CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 5 EDITOR'S CORNER A thing of beauty, and a joy forever BY BOBBY PARKER Bobby Parker is assistant editor of CityView. Contact him at rparker@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500, Ext. 347. Bobby PHOTO BY MAT THE W WONDERLY I t was always prominent in the front yard of my family home in Martin County. A single camellia bush in front of the dining room, slightly off center with the double window. Its bright red blossoms stood out as a pop of color in the winter landscape, giving way to another Southern staple, a trio of healthy Formosa azaleas down the walk before the living room's picture window. e camellia was my mama's kind of gardening: Plant it in the ground, and it would take care of itself. Every year, it'd grow taller, fuller and more oval. No pampering necessary to produce those beautifully woven blooms. Of course, there came a time when pruning was in order. at job usually fell to me, as the older son. When we got our first power trimmer, I couldn't wait to try it out. e lesson I learned was if at first you don't succeed, stop! Once you've trimmed the leaves, there's no putting them back. My brother and sister never let me forget the time I whacked the shrubs to shreds, leaving a pitifully spindly ghost of the plants that seemed to take forever to grow back into shape. Years later, when I was living in Salemburg, the 5-acre yard was full of all manner of blossoms, from magnolia, several varieties of azalea, a holly or two and, of course, camellias. at yard took more than a single power trimmer to maintain, but there were nephews and a brother-in-law who were more expert at garden chores than I. e plant variety was compliments of Laurel Lake, a landscaping destination in the Sampson County countryside that was just a road over from our home. My father-in-law hauled dirt and did other chores for Laurel Lake, and part of the pay was in plants that ended up as surplus in the nursery's mix of shrubs and trees. And still, the camellias thrived, warming the wintertime air with deep red and vivid pink. ere are dedicated camellia lovers among us here in Fayetteville, and for 75 years, they've put on a show. Judy Capps and other members of the Fayetteville Camellia Club share their love of the flowers with CityView's Jason Brady on Page 26 of this month's edition. ey will gather and pick the prettiest of their blooms at the 75th annual camellia show on March 4 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. e judges will be "looking for perfection," Capps says. I'm sure there will be plenty of good choices. Also in this edition: I always get the tough assignments; this one is to write about chocolate (Page 12). With Valentine's Day approaching, guys, get your orders in. And don't miss our 2023-24 School Directory, with all the information you need about your kids' next school year. There are dedicated camellia lovers among us here in Fayetteville, and for 75 years, they've put on a show. Judy Capps and other members of the Fayetteville Camellia Club share their love of the flowers with CityView's Jason Brady on Page 26 of this month's edition.

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