Tuesday 9 February 2016

CHINESE CELEBRATIONS AT CHISWICK HOUSE GARDENS

Chiswick House and Gardens Trust celebrates Chinese New Year this week not only with its Magical Lantern Festival, but also with the launch of its free Camellia Show from  Thursday 11th February – Sunday 13th March 2016.

Chiswick House and Gardens has enjoyed a long standing relationship with China through its Camellia Collection, as many of these rare and historic plants made the long journey over from China to Chiswick around 200 years ago. Camellias have been grown in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam as a garden plant for thousands of years and many of the 33 varieties of these japonica Camellias were brought over with the Chinese tea trade.

Among these exceptional plants is the unique Middlemist’s Red, originally brought to Britain from China in 1804 by Londoner John Middlemist, a nurseryman from Shepherds Bush. It is one of only two in the world known to exist – the other being on the other side of the globe in Waitangi in New Zealand.

The Grade 1 listed Conservatory which houses the Chiswick House Camellia Show is open from 11th February to 13th March, 2016 Daily 10am – 4pm (Closed Mondays).

The Magical Lantern Festival www.magicallantern.uk  will be open Tuesday to Sunday evenings from 5pm until 8.45pm until Saturday 5th March and as well as an impressive gigantic dragon, and huge range of illuminated animals and plants, includes a handmade Camellia lantern in celebration of the Camellia Show.
Book tickets via Ticketmaster -  www.ticketmaster.co.uk/magicallantern.

The Chiswick House Camellia Show 2016
Chiswick House, London, W4 2QN
@Chiswick_House
Dates: 11th February to 13th March, 2016
Conservatory opening hours: Daily 10am – 4pm (Closed Mondays)
Admission: Free
Chiswick House: Special Camellia Show weekend openings Saturday and Sunday10am – 4pm

Group bookings, guided tours and information on admission prices for Chiswick House: www.chgt.org.uk
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Displaying Camellia japonica 'Gyorgyi Milburn', Chiswick House HELICON20150318a.jpgDisplaying Camellia japonica 'Gyorgyi Milburn', Chiswick House HELICON20150318a.jpg