Georgia Governor’s Mansion Garden is a Part of the Georgia Camellia Trail
Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal, received the honor of having a camellia named after her in 2015. Members of the Council of Garden Clubs of Tifton worked to have a new variety named: Camellia japonica ‘Sandra Deal’. The flower is a classic, formal white blossom and is in cultivation to have more produced.
“Since then I have worked with our staff and volunteers at the Mansion to plant those particular camellias in a special garden to honor the former First Ladies,” said Deal. “We also have planted a number of other varieties near the front area of the Mansion so that visitors can enjoy them. In May of 2017, we dedicated the garden and celebrated the announcement of the Georgia Camellia Trail, a project of Georgia Tourism.”
Following the dedication ceremony in 2017, First Lady Deal was inspired to honor the former First Ladies who resided at the Governor’s Mansion with camellias. Mrs. Deal began to work with Mark Crawford of Loch Laurel Nursery in Valdosta. The camellias are all original seedlings that came from the collection of Clarence and Lillian Gordy of Ocala, Florida.
Currently in 2018, six new camellias were selected from Loch Laurel Nursey to be named for these former First Ladies. The new camellias have been registered by the American Camellia Society and they are: Elizabeth Harris, Marie Barnes, Mary Perdue, Mary Beth Busbee, Shirley Miller and Virginia Maddox. The First Lady camellias have been planted at the Governor’s Mansion. Rosalynn Carter and Betty Foy Sanders previously had camellias named after them and are also represented in the garden.
The Georgia Governor’s Mansion Garden is a part of the Georgia Camellia Trail. More information can be found about the Camellia Trail by visiting the state’s tourism website at ExploreGeorgia.org.