A Tell of Two Camellias - Redux

A Tell of Two Camellias - February 2026

Nearly five years ago I published an article about these two gorgeous Camellias - it follows below, after what's next.

Since then, the previous owners, who I always enjoyed, sold the property and referred me (so, thankful) to the new owners. 

I worked on a Lady Banks Rose for the new owner and then she wanted to address the Camellias, once, at least, again.

I initially raised the canopies and pruned away the root suckers and water sprouts, but both Camellias had grown quite well and filled out and in - they were getting quite busy and dense inside.

The owner is quite plant savvy and wished for me to thin them out for health reasons, as well as aesthetics. Sounded great to me - proper pruning and plant care. Our heart and mind were in the same place. I was excited.

The pruning, more so, where to prune, was intense, requiring much thought and review along the way; yet, well worth it.

These two Camellias are of different species so I had to work with their individual branch structures.

I usually don't attempt to shape the crowns of trees (actually, these now, tree-like shrubs), as it's usually futile, but I did so with what they would allow as the plant often dictates what it will physiologically allow when pruning. These aren't Boxwoods or Azaleas.

I am also pleased to know that the pruning I performed years ago allowed these two to form the shapes they are now.   

This is a beautiful property and I feel assured she will think through, walk through and experiment with all the changes she envisions. 

Please read the original article below.

A Tell of Two Camellias

Camellia One - After, 2021

There was and is a property I have passed by, viewing, for many years, for which I had always shown praise for the wonderfully mixed variety of plants, their orchestrated placement and the maintenance of same. 

Then, one day, I received a call from the owner after she saw a presentation I had done over Zoom for the Richland County Master Gardeners. I would have preferred to have done so in person. Nonetheless, I was excited she contacted me.

In disbelief (I never know until I give a closer look.), she had at least two plants which needed to be addressed, two Camellias.

Camellia One - Before, 2021

Camellia Two - Before, 2021

They both had become unruly shrubs because of their unknown need to sprout suckers from their roots - not so common with Camellias or their brethren, Sasanquas. 

Some odd things happen in the plant world, even in the best conditions. One need only recognize such and respond accordingly.

It may take a few more months before these wonderful trees appear to be what they were meant to be, but they will. They are now on their way.

This was one of my most challenging and best-result pruning projects in the last several months and I wish to thank Karen and her husband for the opportunity. 

This is why I continue to do what I do. If I could only find these most-rewarding situations, year-round. I love pruning. It's where I live.

In the meantime. I will continue to address what needs addressing. Our scope goes well beyond the obvious. 

Coming Soon: Gardening and Plant Myths - There are Plenty.

Camellia Two - After, 2021

Nor the Light of Day

Before

The story behind this neighbor's home is tragic.

For many years, the owner would not allow those closest to her, even family, enter her home, nor the light of day.

I will avoid much of this story out of respect, except for her being found deceased in the home after several days of her passing.

A relative inherited this situation and is trying to manage what was not only neglected on the outside, but equally or even more so with the interior and the structure.

Before

It has consumed much of his time, his thoughts - what to restore, what to repair and to what extent in order to sell the property, and in what condition. It doesn't help that he lives over an hour away, has a family and a business to manage.

We discussed addressing much of the plant life, but he simply wanted the front portion of the home beautified, somewhat, and visible. At this point we weren't aiming for well-manicured.

The before photos were taken in 2025 and the after photos were shot this February.

Before

Not visible are the many vines and other unwanted growth we removed from the house. We also discovered the water meter, an irrigation box and a hose bib, among other things, during our work.

There was much pruning and plenty of unwanted-growth removal.

He didn't want to address the trees and shrubs surrounding a deck (Believe it or not.) at the rear of the property; however, the deck area needed to be cleared for access to and provide safer passage to the rear doorway.

He mentioned clearing an area from the fence gate to the side door. He is envied by no one - this task still mostly ahead of him.

This property is across the street from mine and I have slowly experienced its degradation. It is comforting to now see most of the home I viewed so many years ago.

I look forward to seeing him most any Sunday morning as he visits to clean out and care for what he can, while I have a cup of Joe, but I am certain he looks forward to the day when his travels take him elsewhere.

Feel free to select any photo for a better view.

After

After

After

 

The Smoked Boston Butt Bonanza...Bigger, Butt Can't Get Any Better

Once again, we are having our semi-annual Smoked Boston Butt Bonanza and this is a wonderful time to let someone else do the cookin'.

In fact, these wonderful cuts of pork, smoked and prepared by Award Winning Smokers -  DOKO Smoke BBQ - will be available just in time for Easter.

The Easter Bunny is so thankful not to be a part of your holiday dining plans and doesn't mind you pigging out otherwise.

Get creative! You can freeze your butt off (in the freezer) and feed your family and friends later, host a party or have some bona fide pulled pork for your next picnic.

No ifs, ands; just butts - one of the best butts you'll ever get your hands on.

The Butt: A cooked-weight of approximately seven (7) pounds of shapely deliciousness, packaged in tin foil...Only $40.00.

If you run out of ideas (silly thought) for what to do with your Boston Butt, you can always leave a few pounds for making Chalupas.

If you are not a fan of Boston Butt or still have some hanging out in your freezer, you can always designate your purchase to go to Epworth Children's Home. They are nothing, butt fans.

Proceeds go to church and community projects including funding for Family Promise (hosting homeless families once per quarter), sponsoring and volunteering for the National Prayer Line the first Saturday of each month and funding for Sheriff Leon Lott's Elder Watch Program.

Tickets are now on sale through March 20 at the Bethel United Methodist Church office Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The church is located at 4600 Daniel Drive in Forest Acres.

OR, you can use the purchase feature below and select as many butts as you can handle.

Please enter Epworth if your purchase is for Epworth Children's Home.

Pick-up for the Boston Butts will be between 4PM to 7PM Friday, April 3 - in time for Easter. Pick-up will be in the rear church parking lot, off Willingham Drive.

Plant of Interest - Carolina Sapphire

If you wish to create a screen on your property (Not, that these aren’t gorgeous specimen plants.), the Carolina Sapphire (Hesperocyparis arizonica ‘Carolina Sapphire’) is a wonderful tree to choose.

Depending on the region (It is fine here in the Midlands.) and the sunlight received, the Carolina Sapphire can grow 20 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 10 to 15 feet.

It is considered a fast-growing (which means gaining two or more feet a year) tree; however, my experience tells me, it may be two or more years for this to occur and then she will take off.

The wait is well worth it as she has this wonderful pyramidal shape, columnar in some cases, displaying this silver blue foliage various times of the year.

Once established, the Carolina Sapphire can withstand drought, loves the sun, has no diseases and is not susceptible to feeding animals such as deer and rabbits.

She’s perfectly suited to add a touch of another beautiful coniferous plant we rarely see in our area.

I am planting eight of these next week for two kind and friendly neighbors who simply wish to have some visual separation from one another's properties.

Ode to Aging

 

Recently, the mother of a wonderful friend of mine, passed away.

I had only spoken with her, Patricia Hutto Dukes, once, perhaps twice.

She was wonderful, engaging; sadly, yet, thankfully, I learned more of her at her funeral service.

Among all of her life and her accomplishments, she wrote short stories and poems. She once showed praise for a poem I had written. 

And, following, I believe, is the last poem she had written before she left us.

Ode to Aging

I do declare the time to be near

when I'll stand on the rim of the earth

The day is in sight when my soul will take flight

and encounter its second birth.

But tell me my friend do you comprehend

how this could possibly be

that this could happen to someone

who's been here as briefly as me?

The childhood, the girlhood, the womanly worldhood

have passed in the blink of an eye

Like a furious wind that wipes the slate clean

It's hello life and goodbye.

So I ask you again if you understand

how my story so quickly was told

and when in the world has this little girl

ever had time to grow old.

For profound reason, I have shared.

 

Blind Corners...Do Your Neighbors a Favor

 

I have pruned and/or removed many shrubs and trees near a customer's driveway in order to enable a better view while leaving home and entering a roadway.

As I drive around Forest Acres and other areas, particularly neighborhoods, I often encounter intersections where I have no safe view of the roadway, particularly potential cross-traffic. Putting the front of one's vehicle out into an intersection to gain a better view is not safe. I am certain this is not unique to our area.

I also encounter this on tight back roads and curves where the plant life and foliage is over-grown...it's troubling.

A blind corner or intersection is exactly that...blind - unsafe and dangerous. Now, we are no longer dealing with simply leaving a driveway we are familiar with, but navigating another roadway or intersection at much higher speeds.

Not potentially as dangerous as the near-hidden Stop Sign in the photo, but any obscured intersection or roadway is dangerous.

Please take the time to assess whether your property, its shrubs or trees, may be causing such a hindrance.

This is not simply about your neighbors, but fellow drivers and pedestrians as well.

At a minimum, go out and trim or hack those plants back.

Or, contact me and I will see what is necessary to permanently resolve the problem or make it more manageable over time.

And, if you have shrubs and trees hiding that beautiful home you paid a small fortune for, I'll help you with that.

Doug Ingbretsen

Back40 Landscape Restoration and Maintenance

803-553-5757

Merry Mailboxes

These are wonderful mailbox covers.

This is the one I chose.

There are a variety of themes for most any holiday or season, and beyond. If you have a typical metal mailbox, these are easy to install and the artwork is amazing.

I had an old cloth type mailbox cover before, which I loved, but it became difficult to keep clean and faded over time. I removed the old cover as best I could and exposed enough metal for the new one to be installed as it is secured magnetically.

The depth of color is fantastic and I believe they are made of vinyl, which should be easy to clean, when needed.

There may be other providers of these, but I purchased mine from Briarwood Lane.

Please consider whether you have a standard or oversized mailbox...the varying dimensions are provided.