New York Chapter
New York Chapter
American Rhododendron Society
President: Jim Fry
President: Jim Fry, tel: 631-495-6531 e-mail: JimsCreatures@verizon.net
Chapter Website: NYRHODODENDRON.ORG
ARS Website: http://www.rhododendron.org
Sunday, September 12th
1PM, Board Meeting
2PM, Membership Meeting
Conference Center, Planting Fields Arboretum
Kevin Kavanagh has worked in the field of conservation for most of his professional life. He continues to work part-time as the Manager of Conservation Internship Programs for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Prior to joining NCC, he worked for 15 years with World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF). While at WWF, he led the conservation science work to help expand Canada's parks and protected areas system and directed programs for the recovery of Canadian species at risk.
An avid gardener , Kevin believes that his passion for plants was instilled in him while he was growing up surrounded by forests and wetlands in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Always eager to explore new habitats, he endeavoured to collect seeds of his botanical discoveries with the hope of growing them on at close range where he could observe them year round. Consequently, his parent’s yard quickly filled up with a diversity of native trees and flowering shrubs. An interest in the botanical riches of more southern regions set in an early age as he struggled to find ways to successfully overwinter species such as broad-leaved Rhododendrons – in a location where winter temperatures regularly dipped to near –40!
Many gardeners confess that they often look southward to milder gardening zones with some envy at the myriad of tender plants seemingly unsuitable for their own backyard. Kevin Kavanagh, owner of South Coast Gardens, situated along the north shore of Lake Erie, began gardening in his youth in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Now designing gardens for clients in the comparative warmth of southern Ontario, Kevin continues to enjoy testing the hardiness of plants from warmer climates to assess their suitability for gardening where temperatures can sometimes fall to –15F. Carefully siting plants in microclimates and in some cases offering modest winter cover, he has succeeded in growing hardy selections of Southern Magnolia , Arizona Cypress, Needle Palm, Laurel Oak, and Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) at his nursery location. As well, he is currently testing the local suitability of more than 150 varieties of Rhododendrons and Azaleas and close to 70 varieties of Magnolia. In the course of assessing plant hardiness, he has developed some simple techniques to help species survive in zones beyond their normal winter tolerance and will present some of these methods in his presentation. Kevin will also present information on changing garden zones under the influence of a warming global climate and highlight a selection of sub-tropical species ideally suited to outdoor containers that can help to add “a touch of the south” to any garden design in our warmer months.
Refreshments for this meeting:
G-M
It would be greatly appreciated if members with last names beginning with the above letters provide the refreshments for this meeting.
President: Jim Fry
Past President: Bruce Feller
1st Vice-President: Cathy Bird
2nd Vice-President: Jim Schmale
Treasurer: Dennis Stallone
Membership: Marianne Feller
Present Members of the Board: Ava Grego, Marvin Fisher, Linda Fisher, Tom Lavan, Tom Appell, Alice Ford, Hanna Kennedy
NY Chapter Schedule for 2010-2011:
Sep 12, Sunday, 2PM,Conference Center – Kevin Kavanaugh
Oct 17, Sunday, 2PM,Greenhouse - Karel Bernady
Nov 21, Sunday, 2PM,Greenhouse - Douglas Jolley
Jan 9, Sunday, 2PM,Greenhouse - Al Muller
Feb 13, Sunday, 2PM,Greenhouse - Jessica Arcate-Shuler
March Luncheon-date to be announced
April 16, Saturday, Conference Ctr., Early Flower Show
Plant Sale at Old Westbury Gardens to be announced
May 22, Sunday, Conference Ctr., May Flower Show
We’re almost through another awful hot and dry summer season. I’m sure many of you have lost a few plants due to the heat and the lack of rain. I know I have. One thing that I noticed this summer was that the plants I planted in wood chips (4-6” deep) did not require watering as much as plants that I planted in amended native soil. That really helped out with my 3 azalea test gardens baking in the sun. The chips not only act as an heat insulator, but also hold moisture and release it slowly.
I got an e-mail from a member looking for a plant that is called ‘Peter B’. She’s searched the various mail order nurseries to no avail. Do any of our members know where a plant is available? In lieu of that, cutting material? -JDF
ARS 2010 Convention
After the hotel, bus, and plant suppliers were paid off and contributions were made to the following:
$1,000 - ARS General Fund
$1,000 - ARS Endowment Fund
$1,000 - ARS Princeton Chapter
$1,000 - ARS Tappan Zee Chapter ,
the NY chapter managed to net about $4,000. A number of plants were donated to Planting Fields and the balance of left-over plants were wholesaled off. Not bad for three days work. When are we having the next one, Bruce? Seriously, I’d like to thank all those people who pitched in to help make this convention a success.
The pruning seminar was attended by about 20 people who learned the art of pruning rhododendrons from Al Muller. From someone who has been reluctant to prune, I can say that you’ve got to whack away at some plants to encourage them to branch out properly.
Let’s see now. Thirty people attended the event. Alas, no one brought shrimp! Everyone ate their fill. Some of us even went back for seconds (and thirds). Despite the heat and humidity, a good time was had by all inside the air conditioned Carriage House. Thank you to Linda & Marvin Fisher for putting everything together.
Congratulations to Werner Brack for being awarded the American Rhododendron Society’s Silver Medal.
Join the NY Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society: Become a member of the ARS. On a piece of paper put your name, address with zip code, phone number, e-mail if you have it, and name of spouse. Send it with a check for $40 made out to ARS-NY Chapter to Marianne Feller, 88 Old Field Road, Old Field, NY 11733-1646