JARS v64n2 - A Fine Mid Spring Day in Delbert Brim's Garden

A Fine Mid Spring Day in Delbert Brim's Garden
Stan Southerland
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I had been mulling over the idea of writing an article for the ARS Journal describing Delbert Brim's impressive hybridizing program for some time. It took a chance meeting at the recent 2009 ARS annual meeting in Everett, WA, to spark the idea to fruition. I was on one of the convention sponsored bus tours of Whidbey Island. The bus had stopped at Frank Fujoka's excellent garden when I noticed the nametag of a fellow visitor. The tag read "Norman Beaudry," who was there with his wife Jean. I recognized the name from several years earlier when I had seen a notice in the ARS Journal offering cuttings from a very fine plant in their garden. It had been identified as a cross between R. degronianum sp. yakushimanum and R. hyperythrum by Kenneth Cox who had visited their garden and viewed the plant in 2004. They had bought the plant in the early 1960 as the species R. hyperythrum from Greer Gardens. I was actively using R. hyperythrum in my hybridizing program, so naturally I wanted a plant! I emailed him and he responded offering cuttings. Attached to the email were very fine photos of the plant in the landscape and also in bloom. For some reason, I did not pursue the matter further at that time, although I still wanted a plant of this cross. When I introduced myself and reminded them of this previous contact, they related that the plant has since been registered as R. 'Cornelia Sanders'. After they learned that I was a member of the North Carolina (NC) Piedmont Chapter of the ARS, they wanted to know if I knew Marshall Stillwell, a fellow member there, as the Beaudrys and Marshall Stillwell have a long time friendship and association through the Sandwich Club, which evaluated and promoted the Rhododendron hybrids of Dexter and Cowles. When they found out that Marshall and his son Mike were both friends of mine, the Beaudrys mentioned that they were coming to NC in two weeks, meeting Marshall and his wife in Mt. Airy and would then be touring Delbert Brim's Nursery and garden. They wanted to know if I also wanted to meet join the tour, which I very much did!

Our plan was to meet at Brim's Nursery. I arrived early and received a lengthy private tour by Brim. I manically photographed my way through his greenhouses and landscape, capturing the many beautiful hybrids he had created. It must be pointed out that this was May 12th and that in our region (NC), the peak blooming season is finished. Only the later blooming Rhododendron hybrids are still in flower. Still, as evidenced by the photos, the variety and quality of his late "bloomers" were very impressive. Most of these hybrids are newer creations and of course are still unnamed, but many will be the wave of the future in his hybridizing program.

Marshall Stillwell and the Beaudrys then arrived and we repeated the tour, walking and riding in Brim's large golf cart. After the tour we retired to the Brim's patio where we were joined by his wife, Betty. Brim continued to entertain us with stories and photos of his hybrids. All in all, it was a very well spent mid spring day, and needless to say, both the Beaudrys and I left with several plants each! This year, I intend to return during the peak bloom time for the NC region, which is around mid-April.

Stan Southerland is a member of the Piedmont ARS Chapter.