ORCHID SHOW 2017 Part-2 On Saturday February 11 and Sunday February 12 the San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society had a Camellia Show at the Community Activities Building in Redwood City. Friends of mine such as Howard Oliver and Cam Ainsworth, members of the San Francisco Peninsula Camelia Society, also joined the De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (am a charter member of the De Anza Chapter) so I joined the San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society. On February 10 Camellia japonica Orchid Princess and the Maddenii Series rhododendron hybrid Scotts Valentine were not quite ready for blooming. The Vireya Marshall Pierce Madison has had a fat flower bud since at least the beginning of the year. My other rhododendrons and camellias look far from blooming. For quite some time have had challenges in sleeping. Often cannot get to sleep until 3 AM and consequently sleep often to 9 AM. Use to be a morning person. Sometimes my lower stomach seems tied in knots, probably due to stress. Have been fighting a series of no, no, no, no, no, nos. On Saturday January 11 got up shortly after 9 AM. Did not fix breakfast, but departed my apartment at 9:19 AM, arriving at the Community Activities Building at about 9:45 AM. At the Camellia Show; there was cheese, crackers, coffee, and other food, and that was my breakfast. Had fewer conversations than normal, since was drained of energy.
At the entrance to the Community Activities Building was a banner announcing the Camellia Show, and the camellia next to the entrance was in bloom. Behind the camellia is a plaque honoring Cam Ainsworth. The San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society planted numerous camellias and rhododendrons around the Community Activities Building, and Cam Ainsworth was one of the leaders of the project. The San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society is also responsible for other public gardens including Village Park in Los Altos which can be seen at 37.381499, -122.115024 on Google Maps. Unfortunately not all of the plantings are in existence. At 09:53 AM the set up was still going on.
An area was set up in honor of Cain Ainsworth who died last year. I got Howard Oliver (who got me interested in evergreen Azalea Series rhododendrons and Nuccios) interested in Rhododendron occidentale. He and Caim Ainsworth went on a plant hunting expedition led by Britt Smith and Frank Mossman which explored Stagecoach Hill, and areas near Gold Beach, Oregon. North of Gold Beach, Cam Ainsworth and Howard Oliver discovered R. occidentale AO 1. They asked if they could take part in some of my plant hunting expeditions, and at Big Basin Redwoods State Park they discovered R. occidentale AO 2 (which I contribute seed from to the ARS Seed Exchange), and at Palomar Mountain State Park they discovered R. occidentale AO3. R. occidentale AO 1 is located on a South facing slope, perhaps off a road that heads East from Old Coast Highway. Have been unable to locate the area even though have been in the area several times. R. occidentale AO 3 is North of where the Chimney Flats Trail crosses the southern branch of Chimney Creek. Since the discovery a fire went through the area and after the fire weeds came up, blocking the way down Chimney Creek to an azalea glade. On Google Maps, Barney Google is deficient on showing details of Palomar Mountain State Park, none of the trails or creeks is shown. Cam Ainsworth and Howard Oliver are the only two people who went on two of my R. occidentale expeditions. At 10:41 the judging was about to begin.
There was much judging activity: While the judging was going on, runners would take a tray of entrants to the trophy selection area.
The setting up of the trophy selection area. The setting up of the trophy selection area. It looked like that the judging would be going for some time, and it would take some time to set up the trophy selection area, so I decided to take a hike. The Community Activities Building is located at the southern end of Red Morton Park at 37.470793, - 122.237163. The Veterans Memorial Senior Center, where the San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society has their meetings, is located at 37.472141, -122.239797.
A camellia in bloom in front of the Community Activities Building. A new area in front of the Community Activities Building designed to attract Monarch Butterflies.
Shortly after Cam Ainsworth and Howard Oliver went on the plant hunting expeditions, a large number of R. occidentale (including some discoveries by Britt Smith and Frank Mossman) and some R. macrophyllum were planted South of the Veterans Memorial Senior Center by the San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society and the De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Unfortunately, they are all gone. Took part in the plantings. In the soccer field a game was in progress. At the Phil Shao Memorial Skate Park skating was going on.
A picnic was taking place in one of the picnic areas. There was activity in the horseshoe area.
When I returned back to the Camellia Show the judging was still going on. By 12:14 PM the judges were lining up to go to the trophy judging area.
Judging in the trophy judging area:
Judging in the trophy judging area:
Judging in the trophy judging area:
Determining the Best of Show. Was not the only photographer taking photos. Yuri Panchul was also taking photos. When I was program director of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, asked Cam Ainsworth if he knew someone who could give a program on camellias to the Monterey Bay Chapter, and he recommended Yuri Panchul, who gave a program on February 19, 2013.
This Camellia Show was dedicated to Yuri Panchul because of his work in promoting camellias. Yuri Panchul is very knowledgeable about Camellias. The Flower Of The Autumn Sun Yuri Panchul wrote a very informative article about Nuccio s Nurseries. Nuccio s Nurseries is the place to purchase Azalea Series Rhododendrons and camellias. Thanks to Howard Oliver, have been going to Nuccio s since the time of the original Nuccios, and most of my Azalea Series rhododendrons are from there. Would have liked to have talked with Yuri Panchul more than I did, but was drained of energy and wanted to concentrate on taking photos. Mike McCullough