Sometimes gardening, like other activities, grows stale and boring if you never try anything new. If you are tired of tending the same old perennial beds and annual borders, I recommend planting something you have never grown before. You will have to do some research. You may have to experiment to find the right soil, light, and amount of water. You may fail, but if the new plant thrives, you will feel deep satisfaction and a new interest in the garden.
Last week, I obtained a handful of tea seeds from Master Gardener Rose Sullivan. The seeds will be shared by Master Gardener Carolyn Evans and me.
The only fact I knew about tea plants is that their biological name is Camellia sinensis and they are native to southern China and northern India. Camellia sinensis is related to the Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua that we grow for their glossy, deep green leaves and bright flowers that add color and interest to our gardens in winter.
C. sinensis has been cultivated by the Chinese for...