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January 2012 |
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January 2012 |
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CHAPTER MEETING — JANUARY 12, 2012 7:00 pm in the Carrier room (Church Street entrance) of the First Methodist Church on the corner of Church and State Streets Salem. Speaker: E. White Smith Vireya Rhododendrons PRE-CHAPTER MEETING DINNER JANUARY 11, 2012 5:00 PM
Our Pre-Chapter Meeting dinner will again be at the McGrath's Fishhouse in downtown Salem, OR. We’ll start about 5:00 PM, just ask for the “Rhody Crowd”. The address is: 350 Chemeketa St. NE Salem, OR 97301. The phone is: 503-362-0736. And the menu is at: www.mcgrathsfishhouse.com . Parking is in the Chemeketa Parkade which has its entrance off Commercial Street, NE.Wally Reed - President |
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Calendar of Events
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SOME HI- LIGHTS FROM NOVEMBER MEETING
One of the program chairpersons, Syd W, introduced the evening’s entertainment, Lucille Whitman of Whitman Farms (www.whitmanfarms.com) who gave us a great slideshow and talk about Japanese maples. There were so many…I never realized they came in bronze, green and multiple variations. ”. But first, I don’t think there is any such thing as an “ugly” Japanese maple. Here are my favorites:
Acer circinatum ‘Pacific Fire’: red branches and a pink trunk
Acer circinatum ‘Burgundy Jewel’: bronzy-red all year
Acer circinatum ‘Pacific Sprite’: green crinkly leaves
Acer japonicum ‘Otaki’: very, VERY bright orange
Acer japonicum ‘Meigatum’: very pretty green
Acer japonicum‘Emmitts Pumpkin’: green leaves with red edges
Acer palmatum ‘Ghost Dancer’: white leaves with green veining
Acer palmatum ‘Olsen’s Frosted Strawberry”: red veins on white leaves
Acer palmatum ‘Fairy Hair’: skinny “eyelashes” for leaves in bright green with red “seeds”
And these are just a very few of the maples Lucille showed us. She also prefers to have them grow in “root control” pots which keep the new roots untangled and enables the plants to “take off” better when finally put into the ground. She also uses “smart pots” which are above ground pots, about 2 gallon size. The plant stays in the “pot” and the roots can grow out of the bottom.
Lucille brought with her a ‘Sister Ghost’ maple to auction off. The bidding got quite competitive…there was more enthusiasm for the maple than there has been for rhodies…maybe because everyone bidding has a million rhodies and no pretty maples.
A very interesting and informative program.
Bruce Duffy M.D. spoke to us about the 2nd edition of his “project”…the DVD containing all the rhodies he’s found so far. He’s now up to 6000 images of both species and hybrid plants. And he gave credit to Wally for this edition as well as the first one, because Mr. W told him that if he waiting until it was finished to publish it, he’d be dead! Bruce reminded us that 30% of the profits from the sale of the DVD goes to the RSBG. And he thanked Herb Spady, Anne Gross, Dick Lundin, and Wally for helping with the photos and to Keith White for being his “cheerleader”. His next edition will include the vireyas. His “old” edition was helpful to the city in planning the new rhodie garden in Bush Park.
Janet Shepherd brought in a “pink ribbon t-shirt” to auction off. The profits will go to help in breast cancer research and so far the sale of them along with the sales of the hybrid “Pink Ribbon”, have raised approximately $1000. It was $1030 in a few minutes as the shirt was bought by Keith for $30.
Last but not least, Jason Ashford brought in an itsy-bitsy yellow flower on equally itsy-bitsy rhodie. There were guesses and discussion and finally Wally asked what he should do with it…and moi spoke up and said “Give it to me, because it’s my birthday!” which it was and he did and Jason said it’s a ‘Yellow Hammer’ rhodie. And because it’s so tiny, it’s with my vireyas staying warm until spring. AND my apologies to Erin White, the delightful daughter of Keith, because it was also her birthday and I didn’t give her a thought when I yelled “MINE”!!
OUR PRIME CHRISTMAS POTLUCKDick hasn’t asked for this…but, he has in the past and since I’m pretty sure he’s either finished editing the January 2012 newsletter or is close to it…and since I’m going to be gone pretty soon…I’ll submit something…and if the computer will let him receive it he can use it or not!!!
And…it will be brief…we all ate ourselves into near oblivion and talked until we were hoarse and nearly drank the bottles dry!! As Dickens said here and there…we “made merry” and then some. We were also treated to a cold but rewarding tour of the Bush Park Rhodie Park-to-Be. There was NO sign of the humungus bunch of blackberries than used to “grace” the trail from Lafelle to the park. The new trails are wide and slope gently so even I could make it up and down hill. Didn’t linger long our there as it was super COLD.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Crofts, Secretary Willamette Chapter ARS
THE DECEMBER 2011 POTLUCK
Much fun was had at the December Potluck. During the clean-up, a lovely poinsettia and a heart shaped red plate were discovered. We have no idea who to thank for the poinsettia, but if it is a gift, Kathy and Wally are most glad to receive it. Thanks. If it was to go home with someone, please let us know right away. Also, whomever wants a heart shaped red plate back can either call the Reeds, or it will be available at the January 11, 2012 Chapter Meeting. Much good fun, thanks to you all.
Wally Reed - President
NEW RHODY GARDEN PROGRESS
BUSH’S PASTURE PARK, SALEM
There are NEW RHODYS and lots of other wonderful plants in the new rhody garden to extend the current rhody plantings along the hillside in the south central portion of Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, OR. In December 2011 the trails were nearly finished with new steps and surfacing. An Overlook Plaza has been designed and will be installed soon. The Compton's of the Compton Family Foundation (Stuart, Mary K and Michael), who have donated the funds for the new rhody garden, met with City of Salem Parks Operations Staff Tom Beatty, John Kleeman and Keith Smith along with Wally and Kathy Reed in mid December to review the progress. It is beautiful and will be even more so when it blooms this Spring.
The really big news is the arrival of the first round of plants from a range of growers. During mid December Tom Beatty, other City staff and Wally Reed ranged across the Willamette Valley picking up the rhodys, azaleas and companion plants pictured in the Willamette Chapter ARS December Newsletter. In addition to these purchased plants, Roger Gossler of Gossler Farms Nursery has donated nearly 200 companion plants. These are a wonderful gift to the City of Salem Parks and Roger is very much to be thanked. The Friends of Bush Gardens are advising on the location of these companion plants in the new garden. Also, Bruce Duffy and Keith White of our Chapter have donated specific plants on our larger wish list. The Duffy and White donations are also much appreciated. A copy of Bruce Duffy’s Rhododendron Guide Version 2.0 has been given to City of Salem’s Parks Operations Division.
This round of rhodys, azaleas and companions are now in the ground along each of the hill side areas in the garden. A map of their locations is being developed. The plants are not labeled as a precaution against theft. Be sure to come by, walk the new trails and admire the impact of the Compton Family Foundation’s gift and the great effort by the City of Salem’s Parks Operations staff. It is great.
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The new Rhody Garden in Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, OR was planned to be up and running by January 1, 2012. It is substantially up, and IT IS RUNNING. The first plants to show color in what is planned as a year round show of color began to bloom on New Years Day 2012. The images are of the witch hazel donated by Roger Gossler of Gossler Farms Nursery near Eugene, OR |
Wally Reed - President
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INITIAL PLANTING LIST |
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R. Mrs. T.H. Lowinsky R. Midnight Mistique R. Ring of Fire R. occidentale R. schlippenbachii R. Weston's Innocence R. luteum 'Golden Comet' R. Washington State Centennial R. Red Sunset |
R. pachysanthum R. yakushimanum R. decorum R. macrophyllum R. Taurus R. Starry Night R. Nancy Evans R. Seta R. williamsianum |
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Photos by editor and internet |
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WELCOME TO THE FOLD
SUSAN AND PAUL!
We have a new member…Susan Doellinger, who was so impressed with us when she came as a visitor to our October meeting, that she officially joined us at our November meeting.
Susan’s a neighbor of Mary Crofts, just around the corner from her house. They met last spring when Mary was walking past her house and admired the large rhodies lining the edge of the fence. Susan said she had more rhodies in their back yard…and so she did! Approximately 60 in all!!
Susan and her husband, Paul, moved to Monmouth a few years ago. Paul was pastor at Faith Lutheran Church until he retired last spring. When they bought the house, the rhodies were already there…planted in the 1960s…a combination of azaleas and rhodies in all sizes and colors. Eye candy!!! Susan admitted they knew little about rhodies, so I asked her if I could invite Keith White over to see if he could identify them. Some had name tags but the names were long gone. So a few weeks later Keith and I stood on their doorstep and by then the back yard was in full color. I took photos, Keith checked his books, Susan made a map, and Paul wandered with us. This was last June…we had a late bloom on our rhodies …usually the big bloom is in May. So I suggested that our rhodie crew could make a house call in 2012. Then I suggested Susan come to one of our meetings. And now you’ve meet both Paul and Susan…we’re glad they’re with us.
So…I’m so glad I stopped to admire their rhodies and so glad I invited Susan to a meeting and happy that I have new friends who happen to have a wealth of our favorite flower!
Mary Crofts
The Weston Hybrids
Dick Brooks
Concord, Massachusetts
Few commercial growers of rhododendrons in the United States have the capacity, time, and inclination to carry on any kind of breeding program for improving the varieties available to the gardening public. Hybridizing of rhododendrons and azaleas, at least in this country, seems to be a field largely dominated by amateurs.
One notable exception is to be found in a Boston suburb, where the Mezitt family at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton has been quietly pursuing a number of breeding goals for three generations. Those goals include developing plants that (1) are hardy enough to flourish in the climatic extremes of Zone 5 in New England, (2) possess good, compact habits and superior foliage characteristics, (3) offer improved resistance to insects and diseases, and (4) extend the blooming season at both ends. In undertaking this ambitious program, they have eschewed some of the current fads, e.g., using Rhododendron yakushimanum for compact habit and foliage retention, and striving for plants with gigantic trusses which garner trophies on the show table but which may be miserable failures as landscape subjects. Instead, they have relied on painstaking selection and evaluation of seedling plants for landscape value, generation after generation.
The Mezitts' breeding of rhododendrons falls into four general categories: early-blooming lepidotes, midseason elepidotes, hardy evergreen azaleas, and summer-flowering deciduous azaleas. The lepidote story begins with a cross made in 1939 by Ed Mezitt, son of Peter J. Mezitt who founded the nursery. Peter had received a plant collected by missionaries in the Altai Mountain region of China, later identified as Rhododendron dauricum var. sempervirens (now known as R. dauricum Semper-virens Group). Ed used pollen from this plant on R. minus Carolinianum Group (then known as R. carolinianum) to produce the PJM Group, probably still the most widely planted rhododendron in the country today.
This landmark introduction was subsequently followed by a succession of closely related lepidote hybrids, based on the PJM Group, its parent species, and other related species such as Rhododendron racemosum. Two of the first of these resulted from a 1957 cross of a white form of R. minus Carolinianum Group with the PJM Group: 'Balta' and 'Laurie'. Both form neat, slow growing mounds, with flowers in early May (here in Zone 5) that vary in color, depending on the season, from very pale pink to white. 'Laurie' occasionally produces petaloid flowers, a trait that reappears in a number of more recent hybrids. 'Balta' backcrossed with white R. minus Carolinianum Group carried this line of breeding a step further, with the pure white 'Molly Fordham'.
A 1958 cross of a white form of Rhododendron minus Carolinianum Group with R. mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink', produced a group known collectively as the Shrimp Pink Hybrids. They form upright, semi-deciduous shrubs that cover themselves in late April with a profusion of delicately tinted flowers.
Three selections have been named, with slight differences in flower color: 'Caronella', 'Llenroc' and 'Vallya'.
Another 1958 mating, this time with Rhododendron minus Carolinianum Group and an evergreen hybrid, probably (R. mucronulatum x R. dauricum)1, gave us 'Olga Mezitt', a lusty grower that produces a huge root system, substantial evergreen foliage, and mid-pink flowers in early May. A sibling, 'Weston's Aglo', has flowers of a slightly lighter pink.
A continuing goal over the years has been a hardy, red-flowered lepidote. The first introduction in this category, 'Milestone', resulted from a 1969 mating of a compact form of R. minus with R. dauricum Sempervirens Group. This forms a twiggy, compact, semi-deciduous plant with excellent fall color. The flowers open from pink buds, and the color intensifies as they age, to a brilliant magenta-red. Bloom typically coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon on Patriot's Day, April 19. Further breeding in the "red lepidote" category explored other genetic combinations: 'New Patriot' ([(PJM Group x pink R.mucronulatum) selfed] x unknown); 'Red Quest' ('Waltham' x pink R. dauricum Sempervirens Group); and 'Landmark' ('Counterpoint' x Carolina Rose Group). All have flowers in varying shades of deep pink, which appear nearly red from a distance.
In the years following the introduction of the PJM Group, inbreeding and further crosses of the original grex produced a succession of variants, some with deeper colored foliage and flowers, some with an even more compact habit. 'Black Satin' and 'Thunder' (PJM Group F2), and 'Midnight Ruby' ('Olga Mezitt' x deep purple PJM Group ) have foliage that turns deep mahogany-black in winter, and bear deep purple flowers. 'Checkmate' (sport of 'PJM Victor') has foliage and growth habit about two-thirds the size of its parent, while 'Princess Susan' combines the intense deep flower and foliage color with an unusually dwarf, compact habit.
Another line of breeding involved the old hybrid 'Laetevirens'. ('Laetevirens' is commonly listed as a hybrid between Rhododendron minus Carolinianum Group and R. ferrugineum; however, there is evidence that the parentage is actually [R. concinnum x R. ferrugineum].) Dr. Robert Ticknor crossed 'Laetevirens' with R. minus and gave seedlings to Ed Mezitt when he moved from Massachusetts to Oregon. Two of these, 'Waltham' and 'Desmit', were eventually introduced by Weston Nurseries. Both are dense, compact plants with superior, glossy dark green foliage, and both produce pink flowers in mid-May. A 1971 cross by Ed Mezitt combined a sibling of 'Waltham' with an unnamed hybrid of R. minus Carolinianum Group and R. myrtifolium, to produce 'Weston's Mayflower', with even better habit and foliage.
The tendency toward petaloid or double flowers, which you will recall showed up in the early PJM Group hybrid 'Laurie', has been exploited more recently to give us a whole series of double-flowered lepidotes. First to be introduced, in celebration of the nursery's sixtieth anniversary in 1983, was 'Weston's Pink Diamond', a cross of
PJM Group and Rhododendron mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink'. As might be expected from this pedigree, it forms a tall (over six feet at maturity), upright plant, semi-deciduous with spectacularly brilliant fall color. The flowers, produced in mid-April here in eastern Massachusetts, are rose pink, with the stamens converted to an inner circle of petals. 'Weston's Pink Diamond' was followed by a bevy of double-flowered lepidotes of complex ancestry, involving PJM Group, pink mucronulatum, white dauricum, white minus Carolinianum Group and 'Gable's Pioneer'. 'April Snow' has star-shaped double flowers of (you guessed it) snowy white; 'April Cloud', of similar hue, has a more formal, camellia-like shape. 'April Song' is probably my favorite; the flowers are clear pink with the inner petals a paler shade. 'Mrs J. A. Withington III' sports flowers of pale mauve that have been likened to a powder puff. All of these more recent introductions make dense plants around 3-4 feet in height in ten years, with about fifty percent foliage retention in winter.Last but by no means least among Weston's lepidote introductions is 'Blue Baron', from a 1981 cross of 'Gletschernacht' and 'Waltham'. 'Gletschernacht' (often listed as 'Starry Night') is a Hachmann hybrid with stunning deep blue-violet flowers, but unfortunately not hardy enough for Zone 5 gardens. 'Blue Baron' has captured the blossom color of 'Gletschernacht' and the hardiness of 'Waltham' to produce a superb, compact plant with color to rival many West Coast augustinii hybrids.
While the ancestry of the lepidote hybrids was generally well documented, that of the elepidotes was less so, at least in the early years. In addition to raising named varieties of the familiar old catawbiense iron clads, the nursery practice was to raise seedlings of the same, often open-pollinated, selecting every year the best plants from which to harvest seed. There was an occasional infusion of other types, for example, some wardii hybrids received from Dr. Ticknor. Occasionally a seedling would exhibit such desirable qualities that a decision was made to name it and propagate it clonally. The first of these to be so honored was a 1950 selection, 'Noreaster', a low-growing, dense, compact plant with white flowers. 'Years of Peace' was a 1954 hybrid of 'Mrs C. S. Sargent', selfed; it forms an upright, stiffly-branched plant of 5 to 6 feet in ten years, with deep pink flowers. Another, 'Pauline Bralit', a 1958 cross, introduced Rhododendron fortunei genes into the blood lines; and as might be expected, it is also a stiff, upright plant with large, slightly fragrant, creamy-white flowers in early midseason.
Perhaps the best known of all the Weston elepidotes is 'Henry's Red', selected from a field of catawbiense seedlings. Somewhat open and rangy in habit, 'Henry's Red' offers one of the deepest colors to be found in hardy rhododendrons-so deep, in fact, that it tends to recede into the background unless backlit by the sun. Other reds followed: 'Red Frilled' and 'Trojan Warrior', both selected catawbiense seedlings and both fairly low-growing and compact. But the goal of a truly dwarf, hardy, red-flowered hybrid has remained elusive.
As elusive for the Mezitts as it has been for many other eastern hybridizers is another goal: a hardy clear yellow elepidote. Nevertheless, some of the introductions paving the way have turned out to be first-rate plants in their own right. A group of hybrids from 1971 crosses between plants designated simply as "low white" and "white with yellow center" must surely have some genes from those Ticknor wardii hybrids. 'Arctic Gold' and 'Glacier Queen' form reasonably dense, low-growing plants, 2 or 3 feet in height in seven years, and produce flowers in tints of pale yellow, with a stronger yellow-green flare. 'Victoria's Consort', of similar ancestry, has a more open upright habit. 'Big Deal' (unnamed low, white hybrid x unnamed pale yellow hybrid) has a particularly fine flower composed of large, frilled flowers closely packed in a tight formal truss, which has won trophies at Massachusetts Chapter shows. The most recent introductions in this category are 'Golden Scepter' (unnamed pale yellow hybrid x 'Goldsworth Yellow') whose flowers are the deepest colored in the group, and 'New Century' (pale yellow R. catawbiense hybrid x [unnamed yellow hybrid x 'Bristol Cream'*]), which has the additional attraction of glossy, dark green foliage.
Unlike the rangy habit of many of the old standard purples, 'Tapestry' makes a neat, compact plant 3 feet tall and wide in eight years. The flowers of vivid purple with a near-black flare are close to 'Purple Splendour' quality, and the foliage is sun proof, even on Weston's exposed hillsides.
Among the latest flowering elepidotes is a 1982 hybrid of 'Summer Rose': 'Summer Peppermint', a flashy red-and-white bicolor peaking in late June. With an open habit, the plant reaches 3 feet tall and wide in six years. 'Summer Storm', from the same cross, offers flowers of very pale purple with a prominent deep flare.
Although less extensive than the Mezitts' work in other categories, their introductions of evergreen azaleas make it possible for us Yankees to delight in some of the spectacular masses of color that our Southern neighbors have enjoyed from this group for years. With the evergreen azaleas, the goals have included not only increased hardiness but also compact and floriferous plants. 'Bixby', with dark red flowers, 'Pink Clusters', bright pink, and 'Royal Pillow', purple, satisfy these criteria and offer real Zone 5 hardiness.
From the earliest years the Mezitts understood and appreciated the potential of summer-flowering deciduous azaleas, and recent introductions in this category have extended the blooming season into late July and even early August. In addition to breeding for an unconventional season, the Mezitts have included in their goals superior foliage characteristics, above all resistance to mildew, which can disfigure so many azaleas in our humid eastern summers, and brilliant fall foliage color.
The Weston hybrids have been rigorously tested under conditions that promptly eliminate any weaklings. Fields of rhododendrons are grown in full sun on exposed hillsides and in rocky, clayey soil. Any varieties that flourish despite these adversities are bound to be star performers under less-than-ideal conditions elsewhere.
*Name is unregistered.
1 The parentage of 'Olga Mezitt' and 'Weston's Aglo' has been erroneously registered as (carolinianum x minus). However the correct parentage is (R. mucronulatum x R. dauricum).
Source: JARS V53:No.4:p195:y1999
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The 2012 Spring Distribution Catalog is now posted on the RSBG website: http://www.rhodygarden.org/catalogs.html |
Be sure to return your completed order form to us (by mail or fax) before January 17th to receive the optimal number of your requests.
After this date, all orders (both member’s and non-member’s) will be processed as they are received.Associate members - those members who are affiliated with the RSF through another organization such as an ARS chapter, must submit their orders through their Associate group, one order per group.
January 17 is the deadline for the first round of allocation.
Happy shopping,
Katie Swickard
- Program Manager & Outreach Coordinator |
| Seed Parent x Pollen Parent: | red catawbiense hybrid x Boule de Neige | |
| Predominate Flower Color: | Red | |
| Flower / Truss Description: | Flower openly funnel-shaped, frilly, 21/2” across, | |
| deep purplish-red with a deep red blotch. | ||
| Held in ball-shaped truss. | ||
| Fragrant: | No | |
| Bloom Time: | Early Midseason | |
| Foliage Description / Plant Habit: | Leaves 4” long, shiny, slightly wrinkled. | |
| Compact habit. Height (ft.) in 10 Yrs: 3 | ||
| Cold Hardiness Temperature: | -20°F (-29°C) | |
| Elepidote (E) or Lepidote (L): | E | |
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Hybridizer: |
Shammarello |
Guy Nearing
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Guy Nearing, born January 22, 1890, can be considered a renaissance man. He was an authority on wild mushrooms, the author of "The Lichen Book", which he also illustrated, a poet who published six books, a landscape painter, a chess master, an inventor, and an active folk dancer into his 80s.
However, it was his proficiency as a horticulturist that we honor. After coping with the onset of blindness in his senior year, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1911 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and did graduate work in Botany at Harvard and Columbia Universities. His subsequent career was a testament to succeeding in spite of numerous severe physical and natural setbacks.
He began his first nursery experience in 1929 with the Guyencourt Nurseries where he did much early experimentation. In 1935, he became an independent rhododendron grower and opened the Guy Nearing Nursery in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
He was successful in developing many rhododendron hybrids, especially hardy small leaved lepidotes. In 1945, his nursery was destroyed by floods, causing many valuable specimens of rhododendrons to be lost. In 1947, he began a nursery in Ramsey, New Jersey, where he rose to prominence as one of the premier hybridizers and growers in the East.
Mr. Nearing was a member of the American Rhododendron Society, a founding member of the New York Chapter (1951), and a member of the New Jersey Chapter. The Tappan Zee Chapter was founded by Mr. Nearing as a spin off from the New Jersey Chapter.
On March 22, 1986, Guy Nearing died at the age of 96, leaving a legacy of hybrids that meet high standards of good bloom, good growth habit and reliable hardiness.
Here is a list of some of his crosses:
April Blush, Azonea, Boulodes, Brandywine, Catanea, Chesapeake, Cliff garland, Cliff Spangle, Dark Eyes Decalgla, Delaware, Dexanea, Elam, Elsmere, Hockessin, Lenape, Macopin, Magnagllose, Mary Fleming, Mountain Aura, Mountain Flare, Mountain Gllow, Mountain Queen, Mountchanin, Pink Globe, Purple Gem, Ramapo, Red Lion, Red Puff, Rochellle, Signal Horn, Windbeam, Wyanokie
Tappan Zee Chapter ARS
HE HAS DONE IT AGAIN
More information and Pictures
Dr. Bruce Duffy strikes again but this time it is with a DVD. His first program was on a CD and was full of information and beautiful pictures that helped you learn about rhodendrons in your yard as well as adding more plants to your garden by being able to see and get the particulars on them first.
Step number two is a DVD, Version 2.01, and there are more than 769 hybrids, 436 species/varieties/clones listed and described with lots more beautiful pictures over 6000 to be exact.
This DVD will be ready to order in December of this year at the Christmas Potluck. The price for the DVD will be $34.50. For members of our chapter is $30.00. 30% of all sales goes to the Rhododendron Species Foundation. Sounds like a pretty good bargain for all of the information and pictures to me.
Editor
Solving Rhododendron Problems
By Yardener
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Lace Bug
Lace Bug (Stephanotis sp.)
There are many different lace bugs wandering around the home landscape. The adult lace bugs have squarish lacy wings (how they get their name), are about 1/8 inch long, and have black markings. The wings look lace like (well duh!). The nymphs are nearly colorless at first, and darken with time. They are spiny, and move with a strange sideways motion. The adult bugs hibernate under the edges of the bark and emerge to lay their eggs soon after the leaves unfold. The eggs are laid along the midribs and larger veins and live through winter. They hatch out in May and the young insects begin to feed on the under sides of the leaves, where their excreta appear as rather large brown, sticky spots.
Plants Attacked By Lace bugs
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Ash trees |
Azalea |
Chrysanthemum |
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Elm trees |
Flowering |
Hawthorn trees |
| Crabapple trees | ||
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Hickory trees |
Linden trees |
Mulberry trees |
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Oak trees |
Pyracantha |
Rhododendron |
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Sycamore trees |
Verbena |
Walnut trees |
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Willow Trees |
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"Appalachian Spring"
ARS-ASA 2012 Convention
May 4-7, 2012 – Asheville, NCOur special room rates at the beautiful Asheville Crowne Plaza Resort start at $99.00 for two double beds or $109 for one king bed, and go up from there. These rates are good for 5 days before and after the convention, so start planning your "Appalachian Spring" Vacation now! Make your reservation at their customized web site at
http://www.azaleas.org/convention12.html or call in for reservations to 888-233-9527, and mention ARS-ASA Convention.The ARS and ASA Boards will meet on Friday, May 4, with a Welcome Reception and Mini- Trade Show in the afternoon/evening. Fabulous garden tours will be on Saturday and Sunday with a post convention tour on Monday. There might even be a pre convention tour. We're hoping to show our guests the spectacular native azaleas in bloom if the weather will only cooperate. The ARS Banquet will be on Saturday night and the ASA Banquet on Sunday night. Everyone will want to go to both, of course, regardless of your membership status, because we all like to eat, right?
The 2012 Convention web site will soon be available with all the convention details, including garden pictures and descriptions, speaker bios, etc. plus links to area attractions to entice our out of town guests to extend their vacation in this beautiful part of the world.
The gardens we are touring were magnificent this spring! A couple of gardens are open to the public, but most are private gardens owned by our members. Lunches on the tours will be delicious buffets, no box lunches that have to be eaten on a bus! There are no simultaneous tours, so everyone will be able to go on all the tours. A tasty hot buffet breakfast will be provided at the hotel before boarding the busses.
We will have 5 or 6 first rate speakers, some local, some from far away, on a variety of interesting topics, and maybe even a workshop or two.
The plant sale will be gigantic with probably over 3,000 rhododendrons, azaleas and companion plants! Pictures of the plant blooms will soon be on the web site.
Yes, there will be a judged flower show, so start thinking about how you'll transport those perfect trusses or sprays. There will also be a photo contest.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies who wish to meet and greet current and potential customers and get their name and logo on some of our printed materials. Contact Aaron Cook, acook@cccti.edu, or Marilyn Haynes, mphaynes@juno.com, if interested.
The Website link contains the full 2012 ARS-ASA International Convention information. http://www.azaleas.org/convention12.html (Note: This website is worth visiting just to seethe pictures) Please encourage everyone to book their hotel room and register ASAP as rooms are going fast and space is limited. We're seeing an unusually good bud set for next spring here in western North Carolina, so we're anticipating a fabulous show just for you! See you in Asheville in May. Y'all come now.
Marilyn Haynes, Secretary
Southeastern Chapter, ARS
828-696-2996
For special hotel rates and Crowne Plaza Resort information click on
https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=3417554
DISTRICT 4 CHAPTER WEB SITES
| arswillamette.org | eugene-chapter-ars.org | |
| rhodies.org (Portland) | siuslawars.org | |
| sworegonars.org | tuatitinvalleyars.org | |
| All other web sites can be found on | ||
| www.rhododendron.org/chapterinfo.asp | ||
NEW ARS PROGRAMS ON DVDS
The ARS Program Library has announced 3 new Programs on DVD’s. A listing of all 10 available Program titles is available from ARS Program Librarian
Walter Przypek at: Wprzypek@aol.com
The 3 new Programs are:
“A Spring Walk in Walter’s Woods” (western Pennsylvania)
“Nepal: Our Ultimate Rhodo Flowering Experience!”
“Oban, Scotland ARS 1996 Convention Revisited”.
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Willamette Chapter Officers |
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| President | Wally Reed | 503-588-3666 | Newsletter: | ||||||
| Vice President: | Editor: | Dick Lundin | 503-585-8439 | ||||||
| Programs Chair: | Don & Syd Wermlinger | 503-678-2575 | Printing: | Steve Krasik | |||||
| Secretary: | Mary Crofts | 503-838-4122 | Mailing: | Lundins | 503-585-843 | ||||
| Treasurer: | J. R. Krueger | 503-393-1298 | Board Members: | ||||||
| Librarian: | Lundins | 503-585-8439 | Sharon Leopold | 503-364-9313 | |||||
| Greeter | Maxine Dehn | 503-362-9217 | Bob Grasing | 503-585-4478 | |||||
| Web Site | Herb Spady | 503-874-1445 | Eldo Murphy | 503-363-0385 | |||||
| Past President: | Chuck Dehn | 503-362-9217 | |||||||
