JARS v60n2 - From The President

From The President
Len Miller
Grove, Oklahoma

As we enjoy spring with the beautiful rhododendrons in our yards and public gardens, let’s spread the word. The word is that the Society has a place for education and appreciation called The Chapter. Here we can find books, speakers, plants, fellowship and more. Membership can bring you friends that you would not otherwise enjoy. This network of friends gives an opportunity to share my failures and triumphs. I gain from listening too, maybe avoiding pitfalls that my friends have endured. The Journal has been a great source of enjoyment. I laughed reading the observations of Austin Kennel, and without leaving my armchair I have traveled to China and Burma to hike and hunt new rhododendrons. Being a member of ARS is fun, touching us in many ways. Please tell someone.

The Society is working on development of a new chapter program library. It is my hope that we can make DVDs or CDs about various aspects of rhododendron culture. These disks would reside in the chapter to be used by members for education. All of us are members of other groups who could enjoy and benefit from these programs. The public could learn landscaping with rhododendrons, using dwarf, fragrant, and species. Many subjects can be covered in a twenty-minute presentation on propagation, lepidotes, hybridization and others ideas that would be of interest. Remember rhododendrons make the most beautiful gardens.