Column "Camellia" part 1

～International Camellia Garden of Excellence～

An International Camellia Garden of Excellence (ICGE) is recognized by the International Camellia Society (ICS), which is an authority on camellias. About 40 gardens have been recognized as an ICGE. Getting this recognition gives the garden an honor that it is recognized globally. To get this recognition, it is necessary for the ICS to determine that the garden meets all the criteria of an ICGE. (For example, a minimum collection of 200 cultivars or species, stable and perpetual ownership and management structure).The Oshima branch office is now trying to make Metropolitan Oshima Park meet these criteria in cooperation with the related organizations. Now, the Metropolitan Oshima Senior High School and "Tsubaki- hana Garden" are also applying to become ICGEs along with the Metropolitan Oshima Park. The Metropolitan Oshima Park is one of the biggest camellia gardens in Japan. It has 1066 cultivars and species. The Metropolitan Oshima Senior High School is one of the biggest camellia gardens that Japanese high schools manage. It is the first high school to apply for the recognition of an ICGE. "Tsubaki-hana Garden" has the "Early Blooming Camellia" that is said to bloom the earliest in Japan. You can enjoy the view of Mt. Fuji from this camellia garden. These three camellia gardens are planning to use GNSS data in administrating and maintaining their camellias. No other gardens recognized as ICGEs have introduced such a system.