Ray & Cindi McDonald

Kaye Burke, Alan McMillian & Sara Stevenson 

Catherine & David Ottley

Ann & Allen Bush

Skip Vogelsang & Richard Hooton 

Jamie, Joannah & James Martin

T

he Pensacola Camellia Club held its 80th Annual Camellia Show in a new 
location this year, at the UWF Conference Room and Ballroom on Saturday, 
December 8. This Camellia Show is registered with the American Camellia 
Society, and follows all the regulations and guidelines required to present 

the event. Depending on weather habits throughout the year, anywhere between 
1,000- 1,500 blooms are presented. Many people travel the country to attend these 
shows, coming from nearby states like Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. 
Several members of the Camellia Club are specially certified judges, so they are asked 
to be present and judge multiple shows over the year. Each species has a judging class, 
followed by a sub-variety, and individual breed class. The winners from each class are 
then judged for Best of Show and Runner-up awards. Usually, the winner receives a piece 
of crystal as their prize. 

Director Skip Vogelsang said, “Camellias are wonderful. They grow when nothing else 

is growing, they bloom in the winter, they are evergreen, and a very hearty landscape 
plant, so they stay with you all year round.”

This year, The Camellia Club followed last year’s trend and asked club members to 

donate a toy or cash to help local area children in need. Christi Hankins said, “We try to 
cover all the children, ranging in ages from itty bitty, to almost adult. Everyone deserves 
something for Christmas.”

photos & story by

Kristina Wright

Pam Kuhn & Margaret Tamberella

   VIP Pensacola at UWF Conference and Ballroom

Pensacola Camellia Club’s

80th Annual Camellia Show

60     |    VIPPensacola.com

60-61 - Event Camellia Show/Christina Powers.indd   1

1/26/19   3:39 PM