Calmer Camellia for Christmas

I reckon I have been visiting Calke Abbey's Christmas food fairs for more than ten years.  It has become a fixed point in my calendar and this year, where it feels like I have done very little of what I usually do, I was not going to miss it.

I mean, I could not miss visiting Aggy.  I have been visiting this lady in the orangery for more years than I can mention.  I know I have been visiting since Calke first opened to the public so date it from then.  Anyway, we go and say hello and she ignores us, stoicly.

We also always visit the grotto, which does these days look like a grotto.  I remember when it was far less excavated.

We buy fudge as usual, I buy some local wine and then we head to Staunton Harold where I spend too much in the ceramics shop.  I do mean too much, but I could not resist and they are things that will make me happy for years.  I will show what I bought another day when they are in situ.  

We go to the nursery to visit the nearly dead corner, but the nearly dead corner is not what it was.  Fewer things in this corner is not a bad thing.  I praise them for that but mourn a little my cheap plants that I save.

But I did not leave empty handed.  This fabulous Camellia Donation waggled its petals at me as I walked through the door.  I bee-lined for it, I could not resist.  I picked it up and put it back down again.  It was not cheap.  My friend carefully counselled me to understand that it was fairly priced.

Two beautiful flowers and lots of buds, so a bargain really after-all.

So dear reader of course I bought her.  She is now waiting to be planted whilst I consider her options.  I seem to have amassed a few camellias.  I have four already and they make me very happy.  Thankfully my soil suits them.

I will let you know when she is planted and then it will be a wait to see if she sulks, thrives or the squirrels steal her buds.  

Time will tell.

Take care and be kind.

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