On 20/10/2013 12:31, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-10-20 11:36:59 +0100, Jeff Layman said:

On 20/10/2013 09:57, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-10-19 20:58:53 +0100, Jeff Layman said:

http://tinypic.com/r/cnuwj/5

Photographed yesterday in Palmerston Park, Southampton. Apologies for
the pic size and quality (mobile phone was playing up).

The shrub was about 2 metres high and 1.5 - 2 across. Flowers were
about 7 cm across, with very prominent stamens. No scent.

It is very attractive, especially as not very much flowers at this time
of year (but I've seen quite a few shrubs flowering at the wrong time
recently). What is it?

It's hard to tell from the pic but it could be a Camelia, flowering
either very early or in a second and less vigorous flush. Our Hamamelis
mollis is flowering now still with half dead leaves on it!

Good point - I hadn't thought of it being a Camellia. Is there one with
such variegated leaves? The leaves are fairly small, too. As it is a
small pic have you tried copying the image into a viewer and magnifying
it? It might help.

Guess I might have to do another trip in and get a decent photo or two!

There's Camellia sasanqua Variegata which seems a fair bet. I put your
photo into Image Well but couldn't make it very much clearer. But a
look at Trehane's site may help. It's in the left hand column, right at
the bottom.http://www.trehane.co.uk/camellia_sasanqua_s/1826.htm And
it's entirely possible that a sasanqua would be flowering now.

Well, you definitely don't have to go to Specsavers! Camellia sasanqua
variegata it is. I see that it may only be slightly scented, but that's
not important with such a showy flower at this time of year. And the
foliage is well variegated too for added attraction. Not sure how hardy
it will prove to be, but should be OK here.

And for once Murphy's Law hasn't worked. I had assumed that Trehane was
down in Cornwall (anything beginning "Tre..." is in Cornwall!), but I
see that it is actually near Wimborne. In fact, although they don't
mention it, they seem to be almost next to Knoll Gardens, and I am going
there this Tuesday. That had been planned with a visit to Barthelemy's
Maple Nursery which is nearby, so that's now three in a row and a bonus
mark!

--

Jeff