Beauty in bloom for all seasons

Alan Daisley’s passion for Camellias has been growing for around 50 years.

Nearing 80 years old, Mr Daisley is heavily involved with Camellias Illawarra Inc. – a group dedicated to growing and showing the beautiful flowers.

The group pre-dates even Mr Daisley’s interest in the flowers and has been holding shows locally since the early 1950s.

Each year the group holds their annual camellia show, which attracts around 50 exhibitors from around the Illawarra and other areas.

Last year the event displayed in excess of 1000 blooms and is the largest and longest running show in the country.

Mr Daisley said part of the attraction to camellias is the fact that they bloom in winter, when most other plants are laying low because of the cold.

“There’s an old saying ‘If you grow roses and you grow camellias you’ve always got a flower,’” he said.

As for why camellias are so popular here in the Illawarra (Camellias Illawarra currently has about 90 members), Mr Daisley said it is probably simply because they grow so well here.

“I think it’s because of the flowering habit of the camellias,” he said.

“They do well on the coast here, especially the species called Reticulata, which is the very large blooms.

“They seem to thrive with the humid weather in their growing period.”

To verify those claims Mr Daisley can point to his own backyard,

which is packed with mature camellia trees heavy with colourful flowers.

“Some in my backyard would be getting close to 50 years old and they’re still producing beautiful camellias,” he said.

The Camellias Illawarra annual Camellia Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday July 19 and 20 at the Wollongong TAFE Function Centre on Foley’s Lane North Wollongong. For more information please call 4256 5794.