Camellia Club of Mobile Newsletter

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Volume II Issue 4 ___________________January 2006

It’s Going To Be a Really Big Show!

The big weekend is almost here - January 21 & 22 will see the presentation of our Club’s 66th Camellia Show! As you know, it will be held at Colonial Bel Air Mall. In order to keep this Show’s reputation as one of the best in our area (heck, let’s brag and say the USA!) we need as many willing members as possible to help in the set-up and operation of the Show. The Club Meeting on January 8 at Mobile Botanical Gardens will be turned over to Walter Creighton, Show Chairman. He will let us all know what help is needed. There are lots of small jobs that do not take up a lot of time, there are others that might require you to volunteer for a couple of hours; for sure there will be something for everyone who wants to help. Setting up the Show is a really good way to get to know people in the camellia world, and to get a close up look at the very best blooms that can be grown. One of the most important and interesting jobs is being a clerk - you’ll find out all about it at the January 8 meeting - we need as many clerks as possible. Funniest part is the shock and horror on the faces of shoppers who watch us tear along the tables at the end of the Show, chucking all those lovely blooms into trash bags! We’ve had a few brave souls risk life and limb to rescue a really pretty bloom from the swiftly-moving table clearers! One lady pleaded for an armload for a wedding, she said!

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Christmas Party & Mini-Show a Hit

Over sixty members got in the holiday mood and attended the Club’s Christmas Party in December. Many of them brought blooms to enter in the mini-show - the variety and quality was quite impressive! Judges Jim & Elaine Smelley, Walter Creighton and David Nihart picked a best bloom in three categories - winners were:

Small Bloom: “Pink Perfection” - grown by Vickie Baugh

Medium Bloom: “Morning Glow” - grown by Vickie Baugh

Large Bloom: “Mary Agnes Patin” - grown by Kay Calloway

I think that Al Baugh and Ray Calloway might deserve some credit in these wins - the blooms were lovely and well-chosen by our four fully-accredited Camellia Show judges - Jim, Walter and David are all past Presidents of the Mobile Club as well. To those members who brought blooms expecting to get them waxed for the holidays, my apologies for the misinformation, the program changed and no-one told me. Waxing will be demonstrated, I’m informed, at a later meeting. Our thanks go to all who provided food for the meal, and especially to Eileen Dwyer and her reliable helpers, Laura Barnard and Vaudine Driskell, for planning and presenting the goodies. Jim Oates is due sincere thanks for ordering and picking up the ham, turkey and dressing for the Club. A good time was had by all.

new orleans show is on - different venue...

The New Orleans Camellia Club will be holding their Show on 14 January 2006 - despite the best efforts of hurricane “Katrina” to cancel it! The new venue will be the VFW Hall on Richland Avenue in Metairie, LA. Do try to visit or exhibit at this Show, you will see a lot of their members at our Show a week later!

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Camellia Chat....

All our chat must be about our big 66th Show - do hope you are busy grooming your blooms ready for their big day in the spotlight at Colonial Bel Air Mall on January 21 & 22. We are expecting a great Show (providing we don’t get a bad freeze!) and lots of new and first-time exhibitors. Plants will be on sale as usual, with some special varieties available. Don’t miss the Mobile Camellia Show!!!!!

The Pensacola Show was lovely as usual, and the members were pleased to see at least five new exhibitors taking part from the Mobile Camellia Club. I believe some of them even won awards - congratulations, people!

There are two more Camellia Shows before our February Meeting, Baton Rouge Club on January 28 & 29, and Brookhaven MS Club on February 4 & 5. Do visit these Shows, you will probably see different blooms at them, with the later varieties appearing. Information on these Shows is on the events flyer sent to you at the beginning of September - if you can’t find it, it is on our website, mobilecamellia.org. If you don’t have a computer, drop in at the local library and they will show you how to find us on the web.

President George Davis says that January 7, 2006, will be Camellia Day as originally designated, however, inauguration on this day and dedication of the many new camellias the Club has planted at the Capitol in Montgomery will be announced at a later date. George relayed this information from Forrest Latta who was unable to attend the December meeting. As soon as Forrest has a firm date for the dedication he will let us all know so those who wish can attend the ceremony. So, on January 7, go out and hug your camellias, tell ‘em they’ve their own day!