Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Camellias at Middleton Place – Charleston, SC

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The beautiful Camellias are blooming in the middle of winter at Middleton Place in Charleston, SC. The camellias enhance the Middleton Place Gardens with thousands of blossoms, from white to all shades of red and pink. The Camellia is a southern landscape favorite, and it show off an amazing variety of color throughout the winter months. It is said that the French botanist Andrè Michaux gave the Middletons some of the first camellias to be planted in an American garden. Some 50 years later, in 1838, a Middleton daughter wrote, “Papa called me to the terrace to admire the Camellias which I found in great beauty both the white and variegated…”

Now, the gardens at Middleton Place has over 3,500 camellias including many rare varieties as well as one of the four original Michaux plants, fondly referred to as the “Reine des Fleurs” or “Queen of Flowers”, and during this time Middleton Place offers special Camellia Walks to learn more about the fascinating plant. 

Enjoy the beauty of the blooming camellias while learning more about its history during a Camellia Walk. These tours are held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday beginning February 11th and continuing through March 24th, 2012. The special guided tours will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Garden Market & Nursery and last approximately an hour and a half.

There is no additional fee for the Camellia Walks but reservations are required. Adult admission is $25, students are $15, children (6-13) are $10 and 5 years old and under are free. For reservations and additional information, call (843) 556-6020 or visit www.middletonplace.org.

The camellia will also be the topic of a Free Seminar to be held at the Middleton Place Garden Market and Nursery on Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 pm. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the care of camellias, when and where to plant them and what varieties work best in the southern garden. Sidney Frazier, VP Horticulture will conduct the informative seminar.

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Washington Oak Gardens Plant Sale

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Flower Study in PinkJoin the Friends of Washington Oaks for their 2nd Saturday Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A portion of the plants for sale were propagated and grown right there in the park by volunteers. All proceeds benefit the park for enhancement of current and new facilities.

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast, FL
Call 386.446.6783
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: $4 per vehicle for up to 8 people

Creative Commons License photo credit: Lincolnian (Back soon)

May Gardening Class at the Zoo – Jacksonville, Florida

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Tour the Gardens of the Zoo! 2-Part Series Take a guided walking tour with the gardeners that keep us green. Director of Horticulture, Bob Chabot, will start us off with an introduction to the Gardens & Zoo. We will then proceed to the gardens of the month, with each tour led by one of our very own knowledgeable garden staff. Tour 1 *Meet outside the gates by 9:15 for check in* We will admire the lushness of the gardens at Main Camp, stroll down the River of Color, and on to peruse the African garden of Savanna Blooms. Tour size is limited to 30. Pre-registration is required. Cost per tour- members $20, nonmembers $25 -admission to zoo included in class price.
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville FL,32218
904 757-4463
Admission: Zoo members – $20; non Zoo members – $25