RE: Camelia

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Camellias began to bloom in late September and will continue into Spring, but winter is the season Descanso’s signature collection dazzles every visitor. January and February will be alive with the vibrant hues of more than 40,000 camellia plants growing throughout 20 acres. The Camellia Forest, shaded by the canopy of stately oaks, is recognized as an “International Camellia Garden of Excellence” by the International Camellia Society. Two months of flower shows, talks, walks and plant sales will lead to Descanso’s annual Camellia Festival Feb. 24 through 27. Don’t miss Descanso’s forest of camellias in full bloom. All festival events are free to members and free with Gardens admission.

Camellia Council Judges Symposium
and Exhibitors’ School
Saturday, Jan. 8, 9 am. to 4 p.m.

The Southern California Camellia Society presents this must program for exhibitors and judges of all levels of expertise and to members of the public interested in becoming an expert. Learn how to judge and present camellia blooms… how to move your blooms from the bush to the awards table.

Pacific Camellia Society Flower Show
Jan. 15 & 16, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
The variety and beauty of camellias at this show will amaze you.

Camellia Forest Tours
Sundays, Jan. 16 & 30, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 26, 12: 30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 27, noon
Some of the more beautiful camellias are off the beaten path. Camellia Horticulturist Wayne Walker will help you discover some of our most spectacular camellias during these tours.

Southern California Camellia Society
Flower Show and Sale
Jan. 29 & 30
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
See the dazzling array of beautiful plants, chat with the experts and choose the ideal camellia for your garden.

Joint Meeting of the Southern California
and Pacific Camellia Societies
Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Tom Nuccio, co-owner of the famed Nuccio Nurseries, will tell the group “What’s New in the Wonderful World of Camellias.”

Southern California Camellia Council Show
Feb. 26 & 27
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Camellia Culture and Care Lecture
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2 p.m.
Sergio Bracci, award-winning camellia grower, will share secrets about how to grow beautiful camellias.

Camellia Pruning Demonstration
Sunday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m.
Mel Belcher, longtime grower of award winning camellias, will explain the basics of pruning. See how to prune for bigger and more camellias.

A Walk Through the Camellia Forest
By Wayne Walker, Camellia Horticulturist

Camellias are in bloom this time of year, with the early bloomers leading the way. The magnificent Camellia sasanquas began to bloom in October. They are sure to thrive through December and, if nature allows, will last into the new year. You can find sasanquas on the way to and in the Japanese Garden. Then, if you walk across the main lawn to the information center and turn left into the forest, you will be walking under them on your left. Moving through the West Camellia Forest you will find a large group of sasanquas in the southwest corner. Then, if you stroll back down the road that runs through the west forest to the main lawn, you will see the popular ‘Mine-No-Yuki,’ also known as ‘White Doves’ on the left. ‘White Doves’ took a blow last winter from a falling branch and is a little thin this year, but did survive to decorate another season with its showy, peony-form flowers.

As you wander through the West Camellia Forest you might find a path lined with new plants on both sides. This is the Camellia Gallery planted in the fall. These species camellia are arranged to lead from the small flowering plants at the west, to larger flowers on the east.

Both blossoms and foliage on these special camellias can have a different look than the more common C. japonicas. Look for tubular or small, single flowers, and foliage that can be slender, wavy, ribbed, coarse or serrated. The Camellia Gallery path ends by the Higo camellias.

You also can see new plantings of C. nitidissima, a beautiful yellow camellia, at the base of the stairs leading through the forest to the Boddy House. We plan to have more yellow camellias in this area in years to come.

I hope you enjoy your strolls through the Camellia Forest. You never know what will be blooming or what you my find but you can be sure to find beauty wherever you look.