Festival of Camellias Kick Off Celebration: Massee Lane Gardens

The American Camellia Society kicks off the opening day of the 2020 Festival of Camellias. Admission will be free from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on February 1, 2020 to kick off the month of camellia fun. Activities include self-guided tours, complimentary nature scavenger hunts with prizes and fun art activities for children.

 

Guests will enjoy the beautiful simplicity of an Ikebana exhibition hosted by the Middle Georgia Chapter of Ikebana International. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging, and can be described as making sculptures using living plant materials. Dee Boran, of Warner Robins, Georgia will bring several Ikebana artists to construct large and small arrangements in the porcelain gallery.

 

In honor of the new Leon and Lois Silver Educational Camelliarie under construction at Massee Lane Gardens, the Journey of the Camellia theme will celebrate the story of how the "Queen of Winter" came to America and became a classic in southern gardens. An educational slide show will loop all day to explain the Journey of the Camellia from Asia to America, giving the history of the plant's migration from China and Japan to Europe, India, New Zealand, Australia and America.

 

Camellia plants will be on sale throughout the season and during each event. The Garden Gift Shop will also be open with an eclectic collection of camellia and garden-themed gifts ranging from home decor to jewelry and accessories.

 

The Georgia Camellia Queen, Nayah Terry, and her Court will make their first public appearances. The young ladies are the first winners of the new annual Georgia Camellia Pageant, held in the fall at Massee Lane Gardens. The court includes Miss Georgia Camellia Princess Karli Keiser, Teen Miss Georgia Camellia Bailey Batten, Junior Miss Georgia Camellia Brailyn Bailey, Little Miss Georgia Camellia Claire Turner, Petite Miss Georgia Camellia Adrianna Williams, Tiny Miss Georgia Camellia Dani Reese Grube, Toddler Miss Georgia Camellia Remington Bracamonte, and Baby Miss Georgia Camellia Karter Smith.

 

Smoke and Fire Mobile Woodfired Pizza Oven and Barbecue will be on site serving a menu that will please the entire family. The Albany, Georgia food truck is acclaimed for slow smoked, tender barbecue and the wood fired Neapolitan style pizza with fresh ingredients. (Gluten Free Crust Available Large Pizza Only) Glen Eames retired from coaching baseball for Darton State College baseball and won 5th in Big Pig Jig in Vienna, Georgia with a school cooking team, motivating him to launch a restaurant business.