Including a Camellia Competition for keen local gardeners

Camellia Celebration Weekend
23rd March 2019 - 24th March 2019
10am - 4pm Daily

Chiswick House & Gardens is hosting a Camellia Competition supported by the International Camellia Society on Saturday 23rd March. They are encouraging local people to bring their Camellia Blooms and win prizes. You don’t even have to know the name of the Camellia just bring the bloom. All blooms can be dropped off on Friday 22nd March before 16:00 and on the morning of the 23rd March until 10:00. Prizes will be awarded at 12:00 on the 23rd March.

Chiswick House will be open this weekend too (not normally open until April) for you to make a whole day of it. Find out more about the beautiful neo-Classical villa and discover more history. See the luxurious interiors of the velvet rooms and delicate portraits of the people who lived in them. Free tours at 12.00pm and 2.30pm.

Free guided Camellia themed tours (max 25 people – first come first served) will take place at 11am & 2pm on Saturday 23rd March. Tours start at the East Pavillion entrance of the conservatory.

A pop up shop selling Heritage Camellias from the estate will be open on the weekend the 23rd / 24th March 10:00 until 16.00. This is just in time for Mother’s Day for those looking for last minute gift ideas

The rare and historic Camellias are located in the Grade 1 listed Conservatory, a gorgeous array of blooms; pink, red, white and striped. The collection consists of 33 different varieties, many of which are descended from the original planting in 1828.

Among them is the unique Middlemist’s red, originally brought from China in 1804 by Londoner John Middlemist, a nurseryman from Shepherds Bush.

The collection is thought to be the oldest under glass in the Western world and includes rare and historically important examples, many believed to be descended from the original planting in 1828.

March 22, 2019