Only once in a while

This camellia is a wild species from East Asia, China in particular. Camellia oleifera has made a medium-sized shrub here at Arduaine, and is flowering now for only the third time in the 22 years that I've been here!

The white, scented flowers have opened twice in December before, but only a few special people get to see them! All the sensible people are at home in front of the fire!

I suspect that it needs a longer and warmer summer than our usual to ripen wood and produce flower buds.