The Golden Age of the Camellia
February 20 - 27, 2010
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
In the 1950s and 60s, Descanso celebrated its extensive camellia collection with elaborate pageantry, society shows, a “Queen of Camellialand” contest and walks through the famed winter-blooming fl ower forests.
Join us as we recreate a bit of Descanso’s past for this inaugural celebration of the signature flower of the Gardens.
The Golden Age of the Camellia features camellia forest tours, workshops and walks along with an evening party hosted by humorist and author Charles Phoenix who will incorporate images of Descanso’s past into his wonderfully hilarious presentation, “Charles Phoenix’s Retro Slide Show of Southern California.”
Camellias have been an integral part of Descanso since founder E. Manchester Boddy fi rst planted the showy flowers in 1935. Boddy’s plantation provided blooms to the cut-flower industry and helped make camellias the blossoms of choice for corsages worn by fashionable ladies of the era. Today, we continue to savor the bloom that makes winter a magical place in Southern California.
Faery Tours of the Camellia Forest
Sat., Feb. 20 |
Tours depart at 9:30, 10:15 and 11 a.m. (This Event is FULL -- all tours have been reserved)
Follow the forest faeries as they guide children and families through Descanso’s camellia forest which holds more than 34,000 plants and 700 taxa of the celebrated bloom—the largest collection in North America. Learn flower facts, hear faery stories of enchantment and frolic, and be prepared for surprises along the way.
Free with Gardens admission but space is limited. Call (818) 949-7980 to reserve your spot.
Charles Phoenix’s Retro Slide Show of Southern California
Sat., Feb. 20 | 8 p.m.
Join pop culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix for a laugh-out-loud celebration of retro car culture such as suburbia, fast food stands, driveins, and L.A. landmarks—including Descanso Gardens’ Camellia Festivals!
Charles Phoenix super-charges the classic living room slide show by reinventing it into a hip and high octane celebration of classic and kitschy mid-century Southern California life and style. In keeping with the theme,
coming to the party dressed in clothes of the era is not discouraged.
Camellia cocktails will be available for purchase before and after the slide show. Tickets are $25 available at Ticketweb (www.ticketweb.com) beginning Dec. 1.
Brewing Camellias—Tea Tasting Workshop
Sun., Feb. 21 | 1 p.m. | Minka
Bet you didn’t know that almost all teas come from the beautiful Camellia sineses. We'll give you the low down on camellia history and tea-growing facts along with showing the differences between green, oolong and black teas. Hot tea tasting is the sipping finale. Free, but seating is limited.
Garden Walking Tour of the Camellia Forest
Sat. Feb. 27 | 2 p.m. | Meet at Center Circle
Descanso’s Wayne Walker guides Camellia flower fanciers into the forests. Free with Gardens admission.
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Did you know… Descanso Gardens is home to the largest camellia collection in North America and consists
of more than 34,000 plants. Descanso’s Camellia Forest has both rare and familiar camellias
and has been designated a Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society.
Camellias at Descanso bloom from early autumn to early spring, but the most dazzling floral display is in January through February.
The core collection of 100,000 camellias was purchased by Descanso Gardens’ founder E. Manchester Boddy from nurserymen F.M. Uyematsu and F.W. Yoshimura.
The most commonly-planted species in America are Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua, and Camellia reticulata. C. sinensis is the tea plant and originated in China.
Legend has it that camellias arrived in England as the result of a ruse. The Chinese, reluctant to lose their lucrative monopoly on the tea trade, answered demands for the plant by substituting C. japonica for C. sinensis. Although deprived of their tea, the English, avid gardeners, were quick in their appreciation of the substitution.
The first camellias came to America in 1797, where they were cultivated in New England greenhouses before their culture spread south and westward.
To learn more… Macoboy, S., The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Camellias, Portland OR: Timber Press, 1998.
The Camellia Journal, American Camellia Society, pub.
The Camellia Review, Southern California Camellia Society, La Verne, CA
www.americancamellias.org, www.socalcamellias.org, www.pacificcamellias.org, www.nucciosnurseries.com
