By Billie Tomberlin

I begin my story as a little girl growing up in a small town in South Carolina.  Summerville is known as “The Flower Town in the Pines”.  Full of old, tall, huge circumference Pine trees and Live Oak trees with their majestic branches reaching out in all directions and Azaleas everywhere.  Beautiful classic southern mansions, charming homes and cottages graced our lovely village all around town.  Many other varieties of flowers with multiple colors were in abundance year-round.  I remember in the springtime taking walks with so many scents in the air amongst the wisteria vines growing up trees and hanging off porches and arbors. One of my favorite memories was pulling the soft and velvety leaves off the mimosa trees. 

Dad always had an abundant vegetable garden on just a small patch of dirt.  There were tomatoes, Kentucky wonders, squash, peppers, cucumbers, Bibb lettuce and many other delicious vegetables harvested and enjoyed. My love for Camellias and Tea Olives began when Dad planted a beautiful “pink” Camellia by my bedroom window and the heavenly scent of the Tea Olive permeated the air as you would walk out the back door.  My parents would share the fruits of the garden harvests and Tea Olives plants as gifts to our neighbors. 

Mom was the one with the wealth of knowledge on flowers.  Larkspur, Sweet peas, and so many others were planted around our home with their beautiful colors and fragrances.  My mom was referred to by many in town as the “Flower Lady of Summerville”.  She worked at Middleton Gardens where she created flower arrangements for the Plantation.  Occasionally, I would go with her and stroll through beautiful grounds with its many winding pathways amongst the Live Oaks, Tea Olives, fountains, and hundred years’ old Camellia gardens. These memories from my childhood are where my love for Camellias, Tea Olives and all flowering things bright and beautiful began.

I had always dreamed to somehow replicate that architectural style and garden setting that I had grown up with into our new life together with my husband and children in Alabama.  One day many years ago while flipping through the latest issue of a Southern Living magazine I came across a house plan article that immediately captivated my attention, “that’s it, this is the home I’d love to build one day!” Thinking there was no way we could ever do it, but lo and behold my husband, Steve, agreed to move forward with my vision.  We ordered the plans, purchased a 5-acre tract of land in Pike Road and began construction shortly thereafter.  After a year of selective manual laboring of clearing the land, identifying the best location for the home site, and designing the landscaping layout; our dream home was completed! 

Of course, our first plantings would be the Azaleas, Camellias and Tea Olives that I have always loved so dearly.  We selected an area in the back of the property under a stand of pine trees to create a Camellia garden like the ones I remembered from Middleton.  I knew they would flourish in that location and they certainly have! We started with 20 Camellias of many different varieties and now we have over 40 included in that garden and all around the grounds.  The Tea Olives planted on all sides of the house provide that heavenly scent several times a year as we stroll around the yard.  Many pathways provide us with access to the other garden plots that have evolved over the years.  More than 50 Azaleas flourish all over greeting guests at the driveway entrance and other areas along the fencing in the yard.  Roses, flowers, bulbs, Banana shrubs, Jasmine and many other plants contribute to the beautiful sights and smells we are so fortunate and thankful to enjoy year-round. We look forward to many more years sharing the love of landscaping and gardening with our children and grandchildren and to continue the legacy of that Heavenly Beauty & Scent!

Billie Tomberlin, an intern in the 2020 Master Gardener Class, lives in Pike Road, AL with her husband Steve, also an intern in the 2020 Master Gardener Class.  For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.