Winter 2015 Volume 41 No. 1

Camellian

A Publication of the Gulf Coast Camellia Society

THE GULF COAST

Camellia japonica ‘Manuroa Road’ New Zealand 2001

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From the Cover................................................................................page 2President’s Message .......................................................................page 3GCCS Annual Meeting.....................................................................page 5From A Gardener’s Journal............................................................page 10The Beginning of a Garden of Exellence.......................................page 11Around the Region.........................................................................page 16The Lady of the Camellias.............................................................page 18Camellia Show Dates.....................................................................page 21Raised Bed Grafting.......................................................................page 22In this World of Ordinary People....................................................page 25In the Winter Garden .....................................................................page 26Camellia Quiz.................................................................................page 27Editor’s Notes.................................................................................page 28Camellia Websites.........................................................................page 29About the Gulf Coast Camellia Society..........................................page 30GCCS Officers...............................................................................page 31Back Cover ....................................................................................page 32

From the Cover ……

Volume 41 No. 1 Winter 2015

The Gulf Coast Camellian

Contents

Camellia japonica ‘Manuroa Road’New Zealand Camellia Bulletin, March 2001, Issue No.138, vol.XXII, No.2,p.21, as 'Manuroa Rd'. Reg. No.423. Registered by N. Haydon, Takanini, NewZealand. A chance seedling of C.japonica Takanini, pollen parent unknown,which first flowered 1994. Flowers are formal double, 11 cm (4 3/8’) diameterx 4 cm deep, with 85-90 petals. The outer petals are imbricated as a formaldouble, the inner petals are much smaller, the outer petals are occasionallyslightly lobed, and reminiscent of ‘Mark Alan’ petals in shape. Flower color isa deep blood red (RHS.CC.53C). The dense foliage is an attractive dark green,with leaves 10 cm long x 4.5 cm wide. The plant is upright, and of averagegrowth rate. Flowers mid-season to late.

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President’sMessage

Jim DwyerFoley, Alabama

I am honored to be elected as presidentof the Gulf Coast Camellia Society. Iwould like to thank President Lynn

Vicknair for assisting me in making mytransition to this office. Her suggestionsand answers to my questions were a greathelp. I look forward to serving andwelcome suggestions and guidance fromour members. Please contact me by emailat jdwyer@gulftel.com or by phone at251-988-1405.

Congratulations and thanks for agree-ing to serve to Vice President Roger Roy,Secretary Rebecca Christian, TreasurerMike Ruth and the State Vice PresidentsAlabama - Al Baugh, Florida - CarolComber, Louisiana - Jim Campbell, Mis-sissippi - Jim Smelley and Susan Moran,Atlantic Coast Camellia Society - MarkCrawford, and Pacific Coast  CamelliaSocieties - Bob Ehrhart.

What a great meeting. Kudos to theNorthshore Camellia Club and all whowere responsible for bringing all of thistogether. Lynn Vicknair, Gulf CoastCamellia Society President and a memberof the Baton Rouge Camellia Society, dida superb job of spearheading the organiz-ing and planning. Hunter and Meg Char-bonnet arranged for accommodations,meal selections, table arrangements andgoody bags. Meg also provided the beau-tiful needlepoint for the very successfulraffle.

Jim Campbell came up with a fantas-tic slate of speakers. Susan Moran andLisa Miller made the hospitality room adelightful respite. Florence Crowder madethe silent auction a success and Dick

Hooton, Jim Campbell, Mark Crawford,Al Baugh, and David Creech conductedthe usual lively plant auction while Rogerand Linda Roy, Jimmy Walker and LeoBrown kept track of the winning bids.Mike and Ann Ruth deserve recognitionfor greeting guests at the registration deskand taking care of all of the paperworkincluding keeping track of all of the finan-cial transactions at the desk and through-out the meeting.

The people who bought raffle ticketsand the plant and silent auction biddersdeserve thanks for their support. Mikereported that our revenue for the meetingwas $12,388 while expenses so far were$9828. It’s nice to be in the black—thisdoes not appear to be all that common infamily and government budgets these days.

Thanks to all members who contrib-uted items for the silent auction and plantsfor the plant auction. The interest gener-ated by some of the unusual plantsdonated by David Creech confirms thatthere is a general botanical interest exhib-ited by camellia addicts that goes beyondcamellias.

Our guest speakers provided enter-tainment, education and enlightment.Sandra Patrick’s Dinner Speech on Fridaybrought out the artistic side of gardening.She made me want to devote more thoughtinto arranging the plants in my garden.

The Saturday educational sessionswere inspirational for any camellia loverinterested in propagation. Larry Batesshowed us how he produced largenumbers of fast-growing grafted camelliasin a short period of time. I think I will try

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his technique involving the use of smaller,younger root stock. J.D. Thomerson’spresentation on Hybridizing and Geneal-ogy brought out the importance of select-ing the right seed parents and pollenparents for successful cultivar develop-ment. He provided us with some of thesecrets to Hulyn Smith’s success as a plantbreeder. I got some hints that I will try inmy own attempts at hybridizing camellias.Hong Park’s presentation of his Air Prop-agator was an interesting approach to airlayering. I purchased two of his kits togive them a try. Mark Crawford discussedthe advantages of grafting camellias inraised beds rather than grafting camelliasgrowing in the ground or growing in pots.He took us through step-by-step instruc-tions for planting root stock, grafting, andtransplanting plants using this system.

The Banquet speech was serious butentertaining. Dr. Creech shared someimportant ecological concerns sprinkledwith humor and interesting anecdotes.His discussion of his search in arid areasof Mexico for more drought tolerant vari-eties of plants that are currently grown inthe United States was quite interesting. Finally, Jim Campbell’s tour of RiversideCamellias and John Grimm’s tour ofCamellia Heaven on Sunday were greatlyappreciated by all who were lucky enoughto be able to attend. Camellia lovers andgardeners in general saw much to admire.Those who did not attend the 2014meeting missed a wonderful experience! I encourage everyone to attend asmany camellia shows as possible incoming camellia season. Also, pleaseencourage all of the members of your localclubs to join and participate in the GulfCoast Camellia Society.

I would like to tell those who do notknow me a little about my involvementwith camellias. My knowledge of camel-lias goes back to when I was around fiveyears old and my father bought me what

was then called a ‘Pope Pious’ camellia.I also remember going with him to localMobile camellia nurseries where I remem-ber the whitewashed glass jars that wereplaced on the ground in fields around thenurseries. I only realized the significanceof these many years later. After movingon a number of occasions, I lost contactwith camellias for many years and onlyhad camellias in my yard when I movedto Troy, Alabama, and purchased a homethat I restored. There were two largecamellias that must have been around onehundred years old next to the frontentrance. One was a ‘Professor Sargent’and the other was a ‘Pink Perfection.’ Ihad a few other camellias, but I was notyet bitten by the camellia bug. All of thischanged when, while visiting my parents,I happened to go to a camellia show inMobile. I was blown away by all of thefantastic blooms and was also impressedby a fragrant camellia that was displayedat the show. I didn’t forget this experienceand after I retired and moved to BaldwinCounty, Alabama, I joined the CamelliaClub of Mobile. I learned everything Icould about camellias, especially fragrantcamellia japonicas and fragrant camelliahybrids. The fragrant camellia hybrids ledto an interest in camellia species and I nowhave a collection of approximately 50fragrant camellias and over 60 camelliaspecies along with over 100 japonicassasanquas and retics.

I am currently the secretary and web-master for the Camellia Club of Mobileand a past president of that organization.I am also active in the American CamelliaSociety and served for several years as theAlabama State Director and currentlychair of the ACS Website Committee.

Again, please share your commentsand suggestions with me.

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Photos byPatti Perkins

The 2014 Annual Meeting of theGulf Coast Camellia Society,hosted by the Northshore CamelliaSociety, was held October 17 and18 at the Clarion Hotel inCovington, LA. The AnnualBusiness Meeting was called toorder at 8:45, October 18, by thepresident, Lynn Vicknair. ThePresident called for a moment ofsilent prayer for the loved ones lostthis past year and those who are ill.She then welcomed new membersand issued a welcome back to oldmembers.

The reading of the minutesfrom the 2013 business meetingwas waived since they werepublished in the winter edition ofThe Camellian. There were noadditions or corrections to theminutes. The first order of businesswas a financial report from BobStroud of the InvestmentCommittee for the Journal TrustFund. He noted that Trust Fund hada balance of $84470.00. The GCCSTreasurer, Mike Ruth, noted in hisreport that the 2013 meeting hadbeen profitable with a net profit of$5105.00. The treasurer reported acurrent balance of $3407.00.Homer Richardson, the web master,sent a report stating that allconference information was postedon the web site. He also requestedthat local club information be sentto him for use on the GCCS site.

Celeste Richard, ExecutiveDirector of ACS, greeted the

Gulf Coast Camellia SocietyAnnual Business Meeting

October 18, 2014, Covington, Louisiana

Phot

o by

Bob

Chr

istia

n

President Lynn Vicknair presides.

GCCS Secretary Carol Comber

ACS Executive Director Celeste Richard

Kyle's Choice.

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attendees on behalf of the AmericanCamellia Society. She introducedthe new operations manager atMassee Lane, William Khoury. Shealso noted that David King, a trustperson for ACS who was inattendance and had a table withmaterials available for members ofthe GCCS. The Executive Directoralso reminded members that thisweekend was the last opportunityto order the 2015 CamelliaCalendar. Other informationincluded the launching of a newACS web site. Additionally shenoted there would be a membershiptable contest at the local camelliashows. Each club will decorate a“new member” registration tablesponsored by the Society hostingthe Camellia Show. She urged thatwe at the local level, decorate thetable, take good pictures and winthe contest. Celeste Richardreminded attendees that the ACSNational meeting will be held inTallahassee, FL January 28-31. Shediscussed that John Wang would bea featured speaker on hybridizingcamellias. Finally Ms. Richardstated the appreciation of ACS forthe GCCS donation to improve theFetterman Building parking lot atMassee Lane.

The President, Lynn Vicknair,reported that that GCCS had 81participants registered for thecurrent fall meeting. She noted thatlast year 75 persons attended themeeting in Mobile and that thenumber of attendees continues toincrease annually. Ms. Vicknairreminded participants of the sale ofraffle tickets throughout themeeting with the drawing to be heldprior to the President’s Dinner. She

All photos these twopages by Patti Perkins

Will Mangham and Gabriel Olsen

Vince Ciolino

Judy Kerr and Lisa Miller.

ACS Operations Manager William Khoury and hiswife Sandee.

Lauren Landry

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also reminded those attending thatthe silent auction would close at5:00pm and urged getting final bidsin prior to that time.

Other new business includedthe Board’s decision to post allGCCS information on the web site.This would include posting pastissues of The Camellian. Issuesposted on-line will be at least oneyear old when posted. KenCampbell’s request for an increasein the dimensions of The Camellianwas also approved by the Board. Arequest to donate funds up to $500to the 5-Rivers Nature Center toimprove landscaping by the use ofAlabama introduced camelliaplants. A discussion of eachrecommendation followed andmotions to approve on each werepassed.

The nominating committeethen presented the following slateof new officers for the next twoyears as follows: President, JimDwyer ; Vice President, Roger Roy;Secretary, Rebecca Christian;Treasurer, Mike Ruth. The StateVice Presidents include Alabama,Al Baugh; Mississippi, JimSmelley and Susan Moran;Louisiana, Jim Campbell; Florida,Carol Comber. Other membersinclude Atlantic Coast CamelliaSociety; Mark Crawford andPacific Coast Camellia Society;Bob Ehrhart. The slate wasapproved by the generalmembership.

The President then called forClub Reports. The Ozone Club wasrepresented by Bob Stroud. Hediscussed the local club’spartnerships with Slidell sandNorth Shore High School. As a

Joe Holmes, Laura Holmes, and Celeste Richard

Bob and Rebecca Christian

Bette Hooton, Vicki Baugh and Al Baugh

Hong Park, Lisa Miller, Bob and Erin Stoudt, Gerald and Sharon Phares.

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result of this partnership studentsin the agriculture programs at thesetwo schools grafted 190 camellias.Over 100 students had theopportunity to graft. Bob Stroudrecommended contactingagriculture departments at localhigh schools. Hunter Charbonnetof the North Shore Club reportedthat they have made a donation tothe Milne Home for Women. TheClub is donating camellias for thelarge garden at the Home. VickiBaugh reported that the MobileClub is partnering with the SpanishFort Garden Club to plant camelliasat the National Veterans Cemeteryat Spanish Fort. The plantings areintended to carry out the red, whiteand blue theme. Andy Houdekreported that the New OrleansCamellia Show planned for January24 will commemorate the 150th

anniversary of the New OrleansCamellia Society.

Following the Club reports. theoutgoing President, Lynn Vicknair,reminded those attending that nextyear’s meeting will be held in BaySt. Louis, MS, on October 19-20 atthe Hollywood Casino. The NewOrleans Club will host the meeting.

Under other business, a motionwas passed to send $2000 to ACSin memory of Marie Mizell andElaine Smelley.

At the close of the meeting Ms.Vicknair invited attendees to thehospitality suite for refreshments.She gave special thanks to Meg andHunter Charbonnett, Jim Campbelland Mike Ruth for the success ofthe North Shore Camellia Societysponsored GCCS meeting.

Activities for the GCCSMeeting began on Friday with a

Photo by Patti Perkins

Photo by Jim Dwyer Photo by Jim Dwyer

Hunter Charbonnet

Joan Blanchard, Paul Heurkamp, Judy Kerr, Jim Smelley, LarryBates, and Stephanie Bates.

Al Baugh kicks off the auction.Photo by Jim Dwyer

Dick Hooton, Auctioneer. Jim Campbell, Auctioneer.

Photo by Bob Christian

Photo by Jim Dwyer

Speaker Hong Park demonstrateshis ‘Air Propogator.’

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delicious seafood dinner . Thedinner speaker was author,landscaper and artist, SandraPatrick. She spoke on the mannerin which Monet’s Garden can beused in the planning of homegardens. Following Ms. Patrick’spresentation, the first round of theplant auction was conducted. Thesecond round of the auctionfollowed the business meeting onSaturday morning. After lunch theeducational sessions includedpresentations by Larry Bates, J.D.Thomerson, Hong Park, and MarkCrawford. The silent auction,chaired by Florence Crowder,closed at 5 o’clock. Prior to thebeginning of the of the President’sDinner, the outgoing President,Lynn Vicknair again thanked allthose who had helped to make theconference a success. She thenhanded the gavel over to theincoming president, Jim Dwyer. Following the dinner the newpresident introduced Dr. DavidCreech, Regents Professor, StephenF. Austin. Dr. Creech’s presentationincluded a review of local andinternational studies of theornamental horticultural industry,endangered plant rescue, researchand reintroduction and findingsustainable solutions toenvironmental concerns. At the close of the Dinner theframed needlepoint raffle itemdonated by Meg Charbonnet waswon by Carolyn Dixon. Optionaltours on Sunday included JohnGrimm’s “Camellia Heaven” andJim Campbell’s “River CamelliaNursery”.

Minutes by Carol Comber.Photo byPatti Perkins Photo by Patti Perkins

Photo by Bob Christian

Larry Bates discussed growinggrafted camellias in commercialquantities.

J. D. Tomerson talked onhybridizing and genealogyof camellias.

Mark Crawford explains hismethod of grafting in raised beds.

Photo by Jim Dwyer

Sandra Patrick discusses Monet’sGarden.

Photo by Bob Christian

Incoming president JimDwyer assumes the gavel.

Steel sculpture

Visit toJim

Campbell’sGarden

Speciesc. gigantocarpa

Photo by Bob Christian

Photo by Jim Dwyer

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From a Gardener’s JournalBy Lynn RichardsonBrookhaven, Mississippi

Our camellias are putting on a dressrehearsal, I hope, of what they aregoing to do when the shows begin.

Several of the japonicas are blooming agood bit earlier than normal. Also a fewof the sasanquas are a bit early. ‘Kanjiro’and ‘Mine-No-Yuki’ are ahead of sched-ule. ‘Marie Bracey’ and ‘Alba Fimbriata,’‘Shiro Bokuhan’ and what I hope is‘Campari’ are early. Since deer have adigestive system akin to goats and metaltags do them no harm, I can't tell if that isCampari or someone else! The earlyblooming may be the result of the abun-dant moisture we had this spring andsummer. We have had to water lately, butsince October is a dry month for us, it isnot unexpected. We were so glad to seespring after that long, cold and strangewinter we had. So much for global warm-ing?

We had some family obligations thatkept us from going to Covington for theGulf Coast Camellia Conference, but byall accounts it was really great. Hated wehad to miss it. I have a black belt inshopping and really hated missing theauctions. And missing seeing all of ourfellow judges and friends. The news from Brookhaven is that weare going to have a one day show insteadof two days. In the last few years, theattendance on Sunday has really fallen offand we had so few visitors that it is justnot practical to keep it up. This way wedon't have to compete with the SuperBowl and we will have more help and canget everything taken down on the Satur-day. Any thing that does not get done, we

can finish the next day. The recreationdepartment has been so very helpful sincewe began having the show there. They arekind enough to set up the tables on Fridayafternoon and we are allowed to store allof our supplies there the rest of the year.That way we don't have to worry aboutgathering things from hither, thither andyonder. We are truly blessed to have somuch support from the community.

Back to the camellias, this year weplanted seeds but so far have not seenanything coming up. Also have anothervarmint to add to the list. Moles have dugholes and tunnels all over the yard! It wasbad enough with the deer and squirrels,but the moles have turned the yard into abattlefield. I know that they don't eatcamellias and are after grubs, but thetunnels are something else. Fortunately,we have added to our strength in the wayof farm dogs. We recently rescued a littlebrown fiest dog from a busy highway andhe thinks part of his job is to go aftermoles. Don't know if he catches them, buthe certainly tries.

With these early blooms, I havealready planned centerpieces for Thanks-giving and for Christmas. That is if westill have good blooms. Since we don't putup a Christmas tree for just the two of us,I try to have festive decorations in the restof the house.

That is about all the news fromBrookhaven for now. We hope to see y'allsoon at the upcoming shows. Have areally great holiday season and we willsee you soon.

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The Burden Museum & Gardens,Essen Lane, Baton Rouge,Louisiana, was recently named a

“Garden of Excellence” by theInternational Camellia Society meetingthis spring in Spain…only one of 30 suchhonored gardens in the world.

The naming of these gardenscontaining the Vi Stone CamelliaCollection honor the work of many overan extended period of time and made thisdistinction possible by the vision and greateffort of Florence Crowder whomasterminded the process andaccomplished the hard work to gain thedesignation.

There are many stories that could betold about how this marvelous space ofgreenery and beauty in the midst of amajor Louisiana city came to be and toinclude camellias as a notable species ofplant material. I would like to relate thevery beginning and bring it forward towhen camellias became an intricate partof the plant life to exist there at Burden,and also to relate a few personal notesalong the way.

Burden Museum & Gardens cameabout because of the donation in 1966 of440 acres of land, fields, gardens, andhome in the very heart of south BatonRouge to Louisiana State University(LSU) from the Burden Family: Ione,Steele, Pike, and Pike’s wife JeanetteMonroe. The largest donation ever madeto LSU, estimated value at time ofdonation to be $270 million dollars.

A wondrous “green space” located inthe center of a large expanding city andtransversed by the intersection of two busy

The Beginning of a Garden of Excellence

By Trent L. James, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

6 lane federal interstates. Just off a majorintersection, a visitor steps into a place ofpeace and serenity, a sense of wonder,breathtaking beauty and history of timespast, where the original donors wanted allwho visit to experience a spiritual feelingamidst a pastoral setting.

Windrush Gardens was designed bySteele Burden and were his life’s workbeginning with plantings around theoriginal Burden Home in 1920s andexpanding the gardens over the followingfive decades until his death in 1995.

Steele Burden

The original Windrush Plantation House.

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The Gardens were his masterpiece.Mr. Steele appreciated and encouragedpeople to come into Burden Center and itsgardens, out of the rush and bustle ofeveryday life and to find, “a serene,wooded area in the middle of a big town,”a place where Steele encouraged everyoneto leave their worries behind and centerthemselves and find an inter-peace.

In his gardens, Steele created “rooms”offering a bit different design expressionin each. He had an artistic “eye” and avision for what was to gradually developover time and with maturing of theplantings.

Steele liked the use of sculpture andgarden ornamentation which heexperienced in his trips to classicalgardens in Europe and elsewhere and canbe seen placed throughout the gardens. Hebegan collecting many of his gardenfeatures while on these trips abroad.

His gardens are filled with hardyplants that by experience and time Steeleknew to grow well here in SouthLouisiana and with a history of presencein old plantation gardens.

I recall Steele telling me, when he wassighting our home on its new location andlaying out its landscape in the late 1970s,that the selection of appropriate trees forthe grounds was really dependent uponone’s outlook on life: “If you are notplanning to be here long, then you plantwillows, cottonwoods, and river birches.If you are planning to live longer, then youplant live oaks, magnolias, and cypress.”I discovered that he was quite serious, ofa high moral character and a most practicalman, “never let a tree stand in your wayof your planning”… removing and laterplanting a better specimen with improvedchance of survival in the new landscapeoften made more sense to him.

I do believe live oaks were theexception. They were his favorites and

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with a lifespan of hundreds of years couldusually out live the structure. He oftensaid, “The finest thing to come out of theearth is the live oak tree.”

Although Mr. Burden emphasized the“green garden”, using form, size andtexture of native plant foliage to create alush Louisiana landscape, seasonalblooming plants, shrubs, and trees werealways scattered throughout his gardensmuch as an artist uses color from his palletand textures from his brush. Nature wasalways creating something in these spacesto stimulate the eye and the mind. Coloredfoliage was used to brighten dark areasand separate textures or forms.

Just how did Steele Burden come todevelop his landscape acumen? He oftendescribes himself by saying, “All I everwas in my life was a yard man, only.”Steele could visualize what anundeveloped space would look like oncemature in growth. He designed manyyards and gardens in Baton Rouge andsurrounding areas for friends andacquaintances.

Born Ollie Brice Steele Burden in1900, third of 3 siblings from well-knownfamilies in Baton Rouge circles datingback to the 1850s, his upbringing wasinfluenced by his maternal grandfatherCaptain Oliver Brice Steele, “OB” (1844-1919). A successful farmer and merchant,OB moved to Baton Rouge and enteredbanking and politics, being elected stateauditor for two terms. Besides anexcellent businessman, OB was anaccomplished amateur painter and had anaesthetic nature. Steele spent his formativeyears around his grandfather OB and fromhis tutorship came his artistic talents, a joyof beautiful things in art and nature, and asense of giving back, leaving your part ofthe world a better place.

Steele’s father moved his family fromdowntown Baton Rouge out into the

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country purchasing Windrush Plantationin 1905 from an uncle to get his youngfamily away from the summer heat anddisease of the village. Windrush becametheir home in 1921 and this is whereSteele’s love of nature and its beautydeveloped. Steele tried his hand at formalstudy in forestry at LSU as a teenager, butdid not complete that course.

After the death of his father in 1925and with the Windrush home needingrepairs, Steele began to make the houseand the grounds around it more livable andattractive. He claims his interest inplanting and landscaping thus began. Bythen, he already had some knowledge ofplant materials, particularly azaleas, andof style, space, and ornamentation.

Steele, working with his mother, laidout the first garden (Garden I) in the rearof the house that included an enclosedspace surrounding a circular waterlily poolwith a fountain. The fountain is a metalstatue of zinc depicting a young womanwatering the pool and was a discardedsculpture and former city landmark savedby his father from a junk pile.

In 1926, Steele built a brick gardenhouse behind and attached to Garden I.This became his studio and getaway, aswell as a place for the Burden Family toentertain. The garden house was fashionedafter a slave cabin and has since beencopied in many gardens and yards. Plantedaround the garden house was his first useof live oaks, his signature tree.

By the latest count in 1995, there wereover 400 live oaks on Burden, most all ofwhich were planted by Mr. Steele. Heultimately planted live oaks on the LSUCampus, Baton Rouge City Park and inmany landscapes around the city.

His love for landscaping and workingwith plant materials landed him work withthe building of two parks in the city ofBaton Rouge. He learned from the

landscape architects and became alandscape designer by trade. Steele servedas an apprentice for two years while theChicago firm of American Park Builderswas creating Victory Park (WW Imemorial), another smaller park in southBaton Rouge, and the layout for RoselawnCemetery. Later, he was involved with thesame firm to design Baton Rouge CityPark and golf course. In 1925, he beganhis first full-time job for the Baton RougeCity Park Department and planted all thelive oaks in City Park and cared for themhimself. He did what was necessary tokeep them healthy including climbing intothe oaks to prune and shape them.

Steele became the city parksuperintendent and found the best way totrain his workers to properly care for thetrees and plants was to teach by doing thework alongside them.

In 1930, Steele Burden came to thenewly built Louisiana State University onits new site south of the city and belowCity Park. Initially, design work was doneby the Olmstead firm of Boston; however,a final design plan was rendered byTheodore Link who concentrated on theplacement of the impressive academicbuildings but within a space absent oflandscape plantings. E. A. McIlhenny ofAvery Island was called upon to designand plant certain areas about the campuswith shrubbery and flowering plants andcamellias, notably the Greek Theater. Butit became Burden’s job to complement,surround and connect the rest of thecampus. Over 1200 live oaks are currentlyplanted on the LSU campus, most of themplanted and nurtured by Mr. Steele.

Although his work for LSU was onlypart time at first, Steele wanted tocomplete and get further along BatonRouge City Park and deal with numerousprojects for homes throughout the BatonRouge community, particularly those

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neighborhoods springing up around thenew LSU campus. His vision, style, tasteand practicality had become in greatdemand. It is into these beautiful yards andgardens of College Town and MagnoliaRidge subdivisions off LSU Avenue andLakeshore Drive that the “Swat Squad” ofthe Baton Rouge Camellia Society hasvisited to identify varieties of camelliasand to assist owners with their ongoingcare.

While at LSU, Steele planted liveoaks, crape myrtles, Japanese magnolias,bald cypress, nandina, ligustrum, azaleas,sweet olives, and camellias; these latter forcolor and fragrance between buildings. Hedesigned and planted several individualgardens about the campus and aroundprominent buildings, but few of these existtoday having been lost to expansion.Steele often said, “I’d like to take creditfor every tree that God didn’t plant.”

Of course for Steele, his homeWindrush was where his heart and spiritwas refreshed and nurtured. A secondgarden (Garden II) was added at Windrushin the 1930s adjacent to the first andbehind the house, again with his motherhelping him. Travels to South and CentralAmerica and into Europe developed hisartistic taste and sense of space and beautyin nature and in landscape design.

In 1940s, the third garden (Garden III)was planted just south of and connected tothe second. So, at Windrush, there is aprogression in layout, planting and designinterspersed with Greek sculptures andunusual objects as ornamentation.

After World War II, Steele worked fulltime at LSU until his retirement in 1970.He then spent the next two decadesfurthering these three formal gardens fromhis age of 21 to 95 years and puttingtogether the Rural Life Museum. Listedby the British Museum as one of the “Top10 Outdoor Museums in the World,” the

Rural Life Museum and WindrushGardens are visited by students statewideand people from all over the world.

Within the gardens, vegetables wereplanted into oval and circular beds amidstother plantings and space. The gardenshold elements of seclusion and surprise tostimulate thought and appreciation ofbeauty. One garden draws you onwardand into another, confronting lawns or apea-gravel pathway leading a visitoraround the space onto another attractivevista.

The use of sugar kettles in thelandscape was first used by Steele as awater feature in local gardens and are seenthroughout Burden Museum & Gardens.Teaching and learning moments areavailable on every turn or vista inWindrush Gardens. It was Steele’s goal torelay a sense of tranquility and wonder forthose who enter his gardens, a sense oftimes gone by and for finding peace and apersonal spiritual awaking of the beautyof nature. This he accomplished at Burden.

Since Steele's deqath in 1995, the Vi& Hank Stone Camellia Collection hasfound its place within Burden Center andhas spread into the Piney Woods Gardenslaid out by Mr. Burden. That story will beleft to others, more familiar with that phasethan I, to convey to the reader. The BatonRouge Camellia Society is now a majorpart of these gardens and our responsibilityto carry on and preserve what Mr. Steelebegan in his life time.

In appreciation and admiration of justwhat a treasure Mr. Steele and his sisterMiss Ione have given to all of us who visitand admire the Burden Museum &Gardens, it is only fitting and proper thatthis wondrous place be a “Garden ofExcellence” and camellias a major part ofit.

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AROUNDT HE

REGIO N

Pensacola Camellia Club WorkdayEnid Sloan, George Knight and Tom Henderson planting at Universityof West Florida Gardens

Dante Kahn and Reza Vafaee at PCCUWF workday

Vicki and Al Baugh preparing blooms for the Ft.Walton Show.

PCC Meeting Nov 2014 PCC Pres Paul Bruno, ACS PresElect Jim Campbell, Roger Vinson past Pres ACS. Jimpresented information on the heritage camelliaidentification project at Avery Island, LS.

Marie BraceyPhoto by Norman VickersRichard Hooton's plate of 3 Henry E.

Huntington blooms at Fort Walton Show

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AROUNDT HE

REGIO N

Dr. Mack Thetford talked about rooting cuttings atthe September meeting of the Pensacola CamelliaClub

Junior Prom, first of season for PattiPerkins in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

Joe Holmes inspects Richard Hooton’sblooms at the Ft. Walton Show.

MathotianaPhoto by Norman Vickers

Gerald Phares, President of the Baton RougeCamellia Society and Mary Tauzin, ConferenceChairperson for the Southern Region MasterGardener Conference, assisted by Lynn Vicknairand Joe Holmes, conducted the drawing forcamellias donated by the BRCS. Ms. Tauzininvited the Camellia Society to provideinformation on growing camellias in our regionat the October 22-24 conference in Baton Rouge.Members of the BRCS demonstrated methods forgrafting camellias as well as growing camelliason root. Five hundred and fifty gardeners from13 states were registered for the regional event.

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T he tragic but doomed love ofMarguerite and Armand told so

passionately in La Dame aux Camel-lias (“The Lady of the Camellias” whoeventually came to be known asCamille) by Alexander Dumas becameone of the great and most enduringlove stories fromits first publica-tion in 1848. Thetitle role of thec o n s u m p t i v eheroine and herultimate sacrificeinspired at leastsixteen versionsof the story stagedon Broadwayalone, and nearly30 different filma d a p t a t i o n s ,including the twomost well-knownversions: the 1936“ C a m i l l e , ”directed byGeorge Cukorand starring Greta Garbo as the titlecharacter, and the 2001 “MoulinRouge!”, directed by Baz Luhrmannand starring Nicole Kidman. EvenErich Segal’s 1970s novel, Love Story(and the movie based on the novel) issaid to be modeled on Dumas’ story. The story also inspired Italiancomposer, Giuseppe Verdi, to write LaTraviata, a melodrama in three acts, in1853, in which the heroine was

renamed Violetta Valery. Although hewould typically take four months tocompose an opera, Verdi took just fourweeks to compose La Traviata. Theoriginal working title for the opera wasAmore e Morte (“Love and Death”),but it was changed at the request of

censors. Verdiwas very muchtaken with thetale, consideringit “a subject ofthe times.” LaTraviata pre-miered inVenice onMarch 6, 1853. Dumas’ hero-ine, MargueriteGautier, wasactually basedon the real-lifeMarie Duplessis(1824–47), hislover and apopular Frenchcourtesan and

salon hostess. A known mistress to anumber of prominent men of her era,Marie died tragically of tuberculosis atthe age of 23. Although she was borna peasant, Duplessis managed to climbthe ladder of Parisian society fromlaundry girl to one of Paris’ mostcelebrated courtesans thanks to herwits and striking beauty. She was talland pale with dark hair and “lipsredder than cherries.” Dumas wrote

The Lady of the CamelliasBy Ruby Campbell, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Marie Duplessis, painted by Édouard Viénot. Rue desArchives/The Granger Collection

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that she looked “like a little figurinemade of Dresden china.” She wasreportedly smart, pragmatic, andwidely admired, and her salons wereattended by the likes of Franz Liszt,Honoré de Balzac,Alfred de Musset, andThéophile Gautier. While conductingan affair with youngDumas, Marie wassupported by an octo-genarian, Count Stack-elberg, and pretendedto be his daughter.Dumas is said to havebeen forced to sneakaround, hiding fromStackelberg, as hehimself was too youngto be able to supportMarie and her extrava-gant household. It isunclear whetherDumas based the fic-tional character ofMarie’s lover, ArmandDuval, on himself oron Count Edouard dePerregaux, who wasso in love with herthat, in 1846, hemarried her againstthe wishes of hisfamily. At the end, as shewas dying of tubercu-losis, Marie – aban-doned by her loversand cared for only by her faithful maidClothilde – died while a horde ofcreditors were knocking on her door.

When Marie died, her possessionswere auctioned off to pay her debts. The legend goes that Marie lovedcamellias. In 1886, Henry SutherlandEdwards wrote: “Little did the Jesuit

Kamel, when hebrought from Japan theflower which was tobear a name derivedfrom his own; little didhe think of what classof women this flower -Camellia Parisiana -would one day becomethe recognized symbol.It is without fragrance;for which reason, in itsoutward and inwardsignificance, it washabitually worn by thefair one without repu-tation to whom thename of La Dame auxCamélias was soappropriately given.” Although she lovedwhite camellias aboveall others, Marie issaid to have worn a redone during her time ofthe month to indicateto her lovers that shewas unavailable.Thanks to all thestories circulatingabout Marie and herflowers, the camelliagained a special mys-tique.

Elegant and simple, the camelliawas adopted by fashion designerGabrielle “Coco” Chanel as a symbol

Camellia japonica ‘Ocreleuca’Japan to Holland by Siebold 1830

Ballerina Margot Fonteyn bore anuncanny resemblance to Marie Duplessis

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of the fashion house’s haute couture.She is said to have fallen head overheels for the camellia after one wasgiven to her by her polo-playing lover,Boy Capal. She started pinning silkversions to her lapels and in her hair.Representations of the blossoms founda home on the black and gold-laqueredcoromandel screens in her apartmentat 31 rue Cambon. Since then, theflower has become a staple of ward-robes around the world. Dumas’ novel has also been per-formed as a ballet, Marguerite &Armand, choreographed by FrederickAshton and danced by Margot Fonteynand Rudolf Nureyev (1963). AlthoughAshton did not want the ballet to berevived by another cast, it was per-formed at the Royal Ballet in 2000, andagain in 2005 where Tamara Rojodebuted as Marguerite. It was per-formed most recently in May 2012 atLa Scala Theater, Milan, Italy.

Poster by Alfons Mucha (1896) for the production ofLa Dame aux Camélias with Sarah Bernhardt.

Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyevin Marguerite and Armand

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Camel l ia Show Dates 2014-201511 October 2014 - Middle Georgia Camellia SocietyGeorgia National Fair, 401 Larry Walker Pkwy, Perry Georgia.

8 November 2014 - Greater Fort Walton Beach Camellia SocietyWestwood Retirement Resort, 1001 N. Mar-Walt Drive, Ft. Walton Beach, FL

8 November 2014 - Middle Georgia Camellia SocietyByron Municipal Complex, Byron, GA

8 November 2013 - Mississippi Gulf Coast Camellia SocietyLyman Community Center, 13472 Highway 49, Gulfport. MS (4 mi. North of I 10)

6 December 2014 - Coushatta Camellia Society, Conroe, TX.First Christian Church Fellowship Building, 3500 North Loop 336 West.

6 December 2014 - Ozone Camellia Club, Slidell, LASaint Margaret Mary Gym, Robert Road, Slidell, LA.

13 December 2014 - Pensacola Camellia Club, Pensacola, FLFirst Baptist Church, 500 North Palafox, Pensacola, FL.

20 December 2013 - Northshore Camellia Club, Covington, LASt. Scholastica’s Academy Gym., 122 North Massachusetts St, Covington, LA.

3 & 4 January 2015 - Gainsville Camellia Society, Gainsville, FL.Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 Southwest 58th Drive, Gainsville, FL.

17 & 18 January 2015 – Camellia Club of Mobile, Mobile, ALColonial Mall, Bel Air, Mobile, AL.

24 January 2015 - Camellia Club of New Orleans, LA—Ttheodore RooseveltMiddle School, Kenner, LA

31 January 2015 - Tallahassee Camellia Society, Doyle Conner AdministrationBuilding, 3125 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL

7 February 2015 - Brookhaven Camellia Society, Brookhaven, MSBrookhaven Recreation Department, Highway 51 N.

14 & 15 February 2015 - Baton Rouge Camellia Society, Baton Rouge, LARural Life Museum, Essen Lane at I-10, Baton Rouge, LA.

14 February 2015 - Coushatta Camellia Society, Huntsville, TX.Gibbs Ranch Conference Center, Sam Houston State University, 113 Fraser Road.

28 February 2015 - Middle Georgia Camellia Society, Fort Valley, GAMassee Lane Gardens, Fort Valley, GA.

7 March 2015 - Southeast Alabama Camellia Club, Dothan,AL, First Methodist Church Family Center, 1380 West Main St., Dothan, AL

If you have a show date or judging school date that you would like listed in The Camellian,please send them to the editor at the address on the inside back cover.

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Grafting camellias is a very timeconsuming and labor-intensive way

to propagate camellias compared torooting cuttings. Unfortunately many ofthe most desired camellias must be graftedin order to thrive and bloom well. Manycamellias, particularly reticulatas, have aweak root system and are prone to rootrot and other stem and soil-borne pests.Grafting on sasanquas is the mostcommon rootstock used due to is goodresistance to root rot especially in heavysoils found in the lower Mississippivalley. The author prefers the Higocamellia Kumagai Nagoya due to its fastgrowth and very aggressive root system.This variety has the potential to grow 3feet in one year if well fertilized and keptfree of flower buds.

In the southeast grafting camellias incontainers has been problematic with verypoor success rates of 20-30%. This isunacceptable considering all the timegrowing the rootstock and the graftingoperation. The primary problem incontainers is that the root system diesbefore the graft union can heal. This haslead to the development of alternativeways to graft with using raised beds as thebest option. Rootstock plants grown inraised beds grow as if they are directly inthe ground and have much better survivalafter being grafted. Advantages of usingraised beds are less hassle dealing withindividual pots, better soil condition inraised bed, high plant density, easier tograft than plants directly in the ground,excellent drainage preventing root rotwhen root stock cut off and very easy todig and pot when ready and better survivalthan plants directly in the ground. The

Grafting Camellias in Raised Planter BedsText by Mark Crawford

Photos by Randolph Maphis

disadvantages are you can only graftduring good weather, requires workingclose to the ground and bending over andplants must be dug and placed into potsfor a full year before planting.

Building a raised bed is not difficultrequiring minimum carpentry skills.

First find a suitable place preferably witha half-day of sun for best growth. I preferto make my beds wide enough toaccommodate 2 rows of plants. Thismakes the grafting process much easier asyou are not leaning over another rowduring the grafting process. Next decideif you want to use treated or untreatedwood. Treated wood will last severalyears compared to untreated but somebelieve the treatment chemical will hurtthe plants. I have not experienced this andif this is of concern you can paint theinside of the bed before filling with soil toseal the wood. After deciding the lengthand width use at least 10 inch wide boardsfor good rooting depth. Corners can beconnected using prefab metal corners, 2X 2 or 4 X 4 post placed inside the bedand then screwed (not nails) to boards.See Fig. 1, 2 & 3. Placing your bed onground cover fabric helps keep the areaclean and prevents tree root intrusion.After securing the corners, place 18 inchlong rebar along the sides every 4 -6 ft toprevent the boards from bowing outwardwhen filled with soil. Fig 3. Next you wantto fill your bed with soil. I prefer to use afield/native soil amended with some typeof organic matter like compost, peat moss,pine bark, alfalfa pellets, or a combinationof these. Check the pH and if below 5.5then incorporate lime. Fill the bed to the

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top with soil to allow for settling. Fig.4.

Your bed is now ready to plant.I plant rooted cuttings or one-gallonplants 8 to 10 inches apart. Both willtake 1-2 years to achieve grafting sizedepending on plant size and yourculture. Fertilize plants monthly oruse a full season controlled releasefertilizer so they grow throughout thesummer. Irrigate plants using asoaker hose or drip tape. Fig. 5.Avoid overhead irrigation if possible.Provide pest control when needed tokeep plants healthy.

Now it is time to graft. Dependingon where you live that will be

January or February and into earlyMarch. You can graft plants one at atime or to save time try the assemblyline approach. First cut off severalplants to the desired grafting height.Then cleft all the stumps. Then placescions in the rootstocks labeling eachplant. Then cover all the grafts andseal with sand. Then repeat operation.This saves time because you are notchanging types of tools between everyplant like when you do themindividually. Large Styrofoam cupsor white plastic bottles can be usedfor covers. Do not use bottles madeof clear or translucent plastic likemilk bottles.

After all the rootstocks aregrafted then wait until April 15th tolook under the cups. When the scionsstart to grow poke a single hole in thetop or side of the cup. Wait a weekand poke another hole or 2 in the cup.After a few weeks it will be time toremove the entire top of the cup. Donot remove the cup until the scion hasgrown well above the top. Fig 6 & 7.It is also a very good practice to apply

Raised bed corners using 2 X 2s and metalstrapes.

Wood attached usingprefab metal corners.

Corners attached using4 X 4s. Rebar used tokeep boards straight.

Figure 1.

Fig 2. Fig 3.

Figure 4.

Raised beds filled with soil.

Figure 5.Planted raisedbed with soakerhose irrigation.

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a fungicide to the scions at thistime. The growth is very tenderand succulent and easily infectedby the dieback fungus,Glomeralla singulata. It isabsolutely necessary to keep thenew main stem healthy during thefirst year to assure the long-termhealth of the plants. Yourobjective is to prevent any leafdrop during the first year becauseleaf scars are points of fungalinfection.

When all the covers areremoved you need to fertilizemonthly and apply fungicideevery 2 weeks since growth isvery active on new grafts.

Plants are ready to dig whenthe scion stops growing and

a terminal bud forms. Fig. 8. Thisbegins in late October and it isbest to dig all the plants so thatthe bed can be replanted for thenext group of grafts. Transplantto pots so graft can develop agood root system. Keep pottedgrafts in heavy shade or in agreenhouse for a few weeks afterpotting. After they appearacclimated they can be located toa favorable growing area for 6months to a year at which timethey can be planted in yourgarden.

Using raised beds and‘Kumagai Nagoya’ rootstock hassignificantly improved graftingsuccess in the coastal southeastcompared to grafting in pots. Ifyou have good success in potskeep doing what you are doingbut if not, try a raised bed and letme know how it works for you.

Raised bed 4 months after graftingshowing some scion growth.

Figure 6.

Grafts at end of season ready to be dug andplaced into pots.

Figure 8

Figure 7.

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A chilly fall here in P’cola—I hope this isnot a vision of what January and Februaryare going to be like. But Dick says thecamellias love the chill; so if that’s whatkeeps Dickie happy, I’m all for it. Thesuccessful GCCS Conference is behindus, and I had a lovely time even though Idon’t quite understand some of the lingo.I and many others, I’m certain, are whatour nurseryman John Davy calls “preciouscamellia wife.” When I heard him use theexpression, after a day of busyness andthen driving out at dusk to the backside ofMilton, FL, to secure some special thingthat the man had to have for his plants thatevening—John stuck his head in the truckwindow as I not-so-very-patiently waitedand said to me, “How are you, PreciousCamellia Wife?” And I answered and trulymeant it, “Just fine, John, just fine.” Howkind.

So at the Conference, anothernurseryman, Mark Crawford had a presentfor me—4 big squashes. Mark and I traderecipes from time to time: he says I’m agreat cook and I say the reason for that isthat he grows the most beautifulvegetables. Then a while back, Dick,Roger, and their new camellia pal Allendrove north to Valdosta to Mark’s, and Isent a few squash recipes to Mark. In fact,one of them for an amazing Squash andBean Soup (which our camellia friendsfrom Mobile, Vickie and Al, Jimmy andLeo will taste in a few weeks!) is one thatbelongs to my Italian mother. The Mobilecontingent will visit soon to see the ScenicHighway blooms.

Another busy guy here in ‘the upsideof Florida’ is Paul Bruno, president of the

‘In This World of Ordinary People’By Bette Hooton, Pensacola. FL

club. He opened V.Paul’s ItalianRistorante in downtown Pensacola namedafter his dad Vincent Paul, during latesummer to rousing cheers from ourcommunity. Camellia folks supported Paulevery step of the way, and he is supportingthem by holding a fundraiser in lateNovember with a plant auction (I hear‘Dragon Fireball’ bandied about! Maybe

that’s why Al Baugh is dragging Vickieacross the water to attend!) and fantasticjazz entertainment along with a dinnerbuffet. The décor includes camellias, ofcourse. The money made will be put togood use, paying for a new camellia truck.Yes, I hate to break the news to all ourfaithful readers: the B.R.A.T. is dead. TheBig Red Axx Truck had a long and happylife with thanks to Ole Olsen formaintaining its health.

‘Extraordinary people’: they are whoparticipate and help in many ways notpublicized. As my daughter would say,”How cool is that!”

C. hybrid ‘Dragon Fireball’ c. japnica ‘MerryChristmas’ x c. hybrid ‘Virginia W. Cutter.’ Originated2008 by John Wang, Orinda, CA.

Photo by Randolph Maphis

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In the Winter GardenBy Art Landry, Baton Rouge, LA

Winter is the time to enjoy thoseblooms you have waited for all

spring, summer and fall and to get readyfor the winter chores of grafting, planting,re-potting and mulching.

The plants need ample moisture tobloom, so water every week that theydon't get enough rain. Try to pick up spentblooms to control petal blight.

Transplanting of plants can take placein December and continue throughFebruary. If you prepared your plantingsites in October, the planting place shouldbe in good shape by now if you've turnedthe soil over a few times. If you didn't dothis earlier, do it now and wait a monthor two.

Collect mulching materials (leaves,pine straw, etc) and keep your plants wellmulched.

Attend camellia shows in your areaand take flowers if you can. The clubsputting on shows always need plenty offlowers to make an impressive show.

DecemberCamellia plants or books make

wonderful Christmas presents. A giftmembership in your local camelliasociety, the Gulf Coast Camellia Societyor the American Camellia Society willalso be appreciated by your camelliafriends.

JanuaryJanuary is a good time to do minor

pruning while you are cutting flowersfrom the bush. If the branch is a weak oneor will have no growth bud on it, then cutit off back at the main branch or the trunk.

Don't leave a branch with leaves on itwithout growth buds; it is likely to dieback anyway. You are better off to pruneit away at the time you cut the flower.

If you have a plant with a scaleproblem, you can spray with oil emulsionsuch as Dormant Oil or Ultrafine Oilspray. Another good product is Neem Oil,also sold as a rose spray. Look for theactive ingredient to be Neem Oil. (Forexample, Neem Oil is now 'the activeingredient in "Triple Action" spray byFertilome which also contains a miticideand a fungicide.) As with other oil sprays,use in mild weather periods to avoiddamage to the leaves. Always use asdirected by manufacturer.

Get started with your grafting thismonth. The best days for grafting in 2015to take advantage of any help the moonphases may be are M-W Jan. 26-28;Tues-Thur Feb. 24-26; and Thur-Sat Mar.26-28. If you are inexperienced atgrafting contact your local camellia clubabout a demonstration or hands-onassistance in learning.

FebruaryFebruary is usually the month of most

profuse blooming of camellias in thisarea. The early bloomers are finishing,the midseason varieties are in full swing,and the late season bloomers are starting.We seldom have hard freezes in Februaryto interrupt the blooming.

Check container grown plants ifrainfall is sparse, and water as needed.

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#1 #2 ____________________ ____________________

#3 ____________________

#4 ____________________

C a m e l l i a Q u i zThe following camellias have won the Ilges Medal awarded to the best japonica

seedling developed in any one year.Can you name them? Answers on page 28.

#5 _____________________

#6 _____________________

28

Editor’s NotesBy Kenn Campbell, Baton Rouge, LA

kennbc@cox.net

1. 2009 Black Magic - Nuccio’s. Altadena, CA 1992; 2. 1981 Man Size - Hody Wilson, Hammond, LA 1961;3. 1972 Julia France - Ashby, Charleston, SC 1958; 4. 1993 Lady Laura - Lundy, Pensacola, FL 1972;5. 2008 Georgia National Fair - Robert Drews,Charleston, SC 1995; 6. 1987 Show Time - Nuccio’s, Altadena,CA 1978.

Camellia Quiz Answers

I know you all must be enjoying thecooler weather and the beginning of

the blooming season. I especiallyenjoyed some rain we finally got inmid November. We had fewer thantwo inches of rain in September, overthree weeks of no rain in October,before finally getting two inches on 17November. I was pretty busy wateringfor most of three months. The problemis that the camellias don’t really likeour alkaline, chlorinated water and asof Thanksgiving have not made muchprogress toward blooming. Decemberhas to be better.

Another volunteer seedling under‘Sukiya’ bloomed last week (22

Nov) and had a pretty nice flower. Its

tap root must have reached thewatertable Because it is growing in alocation that never gets watered.

The GCCS Annual Meeting hadspeakers with very good

information. I plan to try a couple ofthings I learned. Mark Crawfordspoke on raised bed grafting (see page22) which seems to be much easierthan the hassle of handling a bunch ofpots. The soaker hose irrigationsystem would be better than trying tokeep individual pots watered. Myraised bed will not be nearly as big asthe ones Mark and Randolph Maphisuse.

Larry Bates talked about hissystem for producing large quantitiesof grafts for the wholesale trade. Hisprocedures included grafting on pencilsize vigorously growing understockand is another idea I want to try also.

Hong Park discussed his Air-Propogator which we had a story aboutin the Summer 2013 and Winter 2014issues. His latest model has beenmodified from the one we tested andthe hinge seems like it would make itmuch easier to use.

Merry Christmas and Happy New YearOpen polinated seedling of ‘Sukiya’ 4 ¾ inches.

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Does your club have a website? Send it to us and we will be glad to print it.

American Camellia Societywww.americancamellias.org

Atlantic Coast Camellia Societywww.atlanticcoastcamelliasociety.org

Baton Rouge Camellia Societywww.facebook.com/brcamellias

Birmingham Camellia Societywww.birminghamcamellias.com

Brookhaven Camellia Societywww.homerrichardson.com/camellia

Camellia Society of North Floridawww.atlanticcoastcamelliasociety.com/Camellia _ Society _North _ Fla.html

Coushatta Camellia Society, Conroe, TXwww.coushattacamelliasociety.org

Fort Walton Beach Camellia Societywww.facebook.com/FWBCamelliaSociety

Gainesville (Florida) Camellia Societywww.afn.org/-camellia/

Gulf Coast Camellia Societywww.gulfcoastcamellias.org

Mississippi Gulf Coast Camellia Societywww.facebook.com/Mississippi_Gulf_Coast_Camellia_Society

Mobile Camellia Societywww.mobilecamellia.org

Northshore Camellia Societywww.northshorecamelliasociety.org

Pensacola Camellia Clubwww.pensacolacamelliaclub.com

Valdosta Camellia Societywww.atlanticcoastcamelliasociety.org/assets/pdf/Valdosta%20Newsletters%20-

%202013-2014.pdf

Camellia Websites

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C. japonica “Elaine’s Betty Var.” 2010, by J. & E. Smelley,Moss Point, MS

C. japonica “C. M. Wilson” 1949, by Mrs. A. E. Wilson,Pensacola, FL

Gulf Coast Camellia Society

Invitation to Join

The Gulf Coast Camellia Society was organizedin 1962 for the purpose of extendingappreciation and enjoyment of camellias. TheSociety strives to provide information to itsmembers about all aspects of the care and cultureof camellia plants as well as the exhibiting andshowing of camellia blooms. The Society alsoserves as a forum for members to share andexchange information and experiences with othermembers.

Annual dues for membership in the GulfCoast Camellia Society are $10.00 forindividuals and $12.00 for couples. Membershipruns from October through September each year.Life Membership is available at $200 forindividual and $240 for couples. Inc ludedwith membership are four issues of The GulfCoast Camellian which contains articles on allaspects of camellia culture as well as serving asan exchange of news and information betweenand for members. The Camellian also containsreports of the Society’s operations, minutes ofmeetings, financial reports, show news, andother subjects of interest to our members.To join, send your name, address, phonenumber, and e-mail address, along with yourpayment to Gulf Coast Camellia Society, in careof Michael Ruth, 726 High Plains Ave., BatonRouge, LA 70810

Name: ______________________________

Address: ____________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

Telephone:__________________________

C. japonica “Alyson Pollard” 1977, by Doug Mayfield, BatonRouge, LA

C. japonica “Glen 40” 1942, by Azalea Glen Nursery, Loxley,AL

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President Jim Dwyer14040 Riverside Dr.Foley, AL 36535(251) 988-1405dwyer@gulftel.com

Vice-President Roger Roy, P.O.Box 177

Watson, LA 70786(225) 664-9594elroy001@bellsouth.net

Treasurer Michael Ruth726 High Plains Ave.

Baton Rouge, LA 70810 (225) 767-1388 mruthmd@gmail.com

Secretary Rebecca Christian521 Long Lake Dr..

Pensacola, FL 32560-5683 850) 455-8496 cjeanc@hotmail.com

Editor Kenneth B. Campbell3310 Fairway Drive

Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 923-1697 kennbc@cox.net

State Vice Presidents Alabama Al Baugh Florida Carol Comber Georgia Mark Crawford Louisiana Jim Campbell Mississippi James Smelley, Susan Moran Texas Claudette Shelfer

The Gulf Coast Camellian is published quarterlyby the Gulf Coast Camellia Society, Inc.

Copyright 2014

The Gulf Coast Camellia SocietyOfficers 2015 - 2016

Jim Campbell hosted GCCS members on a tour of his Riverside Camellia Gardensfollowing their Annual Meeting in Covington, Louisiana. See page 5.

Phot

o by

Pat

ti Pe

rkin

s