I do not have a list but I want to add sasanquas because I need some earlier bloomage. The current ones start in December, maybe late Nov, and they get interrupted by our unpredictable cold-warm-cold-etc weather. Sometimes they bloom on time and then they stop and restart two months later so earlier blooming ones is what I want but I have not decided on anything yet.

I already have some whites and pinks and reds so I am not sure what I will eventually go for. It may take me years to decide since I have been looking for several years but not seriously enough to buy. And nothing has grabbed me saying 'you HAVE TO buy me'. ;o) Ha!

Local nurseries have the advantage as I become 'weaker' when the plant is in front of me. Just a week ago, I ran into an "early" blooming camellia in a local nursery but did not buy because it was not blooming then. But the picture seemed nice. And then my eyes moved to another plant... you know what mean? when you start going 'Ooooh! look at that' or 'Aaaaah'? Hee hee hee.

I agree that you need something that will bloom early and/or late, so that the crazy weather ups and downs in-between don't steal ALL the blooms. One of my favorite sasanquas is 'Leslie Ann'. A lot of sasanquas have kinda shapeless blooms, but 'LA' always seems to look good whenever I catch one in bloom. 'Chansonette' also has nicer-than-average bloom form for a sasanqua. I have a couple of no-name sasanquas that I like quite well, but if I were planning to buy a named variety, I'd probably have to chose one of those, although 'Stars'n'Stripes' or 'Shi-shi Gashira' are also pretty tempting.

What was the one you liked, but wasn't yet blooming?

Hope you find a nice plant at a good price soon, but I also hope you can find a place for it where the pooches won't be chasing those squirrels.

Virginia

Many of my sasanquas and other fall bloomer hybrids are blooming now here in zone 7A. I have to select early bloomers because of our colder climate.

Currently blooming are: Ashton's Ballet, Ashton's Supreme, Winter's Star, Leslie Ann, Snow Flurry, Winter's Joy, Winter's Fire, and a Camellia oleifera species.

Who says camellias aren't tough? The 'Anita' camellias I ordered that were shipped out a week ago Monday finally arrived today (1 week late). They look quite nice, as does the 'Blue Ice' Amsonia I also ordered. I have always been impressed with the nursery I got these plants from (healthy plants, securely packed), but the customer service when things went missing in the mail (obviously not their fault) was above and beyond. Not primarily a camellia nursery, but their selection is quite nice, and since the plants aren't huge, the prices are very reasonable:

http://almostedenplants.com/shopping/products/c145-Camellias/

Nobody else has ordered- or is planning to order- any new plants this season?

Virginia