AMERICAN CAMELLIA CONFERENCE
Co-sponsored by the
American Camellia Society and Longwood Gardens
February 22-24, 2008
Main Conservatory Longwood Gardens/L. Albee (photo courtesy Longwood Gardens)
by Shirley Meneice and Luise Strauss
ext
February 22 – 24, the magic of the camellia will be unveiled at the most magical
of all settings: Longwood Gardens. The occasion will be the American Camellia
Society’s 2008 Annual Meeting. This meeting will include a conference and
symposium co-spon-sored by Longwood Gardens, with a focus on cold-hardy
camellias. For the first time, anyone curious about this beautiful plant may
join camellia-savvy growers and ACS members to enjoy not only news of the
camellia world, but also the fabulous orchids, tropical plants and other
outstanding exhibits that have made Longwood Gardens so famous. This is truly a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience an ACS Conference that will be
remembered for years to come.
CAMELLIAS AT LONGWOOD
In 1912, Mr. Pierre S. du Pont began his significant collection of camellias with the purchase of several varieties among them, Camellia japonica ‘Alba Plena’, ‘Beauté de Nantes’ and ‘Elegans chandlerii’. By 1928 he had amassed such a large collection that he built the large Longwood conservatory. He loved these winter beauties so much and took special pleasure in sending blossoms to his friends and relatives. Many of these same camellias now tower over Longwood’s visitors with blooms starting in December and continuing through March.
Over 50 years ago, Longwood began a collaborative effort to develop a cold-hardy camellia. Dr. Clifford Parks, then in California, worked with first Dr. Richard Lighty and then Dr. Robert Armstrong from Longwood, making crosses with plants in Descanso Gardens near Los Angeles where there was a better climate for seed production. The resulting seedlings were then placed back at Longwood. These early specimens did well until the cold winters of 1977 and 1978
when most of them died back to the ground. The project was less active until the mid-1980s when Camellia japonica seedlings from Korea were collected. Those that survived the 1993-1994 winter remain in the trial.
Other promising selections are hybrids from Dr. William Ackerman (formerly with the U.S. National Arboretum). Some of Dr. Ackerman’s cold-hardy introductions bloom in the autumn, so the flower buds open before the coldest weather. More recent additions to these test plots include seedlings
from
Hubei Province in China, as well as others collected by Dr. Parks
(now retired from the University
of North Carolina), and Mr. Richard Schulhof (now with the Arnold Arboretum), in
the Yunnan Province of China at an elevation of 3,000 meters.
The American Camellia Conference at Longwood is designed to provide all gardeners with a good knowledge of camellia culture. Even gardeners who live in the coldest climates can learn how they can grow some of the most beautiful ornamentals that exist today.
The quest for cold-hardy camellias continues. Longwood has attempted to collect virtually all cultivars that exhibit cold hardiness, making their collection among the best in the United States. The ACS Annual Meeting and Conference will feature some of the people responsible for much of the progress in cold hardiness in camellias. Sharing their knowledge with you will be: Charles Cresson, Dan Hinkley, Clifford Parks, Richard Schulhof, Bobbie Green, and Barry Yinger. In addition, a paper by William Ackerman on his new book Beyond the Camellia Belt will be presented.
REMARKABLE NEW SPECIES NAMED CAMELLIA AZALEA
Camellia azalea is a unique Camellia species in the world today. Most camellias are known and loved because of their winter-blooming characteristic. As spring draws near and camellias finish their blooming season for the year, camellia growers are always saddened that they must wait another year to enjoy their favorite ornamental in bloom. Camellia azalea is very unusual because it can bloom 12 months out of the year. Not only can this camellia species be a welcome addition to our gardens in the near future, but equally as important, it can provide the genetics necessary for the hybridization of many new camellia varieties with extended blooming seasons. Longwood Gardens has been researching this special Camellia species for a number of years now. You will not want to miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this unique camellia and hear from the experts at Longwood what they have discovered about it.
Camellia azalea was put on display at Longwood Gardens last year and proceeded to bloom month after month after month, amazing and delighting all who saw it. Longwood’s own Jim Harbage will tell you all about it during the symposium. The February weekend at Longwood will be full of such opportunities, no matter where your interests lie with camellias.
THE
ART
OF FLOWER
ARRANGING
WITH CAMELLIAS
Sogetsu flower demonstrations will be given by Sandra Patterson and Midori Tanimune, both nationally known arrangers. Their arrangements will be on display for all to enjoy. In addition, each of the different schools of the Philadelphia Chapter of Ikebana International will exhibit camellias arranged in their style. Flower arranging takes on a new meaning when camellias take center stage in this amazing art form. Learn from the experts how Sogetsu Arrangement to display your camellias in breath-using japonica camellias taking flower arrangements. You ‘Kona’. Arrangement and will not want to miss this exciting photograph by opportunity. Sandra Patterson.
GROWING
TEA
IN AMERICA
Growing and making your own tea has become a national phenomenon in recent years in our country. If you have ever wanted to know about Tea, you have the unique opportunity to hear all about growing it from Bill Hall from the Charleston Tea Plantation. Bill is a third generation Tea Taster with a passion for growing Tea like no one you have ever heard before. You will not want to miss this truly unique opportunity to hear Bill Hall talk about growing Tea in America from Camellia sinensis. You will discover a new appreciation for our most commercially used camellia.
Shown right is Bill Hall of The Charleston Tea Plantation. Bill is one of the featured speakers at the convention in Longwood. Small inset shows the C. sinensis bloom against one of the tea fields. Photography by Gene Phillips.
CAMELLIA
PHOTOGRAPHY
COMPETITION
There will be a photography display and a judged show of entries from all over the country. Information on the classes and entry submission is on the ACS website at www .camellia-acs.org . Whether you are an experienced photographer or a backyard shutter snapper, you can participate in this American Camellia . Conference.
JAPANESE
TEA
CEREMONY
The Japanese Tea Ceremony hosted by Taeko Shervin with Kodo music will delight you. Watching this impressive ceremony gives one the opportunity to experience this ancient Japanese custom in person. You will not want to miss this tradition come to life before your eyes.
NATIONAL AMERICAN CAMELLIA SHOW
One of the featured highlights of the ACS Annual Meeting will be a judged Camellia Show sponsored by the American Camellia Society featuring top judges and blooms from across the United States. Anyone may enter the show and entry is free. Come and learn what it takes to show off your blooms to their best advantage! Awards this year will be presented to people at a special ceremony late Saturday afternoon. Camellia Shows are held all across America every weekend throughout the camellia blooming season and experiencing the National American Camellia Show is a treat in itself. This event promises to bring the best of the best together in a camellia competition that you will never forget. Don’t miss being there for the National American Camellia Show!
KENNETT SQUARE, PA
Camellia Show to be held at Longwood Gardens in conjunction with the ACS National Convention, 2/23-24/2008,
Luise
Strauss, 401-847-1786.
EXCITING
WORKSHOP
OPPORTUNITIES
There will be camellia propagation demonstrations and a hands-on workshop for children and interested adults. Special discussions on camellia culture by Charles Cresson will stress growing camellias in cold climates. At another
workshop you will learn how to wax a camellia bloom to make it last longer. You will be in for a very special treat! Waxing camellias preserves your favorite flowers for up to several weeks, and it makes them look like they have been transformed into porcelain. Have the most fun you have ever had at a gardening event!
ACS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE • FEBRUARY 22-24, 2008
Meetings for the
board and committees begin on Friday, February 22 with breakfast at 7 am at
the Doubletree Hotel. For those not participating in Board or Committee
meetings on Friday, tours of the Brandywine Valley attractions will be
available. That evening a special reception in the stunning galleries at
Winterthur will be held for all those attending the conference.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
9 am
*OPTIONAL
Area
tours for Board, Trust, Committee, and Club Workshop Participants.
SPACE IS LIMITED. Preregistration
required. $25 extra fee
2–5 pm Committee Meetings (Doubletree Hotel)
2–5 pm “Growing Healthy Clubs” Workshop open to all (Hotel)
6–8 pm Cocktail Reception (Hotel)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
7–8 am
Breakfast (Hotel) Tour of Brandywine Valley attractions.
SPACE IS LIMITED.
Pre-registration
required. $35 extra fee
8–5 pm Committee Meetings (Hotel)
11 am Photo Judging
2–3 pm Trust Meeting (Hotel)
3–5 pm Board Meeting (Hotel)
6 pm Buses leave hotel for Winterthur
6:30–8 pm Welcoming Reception in the Galleries at Winterthur. Buses will
return attendees to
Doubletree
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AT LONGWOOD
7-9 am
Entries accepted for Flower Show
7-9 am Coffee available for Exhibitors, Judges and Clerks
9:15 am Judges’ briefings
9:30-11:30 am Flower Show will open to the public at noon on the Exhibition
Floor. Photography Show will be open to the public in the East Vestibule.
Nursery Catalogs, Cultural Information and Educational Materials covering
Camellias, Tea and
camellia
sinensis
will be
available throughout the conference.
9 am Opening Welcome, Barbara Tuffli, President ACS (Ballroom)
9:15-10:15 am Charles Cresson, Cold Hardy Camellias (Ballroom)
Demonstrations
- Main
Floor, East Conservatory - approx. 20 minutes each
9:30 am Camellia Grafting
10 am Rooting Camellia cuttings
10:30 am Air Layering Camellias
11 am Waxing Camellia Blooms
11:30 am Growing Camellias from Seed
Noon Bonsai
10:45-11:45 am Daniel J. Hinkley, Companion Plants for Camellia Gardens
(Ballroom)
11:45-12:30 pm Jim Harbage, The
camellia azalea (Ballroom)
Noon Children’s Session, Potting
camellia sinensis
and
Cold-Hardy Camellia seeds (Potting Shed)
12:30-1:30 pm Box lunches available in the Ballroom
1-1:30 pm General Membership Meeting (Ballroom)
Demonstrations -
Main
Floor, East Conservatory - approx. 20 min. each
1 pm Camellia Grafting
1:30 pm Rooting Camellia Cuttings
2 pm Air Layering Camellias
3 pm Waxing Camellia Blooms
3:30 pm Growing Camellia Seeds
1:30 pm Tour of the Show (two groups)
1:45-2:45 pm Dr. Clifford Parks, The Reticulata Complex (Ballroom)
1:45-2:45 pm Sandra Patterson demonstrates Sogetsu Flower Arranging (Music Room)
3-3:45 pm Bill Hall, Charleston Tea Plantation (Ballroom)
3-4 pm Japanese Tea Ceremony (Music Room)
3 pm Tour of the show (two groups)
4 pm Awards Ceremony and Special ACS Awards (Patio of the Oranges)
6:30-10:30 pm Candlelight and Camellias (Ballroom) (included in conference
registration or tickets available $115). Rededication of the Camellia House.
Presentation of the Alice
B. du
Pont Camellia
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT LONGWOOD
9 am
Welcome, Barbara Tuffli, President ACS (Ballroom)
9:15-10:15 am Jennifer Trehane, Cold Hardy Camellias in Great Britain (Ballroom)
Demonstrations
- Main
Floor, East Conservatory - approx. 20 min each
9:30 am Camellia Grafting
10 am Rooting Camellia Cuttings
10:30 am Air Layering Camellias
11 am Waxing Camellia Blooms
11:30 am Growing Camellia Seeds
10:30-11:30 am Barry Yinger, Events Leading to the Discovery of Cold-Hardy
Camellias (Ballroom)
11:30-12:30 pm Richard Schulhof, Yellow Camellias of Viet Nam (Ballroom)
12:30-1:30 pm Box lunches available in the Ballroom
12:30 pm Bonsai
1-2 pm Lunch with Bobby Green - “The Cold Hardy Soul of Wendell Levi” (Ballroom)
Demonstrations
- Main
Floor, East Conservatory - approx. 20 min. each
1 pm Camellia Grafting
1:30 pm Rooting Camellia Cuttings
2 pm Air Layering Camellias
3 pm Waxing Camellia Blooms
3:30 pm Growing Camellia Seeds
2-3 pm Dr. William Ackerman, Seeking New Horizons in Hybridizing, Presented by
Randy Kobetich (Ballroom)
2-3 pm Midori Tanimune demonstrates Sogetsu Flower Arranging (Ballroom)
3-4 pm Tea lecture (Ballroom)
3-4 pm Japanese Tea Ceremony (Music Room)
4 pm Conference Closes
LONGWOOD GARDENS, KENNETT SQUARE, PA • FEBRUARY 22-24, 2008
Registration Form for Mailing
Conference Price: $385 per
person
Thursday tour fee $25; Friday tour fee $35.
Friday evening at Winterthur and Saturday’s Gala are included in the
registration fee. Purchased separately, they are:
Friday, $85 and Saturday, $115. Please specify when registering.
NAME_____________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS__________________________________________________________________________________ CITY________________________________ STATE ______________ ZIP CODE_______________________ TEL:__________________________ EMAIL:_________________________ Name tag/s to read:___________________________________________________________________________________________Full conference registration ($385/person) $385 x _____ = _____
Daytime rates for local participants ($85/day [specify Sat or Sun]; $150/two
days) $ 85 x _____ = _____
Includes admission to Longwood Gardens and the box lunch.
I wish to purchase a ticket(s) for Thursday’s Brandywine Valley tour $ 25 x _____ = _____
I wish to purchase a ticket(s) for Friday’s Brandywine Valley attractions tour $ 35 x _____ = _____
I wish to purchase a ticket(s) to Friday’s reception at Winterthur $ 85 x _____ = _____
I wish to purchase a ticket(s) to Saturday’s Gala $ 115 x _____ = _____
TOTAL $
_____
Walk-ins welcome at a reduced rate during any event with exclusion of Longwood
Gardens' admission and the box lunch.
For additional information please check the ACS web site at
www.camellias-acs.org or contact Luise Strauss,
conference coordinator, at bhlulu@cox.net or 401-847-1786.
Hotel Reservation
Information -
Ask for ACS special
rate. Reservations made after 1/22/08 are subject to availability.
Guest is responsible for all charges. Doubletree Wilmington - 302-478-6000, 4727
Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. www.doubletreewilmington.com
Rates: 2/20/2008 Single/Dbl: $159; 2/21-23/08 Single/Dbl: $109. Room rates are subject to 8% Occupancy Tax.
HOTEL RESERVATION INFORMATION
Call Doubletree Wilmington 302-478-6000 or 1-800-222-8733 • 4727 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 • www.doubletreewilmington.com
Ask for ACS special rate. Reservations made after 1/22/08 are subject to availability. Guest is responsible for all charges.
RATES: 2/20/2008 Single/Dbl: $159 • 2/21/08 - 2/23/08 Single/Dbl: $109 • Room rates are subject to 8% Occupancy Tax.