“Good Neighbors”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
At this time of year the neighbor’s garden is giving us a wonderful borrowed view. I have already posted about her redbud tree that is already in bloom. Well, right next to our property line are several, large Camellia bushes that are just covered in blooms. Even though they are not ours, we do get to enjoy some very pretty flowers.
My neighbor is very generous and doesn’t mind if I pick a few of her camellias. At this time of year, there is nothing that brightens a home more than camellias floating in a low bowl. It is a simple but lovely way to display these very pretty winter flowers.
These flowering shrubs certainly make very good neighbors.
Always Growing 
Brenda Kula said,
January 19, 2009 at 9:54 am
The best kind of neighbors! Oh, it is quite beautiful arranged in the bowl. I wouldn’t have thought to do that. I’m sure Bonnie the cat would still eat the blooms though… Such a dainty, feminine flower.
Brenda
Gail said,
January 19, 2009 at 10:06 am
Lucky you! The camellias are lovely. My neighbors do not grow anything! They borrow my views! gail
Mary Beth said,
January 19, 2009 at 11:14 am
A good neighbor’s garden can just be an extension of our own, can’t it? When my children were small, we always “trimmed” a neighbors pyracantha before Thanksgiving. They were the perfect berries for a Thanksgiving table.
Chandramouli.S said,
January 19, 2009 at 12:50 pm
How lucky to have a neighbor who’s a great gardener too! And one who lets you pick their flowers! Now they must be darlings!
Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker" said,
January 19, 2009 at 1:27 pm
We should all have neighbors like yours! Love the camellias.
Shirley
Jan said,
January 20, 2009 at 5:44 am
Brenda, I remember my mother used to float camellias in a bowl when I was a child. I have a cat that would eat them too, so I just put the bowl in a room where she is not allowed.
Gail, I know I am very lucky to have a gardening neighbor. Just remember you are the good neighbor to your non-gardening ones.
Marybeth, yes, it can be an extension of your own. The neighbor on the other side of me enjoys my Confederate Rose every year. A few branches hang over a little on his side, and he enjoys it as much as I do. It is good to share.
Chandramouli, my neighbor is very sweet, and I have learned a thing or two from her.
Shirley, yes, we all should have a neighbor like mine. I know I try to be considerate of my neighbors and share my garden, too.
Jan(ThanksFor2Day) said,
January 20, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Camelia’s are so lovely. I don’t have any, nor do I have any neighbors with any;( You sure are fortunate to have such a friendly neighbor!
Jan said,
January 21, 2009 at 5:37 am
Yes, Jan, I am so fortunate. It is a shame that more people aren’t into gardening so that everyone would get a borrowed view.
andré said,
January 24, 2009 at 9:25 am
Lucky you with such neighbors! (They sound quite like the opposite compared to my neighbors…)
Jan said,
January 24, 2009 at 10:47 am
Yes, Andre, I am very lucky. Too bad you are not blessed with more generous gardening neighbors.