JARS v64n1 - From The President

From The President
Ted Stecki
Voorhees, New Jersey

The holiday season is now over, and it is the time to relax and to start thinking about gardening again - new plants to buy and what changes to make to your garden. The ARS Seed Exchange is up and running, and Norm Beaudry, our Seed Exchange Chair, has advised me that he has received new seeds, many from new varieties. Norm's biggest challenge is keeping his operational expenses low, so that packets of seed can be priced as low as possible. If you have a computer you can obtain the seed list by going to the ARS web site at www.rhododendron.org, or you can request a copy by mail from the ARS Seed Exchange. If you haven't propagated new plants from seed, it's easy and a lot of fun. Try it - you'll like it. There are many excellent propagation articles available on the ARS web site or bring this subject up at your chapter meeting, where you'll hopefully get a lot of help from experienced chapter members who grow from seed. The plants that you get will take a few years to flower, but you can often get a few unusual plants this way. One of our past members, Poly Hill, only grew plants from seed, including seed from many excellent plants other than rhododendrons, and many still grow in the arboretum on Martha's Vineyard, MA, that bears her name.

Many chapters will be having plant sales in the spring, with posted sale dates. That is also an excellent way to get some choice plants. Also, on these cold nights, take time to read a good plant book, and many excellent books are listed in the ARS Journal that are available for purchase. Laura Grant, the ARS Executive Director, has many books on hand and can quickly ship them to you. In the Journal, also look for Book Reviews.

The Fall convention hosted by District 8 was a big success, and over 150 ARS members from all over the US attended. Speakers were excellent and all attendees became aware of the significant number of rhododendron hybridizers in Pennsylvania. District Directors will be advising Chapter Presidents of actions taken at the BOD's meeting. Our next annual meeting and convention will be hosted by District 7 in New York from May 14-17, 2010, and more information about this meeting is in this ARS issue. Dates of other rhododendron conventions are also provided. In summary, there are many activities you can do over the winter! Have Fun, and Good Growing!