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Gilkey Compliments A.R.S.

The following letter the Board of Directors and Howard Gilkey, designer of the California Spring Garden Show tells eloquently of the efforts made by members of the Society and nurserymen who cooperated in sending their finest plants to Oakland (The American Rhododendron Society won the Sweepstakes Award, incidentally):

May 9, 1947

American Rhododendron Society
Box 8828 Portland, Oregon

Dear Friends:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the California Spring Garden Show I wish to express to you our heartiest compliments and sincerest appreciation for your distinct contribution to the success of the 15th Annual California Spring Garden Show.

All of us are glad that you came from a distance with many of the prettiest blooms in the Show, sent down your best designer, Clarence Prentice, whipped a miracle into shape and then 41 stole the Show". I have yet to hear of anyone who would dispute the justice of your winning the highest award in the Show in the year 1947.

It was my pleasure to have been with Baron Edmund de Rothschild as he stood intensely fascinated before your exhibit.
We hope that you are looking forward as expectantly as we are to future mutual efforts. You have won a permanent welcome in this Show. Any words seem futile to express our admiration of what you have done to make our Show a huge success.

Cordially, Edward T. Foulkes, Pres,

Board of Directors

Howard Gilkey Show Designer

HG/ah