Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Spring Peeking Vol 3, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Stormy--and anyone else....

For the second Spring already, I am having problems with the leaved on my Bob Hope Camellia turning yukky and, by now, dropping off at the touch or shake.

Seems they start 'turning" in mid-winter--and I always thought it was just cold damage.
This Spring--it is as if ALL the leaves that are affected are last seasons older leaves.
In other words--the new growths from last season are all still green and OK, but all the others are dropping off...
The bush is OK otherwise---buds are opening and it is "marching on"....

I would appreciate anyone's knowledgeable guess as to what is going on here?????
I sure don't want to lose this beauty!!!!

What should I do? I will rake up all the leaves as they fall--in case it is a fungus of some kind...get rid of the old mulch too....How about spraying?
OR--is it just Winter damage??????

Here's a couple of pictures.