At least one section of the city will have the look of springtime Saturday when over 500 Camellia blooms fill the State Room forthe 38th Annual Brookhaven Camellia Show.

“We’ll have everything from miniatures to blossoms that are 6-8inches across, and there’s all kinds of colors,” said HomerRichardson, who along with his wife, Lynn, is co-chairman of theevent.

The show, sponsored by the Brookhaven Camellia Society, isunique because it boasts beautiful flowers in the midst of winterwhen few plants are blooming, he said. The show is usually held inNovember, but it was moved to February because more Camellia bloomsare available this time of year.

Richardson expects this year’s event will be much larger thanprevious years, with more judges and participants.

“We have over 50 judges coming in from out of town and many ofthose will be bringing flowers with them, so we should have a nicedisplay of flowers,” said Richardson. “We also are expecting peoplefrom Alabama, Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee, plus we havea lot of people here in the area that grow Camellias, so we’ll havea lot of locals.”

This year’s show will also be slightly different because it isthe first since the death of Thomas Perkins, a long-time Camelliaenthusiast, last year.

“The judges have been very supportive of us trying to do thiswithout some of the leadership Thomas provided,” Richardsonmentioned.

He hopes the annual show will continue to bring colorful bloomsto the area and create an appreciation for Camellias.

Anyone who grows Camellias may enter their blooms in the showfrom 7:30-11 a.m. Saturday at the State Room on Cherokee Street.The judging will take place until 2 p.m., when the winners will beannounced.

The blooms will be on display for the public from 2-5 p.m.Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

For those wishing to begin growing Camellias or add to theircollection, plants will be sold on Saturday.

“It’s a great opportunity to get a good deal on some really niceCamellia plants,” said Richardson.