Feb. 23-24: Birmingham Camellia Show

Saturday, February 23, 2013 9:00-11:00 a.m. – Entry of Blooms

1:00 -5:00 p.m. – Public Viewing

Sunday, February 24, 2013 1:00-4:00 p.m. – Public Viewing

Camellia fans from around the Birmingham and North-Central Alabama area are invited to bring their outdoor-grown blooms to participate in the first Local Camellia Show. While this is actually the Society’s 63rd annual show, this year will be its first show focusing entirely on local blooms grown outdoors in our area.

Blooms may be entered into the show between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb 23. Bring your blooms to the Hodges Room of the Birmingham Botanical Center, and members of the Society will assist you in preparing the blooms for display. Growers do not have to know the names of their blooms in order to enter them in the show. All necessary supplies will be provided at no charge. Last year there were more than 175 outdoor blooms entered in the show from our area, and we expect a substantial turnout again this year. Awards will be provided for the most attractive blooms in several categories. Judging of the blooms will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. All the blooms entered, with ribbons signifying the award winners, will be available for public viewing from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday. Colors will include red, white, pink, blush, variegated and perhaps even the elusive yellow camellia. They will range in size from two-inch miniatures to 7-inch giants that are simply breathtaking.

Head Judge for the show will be Tom Warriner of Pensacola, Fla. Tom is an expert on growing camellia blooms out of doors and will provide tips on camellia care. Experienced camellia growers from Birmingham will also be available to discuss particular camellia problems or answer questions. Anyone wishing to identify camellia blooms from their yard can bring them to the “Name That Bloom” table in the Hodges Room and we will try to help identify them.

A highlight of the show will be blooms of the Birmingham Heritage Camellias. These are unique camellia varieties which were developed by local growers in our area - almost three dozen cultivars in total. Over the years some of these treasures have been lost but we are propagating plants from all available specimens and will make them available for purchase by local fanciers in the next year of so.

For further information, contact Dave Glass at 408-5756 or glasswd@gmail.com.