WILLAMETTE CHAPTER AMERICAN RHODODENDRON SOCIETY Willamette Chapter Website:  http://www.arswillamette.org/home.htm ARS Home Page: http://www.rhododendron.org All ARS Bulletins are available on line at: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JARS/
June 2009

RETURN to CONTENTS

RETURN to CONTENTS

The WCARS Annual Truss Show as part of the Friends of Bush Gardens Plant Sale this past April 17-19th was a great success. Between 400 and 500 folks visited our show and nearly 200 voted for their favorite truss. Even with our cold April, we were able to show 90 beautiful trusses of roughly 50 different varieties. These lovely trusses were provided by Keith White, Bob Grasing, Maxine Dehn, Sharon Leopold, Anne Gross, Herb Spady, Jason Ashford, Dick Lundin and Bear Creek Nursery. The 180 people who voted for their favorite truss did well. First place with 16 votes went to Keith White's Niveum, and second place with 15 votes went to Tarus from Bear Creek, Bob Grasing and Sharon Leopold. Ten votes went to Anne Gross and Bob Grasings' President Roosevelt. Nine votes each were for Bear Creek's Stary Night, and Sharon Leopold and Keith White's Racemosum. Seven votes were for Bob Grasing's Yellow Rolls Royce and 6 votes each were for Bob Grasing's Schlippenbachii and Keith White's Whitney's Peach. Five votes each were received for Dick Lundin's Lem's Unnamed Hybrid, Keith White's Double Winner, Anne Gross' Riplet, Bob Grasing and Anne Gross' Yellow Hammer, and Bear Creek's Spring Cheer. Four votes were for Lundin's and Sharon's Moonstone, Bob Grasing's Night Editor and Shamrock. Eight other varieties received 3 or 2 votes each and 20 varieties received 1 vote each. The show was beautiful, especially especially given the weather. All the help with trusses and the setup, staffing and takedown of the show is much appreciated. Another very good year. Thanks to all who helped.  —Wally

RETURN to CONTENTS

It was a dark and stormy night, but the Dehn's hospitality and Jason Ashford's excellent cooking made it all fun. Prior to the Auction, the Chapter presented Anne Gross our Bronze Medal with much appreciation for all that she has done for the Willamette Chapter, Region 4 and the ARS in general. It was richly deserved and Carol Lundin and our Awards Committee are also to be thanked for their efforts. The Plant Auction wore out Dick Cavender, Steve Krasik and Shelby Lundin describing the virtues of nearly 100 plants and generous folks provided $954.00 for Chapter support. Everyone is to be thanked for a fun year and especially the Dehn's for hosting our May meeting. Wally Reed - President

Anne receives the Bronze Medal		There were a lot of delicious desserts
Pictures by Herb Spady

RETURN to CONTENTS

Our visit to the 2009 ARS Convention
By Herb and Edie Spady

          We arrived mid afternoon before the meeting.  The drive up was uneventful.  We left home with some dread of the daunting Seattle traffic, but it proved to be a non-problem.  Using the restricted  lanes (two occupants in the vehicle) made it a breeze.  We were surprised to find that the lane had been extended almost from Federal Way to Everett.
         One of the fun things about arriving before the actual meeting events is the opportunity to see and visit with old (literally) friends.  Perhaps one should say more politely, friends of long duration.  We were surprised to see so many members from the east coast.  They must come to see the real rhododendron world.  Another advantage of early arrival gives one an opportunity to explore the hotel, check the restaurant(s), find the sites of meeting rooms, plant sales and so on.  Now we can take you on a tour of the ARS annual meeting,  The first day, Thursday, was devoted to tours.  The weather was perfect that morning while we visited two gardens.
        The garden of Jeanine and Rex Smith dates back to 1976 when they bought 2.9 acres heavily wooded with second growth Douglas  fir, cedar, hemlock and associated  native shrubs.  Since the property had been logged nearly 70 years before the growth was already rather mature.    Over the years trees have been removed to proved more light and safety.  Jeanine has added choice trees and shrubs, but her primary interest has been focused on the rhododendron collection.  It contains about 900 plants of Genus Rhododendron.  Many of the hybrid rhododendrons are Jeanine’s own crosses.  Herb had visited there several times before and felt that he had never seen it looking better.  The only problem was some winter damage.  Of course they had no control of that.  It is an immaculate garden filed with fine species and hybrid plants.  All seem to do well there.   Since his last visit a beautiful pool and bog garden have been added.   The feature is highlighted with huge rocks.   Herb was pleased to see that the candelabra primula seed that he proved is thriving at the site.

Jeanine and Rex Smith's water feature		Jeanine and Rex Smith's water feature
A brilliant red in Smith's Garden		Smith's Garden near the house

           Rhody  Ridge, a so called, secret arboretum is hidden in a quiet neighborhood.  It is the horticultural legacy of one couple’s love affair with woody plants.  The site has been the 11 acre private garden and arboretum of Fir and Merlin Butler since 1960.  It is now a living trust owned by Snohomish County Park system.  The Butlers reside on the property as caretakers and continue to maintain the property and the impressive collection of species rhododendrons, the vast collection of huge trees, huge shrubs and ground covers.  Fir Butler greeted us and accompanied some through part of the garden.  This arboretum like park provides an exceptional opportunity for observation and inquiry.  We meandered down a wide and well maintained bark path.  Information states that the plants are identified with their botanical names, but we found labeling a deficiency in the garden. 

Lovely Acer palmatum near the house at Rhody Ridge		The rhododendrons were large at Rhody Ridge
Huge Magnolia at Rhody Ridge		The largest Magnolia stellata we have ever seen.

          Formal programs began that evening with Kristi Donnell's discussion of the history, beauty, activities and problems of the Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens. The garden as founded by Ann and Max Meerkerk in the early 1960's. They began these Gardens with 13 acres.  They visualized creating a Pacific Northwest style woodland garden enveloped by a forest preserve.  The Meerkerks purchased an additional 40 acres to achieve their goal.  They hybridized and collected rhododendrons, other shrubs and trees.  The first five acres were planted as a miniature arboretum known as the "Secret Garden".  Before Ann passed away in 1979, she bequeathed the Gardens to the Seattle Rhododendron Society.  Today Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens is an independent not-for-profit organization open to the public. Fifty three acres of inspirational woodland gardens and a forest preserve offer over 5 miles of trails.  Needless to say we did not cover the five miles of trails.  The rhododendron collection includes selection from 150 years of combined hybridizing from well known hybridists.   From around the world plants of Lem, Brandt and Ostbow along with modern hybridists: Fujioka, Watson, Barlup, Simmons-Otness, O'Donnell, Berg, Workman, Hachman and others are in the collection..  Each year the Gardens must raise over 90% of its operating funds.
        The next day was our opportunity to visit Meerkerk.  A stroll through the garden revealed Kristi's extreme skill as an artful photographer.  Her enthusiasm is infectious.  The garden itself reveals the many problems she faces as so often is the case with gardens struggling with inadequate funding.

Entrance at Meerkerk		R. "Maureen" at Meerkerk
R. augustinii ssp. chasmanthum at Meerkerk		Ramsy Rock Garden at Meerkerk
R. "Wee Bee" Warren Berg Hybrid at Meerkerk		R. callimporhum at Meerkerk
Acer grisium at Meekerk

          Officially Jens Birk topic was "Rhododendrons in Smaller Gardens".  It was more humorously about his "One Hour a Day Garden". He gardens on a small property in Denmark.  It is immaculately cared for and full of to the brim with small rhododendrons and/or plants that are maintained small with judicious and vigorous pruning to maintain light and aeration.  Species with personality are a feature of is garden.  They need bracts, indumentum and attractive foliage with variation.  He certainly is not afraid to make the plants behave his way.  His photos showed his art and program was filled with his subtle humor.  Herb attended his clinic on grafting.  It was equally well done, humorous and instructive.  

        The first evening program also included a talk, "RSF--Some Highlights of a Blossoming Organization and its Garden", by Steve Hootman.  It made Herb happy to hear of the progress and relatively comfortable financial position of the Rhododendron Species Foundation.  He experienced one of the most difficult financial times during his presidency.  Steve told of new features including a developing fernery, a tropical conservatory and a Vireya house.  New and improved propagating facilities have been added.  It was a real pleasure to hear Steve give another fine program.  The garden was included in the available tours, but we did not take that tour.  We are anticipating some visits next spring.

         Frank Fujioka and Greg Kesterson have been at this site for eighteen years.  Both are retired teachers.  Only the two attend the garden and business.  The “farm” is where they grow rhododendrons for the wholesale trade.  The “farm” supports their habit.  It is where the hybrid seedlings are grown to blooming size for evaluation.  If a plant appears to have potential cuttings are taken and planted in the field for further evaluation.  A few promising plants are named and registered for commercial propagation.  The process can take fifteen years or more
        The show piece is the residence sited across the road on one-half acre.  Frank says it is a “working” garden and not a true display garden.  One supposes that he says that because many plants are replaced if they perform poorly, become too large or are no longer appealing.  However since Frank and Greg are avid gardeners, just about all plants are appealing,  We are sure that few visitors would agree that it is not a display garden.  The combination of unusual trees with rhododendrons and other plants is remarkably beautiful.  Textures and colors are combined artistically.  As one passes around the house a majestic vista of Puget Sound comes into view.  The bank drops away about three hundred feet.  This area is sunny and dry.  Many plants do not tolerate the conditions and are replaced regularly.  Photography can not do justice to a stroll through the garden.
        Multiple people stopped to admire and photograph R. ‘Seaview Sunset’.  The open flowers are a light yellow increasing to a broad band of red-orange inside and deep yellowish pink outside.  'Seaview Sunset' grows to about 3 feet and produces dome-shaped trusses with up to 16 flowers each.  It comes from 'Nancy Evans,' which has loads of lemon-yellow flowers, and 'Canadian Sunset,' which has Rhododendron yakushimanum as an ancestor.  It is now on our must have list.  A fine specimen of “Vibrant Violet” was in bloom on the roadside. This garden was the highlight of our tours.

Acer palmatum 'Shindeshojo' Frank and Greg's garden		Another brilliant Acer palmatum in the garden
R. "Planada"  (no reference online)		R. 'Sea  View Sunset'
Vista of Puget Sound		Gentian doing well in the nursery
R. "Vibrant Violet" near the entrance to the garden		Camperdown Elm artistically displayed with other trees

      Glynneden Gardens and Nursery specializes in rare and unusual rhododendrons and companion plants. Although they are primarily a wholesale nursery, the display garden is open to the public almost any time. The display garden has both hybrid and species rhododendrons and includes an area set aside for local (Puget Sound) hybrids. The Hybridizers Display Garden has the best of the following hybridizers: Barlup, Berg, Brockenbrough, Briggs, Davis, Elliot, Larson, Lem, Newcomb, Ostbo, Stipe, Whitney, and Winberg.  Most of their sales are to landscapers and other nurseries. Glynneden Gardens was started in 1993 as a result of Bill Stipe's hobby. Bill and wife Mary were the managers at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens and decided they wanted a garden of their own.  The they found a location on Whidbey Island that suited their desire to collect and grow a wide variety of species and hybrid rhododendrons. The plot was 15 acres of jungle that had been logged in 1909 and was left for nature to repopulate. To date about 7 acres have been cleared.  As a result of Bill's plant hunting trips many rare species rhododendrons plants are now growing in the display gardens. The display gardens also feature local hybridizers plants, including Barlup, Berg, Fujioka, Lem, Newcomb, Whitney and Stipe.  

R. "Lanmark" at Glynneden		House built by Bill Stipe at Glynneden
R. williamsianum at Glynneden		Hybridizers Display Garden

       Edie was shopping for diamonds while Herb attended the clinics.  The two programs presented by Sharon Collman and Linda Chalker-Scott were outstanding.  Sharon Collman presented "How to Diagnosis Rhododendron Pests and Diseases".  She emphasized observing the signs and symptoms and then relating those to finding the agent causing the problem.  She pointed our that most problems are cultural.  At present even Phytophthora is primarily  cultural.  
        Linda Chalker-Scott covered Phytophthora in detail.  Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and Ramorum Blight are caused by a water mold, somewhat like a fungus, but not a fungus.  Fungi do not have the ability to travel.. Phytophthora ramorum was first identified in 2000 after it had killed thousands of tan oaks in California and caused a leaf blight on rhododendrons in Europe. Since then it has been found to infect many plants common to Washington's and Oregon's natural and ornamental landscapes, including Rhododendron, Viburnum, big leaf maple, madrone, grand fir, and Douglas-fir.  To date, P. ramorum has spread to the natural landscape in 14 coastal counties in California, and one county in southwestern Oregon. Since 2003 this pathogen has been detected in several western nurseries but has not been detected in Washington's natural or urban environment. Nurseries are being monitored in Oregon and Washington and efforts are being implemented to keep this pathogen from spreading to the natural environment or landscapes.
        Symptoms caused by P. ramorum include branch tip dieback, very small to large leaf spots, and bleeding cankers. Symptoms vary among host. species, and other pathogens and environmental factors such as sunburn, drought, and salinity may produce similar symptoms. Therefore, SOD cannot be visually diagnosed; therefore samples must be sent to a lab for isolations and/or molecular testing.
        P. ramorum  causes two separate diseases with differing symptoms: sudden oak death on oaks  and ramorum blight on foliar hosts.  Most foliar hosts do not die.  To date in Washington state, it has only been found on nursery stock, not in landscapes or gardens.  The Pacific Northwest is a "high risk" area for this pathogen  because of favorable environmental conditions and an abundance of susceptible host plants, Heightened awareness of SOD has prompted world-wide surveys for other Phytophthora species—some of more concern than even P. ramorum.  These include P. citricola, P. kernoviae, P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae
        All these organisms are water molds (not fungi) that thrive in cool, wet climates.  They have a soil phase, at least under greenhouse and nursery conditions.  There is a complex reproduction, with mobile spores (Zoospores) under moist or humid conditions and resting spores under less favorable conditions.  Zoospores are flagellated, allowing them to swim towards a host plant.  Dispersal can be by air via wind driven water, by natural waterways and recirculated irrigation water.  The pathogen can survive in soil, potting media, compost from several months to a few years Source of inoculums is often infected leaves that are shed.  P. ramorum has been detected in soil close to diseased Rhododendron plants in nurseries.  Human and animal activity can spread the pathogen, usually by picking it up on the feet.  Resistance may be related to tissue penetration. Leaf cuticle thickness may be important.  Leaf pubescence may help prevent zoospores from reaching the leaf surface. Young leaves, wounded leaves, rooted cuttings and seedlings are more susceptible.  Stress-resistant leaves are less susceptible.  Susceptibility declines from May to August and is low during late fall and winter.
        Leaf blight is the primary symptom. These are large lesions with diffuse margins, typically following the mid-vein.  They occur where water collects on the leaf (along edges, near the petiole, and at the leaf tip).  The lesions penetrate tissues, so are identical on top and bottom of leaves Twig dieback is a secondary symptom.  A brown discoloration usually starts at the tip of the twig and moves down.  Apical buds turn brown, leaves and branches wilt and turn brown, and dry.  Diagnosis is best made by submitting a specimen to a laboratory because there are conditions and diseases that may give similar symptoms and signs.
        12 years of observing P. ramorum in the Netherlands suggests little risk to indigenous trees and shrubs.  7 years of surveys in France have not detected P. ramorum outside of nurseries, though the risk is considered to be high because of a favorable climate and the presence of suitable hosts.  6 years of surveys in Washington state have not detected P. ramorum outside of nurseries.  Only 1% of nursery rhododendrons were infected after exposure to infected stock, however, nursery rhododendrons grown in contaminated media became infected and suffered stem necrosis, leaf wilting, and death.
        In general, eradication of an existing and highly transmitted pathogen is not feasible.  Removal of infected shrubs in the landscape have not been successful due to the prevalence of spores in soil and water.  Destruction of infected nursery plants may prevent spread of P. ramorum to landscapes:
        Select healthy plants, use less susceptible species,  avoid overhead irrigation use well drained substrate, avoid over-application of nitrogen, disinfect tools, shoes and machines and use aerated steam treatment of 40°C+ (104°F+) to eradicate P. ramorum from potting media and plastic containers.  Conventional fungicides and copper hydroxide sprays are most effective but the former can be toxic to non-target organisms.  Spraying of plants with grapefruit extract or chitosan [Chitosan is produced commercially by deacetylation of chitin , which is the structural element in the exoskeleton of crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, etc.)] can partially suppress disease.  Foliar treatment with phosphate allows movement of phosphate into the roots where it controls some Phytophthora root diseases, but the effect on foliar blight is unclear.
        The last evening was filled with door prizes, silent auctions and Society business.  A notable event was the awarding of the Gold Medal to Mike Stewart.
        Dan Hinkley presented the final program "Plant Exploring in Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan".  Herb wishes he had some of the great pictures to put on the web.  He has a love for that part of the world and its people.  Excellent pictures, humor and presentation.  It reminded Herb of his trips to China and Sikkim.

In all a great meeting.