The 1955 Portland Chapter Rhododendron Show
By Howard Slonecker
The Eleventh Annual Show of the Portland Chapter was held at Crystal Springs Lake Island Test Garden May 14, and 15.
The Show got off to a rather bleak start with much rain Friday evening when the commercial exhibits were being set up, and a heavy rain all Saturday morning that chilled exhibitors who were out early to gather bloom. The continuous rain somewhat delayed the setting up of the cut flower exhibits, and no doubt was partly responsible for the late appearance of many exhibitors. In spite of all this a very outstanding display in both commercial exhibits and cut flowers were shown. An outstanding exhibit of cut trusses in the class for New American hybrids, and in the species classes were much in evidence. The quality of both were at the very best. Due to the late season much material never before shown was on exhibit.
Howard Slonecker along with Guy Johnson was co-chairman for the Show. Other committee chairmen who gave generously of their time and efforts were: Publicity, Bob Bovee, C. I. Sersanous, and Mrs. A. A. Grossman; information, Mrs. Ruth Hansen; commercial exhibits, s, Mrs. Herbert Schink, Garden Club Arrangements, Mrs. Thomas Denison; and classification and awards, C. T. Hansen. Judges for the cut truss section were Jack Osegueda, Oakland, California, Mrs. D. W. James and Dr. Carl Phetteplace, Eugene; Roy Clark, Olympia, Washington; Dr. J. Harold Clark, Long Beach, Washington, and John Henny, Brooks. Judges for the Commercial exhibits were O. R. Neet, Oak Grove, Charles Skinner, and Theodore Van Veen both of Portland.
Principal winners were: Rudolph Henny won the Goodman Gold Cup for the best new American hybrid with his entry of R. 'Lake Labish'. George Grace won the sweepstakes award for the best truss in the Show with R. 'Pink Diamond', and the Dr. Corbin Cup II for the greatest number of points in the Show. Esch Nursery won the Bronze Plaque for the best Commercial exhibit. Hillside Nursery was second in the Commercial exhibits, with The Rhododendrons Nursery third. A special award was given to the M. C. Yetticks of St. Helens for a fine exhibit of azaleas. A non-competitive exhibit of cut flowers featuring the later blooming varieties was shown June 11, and 12. Despite several days of high temperature preceding the Show, the exhibit tables were all filled. Hillside Nursery, O. R. Neet, George Grace, H. H. Harms, Bob Bovee, Ted Hansen, C. I. Sersanous and others exhibited fine trusses.