Camellia Tea
By Karyn Bland
Camellia Tea
February 13, 2025 3-5pm
Magnolia Dale Edgefield SC
The town of Edgefield, founded in 1785 as a village, is home to several camellia gardens more than 80 years in the making. First arriving in Edgefield, camellias were planted at Edgewood sometime after 1836, the home of South Carolina Governor, Francis W. Pickens. Aiken’s suffragist and preservationist, Eulalia Salley, purchased the house in 1929 and moved it to Aiken. The beautiful home is now located on the campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken, which boasts a historically correct circular driveway and several period garden plantings.
Across the Southeastern United States, camellias rose to popularity most notably in the 1940s. At this time, a special couple began the tradition of a Camellia Tea. Joseph and Chrissie Holland planted more than 100 camellias on their property during their lifetime. Joe Holland played professional baseball and later worked as the postmaster of Edgefield from 1925 to 1955. At that time, men were largely the members of camellia societies across the country. Joe’s friend, Billy Cantelou, became involved in shows and volunteered as camellia show judges. In 1945, the American Camellia Society formed to connect enthusiasts, provide registration for camellia cultivars and share information. Joe also served as President of the South Carolina Camellia Society and was a leader in the American Camellia Society. In the Edgefield area, other collectors included Douglas Wise, Edwin Folk, and David C. Strother.
David C. Strother, of Edgefield heritage, settled in Fort Valley, Georgia in the 1930s to expand his passion for camellias. There he created a vast camellia garden with brick pathways. In 1966, he donated 150 acres to the American Camellia Society, known today as Massee Lane, it is the Society’s headquarters. The site now has a collection of more than 1,000 camellias for visitors to enjoy.
Nearby, an Augusta native, Judge Henry C. Hammond, a peer of the aforementioned gentlemen, served as Richmond County superior court judge and as a member of the Georgia General Assembly. In 1939, LIFE magazine published an article about Hammond’s hobby. His home on Walton Way Extension held 2,000 camellias at its peak.
On Thursday, February 13th, 2025, from 3 to 5 in the afternoon, the public is invited to share in the tradition and attend Edgefield’s Camellia Tea at historic Magnolia Dale in downtown Edgefield. Many of the camellias on display are collected from the historic collections of: Joseph Holland, Billy Cantelou, Douglas Wise and Edwin Folk.
Hot tea and delightful refreshments will be served.
