The California Chapter's Rhododendron Show was held outdoors
in Strybing Arboretum on May 4th and 5th; and, in spite of a very early season
and fairly lute show date for this climate, Chapter members responded with a
record number of trusses, both in competitive and courtesy exhibits.
The Crowells of Albion Azalea Acres again showed their
impeccably grown and exceptionally large-flowered azaleas. Trusses from crosses
made by Gary Farwell highlighted the large and varied exhibit of Farwell's
Rhododendron Nursery, with a nice yellow 'Carita' x 'Moonstone' causing
particular comment. Golden Gate Park provided an outstanding display from the
McLaren Dell (to which free tours were provided via mobile cable car), and
exhibits including newer and seldom seen rhododendrons from Strybing Arboretum
and the U. C. Botanic Garden were of great interest.
Standard and hanging azaleas supplied by Toichi Domoto were interspersed with
the competitive exhibits, and a well thought out exhibit of the Maddenii Series
and its hybrids prepared by Basil Vaerlen received prolonged attention from
neophyte and expert alike. The Maurice Sumners prepared an unusually attractive
leaf display, and the ubiquitous Mr. Vaerlen manned an educational table devoted
to seedling raising.
The Sweepstakes Cup for the exhibitor receiving the most points went to Mr.
and Mrs. Maurice Sumner, with many of their winning entries being their own
hybrids. The Perpetual Trophy for the best rhododendron plant was won by their
huge-flowered 'Mi Amor', and a truss of this R. lindleyi x R. nuttallii
hybrid won the Paul and Ruby Bowman Perpetual Cup for the best
truss of a hybrid with both parents in the Maddenii Series. The Sumners also won
the trophy for the best new rhododendron hybridized and grown by the exhibitor
with a neat, dwarfish plant derived from R. elliottii and 'Fabia'
with coral red, heavily calyxed flowers. Other Sumner entries won countless
ribbons, and they completed their silver collection for the year with the cup
for the best deciduous Azalea plant, showing 'Coquillo', a large, brilliant
yellow of the Ilam strain.
A new cup, with open competition, was provided this year for the best new
azalea hybridized and grown by the exhibitor, and the Crowells swept the boards.
The cup was won by their striking, pale pink 'Gloria' ('Pink Splendor' x 'Fairy
Queen'); with 'Baby Doe' ('Emil de Koenig' x 'Dr. Bergman'), a unique beige pink
with chartreuse blotch, taking second; and 'White Swan' third.
The competitive exhibit of evergreen azalea plants was the
most photographed part of the show, and Mrs. Harriet Whittington's entries won
most of the ribbons, with her 'George Lindley Taber' taking the Cora Brandt Cup.
Mrs. Whittington also won the Massey Memorial Cup for the best foliage plant
with 'Brocade'. Some R. williamsianum hybrids do not always
appear at their best in California's climate, and it was refreshing to see a
faultless plant with new growth just hardening win a cup that normally goes to
representatives of the Grande or Falconeri Series.
The California Chapter has a special cup for the best pink rhododendron
truss, and in a highly competitive exhibit that included fine examples of
several newer award varieties, a superbly shown truss of 'Dr. A. W. Endtz' from
the garden of Dr. and Mrs. John P. Evans proved to be too much for the
newcomers. Trusses entered by Dr. and Mrs. Evans, last year's sweepstakes
winners, were again notable throughout the show and won a total of twenty-six ribbons.
'Leo' has been a frequent winner of best truss awards in recent years on the
Pacific Coast, and the John Druecker Cup for the best hybrid truss (except pink)
again went to a 'Leo' after it barely survived the competition in its own class
of an outstandingly large-flowered and fine-foliaged 'Radium' entered by Bill
Nolan of Santa Cruz.
Finally, coastal California is Maddenii country, and the Ed Long Perpetual
Cup for the best species truss in the Maddenii Series was won, as it frequently
is, by a R. lindleyi, with this year's prevailing truss coming
from the garden of our immediate past president, Mrs. Philip McCombs.
