Steve's comments about the threat to oak trees in CA and the attendant media hoopla reminds me of the untold millions of elm trees of fond, and fairly recent, memory. In the desert southwest those trees were planted by the tens of thousands during the 1940s. They thrived in a tough environment -- turning towns throughout the region into oases of spring and summer green surrounded by vast and inhospitable expanses of dry, scrubland shaded brown, tan, sandy red. When word of Dutch elm disease began to filter in from various parts of the country, we blithely assumed that our remoteness would insulate us and our trees from the scourge. Then in the 70s, those trees (elms, BTW, have a life expectancy 150-300 years) began to decline -- a few at first, then a lot more, finally ALL of them. Every single one of them. The decline was inexorable, and the trees' demise was fairly swift. I don't know where kids there go to play in the shade these days. Next to buildings, I guess. I'm fortunate that my elm-shaded childhood was lived before all the media hype about dutch elm disease became cruel reality. Its happened before. Living now the eastern U.S., I occasionally encounter people who still mourn the American chestnut tree. It once made up 25% of eastern forests. Now there are virtually none. Mature American chestnuts were truly majestic trees . . . or so I'm told.

Thanks for the link Luis. That is what my leaves are doing before they get crispy brown. They look wilted, as if they needed water, and then dry up. Eventually, I can then break the twig off. I may have injured the new growth when I planted the newer camellia. I've also planted a small Tama No Ura that I broke a dead twig off. It's easy to bump new growth. However, all these camellias came from the same source, and I'm not sure who this camellia nursery gets their stock from. I suspect a variety of places. It makes me wonder. I also discovered in my web searches that there had been a problem with camellias coming from Monrovia at one time, and that there had been a quarantine. Perhaps some Florida nursery stock got contaminated and is spreading something. However, I do not want to blame this local nursery for anything that may not even be remotely their issue. Once infected, is the plant always infected, or can it be pruned away quickly enough? In the case of my Rutledge, I did go ahead and dig a section of the roots and pulled up enough to look at the roots. This probably hasn't done this bush much good, but it may be very ill anyway. One thing I discovered is that there was a half inch diameter root mingled with this camellia's root from a Drake Elm we had growing 25 feet or so away. The Drake Elm was removed about a year ago, as we were concerned about hurricaine issues, our septic system, and the foundation of the house. Some of the elm roots keep sprouting and I have to keep after them, but I'm hoping some of them are dying. This may be a factor in the decline of this camellia, although the ones next to it planted at the same time are fine. Lady Vansittart is still the picture of health, but she may be a stronger camellia. The other thing that I saw, although I didn't actually dig them up extensively, is that many of the roots surrounding the trunk are a reddish color, while some of the ones further extending from the rootball are still white. I'm wondering if this is root rot, or is this a normal coloration? The soil was not soggy at all. We obviously have sandy soil here in Florida, even with ammendments mixed in. The soil was still a nice mixture of sand and the compost/ peat mix that had been broken down. I did read somewhere that camellias can get root rot even if growing conditions are ideal. We have been extremely dry and haven't had rain in 2 months. I irrigate, but it isn't the same. I would still think this camellia would have adapted. I am worried about soil contamination, and am wondering if another camellia can be planted in the same spot. I can't find much detailed information anywhere. I don't feel our coopperative extension has much knowledge in this particular area. About all I get from them is the typical "canned" answers. So far, I have gotten the healthiest, most beautiful camellias from Erinon Nursery in Plymouth, Forida. I won't be purchasing from anywhere else now.

Dan - OK. From what I remember from lit class (which was one of my fav. Classes because we chose to explore fokelore and mythology) I believe Tom Bombadil was a free spirit that liked to explore nature at his own pace and was created by a father (don't remember his name) from a doll his son had . He used the character to create poems that are kindda "middle-earth". He was also mentioned in the new movie Lord of the rings, it was somewhere at the end when they were talking to gandorf(sp?) Gardenmom - I posted the other one before I looked at my list I may not have a passionflower left. I will have to see how much it grows from now to then. I will def. send one if I can get another cutting from it. I will leave you down for it just in case. But wanted to give you a heads up in case. Almost forgot..... **I am out of everything else previously listed *** NEW LIST: - Primrose - Pink (3 offers - maybe more I will let u know) - Vvarigated philodendron - Campion Rose Also will be posting some bulbs in a couple days :-) Keep fingers crossed on my dahlias. I may be able to share.

It is so true about the Cannas multiplying like crazy. I have a large bed of them & when those blasted webworms took over some of the trees nearby & completely ruined a nice redbud tree next door, my hubby sprayed as far as he could reach with BT. We did not want that much damage to our desireable trees. The post oaks didn't seem to be bothered. But it was still too late to help my cannas. They were already desecrated & all blooms ruined. I couldn't stand those creepy white worms falling everywhere & crawling up the trunks of the trees...they made my skin crawl & I avoided going outside with my gr.daughter because of them. I just hope we don't have such a bad case of them next year.But we weren't short on butterflies. We have had a wonderful selection this year. I think it was because of the rains, that all my flowering plants were so gorgeous all summer.