Massee Lane to hold festival

Massee Lane Gardens will begin a month long celebration of winter’s most beautiful flower, the camellia, Saturday, with free admission all day. The opening ceremony will honor the families of William Brown, Delores Felder and Duke Lane with a special presentation at 10:30 a.m.

The ceremony will conclude with a tea service presented along with an educational exhibit about Camellia Sinensis, the leaves of which are used to make the world’s most popular beverage. A complimentary professionally guided tour of the gardens will give participants a deeper appreciation for the gardens’ treasures in the public botanical garden.

The gardens are open seven days a week for the entire month of February, from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. Guests will enjoy an informational video on camellias and the gardens and a self-guided tour of the gardens, porcelain galleries and greenhouse. Children are encouraged to participate in a free garden scavenger hunt during their visit.

Groups of 10 or more may schedule professionally guided tours led by horticultural experts, for the cost of full admission. Tour groups may make visits even more special by ordering an elegant boxed luncheon.

Learn the art of Japanese flower arranging on Feb. 21 with a 10:15 a.m. Ikebana Flower Arranging Class. Ikebana Master Yuko Hancock will instruct the class using camellia blossoms, living branches and leaves to create elegant expressions within the rules of construction.

Advanced registration is required and a $25 fee covers materials. Bring clippers and gardening gloves or purchase a new set in the Massee Lane Gift Shop.

A photography workshop will be taught by Thomaston photographer King C. Davis at 1 p.m. Feb. 21. Davis is known for his macro nature photography. Photography instruction will extend into the gardens, so bring your own camera. Advanced registration is required, but the workshop is free with garden admission.

The grand finale of the Festival of Camellias is the Middle Georgia Camellia Society Show, sponsored by Flint Energies. The leading camellia growers in the Southeastern United States will gather blossoms from their gardens and greenhouses to compete for prizes and exhibitor points.

The show is open to the public Feb. 28, from 1-5 p.m. and from 1-4 p.m. March 1. The public may bring blooms to compete in the show from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Feb. 28. There is no cost to enter and experts will be on hand to help novices prepare entries for exhibit.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for children under 12 and American Camellia Society members. Flint Energies Co-Op Connection members are eligible for a dollar off the regular admission fee.

Massee Lane Gardens is located at 100 Massee Lane, Ft. Valley. Visit www.americancamellias.org for more. Call toll free at 877-422-6355 to register for workshops, schedule a guided tour, or to reserve a boxed luncheon. For more information, email ask@americancamellias.org.

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