Camellias and winter berries
Sunday, November 8, 2009, from 10 to 18, the splendid Villa Della Porta Bozzolo Casalzuigno (Varese), will host 
the second edition of "The day of winter berries and camellia," event sponsored by the FAI - Italian Environmental Fund and dedicated to all those who do not want to give up even in winter the beauty of one of the most beloved flowers and refined: the camellia.
The idea of holding, always at the Villa Cocoon, also a version of "Autumn" from "The Days of the Camellias" - spring appointment now a must for lovers, collectors and nurserymen, now in its seventeenth year - stems from the desire to make known and appreciated by a growing public this flower with unique qualities and fascinating history, and present in particular species that offer a flowering even in winter.
During the exhibition will be on show - in collaboration with the Association of Manufacturers nurserymen of the Province of Varese - many varieties of camellias, proposed by the best specialists and classified according to species, variety, shape and color, while in " secret garden "of the Villa will be exhibited and offered for sale camellia trees of varying quality, from the most respected Italian specialists in the field and you can also buy climbing flowering plants, such as to create a garden full of flowers.
Great attention is also paid to the presentation of other plants that tolerate cold weather well and decorations for the holiday season.
For children: during the day experienced animators will entertain guests with small creative laboratory "Hidden Flower". The activities will take place indoors, so even in bad weather.
Time: from 10.00 to 18.00.
Admission: Adults € 6.00, Children (4-12 years) € 3.00;
For information: FAI - Villa Della Porta Cocoon, Casalzuigno (VA) tel. 0332/624136;
E-mail: faibozzolo@fondoambiente.it.
For more information about FAI, please visit www.fondoambiente.it
CAMELLIA: DATA BOTANY
The "Camellia" is named for George Kamel, a Jesuit missionary who brought the plant back to Europe from his travels in China, Japan and India, in 1740, and it is known, symbolically, as the rose of Japan. Of the many varieties grown in Japan, only some have a distinct aroma, delicate and subtle but can be detected only smelling the flower very closely.
The popularity of this flower is intimately tied to literature 800, in particular the novel by Alexandre Dumas (son), "The Lady of the Camellias", which tells how an elegant worldly women had the habit of wearing a camellia on dress to indicate its willingness to love to love: if the flower was white, which meant that it was available, though it was red, it meant that she was indisposed. Since then, spread the fashion of wearing a camellia to adorn necklines and hems of dresses or hats and remained in vogue until the 30s of the twentieth century. With the passing of time and the changing mores of the interest in this flower is off for at least another 40 years and the only use made of it is tied to the production of one of the most drunk beverage in the world, tea. This is achieved, in fact, from the leaves of some varieties of Camellia sinensis. The custom of drinking tea is very old and was born in China in 800 BC. The harvesting of leaves for the production of tea occurs when the plant has reached the third year of life, the production cycle then continues up to 50 years. We collect only the tender shoots terminal and all forms of tea are derived from the leaves of the same plant, but different is the process for obtaining them. Today tea remains the most popular drink by Chinese, who drink it without sugar or milk or lemon, whatever time of day, anywhere.
In antiquity, the camellia was a very important role in everyday life. The camellia seed oil, extracted from the fleshy fruit, dried and hardly has an amazing ability to retain moisture, so it was widely used both in hair products for the treatment for the skin, to protect dall'aridità and cracking. It is still used in Chinese cuisine and traditionally considered superior to extra-virgin olive oil.
The camellia is a symbol of perseverance in love and grace, of beauty. Historically, it seems that the first aircraft arrived in Italy dates back to 1760, still living in the park of the Palace of Caserta. The camellia is an evergreen shrub that can live for 500 years, cultivated in the ground or in pots, with stalk and leaves hard and compact, nice and shiny. The plant grows well in temperate climates, in places sheltered from frost and winds from the north.
Scientific name: Camellia japonica
Common Name: Camellia
Family: Theaceae
Dissemination: Many species of camellias were obtained by hybridization, but the original founders are from China and Japan and in some cases also in the Indian peninsula.
Size: The plant shrub, can reach 5-6 meters in height, much smaller size of plants grown in pots.
Flowers: The flowers of the type varies greatly depending on the different species can be large, broad, simple, double and of various colors, from white to pink, red, etc.; solitary (single) or in small groups ( 2 or 3). The flowering occurs at the jets, less frequently in intermediate positions between the end of winter and spring (from February to late April-May).
Leaves: Persistent, oval plate with apex acuminate consistency curious, bright green and glossy especially intense in the upper side, the leaf margins are finely toothed or slightly serrated.
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