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Jean Giesel – the treasurer of the Melrose Library Association, the group hosting the Camellia Plant Sale – holds one of the flowers as she prepares for the event, which takes place Saturday. -
Positively Putnam FL
MELROSE – They’re known for their showy flowers and shiny leaves, and anyone who has one planted in their yards has surely been in awe at one time or another when the shrub is in its blooming stage.
They are camellias, and for those who want to own one of their own, they are in luck come this weekend.
The public is invited to the Melrose Library Association’s Camellia Plant Sale at 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 204 State Road 26 in Melrose.
Guests can also plan to eat breakfast at the church during the event. The meal will include muffins, coffee cake and cinnamon rolls along with coffee, tea and orange juice. Breakfast is $4 per plate.
Plants from Loch Laurel Nursery in Valdosta, Georgia, will come in a variety of colors in 3-gallon pots for $30 each. Nursery owner Mark Crawford will be at the sale to give tips on planting and caring for the camellias.
“One thing I find unique about camellias is that they bloom in the fall and winter, giving your garden color when most of us think there would be no blooming plants,” said Keyna Ward, chairwoman of the fundraiser.
The event will also include a book sale where shoppers will find books on a variety of topics, including gardening, cooking and crafts. Books will be sold for $2 a bag. There will also be a gift table set up with different types of items available for purchase.
The Camellia Plant Sale began in 2014 and since that time has raised an estimated $10,000 for the Melrose Library Association’s improvements to the library and for future programs and events at the library.
“This sale is a little different from the usual fundraiser,” said Jean Giesel, treasurer for the Melrose Library Association. “People can purchase rare and unusual camellia varieties, as well as some old favorites. The breakfast is also very popular.”
Ward agreed.
“Proceeds from the sale have been used for our new expansion at the Melrose library,” said Ward, who is the corresponding secretary and editor of the quarterly newsletter for the association. “It is a multipurpose room to be used for meetings, as well as an area to work with personal computers when the room is not in use for meetings. The MLA and Putnam County have worked together to make this happen.”
Giesel said one Putnam resident who is landscaping his property got a jump on the sale and ordered 40 plants.
“His family has lived in Melrose for many years,” she said. “I know he has lived here at least 40 years that I know of. He has a large property and is enjoying gardening in retirement.”
Since the sale began eight years ago, Giesel said, she has bought about 20 plants of the 1,000 the association has sold.
“There are hundreds of varieties,” she said. “We will have over 150 for sale.”
Ward hopes the community will come out and show their support of the fundraiser.
“Camellias as well as the other gifts available for purchase are great choices for that special someone on Valentine’s Day,” she said.
For details, visit meslroselibraryassociation.org.
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