Rhododendron and
Azalea News

Ideas for Chapters

Why go to ARS conferences?

A very important ARS Convention is coming up...in a matter of days!  Someone is doing the counting...let me assure you of that.  And, a long-term ARS member is speaking her mind...and wants you to understand the value of participation.

Just listen to what...

Barbara Campell of the California Chapter has to say.  She will whet your appetite to become involved.

"When I joined the American Rhododendron Society my thoughts were to learn as much as I could about rhododendrons...ever dreaming that my love of the plant would take me to far off places and give me the chance of meeting such delightful people.

the places I have been...

Because of the conferences, I have been to the Poconos in the East, visited Cape Cod, Atlanta, and visited the Biltmore Estate.  Been up and down the West Coast visiting Eureka, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver Island, stayed at the Empress Hotel, and ended up in Hawaii...many, many times.

Also have traveled to New Zealand for several conferences.  Been to Australia for several conferences there.  I have been to Scotland, to Oban, and to Edinburgh.

Along the way, I have met the most delightful people...such as George Argent, Mitch Mitchell, Bill Jenkins, Peter Shick, Graham Smith of Pukeiti, E. White Smith, Bill Robinson and Ann Ford of Tekiteri in Rotorua, Tim and June Walsh, Reverend Crutwell...to name just a few!

Plant people are the greatest and I feel that my life has been so enriched...and enlarged...because I started going...to conferences.  Now, it has become like one, big happy, exciting family...whenever I attend a conference.  This was all accomplished on a "shoestring," as I don't make a lot of money.  Watched for sales and such!

All of this leading to...why you...should attend the conference in San Francisco in April.

Oh, forgot to mention all the wonderful gardens that were visited in my travels.  Here in April one faces difficult decisions.

• On Friday should one go to South Bay and visit Filoli? (a New Zealand friend had to revisit when she came back last year, having seen Filoli during the last local conference).  She had been so impressed and wanted her daughter to visit several private gardens...or

• Go east and visit the vireya garden and the bonsai garden in Oakland and the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley.

• On Saturday another hard choice.  Should one go south and visit Bay Laurel and the University of California's Botanical Garden at Santa Cruz...or

• Go north and visit a marvelous garden built on a hill consisting of rhododendrons, palm tree conifers; a winery, and Sonoma Horticulture Nursery with its 7 acres of marvelous plants.  Don't get me started on this place...as I could go on forever.  Polo De Lorenzo has done such marvelous things with this nursery.  It is more like a gigantic garden with lots of secret gardens.

• On Thursday...an easy day!  Only one choice: San Francisco Golden Gate Park...one will visit the Japanese Tea Garden, the newly renovated conservatory and Strybing Arboretum.  A fun-filled day.

I do hope you will join us in April and have the world open up for you also.

Again, as Barbara Campbell, telling you as it is...why I love to come and go to the various conferences.  Come and try it for yourself!  There never will be a regretful moment.  And, the memories...wow...wow...the memories will bring you so much joy in the future.

A most important question!

Dick Murcott, of the New York Chapter has raised the most important question.  A question each ARS member should question himself/herself.  He has written this article from the depths of his heart and presented it to his local chapter meeting.  In turn, the torch was picked up and passed from chapter to chapter in the last few months.  It appears here...in its entirety...in the hope each chapter will take special notice...and accept the challenge.

Here's the question...

In 1962 I started to get involved in what I call "organized horticulture."  At that time there were many civic, religious, and horticultural organizations.  Every church and temple had a men's club, women's club, single's club, couple's club, etc.  There were: Masons, Elks, Moose, Odd Fellows, Eagles.  Societies existed for chrysanthemums, rhododendrons, African violets, roses, orchids, and several others that I can't remember.  Many localities had a garden club...probably 30 or so in Nassau County alone.

unbelievable membership...

The New York Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society met at a Schraft's Restaurant on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and would attract at least 100 people from New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester, and Long Island.  At one time the New York Chapter of the ARS had 450 members.  In one year alone we took in 450 new members from our information booth at the New York Flower Show!  All of the local garden clubs had waiting lists for membership.  Two I knew of had a ten-year wait to become a member.

now...clubs need a spark plug...

A look now at these organizations is a sobering experience.  Everyone is suffering from a lack of interested members.  There are still Masons...struggling along with limited memberships...but the Elks, Moose, Odd Fellows, and Eagles...are basically gone.

All of the other groups...if they are still around...are down to 10 to 15% of what they used to be.  Also leaders of these groups all report a general lack of "spark plug" members, those who are right there ready to do or help on any project.  Most of the members are long-time members who feel they had done their share in the past...and now want to relax and let the younger members do the work.

where is everyone?

The problem is that there are no new members.  Where has everyone gone?  Why are all these organizations not attracting new, young members?  There are several reasons.

The first is competition from television...especially cable and satellite television...together with rented movies.  These make television a remarkable entertainment medium. You don’t even have to go to a Blockbuster Store to rent a movie...they mail it to you and give you a postage-free envelope in which to return it.  The old expression "watching the boob tube" just is not true anymore.  There is an infinite amount of very interesting programming available.

If the competition from TV is not enough...we have the Internet!  There everything is available from information on any subject and correspondence with people to...infinite entertainment options.

must make choices with time...

We have the new life style of young people.  Housing is very expensive in the new York City area.  In order for young married couples to live here, most of the time both partners must work, and usually, work long hours.  Getting home at 6:30 or 7 P.M. to prepare and eat dinner really kills the idea of picking up at 8 P.M. to drive to a rhododendron or mum...or whatever...society meeting.  And, I have not even mentioned interacting with children, which must be done if there are any.  Most of these people are simply over worked...and have very little spare time for outside activities.

Lastly, we have the feeling on the part of young people that horticulture is..."so 1930 and so uncool."  Any gardening work is to be done by hired workers.  So very many middle-class families now use services to even cut the grass and do garden maintenance work...jobs that years ago, every homeowner considered his/her duty to perform.

Sounds dismal and hopeless, doesn’t it!  Well...it is not!  We have something to offer these people that is not found elsewhere.

People.  You!

What we must show these people is that rhododendrons are fun...interesting...exciting...and, most important, they can get to develop a whole new circle of friends from all walks of life.

How?

• First of all, we should sponsor...and run one-hour, free information sessions about rhododendron horticulture at local libraries...at least once a quarter. I, personally, would be glad to give the presentation.

• We should start out in the communities closest to Planting Fields, Oyster Bay, Syosset, Locust Valley, Glen Cove, Bayville...and then move out from there.

• Garden clubs in the area of the library could be notified of upcoming meetings and invited to attend.

• Publicity for the meeting would be through a poster at the library and notices in the local newspapers.

• The name and address of each attendee would be taken and an invitation sent to attend
  the next meeting…at which they would be given a small rhododendron, 'Scintillation', 'Parker's Pink'...something nice and a cultivar different from what they would normally see at Home Depot!

• Continue to send out invitations for the ensuing three meetings.

initial introductions are so important...

When a visitor attends the first meeting, the president should meet the person before the meeting starts and chat with them to find out where they live...and if they are interested in other plants.  The president should also introduce the visitor to several older members and encourage the old members to stick with the visitor and continue in conversation.  If the older members are uncomfortable with this they should "pass" the visitor off to other older members.

THE VISITOR SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE AT ANY TIME DURING...OR AFTER THE MEETING.

Everyone should have a nametag with the locality in which they live.  This will help everyone remember names.

let visitors know they are wanted...

At the start of the meeting, the president should introduce the visitor saying where they live and if they are interested in other plants.  The reason for this is: it gives other members a topic of conversation to start with the visitor after the meeting is over.  All of this gives the visitor a sense that everyone is actually interested in them.  Very important!

During conversation, the new visitor should be asked if they have any rhododendron problems...and, if so, offers to visit their garden to give suggestions.  This should be made by some of the older members.

start a beginner's class...now!

We should also consider having a half-hour beginner's session before the regular meeting.  Each session would go over what should be done for rhododendrons during the coming month.  A plant could be given as a reward to those who attend 75% of the beginner’s meetings during the year.

Why not have a class at the May Show...just for beginners...with a special award for the best entry in that class!

new member focus...

We must become new member focused...after all...they are the future.

Wow...Dick...wow...for the challenges you have given. You have awakened the ARS and given very descriptive guidelines.

It is definitely a reminder of when we were kids.  What joy we had in dropping a pebble in a quiet pond or stream to see how many circles and how large each could become.  We would test the large vs. small pebbles to determine which pebble made the best circles.  It was the small pebbles that made the largest circles.  Big rocks dropped in the same manner, didn't do as good a job.  It comes back again to the one-on-one basis of contacts.

It really is the small contacts made at meetings, giving gift certificates to friends and relatives, meeting people at flower shows, nurseries, even at Home Depot, that add to the sum of making people feel welcome.

Thanks, so much. And there is another suggestion that follows. Each will be interested!

Show time...truss preparation

Yes, indeed, it is springtime...and show time for all of those beautiful trusses from your garden.  And, it is time to share with you some of the expertise of fellow ARS members who have been the proud recipients of beautiful-colored ribbons to display in their homes, offices, and the like.

Irv Snyder of the Portland Chapter shares his story of preparing his trusses for shows. He has incorporated a great deal of humor.  You will enjoy it!

Two weeks prior to the show, it is important to go out and assess the health and attitude of your Rhododendron family.  It may be necessary at this to give some of your rhodies counseling and encouragement.  They may need to be reminded that they have a mere two weeks to...shape up!

identify...identify

A week prior to the show, you really need to get serious!  Potential trusses need to be identified.  For example, the four 'Anah Kruschke' sisters are behaving a mite fickle.  They have produced only one truss that is a possible candidate for the show.  This truss will have to be coached along to be ready.

The three 'Point Defiance' brothers are living up to their name.  The oldest brother has bloomed early and is peaking a week prior to the show.  Meanwhile, the two younger brothers are still sleeping in bed and cannot possibly be ready for the show.

'Naselle' has burst into splendor ten days prior to the show.  Can we possibly preserve one of her trusses for the show?  'Girard's Violet' is a little long in the tooth.  'Black Sport' is beat up from the winter ice storms...but he is trying hard to produce an acceptable truss.

is 'Glasnost' exiled?

It is not five days prior to the show.  It is time for action. 'Glasnost' is behaving like a stubborn Russian.  He is beautiful...but he will never make it to the show.  We need to cut him and exile him to Siberia, in this case a refrigerator that is kept at two degrees above freezing.  This seems like a good idea, so four days prior to the show, 'Glasnost' is joined in Siberia by 'Tweety Bird' x 'Sappho', 'Naselle', and 'Point Defiance'.

rescue efforts to save precious rhododendrons...

Three days prior to the show and the rain continues.  It is definitely time for action.  Some of the rhodie family must be protected from rain to help them through until the show.  Using saw horses and step ladders, temporary poly houses are built around five rhodies.  The "greenhouses" are not very pretty...but they will probably fend off the rain and stand up to the wind.

The fickle 'Anah Kruschke' is not going to make it, and neither is her friend 'Pink Pearl'.  These two ladies had better shape up by morning...or more drastic action will be necessary.

drastic attention to survive...

It is the morning of the day before the show and 'Anah Kruschke' and 'Pink Pearl' are still dawdling.  They are cut and introduced to an 80 degree bathroom with lots of light.  During the day they progress nicely, but the results are not satisfactory.  They will be subjected to light the entire night before the show to induce them to rectify their behavior.

tagged with a ribbon...

The day prior to the show, most of the final trusses are selected and tagged with red striped plastic ribbon.  In order to preserve the freshness, the trusses are left on the buses, but the trusses are cleaned up in place.  The truss candidates in the temporary "greenhouses" are not selected yet.  A 12-ft. stepladder is erected in Cynthia so that her most magnificent trusses on top of the bush may be accessed.  Wisely, no attempt is made to clean up these trusses in place.

now wish for ID cards...

On the day before the show, entry cards are filled out for each truss.  What the heck class does 'Glasnost' go in?  The yakushimanum is gorgeous, but what species class does it belong in?  Decorum, decorum, where goeth thou?  Next year I am going to be a lot smarter!  Why didn't I take more entry cards?  I had better make an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all these darned trusses.

judgment day arrives...

On the day of the show, I arise at 4:30 a.m. to begin preparations.  The trusses are rescued from Siberia and with gentle care are placed in the carrier in their assigned locations.  With the first crack of dawn, the five temporary greenhouses are taken down.  The final trusses from the temporary greenhouses need to be selected.  Sometimes the best trusses on the bushes that are past their prime are found near the ground on the back side of the bush.  Candidates are best selected by lying in the dirt and looking up at the trusses to spot potential blemishes.  Five trusses are selected and relegated to their assigned locations in the carrier.  The remaining, previously selected trusses are cut and placed in their designated spots in the carrier.

The program proceeds on schedule and the trusses are ready to depart for the show at 6:45 a.m.  However, two minutes prior to departure, a Burlington Northern train pulls into the crossing, preventing a timely departure from our residence.  My hands start to sweat, even though it is less than 50 degrees out.  The Burlington Northern Chief Dispatches in Fort Worth, Texas is called and told to get that ##!!!**$$ train out of the way.  Train moves on...half hour later!

At Crystal Springs, several sympathetic ARS members help the hapless entrant assemble his trusses.  All trusses are entered just before the required deadline.  Entrant is most pleased with the show results.  However, next year he is considering doing something less stressful, like working the plant sale.

The Portland Newsletter Editor...added this comment...added this remarkable quote: Check out how many trophies these guys won...may be Siberia is a good thing!

Now, it does sound like a lot of fun to participate in a show.  Some people treat thee beautiful trusses like members of their families, some give them the care they give their patients, others are just plain delighted to submit one of their choices to delight others.

Irv, you have delighted our souls!  Many shows are going on right now...may your comments be food for thoughts for the next show.  Thanks!

Free memberships at plant sales

Tadeusz Dauksaz, membership chair of the Midwest Chapter, reported at the May meeting, a most interesting summary.  The chapter has an annual plant sale at Chicago Botanic Garden on Mother's Day weekend.  It is highly successful.  An 18-month membership card is given to each person who purchases $100 of rhododendrons.  He estimates that between 23 and 30% of those individuals given a free membership renew their own membership at expiration time.

Every marketing firm in the nation would love to have that percentage of return.  The chapter continues to use this way as a method of acquiring new members.  Incidentally, Tad is noted for being an excellent membership recruiter!

plant exchange program...

There is a definite loyalty between ARS chapters and more and more chapters are becoming involved.  Tad Dauksaz arranged with the Massachusetts Chapter to purchase a certain number of plantings from the chapter's Member Plants Sale for sale at this year's Mother's Day Sale.  He delights in the program and encourages other chapter to get involved, too.  Individual Massachusetts ARS members grow them!  What more could one possibly hope for...a home-grown plant...that will grow and develop in your own garden. The reason Tad had arranged for this program is the weather conditions in Massachusetts and Chicagoland are similar.

A thought to carry with you today...and every day hereafter...

One touch of nature
makes the whole world kin.

-- William Shakespeare,
   Troilus and Cressida