Great Lakes Chapter A.R.S. Show
The largest Rhododendron Show ever held in the eastern United States was staged by the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society at the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland, Ohio on May 28-29, 1960.
More than a thousand cut trusses and 77 complete blooming plants, balled and burlapped, taxed the capacity of the Garden Center to the point where it was impossible to display all of the entries advantageously. Larger quarters are to be sought for the 1961 show.
Mr. Peter Girard, Sr., General Show Chairman, announced that Class No. 2 for new hybrids not now in commerce attracted the astonishing total of 70 entries from members of the infant Great Lakes Chapter who are also breeding Rhododendrons. The quality and variety of the new hybrids exhibited in this group proved a revelation to visitors who are familiar only with the standard Catawba hybrid clones which are now the staple of the nursery industry in the cold northeastern United States.
Mr. E. Strombeeck, Chairman of Gardens and Arrangements, created in the entrance lobby to the Garden Center two gardens featuring Azaleas and Rhododendrons in bloom, sodded with grass in the foreground and with a background of Pines and other contrasting material. One of the gardens was designed around a waterfall fountain. Both served as spectacular demonstrations to the public of the unique ornamental value of Rhododendrons and Azaleas in the home landscape. The perfect condition of the plants and the professional quality of these exhibition gardens were fully equal to those seen at the great general flower shows in the metropolitan centers of the East in early spring.
The First President's Sterling Award, for the best Rhododendron exhibited at the Show, was won by David G. Leach with a complete blooming plant of his new hybrid derived from
R. catawbiense
var.
album
x
yakushimanum
, in appearance much like a hardy
yakushimanum
, with fresh pink buds opening into blush-pink and chalk-white flowers on a dense, compact plant a little larger in stature than the Japanese species, and without indumentum. Mr. O. S. Pride, Chairman of the Judges, later announced that the hybrid had also been given the "P.A." award of the American Rhododendron Society, and Mr. Leach subsequently named it 'Great Lakes' in honor of the new chapter.
The Judges also awarded a P.A. to 'Desiree', a new persistent-leaved Azalea exhibited as a complete plant by its originator, A. M. Shammarello. With large white flowers it is greatly superior both in blossom and in habit to any other Azalea of its color which can be cultivated in the region served by the Great Lakes Chapter. Rh. 'Desiree' has been patented by its breeder and will shortly be placed on the market.
The trophy for the best hybrid now in commerce was won by Mr. Peter Girard with an immense truss of the pink German hybrid Rh. 'Hasson', in perfect condition. Mr. O. S. Pride having disqualified himself in the judges' deliberation for the other major award, won the trophy for the best catawbiense hybrid not now in commerce with a striking truss of a unique deep purple color from an unnamed seedling growing at Butler, Pa.
Mr. Lewis Lipp of the Holden Arboretum, Mentor, Ohio, staged a display of rare and dwarf ericaceous plants which was a center of attraction for visitors. Mr. Paul Bosley, Sr., was Registrar for the Show, and Dr. Louis G. Martin was Chairman of Classifications, Prize Awards and Containers.
Mr. Paul H. Mikkelsen was in charge of publicity.
The attendance at the Show was so large on the afternoon of May 29th that the flow of visitors through the exhibit halls was stalled at times and it was not possible to handle the crowds satisfactorily. Some of the exhibits were damaged in the press. A large air-conditioned auditorium in downtown Cleveland is expected to be the site for the 1961 Show, which is planned to be much larger than the Great Lakes Chapter's first exhibition. Mrs. Stewart Scott, Secretary Great Lakes Chapter
First Annual Rhododendron Show Winners, Great Lakes Chapter, Cleveland, Ohio
Cut Trusses
Class 1. Standard "ironclad" catawbiense hybrids in commerce
a.
white
1st-Dr. L. G. Martin
2nd-Mrs. Stewart Scott
3rd-Dr. L. G. Martin
b.
pink
1st-Peter Girard, Sr.
2nd-Paul Bosley, Sr.
3rd-Peter Girard, Sr.
c.
lavender
1st-David G. Leach
d.
purple
1st-Paul Bosley, Sr.
2nd-Art Vuyk (Musser Forests)
3rd-James S. Wells
4th-Art Vuyk (Musser Forests)
e.
red
1st-A. W. Hartman
2nd-Paul Bosley, Sr.
3rd-David G. Leach
4th-Peter Girard, Sr.
f.
any other color
1st-R. O. Bartoo
Class 2.
Catawbiense
hybrid seedlings not in commerce
1st-David G. Leach
2nd-A. M. Shammarello
3rd-David G. Leach
4th-A. M. Shammarello
Class 3.
Caucasicum
hybrids, including hybrids of 'Cunningham's White' and 'Boule de Neige'
1st-A. M. Shammarello
2nd-Dr. L. G. Martin
3rd-A. M. Shammarello
4th-A. M. Shammarello
Class 5.
Smirnowii
hybrids
1st-A. M. Shammarello
2nd-A. M. Shammarello
3rd-A. M. Shammarello
Class 6.
Maximum
hybrids
1st-Richard Fennicchia (Rochester Parks System)
2nd-Richard Fennicchia (Rochester Parks System)
3rd-Richard Fennicchia (Rochester Parks System)
Class 7. Dexter hybrids, named or numbered
1st-Paul Bosley, Sr.
2nd-Paul Bosley, Sr.
3rd-Paul Bosley, Sr.
4th-Paul Bosley, Sr.
Class 9. Any hybrids not included in classes 1 through 8
1st-O. S. Pride, Peter Girard, Sr.
2nd-Richard Fennicchia (Rochester Parks System)
3rd-Dr. L. G. Martin
4th-B. F. Ailes, A. W. Hartman
Class 10. Species of the Ponticum Series
1st-Richard Fennicchia (Rochester Parks System)
2nd-A. M. Shammarello
Class 12. Scaly-leaved species
1st-Dr. L. G. Martin
2nd-James S. Wells
Class 14. Ghent Azalea hybrids, named or seedlings
1st-Paul Bosley, Sr.
2nd-Oliver M. Neal, Jr.
3rd-Paul Bosley, Sr.
4th-Paul Bosley, Sr.
Class 15. Exbury, Knap Hill and Ilam Azalea hybrids, named or seedlings
1st-Mrs. Peter Loesch (Marbaju Gardens)
2nd-Peter Girard, Sr.
3rd-Peter Girard, Sr.
4th-Dr. L. G. Martin
Class 16. Mollis Azalea hybrids, named or seedlings
1st-Paul Bosley, Sr.
2nd-Art Vuyk (Musser Forests)
3rd-Walter B. Werner
4th-Walter B. Werner
Class 18. Any deciduous Azalea hybrids not included in classes 14 through 17
1st-Oliver M. Neal, Jr. (University of West Virginia)
2nd-Oliver M. Neal, Jr. (University of West Virginia)
3rd-Oliver M. Neal, Jr. (University of West Virginia)
4th-Oliver M. Neal, Jr. (University of West Virginia)
Class 19. Native American deciduous Azalea species
1st-Herbert J. Howard
Class 21. Persistent-leaved Azaleas, Japanese and Kurume hybrids, named or unnamed
1st-Peter Girard, Sr.
Class 22. Persistent-leaved Azaleas,
poukhanense
hybrids only, named or unnamed
1st-Peter Girard, Sr.
Class 23. Gable persistent-leaved Azalea hybrids
1st-Dr. L. G. Martin
2nd-Peter Girard, Sr.
Class 28. All Rhododendron species
a.
less than 3' including earth ball
1st-Peter Girard, Sr.
b.
more than 3' including earth ball
1st-Art Vuyk (Musser Forests)
2nd-Art Vuyk (Musser Forests)
Class 29. Azaleas, deciduous or persistent-leaved
a.
Six to 18"
1st-Anthony Mihalic
2nd-Peter Girard, Sr.
3rd-Peter Girard, Sr.
4th-Peter Girard, Sr.
b.
18" and up
1st-Peter Girard, Sr.
2nd-Carl M. Gullo
3rd-Carl M. Gullo
4th-Carl M. Gullo
Class 30. New hybrid Rhododendron seedlings, exhibited by the breeder and never before shown
1st-David G. Leach
2nd-A. M. Shammarello
3rd-A. M. Shammarello
4th-Peter Girard, Sr.