Dear Bambi, Wow! Thank you so much for your detailed post on camellias. I feel so encouraged by it! You see, up until now I've only lived in apartments and have had a black thumb when it comes to my plants. Seriously black -- like in every single plant that I've ever had: dead, deader, and deadest. So, every thing that I do outdoors here at my house is fraught with my certainty that I'm going to kill it! Your posting gave me hope! I may have that ol' camellia around for a while afterall. You listed many good ideas, and if our warm spell holds, I'll be outdoors tomorrow with my pruning shears.... Thank you! delighted&hopeful in Bethesda, MD Carolyn Zone 7a ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com