Crazy For Camillias
If you're crazy for camelias, or even just camelia curious, put Leu Gardens on your flower destination list. I finally made it there a few weeks ago. I tacked it on to a visit to my mother in Florida. The garden opened at 9:00AM. Mom wanted to leave the house by 7:30AM for the 15 minute drive. We were both up by 5:00AM - me due to menopause, mom due to old. I distracted her long enough for a reasonable departure time by turning on The Family Stone, one of at least 10 Christmas movies rewatched on my visit.
Leu Gardens, in Orlando, has more than 2000 plants and over 230 cultivars on display throughout its 50 acres. While the variety is impressive, this garden boasts one of the country's largest camelia collections. Harry P. Leu, who lived and gardened on the property, began growing camellias in the 1940's. The display is made up mostly of Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua, however there are also many rare varieties to see.
My favorite in the collection was a double pink bloom with wildly splayed petals called Carter’s Sunburst. My mom loved the pristine white Alba Plena whose orderly petal formation could be a perfect wedding cake topper. (Can flower preference be a Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator?)
Camellias are hardy perennials in zones 7-10 and easy to grow. I have one in my yard that was planted before I bought the house. It's always a treat to get some color my December garden when the pink flowers bloom every year.
In addition to the camellias, the other stand-out display was the rose garden. The juxtaposition of blooming roses among Christmas decorations and poinsettias was jarring, though impressive, to me. All of the rose varieties grown at Leu thrive in the Florida climate. There were over 215 varieties and 650 roses displayed in this garden. It didn't feel like winter, but that is part of the reason to visit Florida at the end of the year.
We also took a tour of the Leu family historic home. The camellia theme was relentless. There were camellia paintings, vases adorned in camellia illustrations and camellia wallpaper. My favorite was the family portrait with their camellias. Flower people can be obsessive. I know all about it.
It was a quick trip and a lovely morning visiting camellias. That was something mom and I could agree on.
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