Do you have camellia plants with flower buds that fail to open?

Here are possible causes:

●Stress — drought stress could inhibit buds from opening.

●Too many buds on a plant results in the plant lacking reserves for each bud to open.

●Warm fall weather may inhibit early-blooming varieties from flowering properly.

●Freeze damage — Most camellia japonica cultivars produce flower buds and bloom during the winter. As the flower buds swell, and particularly as they open, flower buds become more susceptible to freeze injury.

Freeze-injured flower buds fail to open.

Also, those plants located in colder areas of the landscape will be more susceptible to cold injury.

Camellia sasanqua cultivars are less likely to experience cold injury to their flower buds because they bloom mostly during fall and early winter, when we are less likely to experience freezing temperatures.

●Specific variety. Thirty-plus years ago, people planted any camellia they could find because there was a more limited selection.

Although camellias have been part of our southern landscapes for many years, they are native to parts of Asia. Over the years, there have been more introductions of cultivars. Some are not well adapted to our colder winters.

You’d be wise to select cultivars known to do well in our area.

Some camellia cultivars are not well adapted to the Gulf Coast and thus won't flower well, even though they may grow well here. This is why some varieties are favored in Seattle, some do better in England and others perform well here.

For more information on camellias, contact the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Office — 3098 Airport Road, Crestview — or visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep002 to access the publication, “Camellias at a Glance.”

Larry Williams is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Williams: 5 reasons camellias may fail to bloom

It’s the time for gift buying — and racking your brain as to what to buy for whom.

I suggest your best buy could be books. They last the whole year, and longer, and are entertaining as well as educational.

These titles are sure to please (I plan to add them to the library collection in January):

“The Wonderful Things You Will Be,” Emily Winfield Martin: It depicts multicultural children playing together. This is an excellent book for preschoolers and parents.

“The Map Thief: The Gripping story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps,” Michael Blanding. A Yale librarian discovers that famous map dealer E. Forbes Smiley was stealing rare historical maps from some of the world’s leading schools and libraries.

“The Secret History of Wonder Woman,” Jill Lepore. What role did this comic superhero play in the women’s rights movement? The author takes an in-depth look at this superhero's history and the man who created her.

“The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep,” Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin. It is said that this book has had the most success in getting children to fall asleep. See if it works for you and your child.

“A History of Baseball in 100 Objects,” Josh Levehthal. A complete history of baseball told through 100 objects, from documents to equipment.

“The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine,” Benjamin Wallace. In 1985, a bottle of Chateau Lafite Bordeaux 1787 with the initials “TH.J” (believed to be Thomas Jefferson) was sold for $156,000 at auction. This is the true story about the world of wine and its collectors.

Scheduled events

Our program, Noel Night, begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17. Bring the whole family to the library and enjoy carols crafts and cookies.

Crestview High School's Chanticleer, led by Kevin Lusk, and the Emmanuel Baptist Church youth worship team, led by Kyle Boone and soloist J.R. Lewis, will fill the library with Christmas music.

We are making a Yoda (from "Star Wars") ornament while supplies last. In addition, you can scavenge the library for a certain Kwanzaa word and win a prize!

You can also win a prize by playing dreidel!

If you’d like to give back to our community, bring a can or boxed food item for our donation box for Caring and Sharing, or bring a slightly used book for our “Give the Gift of Reading” campaign.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lewis: 6 books that make great Christmas gifts

You cannot control everything that happens to you. You can only control the way you respond.

Years ago I bought a new car. I took extremely good care of it — inside and out. Frequently washed it, vacuumed it, and even cleaned the windows on the inside.

My young children knew of my fondness for that car.

One Sunday, we were getting into the car after worship. I opened a back door for one daughter to get in. The sight that greeted me caused me to see blue — literally. She had left a dark blue crayon on the back seat, which, in the hot summer sun, had melted and stained the fabric.

My daughter saw the melted crayon at the same time I did. She cringed and looked at me in wide-eyed fear of my coming reaction, and immediately said, “Daddy, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to do it!”

My instant reaction was one of anger. How many times had I told them to be careful about such things? How could she have let this happen?

My next reaction was one of disappointment. My beautiful car was now marred. It wasn’t perfect any longer.

My third reaction was, “It’s only a car. A thing. Much worse is going to happen to it in the years ahead. What is most important is how I will respond to my daughter.”

All this flashed through my mind in a split-second.

I couldn’t control what had happened, but I could control the way I responded, and needed to do it in the best way possible.

I took a deep breath, knelt down so I was eye-level with my daughter, and said, “I know you didn’t mean to do it. Accidents happen. I am disappointed this happened, but it’s okay. Just please be more careful in the future. I love you, and forgive you.” Then, I gave her a hug.

That was 25 years ago. And to this day, that daughter is still amazed by my response. It made such an impact on her that she, too, has learned that she has the ability to control the way she responds when situations around her are out of her control.

Jesus said, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Those are great words to live by — and to help others live by.

How will you respond to the things that happen to you?

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Controlling reactions to life's surprises

During the holiday season, you no doubt have a lot going on in your life — such as work functions, gatherings with friends and neighbors, and tracking down the elusive perfect gift.

But you may find it valuable to add one more event to your calendar: a family meeting to discuss those financial preparations that affect you and your loved ones.

Of course, the scope of your meeting will depend on your age and the age of your children, and on whether you have elderly parents.

So, let's look at one family meeting scenario that would work under two different sets of circumstances: you are meeting with your own grown children or you are meeting with your elderly parents.

In either case, you'll want to review the following areas:

Investment information — It's a good idea to let your grown children know where you (and your spouse, if still living) keep your investments and what sort of investments and retirement accounts you own, such as your IRA, 401(k) and so on.

You should also provide your children with the name of your financial adviser. And talk to your parents about their investments.

You might think that this could be challenging topic to bring up, but you might be surprised at their willingness to talk.

Estate planning documents — Comprehensive estate planning can involve a variety of legal documents, such as a will, a living trust or power of attorney.

If you have already created these documents, you need to share their location and their intent with your grown children, who will be active players in carrying out your estate plans.

The same is true with your elderly parents — try to encourage them to share all their estate-planning documents with you, especially if they will be counting on you for their care.

Names of professional advisers —As you put together your estate plans, you will likely need to work with a team of financial, tax and legal advisers.

Make sure your grown children know the names of these professionals and how to contact them.

Similarly, seek the same information from your parents.

Wishes for future living arrangements — It's certainly possible that you will be able to live independently your whole life.

On the other hand, you may eventually need some type of long-term care, such as that provided in a nursing home or an assisted-living residence.

Let your children know what your feelings are about such a possibility, and what preparations you have made.

And try to elicit the same information from your own parents.

Funeral or burial instructions — You can probably find topics that are more pleasant to discuss than funeral plans. Yet, if you make your own burial or cremation plans in advance, and possibly even prepay for them, you will be taking a tremendous burden off the shoulders of your loved ones, who won't be forced to make difficult decisions — or scramble for money at short notice — during a highly emotional time in their lives.

Once again, you'll also want to learn about your parents' desires for their final arrangements, and what steps they may have already taken in this area.

By holding a family meeting about these issues today, you can avoid a lot of stress and misunderstandings in the future.

So bring out the coffee and cookies — and start talking.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: Time for a family meeting to discuss financial preparations

Holiday spending can really blow a budget quickly. Don’t end up in debt just because you have a long list of people to buy for this year. 

Try these strategies to stay within budget:

●Set a spending limit with loved ones.  You may be concerned that this will make you look “cheap,” but in reality it may relieve your loved one’s budget, too, and help them narrow down a gift idea.

●Propose a “secret Santa” gift exchange. This can allow you to keep your gift-buying list short. Not only do you only buy for one person in a group, but you can also set a spending limit for gifts. Buy one really good gift, instead of many smaller gifts. Turn it into a “white elephant” game for more fun.   

●Try your hand at a homemade gift.  Creating a personalized gift shows you took the time to put together a gift that you think someone would like.

Not handy?

Try something simple like a jar of soup mix for co-workers. Follow the recipe in the sidebar to layer ingredients in a mason type jar and — boom! — a beautiful and yummy gift is ready to go.

Don’t forget to include preparation instructions on the gift tag.   

●Want to do something different for loved ones? Watch the internet for deals on dinner, movies or a show. You can sometimes get a great bargain and bond with loved ones creating memories, rather than giving a gift they will use once or twice. Admission to the Florida State Parks is generally inexpensive, and we have many area parks. Have you been to the Florida Caverns in Marianna?

●It is not too late to make a holiday spending budget — the key is sticking to it. Buy on sale, compare prices in ads, search online for the best deals, and don’t panic over brand names.

A gift should be something special that you want a person to have. That makes it wonderful, no matter the logo on the box. 

For more tips or for help saving money, feel free to contact me at 689-5850 or jbreslawski@ufl.edu.

In addition, check www.okaloosasaves.org to take the America Saves Pledge and follow Okaloosa Saves on Facebook and Twitter. 

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

Ingredients

•1/2 cup dried green split peas

•1/3 cup beef bouillon granules

•1/4 cup medium pearl barley

•1/2 cup dried lentils

•1/4 cup dried minced onion

•2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

•1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice

•1/2 cup uncooked alphabet pasta or other small pasta

•1 pound ground beef (90 percent lean)

•3 quarts water

•1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

Directions

1. In a 1 and 1/2-pint jar, layer the first seven ingredients in the order listed. Wrap pasta in a small sheet of plastic wrap; add to jar. Seal tightly. Store in a cool, dry place for up to three months.

2. Remove pasta from jar and set aside. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the beef until no longer pink; drain. Add the water, tomatoes and soup mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir in the reserved pasta; cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pasta, peas, barley and lentils are tender.

Preparation should take 15 minutes. Cook time is 1 and 1/4 hours

Yields 16 servings (4 quarts) per batch.                         

Recipe courtesy of tasteofhome.com

Friendship soup mix

32923141007

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BRESLAWSKI: 5 ways to Christmas shop on a budget

Having a hard time deciding what to read next? With your Crestview Public Library card, you can access Books & Authors, a source to help you decide which book to pick up. 

Books & Authors lets you browse by genre, author and title, giving you lists of read-a-likes.

You can also browse their extensive lists of award-winning categories — some popular, like the Pulitzer; others you might not have heard of, like the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction (awarded for excellence in the area of nonfiction), and the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (established in 1990 by the National Council of Teachers of English).

With Books & Authors, you can create lists of books in your “Reading Room” to annotate and remember all the books you have read. 

Marie Garcia is the Crestview Public Library's assistant director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GARCIA: This Crestview library online resource has suggestions for your next read