A year of mild weather provided a room full of colorful bloomsfor the 39th Annual Brookhaven Camellia Society Show, whichcontinues today.

Another record was set for the show with over 1,000 bloomsentered and on display for the public’s enjoyment yesterday andSunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the State Room on West CherokeeStreet.

With no admission fee and a chance to observe some of the bestCamellia blooms during a time when little else is in bloom, theState Room was packed Saturday, and Camellia society members expectthe same today.

“We had a steady stream of people all day,” said President JamesWest. “Last year, which was our first time to have it on Saturdayand Sunday, we had as many visitors Sunday as we did on Saturday,and we hope to continue that.”

West pointed out how the Camellia show provides a uniqueopportunity for people to see a large variety of blooms in onearea.

The large crowd Saturday reflected the selection on display,including a wide variety of blooms from area residents.

“Now that we have the show at this time of year, rather than inNovember, we have a lot more blooms grown outside, unprotected, anda lot more local entries,” West said.

Some of the area growers who made it to the head table and theirrespective categories were:

* Don Perkins — Mrs. Hugh Wall Memorial Trophy for best LincolnCounty bloom, court of honor and small grower runner-up.

* Mike and Geri Jinks — small grower best bloom.

* Coney Lea — small grower plate of three, same variety.

* Sharon Alexander — small grower plate of three, differentvarieties.

* Patti Perkins — court of honor.

* Ed and Jacqui Patten — court of honor.

West hopes more people in the area will grow Camellias soLincoln County will be colorful even during the winter months.

“We would also like to invite the general public to participateand show their blooms every year,” he said. “When people stop bythe show we can help teach them a little about how to show abloom.”

A new addition to the annual show was the Lincoln Countydivision, which makes it easier for area residents to compete sincethey are not in the same category as the large growers.

The show was held in memory of Earl Stringer and Vi Stone, andtwo awards were given in honor of deceased Camellia societymembers.

James and Elaine Smelley of Moss Point won the Dabney Townsendaward, while Texas grower Hyman Norsworthy, a long-time friend ofthe late Thomas Perkins III, won the award in Perkins’ honor for abloom Perkins grew, developed and registered.

“It was really unique with double buds,” West said.

West said he was pleased with how well the show went this year,continuing a successful program.

“We always have a lot of compliments from out-of-town peopleabout how much they enjoy the show and how much they enjoy visitingBrookhaven,” West commented.