Celebrate the Cool Camellia at Descanso Gardens

This weekend celebrate the queen of winter, the Camellia. From 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., January 11 and 12, visitors can enjoy crafts, demonstrations and walks focusing on the glorious Camellia.

Events for the weekend are:

Camellia Crafting
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Make your own camellia-inspired craft to take home.

Camellia Demonstrations
1:00 p.m.

Steve Medford demonstrates pruning camellia plants on Saturday, and George Harrison will lead a floral arranging demonstration on Sunday.

Camellia Walks
2:00 p.m.

Join camellia experts from the Southern California Camellia Society for a tour of Descanso’s collection on Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Bradford King will lead the walk on Saturday, and James Fitzpatrick will lead the walk on Sunday.

The Southern California Camellia Society will also be exhibiting their most beautiful blooms on Saturday from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Southern California Camellia Society was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1946 by a group of camellia lovers who wanted to share their enthusiasm about this evergreen plant with its beautiful blooms. Over the years those original founders and their successors have been instrumental in importing reticulatas from China, japonicas from Japan and, more recently, scions and seeds from China, Vietnam, Burma and other Asian countries. Interest grew and camellia hobbyists began meeting regularly to share information, camellia scions, good soil mix recipes, learn new ways to prune and graft and life-long friendships began.

The events at the Camellia Celebration are free with Garden admission. Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada. For more information call (818) 949-4200 or visit www.descansogardens.org.