QBARS - v13n1 Report of 1958 Rhododendron Show - Seattle Chapter

Report of 1958 Rhododendron Show - Seattle Chapter

The Seattle Rhododendron Society staged its 1958 show May 16-19 at the Bellevue Shopping Square Pavilion, Bellevue, Washington. Co-sponsor was the Greater Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.

Staging of the show was similar to that of last year, with plots of various sizes arranged for maximum artistic effect as well as for most efficient flow of traffic. There were twelve commercial exhibits and the U. of W. Arboretum. No admission was charged.

There were not many specimen plants, due to the unseasonably warm weather, and the whole cut truss section was replaced May 19 for the benefit of visitors from the National Council of State Garden Clubs convention. These visitors were most appreciative of the many beautiful flowering shrubs that can be grown in the Northwest and many said they had never seen such a beautiful flower show.

Trophies were awarded by President Don McClure Friday night at ceremonies staged by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. The Queen of the Rhododendrons was crowned and music was furnished by a high school band and choral groups.

An invitation was extended to the Portland Society members to attend the show. Those who made the trip were honored by Mrs. Charles Sully at a tea in her charming Mercer Island home. Other guests were members of the Board and the Show Committee.

A new and outstanding feature of the show was Frank Doleshy's educational exhibit entitled "The Rhododendron Story". The exhibit consisted of a map with ribbons leading from small potted specimens of Rhododendrons kotschyi , keleticum , chaetomallum (KW 21077), sinogrande (KW 21111), camtschaticum and trichostomum to their native habitats. There was also a display of seeds one and two-year old seedlings, and samples of various materials used for growing medium, fertilizing and mulching rhododendrons. A handsome looking mulch was created by dyeing wood shavings with iron sulphate. The exhibit drew many exclamations of surprise at the variation in size of leaves of rhododendrons.

This show was dedicated to Endre Ostbo, for it was the last for this noted hybridizer and most generous and faithful member of the Society.

Landscape Displays

PRENTICE NURSERY & LANDSCAPING (Third Place) Waterfall and bronze crane. Rhododendrons Morgan hybrids, white through purple, 'Purple Splendor', 'Betty Robertson', 'A. Bedford', 'Griersims', 'Blue Peter', Azaleodendron 'Broughtonii Aureum', Pinus tabulaeformis densata , Japanese cutleaf weeping maple, sedum, sagina moss, Azalea 'Treasure', English spreading yew.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ARBORETUM (Non-Competitive) Menziesia lasiophylla , R. 'Countess of Derby', 'Mrs. E. C. Sterling', mucronatum , calendulaceum hybrid, fortunei hybrid, decorum , 'Vulcan', Vaccinium floribundum , Azalea 'Exquisita', Japanese maples, Primula polyneura .

PACIFIC NORTHWEST NURSERIES (Honorable Mention) R. 'Mme. Chauvin', 'Purpureum Grandaflorum', 'Queen of the May', Euonymous alatus compacta , Japanese maples, grandiflorum weeping Norway spruce, purple beech, Scilla campanulata .

HOPKINS NURSERY R. Prof. 'Zarrier', 'Blue Peter', 'Alice', Azalea mollis x occidentale , Acer circinnatum , Table Mountain pine, Azalea 'Glamour', Viburnum davidii , Mugho pine.

WIGHT NURSERY & LANDSCAPE SERVICE R. 'Mrs. E. C. Sterling', Japanese maples, dwarf box, azaleas, Mugho pine, juniper, sagina moss, small fountain.

HOMESTEAD NURSERY & FLORAL (First Place) Rocks and logs. R. 'Mrs. Furnival', 'Diane' x 'Damaris', 'Mrs. A. Bedford', 'Mme. Fr. J. Chauvin', 'Dormouse', 'Prof. Hugo de Vries', pink Ostbo hybrid, Lily No. 3, Andromeda polifolia , maidenhair fern, Azaleodendron 'Martha' (named at show), Kalmia, Tsuga mertensiana , Japanese maples, Vaccinium vitisidaea , Azalea 'Wendy', Azaleodendron (Ostbo hybrid with Fabia blood).

BONNYBROOK NURSERY (Second Place) R. 'Pink Pearl' and williamsianum , Halesia carolina , Enkianthus campanulatus , Gaultheria procumbens , Raphiolepis ovata and 'Coates Crimson', Azalea 'Gumpo', Hydrangea petiolaris , Nandina domestica , Pittosporum tobira , Pierris forrestii , Pieris japonica , Aralia japonica .

RHOD-A-ZALEA GARDENS (Second) R. 'Eureka Maid', 'Louis Pasteur', 'Pink Pearl', 'Duchess of Edinburgh', 'Mrs. Lionel de Rothschild', 'Mme. de Bruin', 'Queen of the May', 'E. C. Sterling', 'Humbold', 'Mars', impeditum , Azaleas 'Dr. M. 'Oasthoek', 'Phebe', 'Hortalanus', 'H. Witte', 'Il Tasso', 'Floradora', 'A. G. Whitelegg', Juniper costa 'Maine'.

RAINIER MOUNTAIN ALPINE GARDENS (Third Place) R. ledoides , 'Mary C.' (sargentianum seedling), rufescens , saluenense , saluenense x carolinianum , keleticum , 'Patricia C.' ( campylogynum seedling), cremastum , kotschyi , charitostreptum , villosum , scyphocalyx , Azaleas 'Basilisk', 'Rosebud', 'Chichibu', 'Progress', Pinus aristata , Mugho pine, weeping hemlock, Abies hudsoniana nana , Picea abies nidiformis , maxwellii and procumbens , Tsuga canadensis nana , Thuya onlendoriffii , Chamacyparis obtusa nana gracilis , Sciadopitys verticillata , Chamaecyparis cyano viridis .

SEVEN FIRS NURSERY Featured wood bench, plant carrier and trowel, with gloves on the ground as though the gardener had left momentarily. R. 'Lady Primrose', 'Blue Peter', own blue hybrids, Knaphill azaleas, Pieris japonica , small flowered lavender azaleas.

E. PERRINE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT & CONTRACTOR (First Place) This display was designed in the contemporary manner showing oriental influence. The decorative center of interest was three black rimmed round trays of graduated sizes containing white marble chips. The marble chips were an adaptation of the Japanese use of small white pebbles or white gravel to represent water where there is none. Plant materials were a bonsai Japanese maple, Abies frazeri , R. 'Lady Bligh' and 'Queen Mary', Vaccinium vitis-ideae , Cornus florida rubra , variegated hosta, sedum, Zlatia beech.

SEARS ROEBUCK LANDSCAPING DIVISION (Honorable Mention) This display had an oriental motif using a moon gate, oriental garden statues, and a bamboo screen background. There were lanterns and a display mannequin in a Japanese kimono. Plant materials were birch, R. 'Golden Jubilee', luteum , 'Pink Pearl', 'Purple Splendor', wine and pink chrysanthemums, ageratum, fuchsias, a pine tree in a tub, turf ground cover.