January in Central Florida is camellia season! See for yourself the beauty of thousands of camellia flower blooms at the Camellia Society of Central Florida’s (CSCF) 68th Annual Camellia Show and Festival Presented by Espoma Organic Fertilizer on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Winter Park Garden Club Clubhouse at Mead Botanical Garden (1500 S. Denning Dr., Winter Park, FL 32789). Sanctioned by the American Camellia Society, the CSCF show and festival is Florida’s largest camellia show. From 1 -4 p.m. the public can view the award-winning blooms from Central Florida and throughout the Southeastern United States.
The free show and festival includes: free parking; assorted colorful varieties of camellia plants for sale; various vendors (camellias and food); a Camellia 101 class from10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (RSVP for classes email [email protected] or call 407-963-8970); and self-guided tours of the camellia garden and the other gardens at Mead.
If you have camellias growing in your yard, the Camellia Society of Central Florida wants your blooms! Anyone can enter a bloom or blooms; you do not have to be a member of the society. Blooms must be brought for competition between 7-10 a.m., the morning of the show to the Winter Park Garden Club, Clubhouse at Mead Botanical Garden (1500 S. Denning Dr., Winter Park, FL 32789). Volunteers are available to assist. Cash prizes will be awarded.
To enter a bloom for the first time, the morning of the show or the day before the show, select for your entry a well formed bloom without blemish on any petals or deformity. Clip the bloom with enough stem to emerge in a shallow 1 1/2 inch deep cup. Include at least one leaf (without blemishes) from the bush to be shown along with the bloom. Be sure you gently shake off any insects as well. Ants really like camellias blooms. Do not store your selected camellia bloom(s) in the refrigerator (too much moisture and will brown the petals). Transport each bloom in a baby food jar size container filled half way with water. Don’t let the petals touch the water. Bring the bloom to the show and seek out the “Receiving Room,” where we will assist you in filling out the entry card. The show staff will determine the correct name for the bloom if unknown. The bloom will be put in a cup of water and placed in its corresponding division to be judged.
After the judging is complete the show will be opened to the public at 1 p.m. At that time you may find your bloom and see how it fared with the competition.
The 68th Annual Camellia Show and Festival is a partnership of the CSCF, Mead Botanical Garden and the Winter Park Garden Club. Sponsors include: Espoma Organic Fertilizer and South Seminole Farm & Nursery. The Camellia Society of Central Florida (CSCF) members share in the enthusiasm of growing and learning about the beautiful camellia flower. The society represents Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard and Lake Counties. CSCF meets monthly at Reeves Methodist Church (1100 N. Fern Creek Avenue, Orlando) the first Tuesday of each month from September – May at 7 p.m. For more information call 407-963-8970or visit www.camelliacfl.com.
