Polly Wakefield's Camellias Take Gold at Annual Camellia Show

Monday, 03 March 2008 00:00

On the otherwise raining and dreary weekend of March 1-2, the Massachusetts Camellia Society (MCS) held its annual show and competition at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain.  Erica Max, Landscape Supervisor at the Wakefield Charitable Trust, entered a number of Camellia blooms from Polly Wakefield's collection.  Polly loved her Camellia collection and tended to them for many years.  She had been an active member of the MCS and many of the members shared recollections of their interation with her and of visits to the estate during her lifetime.

Polly's Camellias won two blue ribbons (first place) and one red (second place).  Of the blue ribbon winners, the flower pictured, an "Anemone form," was judged "Best in Show," which of course the Wakefield staff were very excited about.  The other flowers entered were "Semi-double", "Formal Double," and "Miniature" forms.  While the "Japonica" form of camellias in Mrs. Wakefield's collection bloomed earlier this year, many of Mrs. Wakefield's over two dozen plants are now just coming into full bloom in the greenhouse as the first days of Spring have arrived.

If you'd like to see the Camellia collection at the Wakefield estate or are interested in volunteer activities that relate to the camellias (re-potting, research, and propagation), contact Erica Max.