#84: The 'Ruby Davidson' Camellia

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2026-25)

If you are looking to add a touch of dramatic, late-winter elegance to your garden, look no further than the ‘Ruby Davidson’ Camellia. For camellia enthusiasts and casual gardeners alike, this particular variety stands out as a true masterpiece of form and color.

The ‘Ruby Davidson’ is a registered cultivar of Camellia sasanqua, revered for its formal, highly structured blooms. While some camellias sport a loose, peony-like form, the 'Ruby Davidson' is celebrated for its precise, symmetrical beauty:

• The Bloom: It produces medium-to-large, formal double flowers. The petals are beautifully layered, curving inward slightly to create a mesmerizing geometric pattern.
• The Color: True to its name, the blossoms boast a rich, deep ruby-red to rose-pink hue that contrasts vividly against the winter landscape.
• The Foliage: Even when not in bloom, the shrub is a stunner. It features glossy, dark-green, leathery leaves that remain vibrant all year long.

#83: The Ohioans! | A Place that Matters

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2026-24)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of June 1 is "A Place that Matters."  This post is also the 6th in my "The Ohioans!" series.

The "Imposing Brick House" near Harrisonburg

In the early 19th century, erecting a brick residence in the Harrisonburg, Virginia area was a powerful statement of permanence. While many neighbors likely lived in timber-frame or log structures, the Old Miller Homestead signaled a family that had truly "arrived."

#82: A Name with a Meaning: Fredericka

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2026-23)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of May 25 is "A Name with a Meaning" and here is my interpretation of the prompt. Fredericka Reifert Strahle, the first of the “Freds”: A Name That Echoed for Generations.

Image created by ChatGBT