when I was a girl. I always liked that arrangement. At the time, it seemed such a modern thing to do. Now it seems a bit old fashioned.
xo
Posted by: Account Deleted | April 11, 2011 at 04:46 PM
Oh, thank you so much! I'm from Alabama and oh, how glad I am that they made this change. Camellias are the highlight of winter here. My parents have a picture of one of the few snows I remember with beautiful camellias frozen on the tree.
Posted by: Mindy | April 11, 2011 at 07:07 PM