Inviting all to enjoy beautiful and exotic blooms, the Augusta Camellia Society will present a flower competition and show at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Free and open to the public, the show will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. in the church’s Parish Hall at 2230 Walton Way, after judges select winning entries.
Along with judges from various states in the South, participants and attendees will also include members of multiple garden clubs from surrounding areas. Organizers said they expect the show to draw a similarly large crowd to 2020’s show, before the start of the pandemic.
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“We really want the Augusta community to come out and support the show,” said Dale Scurry, co-organizer of the Camellia Show and a member of the Augusta Camellia Society. “The last year we had it, I counted over 1,008 blooms, but I have no idea how many we’ll have now.”
With flowers ranging from small to large and blossoming in many colors, Scurry said the sight of the flower show is truly an “eye popping” sight.
“Last time, it was just an array of gorgeous blooms … some of them were as big as saucers,” said Scurry. “People take camellias for granted, but they are just the most wonderful flower in the wintertime. There’s just so many varieties that people don’t ever really see.”
According to Scurry, the flower competition is a longtime tradition in the CSRA, as the U.S.’s first Camellia Show was held in Augusta in 1932.
In fact, Scurry said Fruitland Nurseries, which was originally located on the site where the Augusta National Golf Club now resides, used to ship Camellias all over the world.
After 1932, the show was then annually held during the winter season until 1979. After almost four decades, Augusta’s Camellia Society worked to bring the show back in 2018.
“The first show was held at Mrs. Alonzo Boardman’s house on Walton Way … Augusta is really the Camellia capital of the world,” said Scurry.
Those interested in entering blooms or having camellias identified by experts can bring their flowers from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m, after which judging will immediately begin.
“If people want to cut their blooms and bring them because they don’t know what the variety is, we have judges who will identify them,” said Scurry. “People can also enter them too. A lot of the time people don’t even realize that they have lovely blooms, and in past years we’ve even had judges tell people to enter in their blooms to the competition after they were identified.”
Recalling 2020’s show, Scurry said more than one individual entered in their blooms after being identified, and it resulted in the participants winning ribbons.
“So, it’s certainly possible – even when you have no idea – that you might get a ribbon,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”
Show awards and categories will include: best grown unprotected, best grown protected, flowers grown within 25 miles of the show, best bloom in show, best hybrid bloom and more.
Unprotected blooms, according to the show’s rules, are blooms which grow in natural surroundings without any manmade protection from the elements.
Prior to the show, in the church parking lot, the event will also feature a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until sold out, which will offer Camellias rarely found in local nurseries.
“He’s actually one of the top three growers in the state of Georgia,” said Scurry. “It’s the same man that was at this year’s Aiken Camellia Show.”
To find out more about the Augusta Camellia Society, the upcoming show or competition, visit: https://www.americancamellias.com/camellia-shows/upcoming-camellia-shows—2023-2024-season
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
