QBARS - v18n1 The Rhododendron Workshop at Callaway Gardens

The Rhododendron Workshop at Callaway Gardens

Rhododendron growers from eight states and the District of Columbia attended the Rhododendron Workshop held April 3 and 4 at the Ida Cason Callaway Gardens at Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Fred Galle, horticultural director at the gardens, opened the meeting with an illustrated talk on the native deciduous rhododendrons. This was followed by a talk by Ben Pace, also of the gardens, on the general subject of care and maintenance of plants of this genus.

The use of growth regulators on azaleas for forcing, now receiving attention by several research workers, was reviewed by Prof. Tok Furuta, of Auburn University.

David Leach, Brookville, Pa. gave an illustrated discussion of the major rhododendron series of the world, with special emphasis on varieties and species for the southeast. He mentioned R. chapmanii , the Florida species, as a possible parent in breeding for heat tolerant varieties. Methods of propagation were discussed by Mr. Leach, Mr. Franz Eitel, and Prof. Furuta. William Brown of Callaway Gardens discussed the use of azaleas in the landscape.

Dr. John Creech of the U. S. D. A. gave an interesting account of his recent plant exploration trips to the Japanese islands. He told of finding many new forms of R. japonicum , kaempferi , obtusum and kiusianum which promise to open up a whole new area of azalea hybridizing.