Beeland Park Gardens - Greenville, Alabama

Facility Address	1016 East Commerce Greenville, Alabama 36037 Postal / Zip Code: 36037
Hours of Operation	Daylight hours - 7 day a week
Website	https://www.greenvilleal.gov/
Contact	Mrs. Jennifer Stringer - City Horticulturist
Phone	(334) 437-0924
Email	jennifer@cityofgville.com
About the Garden	The 8 acre camellia gardens are within the perimeter of our Beeland Park. There are 300 plus camellias that are 70 years old. On the east side of Beeland park, a new garden was planted about 10 years ago. There are about 100 additional sasanquas and japonicas in the “new” garden. Greenville was a recipient of the 1933 CWA money. Mr R A Beeland donated land to the city of Greenville in 1933. CWA money was used to build the park. The park swimming pool was included in the plans. County fairs, horse racing and other events were held there over the years. With the land donation and the CWA money, Beeland Park construction began. When the monies of the CWA ran out, the city funded and completed the Beeland Park project. It was finished in eight months. Mr. Glenn Stanley, editor of our weekly newspaper along with the Greenville Garden Club, started referring to Greenville as “the Camellia City” during these years. This slogan was avowed with his every Greenville Advocate front page naming us “The Camellia City”. The first camellia plants were brought to Greenville by the pioneer migration in the 1830’s, one hundred years before Beeland Park was constructed. Very large and very old camellia trees were sprinkled throughout the city. By 1947, the camellia japonica tickled the curiosity of many Greenville men in the white collar sector. These professionals were already propagating and growing camellias as a hobby and competing with each other. Two camellia organizations formed. The first one was the Greenville Men’s Camellia Society in 1947. They began hosting camellia shows in their backyards. Next, they created another organization, the ACS. The first organizational meeting of the Alabama Camellia Society was held in Greenville in November 1948. Dr. Aubrey Stabler, Sr. became the first President of the ACS. In this meeting, a bill was written to petition the legislature to name the Camellia Japonica the state flower. The bill was introduced and defeated by one vote. Of Asian origins, the Camellia Japonica was considered “too Japanese” for comfort. This was only three years after WWII. Feelings toward Japan and the Pearl Harbor attack were still hard and unforgiving. So, the Greenville Men’s Camellia Society went to work. Their goal was two fold. They wanted Greenville to be recognized as “the Camellia City” officially and they wanted the Camellia to become Alabama’s state flower. For ten years a mass planting of Camellias was organized in Butler County. They were planted in private yards, cemeteries, school grounds, City Hall and Court House grounds, and many other public grounds. Meanwhile, Mr. Stanley, continually referred to Greenville as the Camellia City in our weekly newspaper. All these strategic efforts were made to earn our undisputed title, “The Camellia City. Camellias were planted in memory of WWII servicemen and women, holidays, Inaugural celebrations, citizens of importance, and just planted in general. The mass planting was overwhelming and highly successful. The second bill was presented in 1959 by Representative Lamont Glass and Senator H.B. Taylor, both from Butler County. Of course, there were many others outside the Butler County Community that helped push for this legislation. First Lady, Mary Jo McGowin Patterson, a Butler County native, used her influence. Garden Club members from all over the state executed a “peaceful” walk to the state capitol on the day of the vote. It passed overwhelmingly with a resounding yes! Greenville DID become the Camellia City and The Camellia City WAS responsible for the Camellia Japonica becoming the state flower. From the 10 years of mass planting, seedlings and camellia plants were donated by the citizens from their gardens to create a “Garden of Memory” in Beeland Park. BUT, the plants and seedlings were donated without identification. There is an 8 acre Camellia Garden in Beeland Park, cared for by the city, with some 300 plus camellia trees over 70 years old. One hundred more japonicas and sasanquas were planted on the east side of the gardens in the last ten years. The Greenville Men’s Camellia Society gave Butler County an amazing legacy of the history of the camellia in the state of Alabama. Through their competitive propagations, beautiful creations such as The Pride of Greenville, the Lamont Glass, the Beauty of Greenville, the Glenn Stanley, the Webb Stanley, and the Stabler’s Pink were developed. These camellias are registered with the American Camellia Society. Stone columns form an entrance into the park. An expanse of stone fence curves out from the gateway, with lights inside the columns at the top. The openings on all four sides illuminate the entrance when lit. The CWA employees built this entrance during the time of the Beeland Park construction. The rocks used for the entrance were gathered from the local Cedar Creek in Butler County. Some of the Greenville Men’s Camellia society built greenhouses with the Cedar Creek rocks. You will notice sidewalks lined by Cedar Creek rocks in our historic neighborhoods in keeping with the gateway theme. The dedication of the Beeland Park was April 12, 1934. Two stately camellias, planted in the sunken gardens at the entrance welcome you to Beeland Park. They were the first camellias planted for the “Memory Garden”. An old newspaper article call them Herme and Red Herme. In the sunken gardens is a beautiful fountain created out of the Cedar Creek rocks. Rock benches invite you to sit and relax before exploring the trails. Written by Jan Newton, President of Greenville Camellia Sasanqua Society