Camellia House Weekend at the Planting Fields Arboretum, New York State Historie Park

 

 What do Long Islanders do when the month of February begins to get awfully dreary?  We go to the annual exhibit of the Camellias at the Planting Fields Arboretum, in Oyster Bay, on the North Shore of Long Island.

 Fortunately the Coe estate is under the jurisdiction of  the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.  Click photos to enlarge.

The Olmsted brothers of Brookline , Massachusetts, oversaw the estate projects from 1918 to 1944, including the Camellia House. 

Camellia trees were planted directly into the soil within the greenhouse, and have matured ever since.

 Other plantings such as this Jasmine,

and the Creeping Fig vines enhance the brick walls.

The amazing blooms both very large,

 and very small,

 offer a spectacular  desplay,

 which can take one away from the blues of February.

 At this event, Roberta Erlagen, a water color artist,

 demonstrates her techniques,regarding capturing the essence of Camellia blooms.

 Visitors, both adult and children, gather around her work table,

 to see how she captures the fragile Camellia blooms and,

 shiny waxen leaves.

 The result  is a delicate  harmony of shape and colors.

If that wasn't enough, the charming Josh Kekoa Cho, serenaded the visitors with his ukulele and Hawaiian songs.

 So if you want to get away, go on  "stay vacation" as they say, without really traveling far.

 The Planting Fields at Camellia time is the answer, and you can learn about their blooms, names,and habits while also enjoying talented artists.  what a great day.