QBARS - v13n3 Show Report Grays Harbor Chapter

Show Report - Grays Harbor Chapter
Rose Haines

The second annual rhododendron show on Grays Harbor was held at the National Bank of Commerce of Seattle, Aberdeen Branch, between the hours of 1:00 and 9:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 16.

This year the exhibits were laid out to somewhat better advantage, there being two long beds six feet wide on either side of the lobby and another bed across the rear, leaving the center free for traffic. There was also a landscaped bed in the rear of the bank with a garden path and fencing. The cut trusses were on counters at the rear, and coffee and cookies were served free near the cut truss section.

The beds were constructed of cedar boards, 1" x 8", donated by Blagen's Mill Company of Hoquiam, and filled with sawdust donated by Weyerhaeuser Lumber, Cosmopolis, who not only donated, but also delivered and sent a man to help with the work. Hansen's Furniture Store of Hoquiam provided the spotlighting which helped to show off the plants to much greater advantage. The National Bank of Commerce provided the free refreshments, as well as the building.

Fourteen exhibitors brought plants, and thirteen brought cut trusses and arrangements.

Visitors were greeted at the door and asked to sign a guest book for a chance on a door prize, a R. 'J. H. Van Nes', purchased by the Society and exhibited in the bank lobby for a week previous to the show. At show time it was placed outside on the sidewalk to remind people of the show inside.

On the left of the entrance was a large display from the Raymond Mann Nursery, featuring a thirty year old R. carolinianum in the corner (the same plant was featured last year also), then through a number of various colored hybrids including 'Lavender Ruffles', to a grouping of yellow 'Butterfly' and 'Zuyder Zee', and then a group of interesting large azaleas ranging from pale yellow through flame to a rich rust color.

Next in line was an interesting pure white seedling raised by John Baila from seed imported from England many years ago. The blossom was not large but was of very good quality, with a green throat and no hint of pink in the bud.

At the end of the left side was a garden by Mrs. J. H. Haines featuring a large rose pink azalea, 'Lakme', about five feet across and an R. orbiculare which was much admired for the round leaves, although the flowers were not fully out. This garden was completed by a small pool containing gold fish and surrounded by miniature species of rhododendron, backed by several triflorum series plants.

At the rear the Lehto garden was landscaped with a weeping dogwood at the center, flanked by candelabra primroses, and the ends dominated on one side by a large R. 'Elspeth', and on the other by a large R. 'Bow Bells'. Both species and hybrids were represented.

On the right hand side near the entrance was a fine display from the James Chalmers gardens, containing R. 'Bow Bells', R. 'Snow Queen', 'Naomi', and Slocock's form of 'Elspeth'. Mike Lentz, florist, showed a display of azaleas and some interesting dwarf evergreens, and a large plant of R. 'Alice'. The remainder of the space on this side was filled by individual members of the Chapter who pooled their plants to make one of the prettiest sections of the entire exhibit.

In the rear of the bank William La Vance put up a very fine display of some of the newer and some of the more unusual plants in the show, including one he calls "Cup and Saucer" which was raised by Robert Hessemer. This is a good red and almost might be called a hose-in-hose type. Also un usual were R. 'Miss Pink' and two very good-looking plants of white R. carolinianum . Smaller plants were used to make this garden a most pleasing arrangement of colors.

Ed Maxey made an attractive planter about two feet square which was filled with miniature rhododendrons and was much admired. He also made the planter in which the door prize was exhibited.

The attendance was approximately double that of last year's show and was estimated to be from twelve to fifteen hundred, many people even coming back a second time and bringing friends or husbands and wives, with them. Also the number of persons observed taking notes on the various exhibits make one feel that public rhododendron education is going forward.