Ever since I was a child I looked forward to the Spring flowering of the “Banana Shrub” and the “Emily Wilson” camellia. The “Emily Wilson” is has a very special place in my heart since it was named after my great aunt. She was born Emily Louise Cato and was the sister of my Grandfather William Leon Cato. Since I was raised by my Grand parents her name came up often.
You can see more about Emily Wilson on my family website at http://sc-families.org/tree/I117.html
Emily aka: “Emilese” married Arthur Thompson Wilson, Jr., better known as “Jack” Wilson or “Coach” Wilson and it was he who developed a variety of camellia and named it after her.
As a child we always had an Emily Wilson in the yard but after I left my childhood home there was no place to grow one until my wife and I moved to Havana Florida and we actually had a yard. I was pleasantly surprised to find one at a local nursery which we planted in our front yard.
Our sandy soil is not the best environment but our little “Emily Wilson” faithfully blooms for us each year.
When my other favorite southern plant the “banana shrub” blooms I will do a post on it as well.
Thanks for visiting,
Jim