QBARS - v20n1 Gardens to be Visited

Gardens to be Visited in Connection With The Annual Meeting
Sunday, May 15

Registered members who plan to make the garden tour will assemble at the Sherwood Inn at 9:30 a.m., returning to the Sherwood Inn at 5:30 p.m. Through the courtesy of Mrs. Wagner, a light buffet luncheon will be served at 1:00 p.m. In the planning of this tour, in the Tacoma area, it was felt it would be most interesting to include not only estate gardens but also material grown by the collector specialist and the commercial specialist.

Many of these rhododendron plantings are quite large, beautifully laid out and well maintained. The landscape designs are especially attractive. Nearly all, of course, feature many other plants besides rhododendrons and azaleas. The owners are knowledgeable gardeners with a keen interest in the plants in their gardens. There will be a total of five gardens visited as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Murray

This lovely old estate of 27 acres, which is situated with a beautiful view overlooking Gravelly Lake, was originally laid out in 1917, and has since been developed into a very interesting and well landscaped garden.  Of special interest is a very outstanding Japanese Garden surrounded by many fine old trees and shrubs, among them a lovely Umbrella Pine and a Chinese Juniper. The huge hedges of older rhododendrons throughout the estate are most spectacular when in bloom.  Mr. Bill Griffith, head gardener, deserves much praise for the beauty of this garden.

Mr. and Mrs. Hilding W. Lindberg

This is an estate of several acres in the Tacoma Golf and Country Club, with a gently sloping terrain bordering American Lake. Originally landscaped by the well known Otto Holmdahl, it is now supervised by the talented Miss Frances Black. Developing this area into a beautifully designed garden from a dense jungle of fir trees (since 1951) has been quite an undertaking in a relatively short period of time. Over 80 huge fir trees were removed to accomplish this. Together with a very good collection of rhododendrons and azaleas there are many other fine shrubs which the visitor will enjoy.

Mr. and Mrs. Corydon Wagner

Fifty years ago the Wagner estate was a mass of fir trees and brush on the thinly populated Gravelly Lake. With the removal of over 100 huge fir trees and the superb landscaping of Mr. Thomas Church, this 10 acre garden is now one of the finest in the area. The visitor will see many magnificent specimen rhododendrons with the stress having been made on choice named varieties of hybrids and species. There are also many varieties of fir, spruce, pine, hemlock, cedar, larch and yew, and of special interest, a Dawn Redwood. Near the lake, a rock garden has recently been established.  Being able to visit this garden is a real opportunity for the rhododendron fancier.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Robbins

It has been said, of all the gardens specializing in rhododendrons, this is perhaps the finest landscaped collector's garden in the entire northwest. It would be doubtful if you could see a finer mature collection anywhere. If you have not visited the Robbins' garden before, be sure not to miss this opportunity.

Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Kammer

For variation the commercial garden of Mr. and Mrs. Kammer is included in the tour. Theirs is an exceptionally well-designed and complete rhododendron planting, with some very interesting landscaped areas. Depending on an early season, the largest collection of Exbury Azaleas in the northwest may be in bloom at this time.

Copy of Advanced Registration Form

Annual Meeting ARS May 13, 14, 15, 1966

Sherwood Inn, 84th. and Freeway, Tacoma, Washington

Information Will Be Mailed To Members:  Although we are printing a registration blank in this Bulletin we hope members will not feel they have to mutilate their copy in order to register for the Annual Meeting. A separate registration blank plus other material will be mailed out by the Tacoma Chapter shortly. The blank is reproduced herewith simply to provide you with advance information as to costs and events to be planned for.

NAME_________________________________________________________
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Reservations must be made in advance for all meals and the bus tour listed. Registration fee of $5.00 is required even if only part of the meeting is attended. Reservations will be listed in the order received. Deadline is April 30, 1965. Please specify meals and bus tour desired: