Date	Event	Comments
September 7th	Chapter meeting
October 5th	Chapter meeting
November 2nd	Chapter meeting
December 7th	Chapter meeting

 

 

The final meeting of the season was called to order by Greg Winters, who opened the meeting with a discussion of the Mother’s Day Flower Show and our annual bus trip. The Flower Show was held at the Everett Mall one more time, on Mother’s Day weekend, May 12 - 14. Dr Glein contributed several plants from his garden. The approval for the Show came at the last moment from Mall management, and there were indications that future Flower Shows in that location will be difficult. The Income from the show did not pay the expenses of putting on the show.

The bus trip to Grays Harbor area was a huge success, with three stops at Alma’s gardens in Montisano, Joyce Buell’s sister’s place in the same area and the Hammonds gardens in Humptulips.

Greg spoke of the Species Foundation that is giving out five books about the foundation, in hopes of persuading people to join that organization.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 following a lively raffle and plant auction.

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Presidential Musings

Species or Hybrid - 'Fact or Myth'

             We start with the idea that species rhododendrons are the original rhododendrons, before hybridizing occurred!  Then we find out that some 'species' are really 'natural' hybrids!  How 'pure' are current species sent back to the explorers' country or other world growers?  Names like Sir Joseph Hooker (collecting 1848 to 1850), George Forrest, Frank Kingdon-Ward (last expedition to Burma in 1953), and Joseph Rock (collecting in the 1st half of the 20th century) to name a few.  But George Forrest has been labeled 'the ideal plant collector'.  He has collected more than 2,000 rhododendrons with characteristics, locations, habitats, and altitudes documented.  We can only hope that those before and after him were at least as accurate.  So let's enjoy what so many have endured and died doing.  Thus we can look back and marvel at what some call natural hybrids or species.
             I'm honored to be this year's Pilchuck Chapter ARS president.  References used were Hardy Rhododendron Species by James Cullen ©2005.  Also my very own bias not necessarily endorsed by Pilchuck Chapter or it's members' opinion!

  - Jerry Rock, President, Pilchuck Chapter, ARS