CHARLESTON, S. C. 


MAGNOLIA GARDENS 
Magnolia Gardens were made world-famous by its azaleas be- 
ing seen by the thousands of people who visited every spring—few 
ever realizing the magnificent camellies they walked by were even 
growing there—their glory had passed with the coming of the 
azaleas. Those who really know the Gardens feel that the place 
should be famous for its camellia collection which so few people 
see in the winter and early spring. 
These camellias were imported by the Reverend John G. Dray- 
ton, creator of Magnolia Gardens, during the 1840’s from France 
and Belgium. We have a letter of his written to a fellow minister 
dated 1858 in which he states “I was afraid the other day that I 
had been exaggerating when in answer to his inquiries, I told a 
friend that I supposed there might be some 120 varieties of camel- 
lias at Magnolia. So I sat down and summed up the count after- 
wards and found that number of fine double varieties and how 
many more, I do not pretend to know—their name seems to be 
something like legion. Many of the plants are near 10 feet high 
and as thick as a holly bush—with almost as many flowers as 
leaves—”’. 
Some of these have reached colossal proportions, one 
double variety now measuring 28 feet in height, 23 feet through, 
and 16 inches in trunk diameter. 
A few of our varieties have been on the market for years, 
and you will be surprised to find you probably have some of them 
in your collection. 
CAMELLIA SLIDES 
We have two collections of camellia slides in full color which 
are available to garden clubs and other responsible groups. Write 
for further information. 
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