This week, CP Guest Host Abra Lee celebrates the season in conversation with the King of Camellias, Sidney Frazier. Sidney is based out of sunny Charleston, South Carolina where he sits as Vice President of Horticulture at Middleton Place - a historic home and garden there, and believed to be the oldest landscaped gardens in America. Camellias were first planted in America near the end of the 18th century in the four corners of Henry Middleton's parterre, overlooking the Ashley River.
For those of you who aren’t all that familiar with Middleton Place and their wonderful Camellias, you are in for a treat! Middleton Place is based in Charleston where the weather is warm, yet perfectly cool, the humidity is high and the Camellias are flourishing in the welcoming state in which they live. The Camellias have a wonderful state to reside in, but they have an even better caretaker in Sidney Frazier to keep them THRIVING! Sidney has had such a heart for these Camellias at Middleton Place for over 50 years now and in multiple capacities. Here is a great Youtube video of Sidney sharing how to care for camellias from 2021: Celebrating Camellias at Middleton Place
Sidney currently serves as their esteemed Vice President of Horticulture. He is the picture of what hard work and dedication gets you when you pour your heart into what you are most passionate about. We are so excited to share with you, our listeners, Sidney's journey, his love for the plants in his care, and most importantly, how to cultivate your gardens when you want to bring stunning camellias to life Sidney's journey was one we at cultivating place knew would be such a beautiful story for you to hear and we are so grateful to him for sharing his story, his experiences and his love for gardening with us today.
Follow Sidney Online :
And on Instagram:
All Middleton Place photos courtesy of Sidney Frazier, all rights reserved. Camellia photos by Jennifer Jewell.
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JOIN US again next week, when we get “Still” – Revisiting our lovely conversation earlier this year with photographer Mary Jo Hoffman whose plant, place, and photography-based practice – and her book on this practice is - “STILL.” That's right here, next week.
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Thinking out loud this week...
Hey, y’all it's Abra—
From being a municipal arborist to working as an airport landscape manager and my most current role as Director of Horticulture at Oakland Cemetery a vibrant Victorian garden cemetery and public park in downtown Atlanta, I have had a colorful journey in the world of horticulture for over 20 years.
My most passionate work is as a writer, speaker, and scholar of black garden history in the United States. I work nationally with many cultural institutions where I share my research through speaking engagements and exhibitions. I am currently working on my book, “Conquer the Soil” which is a collection of profiles of American garden greats, similar to the story you heard today.
I would love for you to come out and visit Oakland Cemetery in downtown Atlanta. Oakland Cemetery depends on the financial support of generous listeners like you to allow us to continue serving our community, please consider contributing at OaklandCemetery.com/donate.
My takeaway this week from my conversation with Sidney is to really be intentional about recognizing the people in your life that you love and admire with the gift of flowers.
Flowers aren’t just something you pick up at a store, it's a story in one object of a life lived, it's a story of cultivation with purpose, and it's truly a gift of a beautiful life.
Sidney has taught us not just through our conversation today but through his life work how finding your passion and building a life off of that passion creates such a fulfilled spirit that truly allows you to pour joy and purpose back into your community and your life.
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Cultivating Place is a co-production of North State Public Radio, a service of Cap Radio, licensed to Chico State Enterprises. Cultivating Place is made possible in part listeners just like you through the support button at the top right-hand corner of every page at Cultivating Place.com.
The CP team includes producer and engineer Matt Fidler, with weekly tech and web support from Angel Huracha, weekly communications support by Sheila Stern and Carley Bruckner, transcripts by Doulos Transcription, and regular guest hosting by Abra Lee and Ben Futa. We’re based on the traditional and present homelands of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria. Original theme music is by Ma Muse, accompanied by Joe Craven and Sam Bevan.
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