The Semmes Heritage Park
  • Mission
  • History
  • Blog
  • Contact

"only the rich could afford camellias"

1/15/2017

0 Comments

 
"When Camellias were first introduced from China to Europe, common varieties were expensive plants 100 to 150 years ago.
      Sale recorded in old books, reveal small Camellia plants fetching as much as $180.00 to
6 000  francs. 
​        In fact, Camellias of "yesteryear" were truly the aristocrats of winter-flowering plants. They were owned by people of wealth, culture and refinement."  
​
Robert O. Rubel, Jr. Longview Nursery

The Beginning of Nursery Business in Semmes.
​ T. Kiyono came from Japan in 1917 started the first nursery in Semmes growing citrus fruits . He was very successful and soon new nurseries began to appear.

A series of freezes in the 1930 brought  the growing of  citrus fruit to a halt and the beginning of growing Azaleas and Camellias.

T. Kiyono was in Japan  when the war with Japan began.  The U.S Government took over the property and later Mr. Clint McDade brought the property.  Mr. Stevens managed the operations for Mr. McDade.  The nursery grew.  New nurseries were started by other nurserymen.

Mobile Press-Nov. 28, 1948-Mrs. H..M. Jarvis-"Spurred into expanded operations by heavy demand for its products in recent years, this Mobile County Community is now  telling the world it is "the center of the Camellia and Azalea Industry of the United States.".......more azaleas and camellias are grown and shipped from Semmes than any one point.."




0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Semmes​

    Preserving  our History
     Looking to the Future
    ​Jeanette Lyles Byrd

    ​Be sure to check out the archives!

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Mission
  • History
  • Blog
  • Contact