Ah, I didn't realize you folks would have trouble growing Camellias there. Is it the heat or the humidity? I guess there are some drawbacks to paradise. lol
Northern California used to be Camellia heaven, cool enough to bloom but no freezes. But about 20 years ago this blight arrived and now they suck. It starts in the center of the flower about the 1st 48 hours after it opens and by day 3 a ugly slimy brown has spread to the whole flower and it drops off. Doesn't affect the leaves at all.
Treatment is to spray fungicide before they open and about once a week all through the season, which here can last for several months. Also, you're supposed to pick up ALL the diseased flowers and clean all the debris and mulch from under the plant then put down fresh mulch. I'm much too lazy to do all that, so I'm stuck with a very short flower bloom.
I would have loved to put a camellia hedge behind the pond, it would have looked beautiful.
Oh well, I'm saving a beautiful mugo pine in a tub for when I redo the pond. It should look great near the new waterfall. It would be interesting to hear what type of plants folks plant around their ponds.