Camellia

Camellia


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
March 23, 2011

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 NIV

A blooming Camellia bush is a classy addition to any garden. Although the Koreans take credit for cultivating the first Camellia about 1200 BC, the Camellia journeyed through Japan and China before coming to America in the late 1700’s. By the 1800’s, plantation owners in the south began growing Camellias and were encouraged by their success. There are three major species with the Japonicas being the most recognized. Camellia’s blooming season is as early as October and goes through May. The Camellia doesn’t tolerate harsh weather or extreme temperatures, hot or cold. They like to live in the shadow of the pine trees that filter the light and offer shelter. It is well documented that Camellias are strong, hardy and grow to be quite old if cared for properly. We have enjoyed Camellia’s at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter! Just a few blooms floating in a bowl of water looks so elegant.

Nature rewards our patience with flowers. Consistent hard work, soil preparation, mulching, watering and disease control will usually yield beautiful blossoms of any plant or bush. There is a planning time, a growing time and a blooming time. Each plant is fairly predictable as to when it will erupt into flower buds with the anticipation of full blooms in the days to come. The timing of nature cannot be rushed. Timing is important in our spiritual life, too. We can ask God to take care of many things for us, but we would be smart to know that He does everything on His timetable and not ours. We can’t force Him to line up with our agenda, needs and wants. He sees the total picture and knows what is best for us. Trusting God for His perfect timing is letting God be God. We should continue to pray, wait and be patient for His answers. Easier said than done in this impatient world we exist in, but it will serve us better in the long run to wait on Him rather than to force or manipulate a situation for instant results. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 NIV