I have spent the first month of 2016 taking photographs of camellias, known here in Charleston as “The Winter Rose.”
These gorgeous flowers are everywhere, and I have been throughout the city snapping away trying to capture their beauty. I am now posting on Instagram with Kathleen Clemmons’ 365 project and then uploading Instagram images to Facebook. I have loved hearing from Facebook friends about their involvement with camellias.
With camera in tow I have been to city parks, cemeteries, and the beautiful Middleton and Magnolia gardens. Most of my photographs have been with my Canon 6D and the 100mm Macro lens, but increasingly, I am using my new little Canon M3 Mirrorless camera with the fabulous 22 MM lens. It is so much lighter and easier to handle.
The Low Country Camellia Show at the Citadel Mall on January 23 may well be as close to heaven as I will ever get. I shot over 500 photographs there of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen.
One of the highlights of the month was hearing from my old Rock Hill neighbor Beachy Cobb who shared the story of a camellia named for her grandmother who lived in Rock Hill and knew my parents. Beachy then sent me a photograph of the camellia, Mrs. Charles Cobb. According to an article printed in the 1937 Rock Hill paper, Mr. John Drayton Hastie from Magnolia Gardens, made a presentation to the Rock Hill Garden Club on camellias and announced the naming of a new camellia he had propagated for prominent Garden Club member, Mrs. Charles Cobb. As I researched this camellia, I became intrigued with the possibility that the camellia I inherited in my patio garden was Mrs. Charles Cobb! In any event, I ordered two small plants from Louisiana and will compare the blooms next year to see if I have a match.
The variety of colors and shapes of camellias is enormous and have provided incredible subjects for photography this month!
Charleston Walker 
Stunning images Belinda! You have definitely found your niche in photography!
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Two questions about Mrs. Charles Cobb (I am growing one, blossoming since Easter, likely to be THE patio camellia!): in what year was it named, 1937 or 1942? and who was Mr Charles Cobb?
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Hello! I have an article from the Rock Hill, SC, newspaper in January 1937 that is an account of the Garden Club meeting where the camellia was presented to Mrs. Charles Cobb by Mr. Hastie from Magnolia Gardens in Charleston, SC. Mr. Hastie had cultivated the camellia and at the meeting stated that he was naming it in Mrs. Cobb’s honor. Mr. Charles Cobb was a prominent businessman and Mayor of Rock Hill. I was born in Rock Hill and knew the Cobb family. Mrs. Charles Cobb’s grand-daughter sent me the article a few months ago. I ordered 2 small seedlings from a nursery in Louisiana, and they are healthy. I do think my patio camellia is one as well. Where did you get yours? Please know that I am thrilled you read my post!!!
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