The Beauty That Lies Beneath
By John and Stephanie Grimm
Who is Walter F. “Hody” Wilson?
- Arrived at the Fruit and Truck Experiment Station in 1936 to research crop plants grown by Louisiana farmers
- Creation of pest resistant varieties that handle dry and wet conditions
- Passion for ornamentals and interested in improving plant selection in Louisiana nurseries, prominently the camellia
- He donated 4,000 of his own seedlings to initiate the project
- His vision was to get more varieties (strong growers for both foliage and blooms) to the market faster
- A special section at the research center was developed for camellia research.
- Member of the American Camellia Society (ACS)
- Published articles in the ACS journal and yearbook
The Hody Wilson Garden
- Thousand of seedlings started in search of more perfect varieties
- Grafted sasanquas and japonicas
- Garden is laden with blooms of pink, white, red and all combinations
- Scions were sent from both native growers and enthusiasts and the luminaries of the camellia world for testing in his “research garden”
- Mihata has the largest trunk
- Hammond, Louisiana and National treasure
- 250 Varieties – some 45 or more years of age
- On the American Camellia Society Camellia Trail
- Botanical garden of the area
Camellia Garden Varieties
- Bon Bon Red
- Centennial
- Corsage
- El Rojo
- Elizabeth Dowd Silver
- Elsie Ruth Marshall
- Evelina
- Gold Tone
- Herme White
- Hody’s Omega
- Jenell
- Jerry Wilson
- Jerry Wilson Pink
- Judge Talbot
- Linda Margaret
- Man Size
- Minna Helms
- Mrs. Jimmy Davis
- Mrs. Jimmy Davis Pink
- Nicks’s 13
- Purple Girl (Malbis plant)
- Queen of Winter
- R. L. Wheeler
- Sam Baranco
- Vulcan
- Zephry
Recognition
- Hody’s research was supported by numerous camellia enthusiasts he met through the American Camellia Society (ACS)
- Hody held positions with the ACS as Board Member, Director at Large, member, judge and exhibitor
- Frequent speaker at local garden clubs
- Well respected throughout the local area
Lost Varieties
- A search to find all the Hody Wilson introductions is underway in order to create a special memorial inside the existing garden
- Dr. Regina Bracy, Research Station Coordinator, at the Hammond Research Station is doing extensive work with ornamentals and has laid out an attractive design for a memorial garden for Hody’s creations.
- NOTE: If you know the whereabouts of any of Hody Wilson’s “lost” varieties, ancient (pre-1900) varieties, lost gardens that need exploration and reclamation, or rare varieties created by Louisiana growers, please contact John and Stephanie Grimm at 504-610-7828. We want to save and preserve them.
Camellia Stroll Day
- Held Annually in February
- Many garden varieties have been propagated
- Market ready in 3 gallon plants
- Opportunity to purchase camellia garden varieties
Lost Varieties - List
- Bimbo
- Clark Hubbs
- Kitty Berry
- Moss Point
- Mrs. R. L. Wheeler
- Florence Kirby
- Barney Weems
- Mark Culver ( found at Mark Cannon’s Nursery, Dothan, AL)
- Popcorn (found at Mark Cannon’s Nursery, Dothan, AL)
- Music City
- Tiny Pearl
- Mrs. Bennie Feray (found at Mobile’s Botanical Garden)
Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardeners
- Camellia Stroll Day
- Hosted annually each February
- Care and Maintenance along with Hammond Research Center Personnel
- After years of neglect due to budget cuts, the MG removed fallen trees, blackberry bushes and poison ivy in 1998
- Once reclaimed, the garden remains clear of nature’s overgrowth
- Hurricane damage
- 25 varieties lost
- Zemurray Gardens of azaleas and camellia was destroy during Hurricane Katrina and leaves the Hody Wilson Garden the botanical garden for the area.
- Efforts continue to identify all the plants at the garden.
- The Hody Wilson Garden stands as an example of what volunteers with a goal can do.