Columbus to host camellia show

Columbus’ first camellia show in more than 50 years comes to the Columbus Museum next weekend. The newly formed Chattahoochee Valley Camellia Society is hosting the event, which is sanctioned by the America Camellia Society, as a way to share the beauty of camellias.

“We think it will add a great deal to the offering of wonderful things in Columbus,” said president and founder of the CVCS Sam Wellborn, adding that this is an event they plan to host annually. Wellborn is former chairman of the Synovus Foundation and a retired president of CB&T.

When the society was founded last year, it had two main purposes in mind: to promote the love of camellias through educational presentations and to put on shows, Wellborn said.

A unique feature of camellias is that they bloom during the winter, when most flowers are dormant. This makes the South one of the premiere areas for growing camellias.

Though Wellborn said camellias have always been important to him, he only started growing them himself about five years ago. He currently has 115 camellia plants in his yard, though he’s always on the look out for more. Recently, one of his blooms won an award at an out-of-town camellia show.

“(Camellia) shows happen every week in some city during the blooming season,” which is late October through April, said Wellborn.

He expects about 1,000 blooms to be on display next weekend, 30 of which will receive awards. The judging will take place prior to the opening of the show Saturday. At that time the public will be welcome to look at all the blooms, which will be displayed in clear dishes on black-clothed tables.

“The whole thing is nothing but beauty,” Wellborn said.

Katie McCarthy, 706-571-8515

This story was originally published March 6, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Columbus to host camellia show."