Hello, Rob. You can try that. Last winter, wild temperature fluctuations caused bud drop in camellias and using burlap may help if the 14-15 winter is not "too" cold. Some people also water them the night before a cold spell and others warm them up by adding Xmas Lights, which may help up to a point, of course (I have not tried burap or Xmas Lights though). During winter, I normally try to water them once every 2 weeks at a minimum.

Late answer to your post.

Last winter (2013-2014) was really bad, so that fact that your camellia even survived that is a very good sign -- especially after a fall planting! I would expect your camellia really needs time to get established before you can make to many judgements about holding blooms. Give it at least three years.

It never hurts to provide extra winter wind protection this far north. Even some light frost cloth to keep the winter sun off of it would be beneficial.

Eastern exposure with winter sun can be really hard on camellias this far north.

All that said, we just hope for a milder winter. So far, so good. But we will see.