Hello, Dirt_Girl. Here are a few possibilities to consider.

Environmental factors like rapid and large temperature changes can cause bud drop.

Varities planted out of zone can suffer from bud drop too; I have no documentation on this variety so I do not know if it can handle Zone 7 Winters but the plant label -if you kept it- would show that. A website in Italy said it can withstand up to minus 12 Centigrade (I think that is about 22F). If exposed to even lower temps, the plant could survive but the buds might not unless you take other measures.

Use of some insecticides on the camellia or nearby plants can also cause bud drop, specially if the label has a warning that says it can cause bud drop.

A mite can also cause bud drop. Spraying a mitice should clear the infection (note: a 2nd spray is usually recommended after two weeks) but follow the directions on the label. If you have mites, you might notice webbing somewhere in the plant. Mites become a problem when the weather starts to get warm. I have already noticed indications of mites here in Texas.

See if any of those scenarios applies to you.

One last item: fertilize monthly AFTER (not before) flowering thru early Fall. I use a cup of cottonseed meal on 5' tall bushes once I notice that the bloomage is ending. Cottonseed meal is available at most 'real' nurseries, specially organic-minded ones.

Good luck, Luis