I guess I'm in more of a cultural mood this week. With the weather being so cold and drizzly, I just felt drawn to activities that would sort of let me get away from it all, either literally (with the gardens), or figuratively through journeys of the mind to other cultures in far away places. I hope you can enjoy one of these activities during this dreary weather. Don't worry, spring will be here soon with so much going on you won't know what to do!
If you just can't wait for spring, head down just past Fort Valley to Massee Lane Gardens. Massee Lane is the home of the American Camellia Society, and has a beautiful old garden full of more varieties of camellias than you can count. The best part is that when everything else is pretty much dead and dormant right now, camellias are green, lush, and in full bloom with a range of colors. They also have a neat little Japanese garden that's just perfect for sitting and enjoying some peace and quiet. The cost is only $5 for adults, and kids 12 and under are free. The entire month of February they have their annual Camellia Festival. If you call ahead, you can book a deluxe guided tour that includes lunch for $15. This Saturday from 10 am to noon they are offering a painting class to learn to paint camellias. The $35 fee includes all materials. On February 26 & 27, they are hosting the National Camellia Show, which is free and open to the public in the afternoon. Vince Dooley, former head football coach at the University of Georgia, will be available to sign his book, "Vince Dooley's Garden: The Horticultural Journey of a Football Coach." So, if you've ever wanted to talk about flowers with a UGA football coach, this month you'll have your chance!
The Museum of Arts & Sciences in Macon has two new exhibits that sound really interesting. The first, titled "Fashioning Kimono: Art Deco and Modernism in Japan," includes a collection of 100 different kimonos from the late 19th and 20th century. These include kimonos for men, woman, and children, ranging from formal to casual. The second, titled "Out of China: Four Centuries of Export Porcelain," will display several hundred works of finely-crafted porcelain. I am sure both exhibitions will be beautiful, as well as informative about the history and culture behind the pieces on display. The Museum always does a great job of making their displays interesting for all ages.
On Thursday at 11:15 am, Yemen's first woman filmmaker, Khadija al-Salami, will be speaking at Wesleyan College. In addition to being a filmmaker, she also serves as the Director of the Communication and Cultural Center at the Yemeni Embassy in Paris. On either Wednesday (at 7:30 pm) or Thursday (at 7 pm), you can attend a screening of one of her films, followed by discussion. Even if you can't make it to hear her speak, seeing one of Khadija al-Salami's films will open you up to the realities of a culture entirely different from our own. All of the events are free.
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