JARS v64n2 - A Memorial Story: The Henry McKenney and Eileen McKenney Memorial Rhododendrons

A Memorial Story: The Henry McKenney and Eileen McKenney Memorial Rhododendrons
Judy Johnson
Westlake, Oregon

Eileen and Henry McKenney moved to their beautiful Woahink lakefront home in Florence, Oregon, more than twenty years ago. Not long after they arrived, Henry began collecting and cultivating outstanding specimens of both native and hybrid rhododendrons. Because of Henry's affinity to the plants, he and Eileen quickly became friends with Helen and Galen Baxter, who at the time were owners of Heceta Nursery, which specialized in rhododendrons and was in business in the Florence area from 1955 to 1995.

Galen Baxter started a plant from seed that came from England, and when it bloomed he was surprised to see the flower was lavender with an extremely large dark purple blotch. Henry always favored this hybrid and eventually Henry purchased it from Galen as a garden hybrid with no name. The plant grew at the McKenney's garden for many years and a few cuttings were generously given of this superior rhododendron. Every spring, it lit up the McKenney's garden and became one of Henry's pride and joys! In 2004, it was named Rhododendron 'Henry McKenney' by James Smith of Roadside Rhododendrons, Mapleton, Oregon, who registered its parentage as ( R. ririei x unknown). The original 'Henry McKenney' today is a large rhododendron 4.5 m (15 feet) high and 3.6 m (12 feet) wide.

Both Eileen and Henry were active members of the Siuslaw Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. During these years, they became friends with everyone in the chapter, and a number of their friends are still active members today. Henry McKenney passed away before Eileen, but Eileen continued to be very active in the American Rhododendron Society, in addition to many other community activities. She was a Siuslaw Chapter board member, offered many plant tours of their lovely garden, and took great pride in maintaining their rhododendrons. In 2008, her rhododendron truss of 'Noyo Chief' won a trophy for "Best in Show."

Later, after expressing to Gene Cockeram her appreciation and fondness for the rhododendron named for her late husband, Henry McKenney, Gene Cockeram who is a rhododendron hybridizer, gave Eileen a rhododendron which was one of her favorites in his garden. While it is locally referred to as the Eileen McKenney memorial rhododendron, the name 'Eileen McKenney' has not yet been registered, and so this memorial plant dedicated to Eileen must still be referred to as ( R. yakushimanum 'Koichiro Wada' x 'James Drewry'). Its flower is a bright pink and the plant is about 0.7 m (2.5 feet) both high and wide. Gene hybridized this rhododendron approximately 15 years ago, and planted it in Eileen's garden eight years ago.

After Eileen passed away in 2008, Gene, who is involved in the maintenance and plantings in Gallagher's Park in Florence, Oregon, took the initiative to get the Henry McKenney and Eileen McKenney memorial rhododendrons moved and planted in Gallagher's Park. This move took place on March 18, 2009. Gene supervised the entire move and transported the plants in a trailer pulled by his truck, but many other Siuslaw Chapter members, including Helen and Galen Baxter, helped too. It was a sight to behold to see the rhododendrons being towed across the beautiful Siuslaw River. Dr. DeVern Pinnock used his tractor to help dig and replant the plants.

These specimen plants, now in Gallagher's Park, make an appropriate memorial to two special citizens and ARS members and will hopefully be able to be enjoyed by others for many years to come.

Judy Johnson is a Board member of the Siuslaw ARS Chapter.