I suspect that most of the readers of this fall newsletter are as tired of the hot and humid weather as those of us who maintain the Wilmot Botanical Gardens. The excessive rainfall in August and now continuing into September has presented a major challenge to accomplish even the most routine care of the gardens such as mowing and weeding. Despite these rather adverse weather conditions, we have managed to entice some very hardworking volunteer UF students to join us this fall semester.
In the June newsletter I mentioned that we had begun a nation-wide search to fill a newly created assistant director position at the gardens. We are now interviewing the finalists for the position and anticipate the arrival of the successful candidate in early 2025.
The online pre-sale component of our fall 2024 plant sale was launched on the Friday preceding Labor Day and has been well-received. The 2-day sale that follows at the gardens is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 11th and 12th. A total of 69 different plants are available online of which 22 represent new offerings. We have also expanded our selection of Florida native plants. In addition, we have a nice selection of 3-gallon camellias of which 19 have not been available previously. Check our webpage https://wilmotgardens.med.ufl.edu/2024/08/30/2024-fall-plant-sale-pre-order-kickoff-now-open/ to access the online sale. You will find descriptions and illustrations of all our online sale plants and directions on how to order.
The 2025 annual convention of the American Camellia Society hosted this year by the Gainesville Camellia Society will begin with registration beginning on the afternoon of Thursday, January 2. A picnic lunch and self-guided tours will take place at the Wilmot Botanical Gardens from 12:00 noon to 3:00pm on Friday. Also, at 3:30pm on Friday the first ACS General Meeting will be held at the Hilton Convention Center where Mr. Mark Crawford, owner of the Loch Laurel Nursery in Valdosta, Georgia will present a talk entitled, “New Chinese Four-Season Hybrid Camellias and Tours of Chinese Camellia Nurseries.” Dinner will follow for all attendees at the Convention Center.
The Saturday schedule will include an early morning tour of the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The annual camellia sale sponsored by the Gainesville Camellia Society with over 700 plants and 200 varieties will take place at the same location. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the camellia blossom entries at the flower show throughout the day, again at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. At 4:00pm attendees can return to the Hilton Hotel Convention Center where I will present a lecture on the history of the Wilmot Botanical Gardens.
Following breakfast on Sunday morning at the Hilton Convention Center attendees will have the opportunity to travel to the Silver Spring State Park for Silver Springs Gardens and Glass Bottom Boat Tours followed by lunch. Sunday evening the Farewell Banquet will be held at the Convention Center where JD Thomerson, the editor of the Journal of the Atlantic Coast Camellia Society, will be the keynote speaker.
On your next visit to the Wilmot Botanical Gardens you may notice the presence of several new style trash and recycling receptacles. (Figure 1). For years the gardens have provided evening dining opportunities for racoons. The following morning garden personnel have had to pick up after these pesky critters. The new trash receptacles are designed to be racoon-proof which, if so, will be a blessing. We are indebted to the University for making these units available to the gardens.
We hope to see all of you at our fall plant sale!
C. Craig Tisher, MD
Director, Wilmot Botanical Gardens, College of Medicine