Camellia Club of Mobile Inc. Newsletter Issue 1  Vol. X  - October 2013

Don’t miss our October 13^th Meeting!!!

Our October meeting will be of special interest to anyone who grows camellias, azaleas and other ornamental plants that thrive in our Gulf Coast climate.  We are very pleased to introduce John W. Olive as our speaker at this meeting.  Mr. Olive is the Director of the Ornamental Horticulture Research Center which is part of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station located in Spring Hill, Mobile.  The AESs throughout Alabama are under the auspices of Auburn University, the one in Mobile began in the early 1920’s and quite quickly became involved in researching insects that attacked camellias and azaleas. This research has expanded to cover the myriad ornamental plants we now have in the south.  We know that this will be a very interesting informative program and we are most appreciative of Mr. Olive giving up his Sunday afternoon to talk to us.  Do try to attend and don’t forget to bring pen & paper to take notes.

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FIRST MEETING OF THE 2013/2014 CAMELLIA SEASON WELL ATTENDED
The September 8^th meeting saw a great group of camellia enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the start of another camellia season.  Although we didn’t get to the planned program on camellia care, due to a lot of Club business, it is hoped that we will be able to have a short “questions for the experts” session at each meeting.  Remember, if you do have a query about your camellias put up your hand and ask it, our experienced growers are kind people who will always do their best to help – if you’re too shy to ask, tell me and I’ll ask for you - I’m not known for being bashful!  The new Board & Officers that were elected at the April meeting were introduced to the members – President Larry Heard, Vice-President Larry Bush, Treasurer Martha Terry, Secretary Jim Dwyer, Board Members Walter Creighton (as Show Chairman), Frances Ashcraft, Lyman Holland, Jr., Bill Rawls, Jim Smelley  and Jimmy Walker. We know they will all do a great job for the Club. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IN  MEMORIAM

Sadly we have to tell you of the passing of Mrs. Marie Mizell, beloved wife of Max Mizell.  Marie has judged at our Camellia Show for many years and her help and advice in placement at the shows was much appreciated during the days when we did not have as many volunteers as we have now..  You could not attend a camellia Show in the south-east without meeting Marie and Max.  She will be missed,  our sincere condolences have been sent to Max.

In July the camellia world lost a most important aficianado when Dr. William Ackerman passed away in his 90^th year.  Dr. Ackerman was a research horticulturalist and geneticist at the U.S. National Arboretum. In the 1970’s severe cold weather decimated the Arboretum’s collection of 900 camellias,  while investigating this disaster Dr. Ackerman realized that the species camellia oleifera had survived the freezing temperatures. This started him on a life-long quest to develop cold-hardy camellias.  His “Winter’s” series have been very successful, all with lovely names like Winter’s Charm, Winter’s Joy, tho’ my favorite is Winter’s Toughie! Dr. Ackerman authored several books, the best known are “Beyond the Camellia Belt’ and “Growing Camellias in a Cold Climate”. He also developed a number of scented camellias, some of which we grow here on the Gulf Coast like “Cinnamon Cindy”, “Cinnamon Scentsation” and “Ack-scent”. Camellias with the prefix “Ashton’s” are also from Dr. Ackerman who lived in Ashton, Maryland. His work is a permanent gift to the world of camellias, spreading the delight of growing our favourite flower at least as far as Toronto, Canada.

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