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The Greenville Camellia Society (GCS) met at Beeland Park for its final yearly meeting Wednesday, May 14.  Jan Newton presided over the meeting and recapped all the projects GCS had done this year.  

Newton said the group had a successful camellia show weekend with nearly 2,000 visitors. Many awards and recognitions were given to camellia entries.  

The Gees Bend Exhibition and Artisans Market was a new addition to the show weekend.  Committees have already started working on the show for January 24-25, 2026.  

We are also planning a Camellia Show for school kids in February,” Newton said.  

“Our scholarship pageant was also an amazing success. The Camellia Queen and Debutantes have been great ambassadors for us.  They worked at the camellia show.  

The queen and Debutantes also entertained patrons at the Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Festival. Jiust recently, they visited the State Capitol representing GCS as  ambassadors while meeting many of the state officials, including Representative Sells, Senator Stewart, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth and Senator Pro Temp Garland Gudger. The ladies were also awarded commendations by the Governor’s office.  

After all the business and updates, President Newton introduced Sarah Brecher, curator of Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile.  

Brecher is from Houston, Texas.  She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in horticulture in 2021.  

Brecher spoke about the International Camellia Convention in Japan which she attended in March.  A slide show presentation of many camellia gardens in Japan awed the members with a presentation Newton said was both beautiful and informative.  

The International Camellia convention will be held in Mobile in 2027.  

“We are looking forward to visiting the convention,” Newton said.