Matthew Israel never imagined he would one day become executive director of the American Camellia Society.

He did not build his resume with the idea of heading an organization with more than 3,300 members. He did not expect to be asked to speak at garden clubs and school career days to talk about more than 30,000 varieties of flowers.

Israel grew up surrounded by camellias in Macon’s Historic Ingleside Neighborhood, where beautiful backyard gardens produce enough blooms to supply a high school prom with corsages.

But he admits he didn’t always take time to stop and smell the “winter” roses.

“I knew what one was,’’ he said, laughing. “… I think.’’

He now has a variety named after him.

Yes, the “Matthew Israel’’ is a deep rose pink, reticulate hybrid that was registered by Pat B. Johnson, of Cairo, Georgia, in 2021 —  the year after the 44-year-old Israel was named executive director.

The society’s month-long annual festival began Saturday at Massee Lane Gardens off Highway 49, about 5 miles south of Fort Valley.

  “Camellia Days’’ is an ongoing garden event at Massee Lane from January through March. The “Festival of Camellias” is celebrated every day in February, which is prime time for camellias.

The American Camellia Society has been headquartered on the Massee Lane property since 1968. Visitors from nearly every state (except Alaska and Hawaii) and several countries find their way there each year to take in the beauty. The formal garden covers almost 10 acres of the 160 acres and features more than 1,000 varieties of camellias. 

It may be located in the heart of peach country, but its roots run deep in Macon. 

The same is true of Israel. He is a native son. His parents, George and Pam Israel, are the former mayor and first lady of Macon. George Israel was mayor from 1979-87 and later served as president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

The first public camellia show in the United States was held at the former Burden Smith & Co. department store on Third Street in Macon on Feb. 5, 1932.

Burden Smith once was the city’s oldest department store, closing in 1978 after 112 years in business. There is a Georgia Historical Society marker to commemorate the event in Third Street Park, near the intersection of Cherry Street.

 Not only was it the first public show in the U.S., it was the genesis for the Azalea and Camellia Society of America,  later renamed the American Camellia Society. It was founded 13 years later on Sept. 29, 1945, across the street at the Dempsey Hotel. Four of the five officers and 10 of the society’s 48 charter members were from Macon. 

Israel calls it a point of civic pride that his hometown is the birthplace of the society, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. He continues to live in Macon, making the 35-mile drive to Massee Lane every day.

“Two years ago, we had the national convention in Macon,’’ he said. “Hotel 45 had just opened downtown. It was a chance to show everybody what Macon and Middle Georgia had to offer. We took them to the Hay House. Everybody was blown away.’’

He said Macon will host the International Camellia Society in 2027, with about 300-400 people expected to attend.  Here is a calendar of February weekend events for the Festival of Camellias.

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Little Buds Day (Saturday, Feb. 8)

• Events and activities are free for children 12 and under. Activities include a scavenger hunt with prizes, DIY arts and crafts tables, an inflatable house and slide and a wildlife program. 
• The Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences will be conducting a “The Classics” wildlife program, featuring owls, for children and adults. There will be scavenger hunts, art activities, and pretending to sail around the world in an 18-foot inflatable slide ship. Nutritious snacks will be offered to each registered young guest.
• Dura Stokes and Carol Hancock, local retired school teachers, will assist kids of all ages with crafting projects beginning at 11 a.m.
   

 Workshop Weekend (Saturday, Feb. 15)

• SAVING MONEY WORKSHOP: 10 – 3 P.M.  Saving Money Talk for Kids: Matt Callahan of Synovus Bank discusses saving money for young people.
• CLAY JEWELRY WORKSHOP: 10 – 3 P.M. Iris Brand, the society’s gift shop coordinator will teach adults and children 12 and older how to make paper clay jewelry for sale, gifting, or to wear yourself – a fun little hobby or side business for anyone who loves to play with clay. The kit includes everything you need to finish a matching set pendant, earrings, and lapel pin.
•  Learn to prepare, mold, smooth, paint, and finish your new jewelry. Take-home kit includes two molds – one for earrings and a larger one for pendant. Also included: tweezers, jewelry glue, bails, chain, lapel pin findings, paint brushes, smoothing press, three cups for water and two colors of paint, two paint brushes, a dry set of four working pieces to paint, glue, and wear home, and instructions on how to make your own paper clay that hardens like a rock overnight.  A variety of acrylic paints will be provided but are not in the kit. The kit is donated to ACS for resale at $25. An additional donation of $10 for instruction with 100% to benefit the future goals of ACS is requested.  

Camellia Waxing Workshop (Sunday, Feb. 16, 1-4 P.M.)

• Guests will also enjoy a Camellia Waxing demonstration and workshop hosted by Jonanne Beckman. Many camellia lovers will wax their favorite camellias right before a freeze, or to prepare a large number of blooms for festive decorations. Dipping camellias in a wax and mineral oil mixture preserves the blooms for days (and sometimes weeks). It gives camellias from the garden a sheen that makes them look like perfect porcelain sculptures. Waxed blooms do not need a vase or water. They can be displayed on a plate, an elegant bowl, or lined up on a tabletop. The waxing demonstration is free with garden admission, advanced registration is required.

Middle Georgia Camellia Society and Flint Energies Camellia Show (Saturday Feb. 22, Noon – 4 P.M. and Sunday, Feb. 23, 1-4 P.M.)

• Middle Georgia Camellia Society will showcase hundreds of camellia blooms, showing the diversity of sizes, shapes and colors that make camellias such a prized addition to any garden. Entries (open to all growers and the public) will be accepted from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Experts will be on hand to assist the public with preparing blooms from your home garden to enter in the show. The show will be open for public viewing, Saturday, around noon until 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
    

Hours and Admissions

• Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. 
• General Admission is $10, $8 for seniors, military (with ID) and free for children under 12 and American Camellia Society members.
• Flint Energies Co-Op Connection members are eligible for $2  off the regular admission fee. Please show your membership card at the gift shop to receive the discount. (Admission discounts are not available for guided tours.)