Our revered Scribe, Mary Crofts, had the Mizzzrry and was unable to attend the Meeting. What follows are announcements made at the Meeting.

In our January 2010 WCARS Newsletter Dick Lundin invited folks to suggest and organize visits to Rhody and other gardens here-about. One of the gardens suggested was the Connie Hansen Garden in Lincoln City, Oregon. Bob Scottan (Scotty) wrote a very interesting article in our January Newsletter about the garden and was an informative attendee of our January 13^th Chapter Meeting. (Hopefully, you’ve read his article in the Newsletter.) The Hansen Garden’s Web Page is at http://www.conniehansengarden.com/. Within a couple of miles of the Hansen Garden both Scotty and Dick Craven have interesting gardens, and Thompson’s Nursery in Waldport, Oregon is not that far further south. Stay tuned, and please recommend other types of visits and trips to Dick Lundin or Wally Reed.
Spring field trips:  If you have a garden in mind that you would like to visit make it known to Wally Reed or Dick lundin and we will see if it is possible to visit them. Or if you organize a trip through your connections let us know and we will help with transportation. We need names of gardens and if possible the names of people to contact for permission. We can have weekday trips and weekend trips both as there is a big group of us that are retired and can get away during the week. How many of you will be opening your gardens this spring? Editor

STUDY GROUPS

Also in our January 2010 WCARS Newsletter Dick Lundin invited folks to suggest and organize Study Groups. Our last Study Group ended in 2001 and involved Keith White among others. During our January 2010 Meeting suggestions for such groups ranged from scholarly or educational efforts such as developing training materials for rhody lovers through applied and craft activities such as learning how to make decorative goodies using dried garden materials. Please contact Dick Lundin with your suggestions and willingness to help out.

Summer and good weather field trips to the Siskiyous and more recently Rhody Lake here in Marion County, Oregon have been a tradition of our Chapter. Please contact Wally Reed if you have suggestions for field trips for this coming late spring or summer.

On January 12^th, the Eugene Chapter ARS joined with the Eugene Hardy Plant Society to host Steve Hootman from the Rhododendron Species Foundation. This joint meeting was a first for them and worked very well. About 25 rhody lovers from Eugene, Florence, Bandon, and Salem joined the crowd of about 60 total. Seven of us went from Salem, and Keith White and Anne Gross won lovely door prizes. Including Mike Bones from Florence who also got a door prize, the Rhody folks scored big and the talk was great. Thanks to the Eugene Chapter for their good work.

The Rhododendron Species Foundation has sent out its Spring 2010 catalog of available plants which can be accessed on the web at: http://www.rhodygarden.org. They have also sent a copy of their Year Book which is now in our Chapter Library (contact Dick Lundin). If you are interested in ordering plant materials, Keith White has volunteered to coordinate and expedite orders from our Chapter Members. We now have 3 Members on the RSF Board of Directors, Wilbur Bluhm, Anne Gross and Keith White. Our thanks to them for their help in advising the wonderful resources of the RSF.

At nearly all of our Chapter Meetings we have contributed plants and other materials for door prize raffles. Maxine Dehn has faithfully distributed warm greetings and raffle tickets at our meetings and her invitations to the fun at each meeting are great. This past meeting the Tallans from Canby, Keith White and Anne Gross each contributed plants or in Anne’s case books and a lovely bonsai type container. Many thanks.

The yummy cookies and goodies for the Meeting were from the kitchen of Dick and Carol Lundin. The coffee was imported from the roasters of Greenberry’s Coffee and Tea Co. of Charlottesville, Virginia and brewed by Kathy Reed. Thanks to you all.

For the past 3 or 4 Chapter Meetings folks or the Speakers have donated very interesting plant and other materials to the Chapter for auction at the meetings. These donations are very much appreciated. At our January Meeting our speaker Pat Osborn from Thompson’s Nursery donated 5 beautiful plants for which we are most grateful. Two rhodys were purchased by Bob Grasing and Syd Wermlinger (their $45.00 contribution is also much appreciated). At our February 10, 2010 Meeting the other 3 plants from Thompson’s will be auctioned. These include the rare new Rhododendron. 'Black Widow', as well 'Emily Allison' and arizelum Rock collection.

The vernal equinox (Saturday, March 20^th) is an auspicious day to help clean up the beautiful Cecil and Molly Smith Garden and prepare it for open gardens through much of April and May. Please reserve the date and help out soon after 8 AM. The coffee break and lunch are provided by the Portland folks and are always good eating. Also, please contact Dorothy Patrick if you can help out with the Open Garden days Saturdays and Sundays, April 3^rd through May 23, 2010. Dorothy is at 503-625-6584 or dpscoty@starband.net.

Our Chapter Awards Committee has been Chaired for a number of years by Carol Lundin. She and her Committee members have done a wonderful job of recognizing and rewarding our Members who have contributed so much to the Chapter. Our great thanks to Carol. She has agreed to Chair the Awards Committee again this year so if you have folks to recommend for awards and recognition by the Chapter, please contact Carol Lundin 503-585-8439.

All of our Chapter’s officers and Board are serving 2 year terms that expire in 2011 except for Board Member Eldo Murphy. Eldo’s term expires this June and he is willing to accept re-election. Anne Gross will Chair our Nominating Committee this year. Please let her know if you wish to nominate anyone else for our Board or recall any of our other “gang of suspects”.

We will join with the Friends of Bush Gardens Plant Sale at the Bush House in Salem again this year for our annual Truss Show and Plant Sale. The event will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 23, 24 and 25, 2010. Helen Malby and Maxine and Chuck Dehn have generously donated tents to the Chapter to be used for the event so we will not need to rent tents this year. (These tents are stored at the Dehn’s and available to Chapter Members and others to use.) The WCARS sponsored “Big Events Firm” of Bob Grasing and Wally Reed will manage the event again this year. We will begin needing help on Wednesday, April 21^st and then lots of help on Thursday, April 22^nd. Our thanks to the Dehns for their storage of show materials. Wally Reed - President

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Recording and reconstructing our WCARS Chapter History depends on finding materials and memories from our past. Herb Spady has provided an incredible amount of material in Rosters and Newsletters. However, we are currently missing a number of Rosters and Newsletters. If you have or know where to lay hands on any of the following materials, please let Wally Reek know and he will arrange to scan or otherwise digitize the materials. Search your memory banks, boxes and bins, there copies must be out there. If you are sure some were never produced, please let Wally know that as well.

ROSTERS needed 
1982 through 1996.  Printed or digital.

Wally Reed - President

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Minutes of the January Meeting
By Dave Eckerdt

         There were about 120 of them, divided amongst entertainment, exuberance, and enlightenment.
        Thanks are owed to the Lundins for providing pre and post meeting delectable edibles. Blessed are the cookie bringers for this is the real reason we come to meetings.
        President-for-Life Wally Reed characteristically opened the meeting promptly at 7 and shepherded us through the weighty matters of state.
        It was reported that chapter membership has remained steady. Lets each consider unsteadying the membership statistic. If you either forgot to make a New Year's resolution or if you have already abandoned the one about diet and exercise, here is a suggestion. Pick a month, any month, and bring a friend, a neighbor, a colleague, or someone who owes you a favor to a rhody meeting. You may be changing their lives, even though there will then be fewer cookies to go around
        The chapter library, a significant educational asset, is open and available to the membership. Head Librarian Shelby Lundin is awaiting your soft spoken inquiries at 503-585-8439 or lynlun@meritel.net
        Carol Lundin is chairperson of the Awards committee, tasked with officially recognizing the contributions of a chapter member or members at our May meeting. We are a successful chapter because we all pitch in, but do let Carol know your thoughts on a pitcher with a great ERA (Exemplary Rhododendron Attitude). You can reach Carol above or Dick below at 503-585-8439.
        Dick Lundin is taking the initiative in resurrecting chapter Study Groups. Here is an opportunity to work with a small group to increase our rhody-IQs by exploring topics in depth. Dick would also like to discuss the possibility of garden visits during our summer hiatus.
        The 2010 mid-term elections are not yet here, but the chapter elections are. Board member Aldo Murphy has agreed to stand for reelection. Anne Gross chairs the Nominating Committee and would love to hear from members making board recommendations. Members seeking to replace the President-for-Life will be asked to submit a full resume as well as detailed dinner menus.
        Open Gardens begin at Smith Garden Saturday, April 3rd. A spring work party is being formed for Saturday, March 20th. Volunteers are needed for the clean up and for hosting and plant sale duties. Become a more active part of this garden treasure, call Dorothy Patrick at 403-625-6584 or dpscoty@starband.net to discuss how you can help.
        The Spring Home and Garden Show at Portland Expo Center runs February 24th through the 28th. The Rhody Association would very much appreciate your assistance in staffing our booth and greeting the public. Dick Cavender awaits your call at 503-625-6331 or red@redsrhodies.com
        Our speaker for the evening was Patrick Osborn of Thompson's Nursery in Waldport. Patrick's subject was "Soil", he demystified the science of dirt and shed light upon fallacies many of us have held dear. His entertaining, intelligent, and informative presentation set a level of excellence most certainly daunting to the February meeting speaker who must follow in Patrick's footsteps.

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'Victor Frederick'

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Tips for Beginners:
Pruning Large-Leaved Rhododendrons
Warren Baldsiefen

         Any rhododendron is suitable for woodland or informal use where a reasonable amount of space is available.  Here it is only necessary to arrange the planting so that the robust growers do not over-crowd those of relatively restricted growth.
        It is around the foundations of the home, spots of limited area or the rockery that the choice is limited to the smaller-leaved and dwarfed types.  Wise selection in the beginning will eliminate the need for most of the pruning.  There are, however, times when pruning is justified and essential.
        Large-leaved rhododendrons are the most difficult to prune but only for the lack of understanding.  These plants put out their first growth in a flush that terminates with a rosette of leaves.  Generally in the colder areas of the East and North the flush varies from 4 to 10 inches, but more often around 6 inches.  On young plants, two flushes per year are the rule.  On older plants that set flowers freely, it is the rule that one flush is made followed by a flower bud.  This latter is due to both a natural reduction in vitality after the juvenile stage is passed and the use of tremendous energy in blooming which delays the commencement of growth.
        Large-leaved rhododendrons may be pruned anytime without harming the plant, but there are times that are more expedient.  These plants, with few exceptions, retain their leaves two years.  This means that on young plants there will be four rosettes of leaves and fewer on older plants.  It is permissible to prune back to any of these rosettes, depending on how drastically it is desired to prune.  Always make the cut about a quarter of an inch above the rosette.  The flush of growth will burst out from the auxiliary buds of the rosette.
        The most favorable time to prune when there are no flower buds is in the early spring just before growth begins.  If done at this time, the growth cycle is least disturbed, and bud set the same season will be uninhibited.  In so pruning, it is important to cut back every terminal or watch when growth begins.  The terminals left uncut commence growth earlier usually with a long single shoot.  These single shoots should be pinches off when the new growing tips are abut an inch long.  This will encourage multiple branching from that terminal.  This step is important in shaping or reshaping a plant.  Cutting back develops a heavily branches, sturdy shrub.  If this is done when the plant is abut 3 feet or less, it can eliminated future need for pruning.
        Pruning old rhododendrons presents a different problem.  When old rhododendrons become unthrifty in appearance, the cells in the vascular bundles have become hardened or plugged and no longer function normally.  Any revitalizing to be accomplished must be done on new wood, supplied by drastic pruning.  This is best done in the spring or early summer but spring preferred.^*
        One method is to cut the plant down to several inches above the ground.  This is more successful with those having multiple stems coming up from the ground.  In hybrids, which often have one stem, they may sometimes die from this.  A less drastic means is to reach down into the shrub and cut out about one-third of the old wood.  Do this for a period of about three years.  In this way, there remains sufficient leaf surface to supply nutrients for reestablishment of new shrubs. 

^{*Editor's note: the best time is right after flowering when new growth is beginning.} 

If you laugh a lot, when you get older
your wrinkles will be in the right places.
Andrew Mason

A word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23 kjv

Taiwanese Treasures
Dave Dougan
Malahat, British Columbia, Canada

      Western Gardeners benefited a great deal from the introduction in 1934 of the remarkable species Rhododendron yakushimanum, and although it took 20 years for it to become generally available, it has remained a highly prized rhododendron.  For obvious reasons its value as a parent has been utilized a great deal.  However, we sometimes wonder if we gardeners haven’t been mesmerized by the yaks and have overlooked some equally remarkable rhododendrons.  A case in point are three rhododendrons from Taiwan, R. pseudochrysanthum, R. morii and R. pachysanthum.  With us, at least, they are equally hardy, equally beautiful in foliage and in the front rank of rhododendrons.

R. pseudochrysanthum

R. morii

R. pachysanthum

        Our plant of R. pseudochrysanthum, which is the Exbury form, has had an interesting history.  Mary and Ted Greig imported it from the Sunningdale nursery in England and couldn't bear to part with it when their collection of rhododendrons was transferred to the University of British Columbia garden in Vancouver.  Sometime later, Mary decided that she could no longer look after her remaining treasures and generously asked us to take R. pseudochrysanthum and give it the home it deserved.  We are not sure that we have qualified for that trust, but the plant has prospered with us.  Whenever we think of it we think of Mary Greig.
        We first grew it in our garden at Departure Bay in Nanaimo where it seemed happy enough, then over-wintered it at the Stone garden at Quamichan Lake and finally brought it home to our new garden on the Malahat.  The plant is now, after 10 years on our mountain, about 5 feet tall and 7 feet across.  With its silvery blue leaves and reddish resting flower buds, it is beautiful at any time of the year.  The opening buds are a deep pink, and the flowers open to an apple blossom pink with pinkish stripes on the outside of the corolla.  All in all we think R. pseudochrysanthum is among the finest plants we grow.
        The second plant of the Taiwanese group is perhaps not quite as spectacular in foliage as R. pseudochrysanthum, but R. morii is equally lovely in flower.  In bloom, the plant has a very beautiful pink and white effect and, along with a fine habit and very interesting foliage, is amongst our most treasured plants.  We fail to understand why it is not more widely grown.  In our area at least R. morii is seen only in the gardens of collectors and enthusiasts.  Our garden is at an elevation of 900 feet.  Perhaps this has a bearing on the tidy growth of R. morii.  Our plant, after several years, is a tight mound about 4 feet tall.
        Rhododendron pachysanthum was apparently introduced as R. venturi a good many years ago and then re-introduced as R. pachysanthum in 1972.  Why it should have remained in limbo for all those years is a great mystery to those of us who are acquainted with it.  With present advanced methods of propagation it will undoubtedly become more widely available and grown as widely as it should be.  We have seen slightly differing forms of this magnificent plant, but they all share what is perhaps one of the finest foliages in the genus.  The leaves carry indumentum in shades of brown with an unusual tomentum which gives a beautiful silvery brown look to the plant.  The flowers are not unlike those of R. pseudochrysanthum and R. morii.
        Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about these unusual plants is their hardiness.  Coming as they do from about 22-23 degrees north latitude and elevations of not over 9,000 feet, it is not to be expected that they would be hardy in our mountain garden.  Last winter was an unusually cruel one on our mountain, but none of our Taiwanese plants suffered the slightest discomfort from the arctic blasts which sweep down the Fraser Valley in outflow conditions.
        It is unlikely that any of these three plants will be as widely used as a parent as R. yakushimanum, but hopefully they will become more widely grown and appreciated down through the gardening years. The great plant explorer and writer, Frank Kingdon Ward, once wrote that the Genus Rhododendron carried the universal hallmark of excellence.  I think we all agree with that judgment, but even in this exalted group of plants these three Taiwanese rhododendrons stand in the front row.

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Did you know that in the library there are Rhododendron Society Notes dating back to 1916? Did you know that there is a lot of interesting facts from way back when, that are of interest to you and me now? There are and they make for good reading. A book doesn’t need to be but just a few years old or new to be good. You should try some of the older books to see what they were facing then and how it compares with today’s thoughts or problems. A new library list is in the offing so that you can see what the library has to offer. There will be books at the meeting for you to check out.

Portland Chapter Invitation

         The ARS Portland Chapter invites you to join our meeting Thursday, February 18th. Bob MacArthur, the resident rhododendron specialist at CSRG, will share images of the new step project at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The featured presentation will be given by Kristi O’Donnell, the Executive Director and Horticulturist at Meerkerk Gardens on Whidbey Island. She’ll present an inspirational program about Meerkerk, showcasing their accomplishments in hybridizing rhodies and creating educational programs for their community such as “Botany Adventure”. The meeting includes a rhododendron companion plant auction. Our meeting begins with an informal social half-hour at 7 p.m. at  All Saints Episcopal Church, 4033  S. E. Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR just east of Reed College. For more information: 503-771-8386 or www.rhodies.org.”
        Our February meeting  is "sweets for your sweetie" meeting, many of us plan to bring sweet treats to share with the group.
        Hope you'll spread the word and come & join us.

Warm Regards, Donna Sell