I learned this summer that the Napa Camellia Society is disbanding. Napa has kicked off the start of the camellia season for 30 years. Due to the aging membership, physical labor involved to host a show and lack of new members, it was agreed upon to discontinue. I was a member of the society and encouraged veteran and trainee Master Gardeners to volunteer yearly to clerk or be runners in the judging process of the shows. Here's how it began…

In 2004, while attending Master Gardener training at Solano College and wanting to soak up anything horticultural, we heard about the Napa Camellia Society and camellia show. The Napa show would be held the first Saturday in February. Knowing nothing about this annual event and little about camellias, several Master Gardeners and trainees made the trek to the Napa Senior Center.

What an education we received that day. We walked into a large room filled with choice camellia blooms. It looked like a giant valentine. Wall to wall pink, white, and red blooms. The blooms were arranged on long tables by the name of the plant they represented and were propped on a plastic cup of wet perlite to keep them moist and unblemished. Camellia growers from all over Northern California joined together to bring their best blooms for this competition.

Meeting the growers, many of them accredited camellia judges, was educational. These passionate members were eager to share their knowledge. A Napa grower and the gentleman who began the annual show in Napa, was Superior Court Judge, Don Fretz. Developing a friendship with “Judge Fretz”, I asked him if he would come to Solano UCCE in Fairfield and share his love of camellias with the Master Gardeners. And he did. We came away with so much information and admiration for this gentleman. Growing camellias successfully is no small feat. We were saddened when Judge Fretz passed away in July of 2013. The Camellia show in 2014 was held at ‘The Meadows' and was in honor of him.

The Solano Master Gardeners took a field trip in 2007 to Peggy and Jerry Aaron's 16 acres on Mt. Veeder. Camellia growers and members of the Napa Camellia Society, their property supported 600 camellia plants all in pots and all hand watered. What an amazing day we experienced, what an education!

Nuccio's nursery, a breeder since 1935 of camellias and azaleas, was a supporter and sent camellia plants that were available to purchase. The plants sent were unusual and not found at local nurseries. The temptation to purchase a plant every year was my downfall. One year Camellia sinensis was available for sale. Knowing it was the camellia from which tea has been brewed in Asia for centuries, it was a “must have”. After purchasing, it was part of my Master Gardener “tea “ presentation for several years.

Using most of the shady places in our garden, the last camellia purchased was pruned into a bonsai. The plant was root trimmed and trained to cascade. The camellia blooms remain full size and are beautiful. The name of this camellia bonsai plant is ‘Francine'.

Sharing love of camellias with others has been a joy. Friends and family have added camellias to their gardens and give me annual progress reports. I now refer to the camellia as the “Winter Rose”. I know there are many Master Gardeners who will remember their days participating in the Napa Show; who will cherish their memories and join me in gratitude to the wonderful friendships we developed and knowledge we gathered.