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Over 900 flowers judged from across the southeast

By Kris Harrell

The Greenville Camellia Society’s (GCS) annual camellia show brought colorful blooms from across the southeast into the Camellia City and showcased the beauty and variety of Alabama’s state flower. 

The event aims to further the mission of GCS in promoting interest in and knowledge of camellias. 

“We feel like we’re doing the right thing for Greenville, and our mission is on its way now,” said Jan Newton, president of the Greenville Camellia Society. “It’s been a trip really; we worked hard on it for over a year and all our fruits [have] come to fruition. All we can do is keep going up and getting better and better.”

On Feb. 15, the society received 1049 camellia blooms from across the Southeast, from growers in states including Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. These blooms were showcased on Feb 15 and 16. 

A panel of America Camellia Society (ACS) accredited judges, assessed the entries based on a set criterion. 

“Camellias are an amazingly diverse and varied form of flower; they have eight distinct forms that we judge on, hundreds of colors, and thousands of varieties – varieties meaning combinations of form, size, color and the like,” said David Williams, an ACS accredited judge from the Middle Georgia Camellia Society. “People want a few things: they want truth and they want beauty. If you want beauty, all you [have] to do is plant some camellias.” 

Some camellia blooms received awards for Best Bloom in Show Unprotected/Protected, Best Species, Best Tray of Three and more. 

After judging was completed, the doors of the Wendell Mitchell Conference Center at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College opened to attendees, allowing them to view the blooms. 

“Everything we hoped for happened…,” Newton said. “We have been introduced to new blooms we have never seen before. We’re amazed, awed and overwhelmed.” 

During the event, the society also offered camellia trees available for sale. There were a variety of species available for attendees to purchase and plant at home. 

Additionally, society members held a demonstration of flower waxing, a technique used to preserve flowers like the camellia by dipping them in melted wax. This demonstration was ongoing throughout the event and allowed attendees to learn how they can preserve their own flowers.