(02/15/17) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Florence and Charles Crowder Camellia Collection was dedicated at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Feb. 12.

“This garden is the result of the lifetime work of Florence Crowder and her loyal helper and husband, Charles,” said Jeff Kuehny, resident director at Burden.

Florence Crowder realized that many of the 450 camellias that were registered in the Untied States in the 1800s were becoming lost, and it became part of her life’s work to travel the globe and locate as many as possible, Kuehny said.

“Most of the plants began as scions collected in Europe and the United States,” he said.

The Barton Arboretum at Burden was chosen to house this special collection, and the Lamar Family Foundation provided the funding to prepare the beds, install irrigation and purchase labels, Kuehny said. They were planted in 2016 according to the country of origin by members of the Baton Rouge Camellia Society.

The Crowder collection joins the Stone camellia collection, which was planted in Burden in 2002. The AgCenter also maintains the Hody Wilson Camellia Garden at the Hammond Research Station.

Anyone who is interested in obtaining cuttings of the camellias in the collections should contact the Botanic Gardens at 225-763-3990.

Among the visitors who attended the dedication were members of the International Camellia Society Conservation Working Group, who were having their annual conference at Burden.

Guests of honor cut the ribbon to dedicate the Florence and Charles Crowder Camellia Collection at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Feb. 12. Pictured, from left, are Charlie Lamar, of the Lamar Family Foundation; Rogers Leonard, LSU AgCenter associate vice president; Annette Barton, daughter of Scott Barton for whom the Barton Arboretum is named; Charles Crowder; Sophie Ramariz, the Crowders’ great niece; and Florence Crowder. Photo by Elma Sue McCallum/LSU AgCenter