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Coming Events & Student Travel Grant
Hybrid Rhododendron ‘Angelina Dee’ (John Doppel) †
Coming Events (also see Recent Events)
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June 2024
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June 30
Sunday
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Picnic & Business Meeting
The annual picnic & business meeting is where the members of the Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society present elect the officers and directors for those positions where the terms have lapsed. The current officers and directors are listed in the member section.
The picnic is a social event. The location and other details will be provided.
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August 2024
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Aug. 18
Sunday
2:00 PM:
If you’re bringing donations, arrive as early as 1:00 and stroll the Jenkins grounds. The event begins at 2:00. Bring your checkbook! Sales by cash or check.
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District 8 Rhododendron & Azalea Cutting Exchange and Plant Auction, Jenkins Arboretum, 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA, rain or shine.
Proceeds benefit ARS Endowment Fund and ARS Research Foundation
CUTTINGS: Please donate cuttings! Preferably in the morning, take 6-inch cuttings of elepidote new growth, 4- to -6-inch cuttings of lepidotes and evergreen azaleas. Place each cultivar in a separate zipper-style plastic bag, add several drops of water, and refrigerate. Clearly label the bag with the cultivar and your name. No "unknown" varieties, please.
When the cuttings go on sale, $1 a bag. As in dirt cheap. You do the propagating.
Cuttings are an easy and inexpensive way to increase one’s collection of azaleas and rhododendrons.
PLANT AUCTION: After the cutting sale, Karel Bernady will reprise his role as auctioneer of an unpredictable array of donated plants, including rhododendrons, azaleas, other worthy woodies, and nifty perennials. Those donating plants are asked to provide Karel with an alluring description so that he can get the gavel price up.
IMPORATANT It will help the auctioneer and the bidder if you write a description of plants that you donate for auction. Having such info will make for lively bidding, especially for one-of-a-kind or special plants.
FOOD:The chapter will provide beverages, finger food and dessert. You are welcome to brown-bag a lunch.
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September 2024
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Sep. 22
Sunday
2:00 PM
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society’s Plants-4-Members sale at Jenkins Arboretum, 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA, rain or shine. Set up will begin around 1:00 PM. The sale will start at 2:00 PM.
Links to lists of plants available will be posted here when available.
The Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society has an extensive propagation program. Most plants are propagated from cuttings, but some varieties that are hard to root are grafted. A wide variety of plants produced from this program are sold to members and guests. Rooted cuttings and 2-year grafts will be available. As part of this effort members are invited to participate in the Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society propagation workshops.
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Recent Events (also see Coming Events)
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May 11
Saturday
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Flower Show at Jenins Arboretum
 On Mother’s Day weekend we held that Rhododendron & Azalea Flower Show at Jenkins. The trusses were entered in groupings of similar plants. They were judged and ribbons and trophies are presented.
Top: (from left to right) Best Deciduous Azalea was Choptank Seedling by Bud & Marilyn Gressman; Best Foliage was Rcv. 'Max Tietjens' by Michael Mills; Best In Show as Rcv. Pocono Pink' by Michael Mills (evergreen azalea); Best Hybrid was Heritage 1000 by Michael Mills; and Best Species was R. catawbiense by Mimi Favre.
Right: Best In Show was Rcv. Pocono Pink' by Michael Mills (evergreen azalea)
Lower Left: The winning entries were by (left to right) Mimi Favre, Bud Gressman, Michael Mills, and Marilyn Gressman.
Click for 2024 Entry Rules and Essential Information
Click for 2024 Catalogue of Previous Entries
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May
3-5
Fri-Sun
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Rhododendron Plant Sale at Tyler Arboretum.
Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 515 Painter Road, Media, Pa. 19063.
Friday is Tyler-members-only; to join go to: https://tylerarboretum.org/membership
 Don’t miss our public Annual Plant Sales the first weekend each May at Jenkins Arboretum and Tyler Arboretum. Here you can find those hard-to-get rhododendrons, azaleas and companion plants for your garden. The plants you are looking for, and many you have not seen before, are probably there, and the price cannot be beat!
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May
3-5
Fri-Sun
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Rhododendron Plant Sale at Jenkins Arboretum.
Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, 631 Berwyn-Baptist Road, Devon, Pa. 19333.
Friday is a pre-ticketed party and sale with limited capacity, so advance reservations are necessary.
Don’t miss our public Annual Plant Sales the first weekend each May at Jenkins Arboretum and Tyler Arboretum. Here you can find those hard-to-get rhododendrons, azaleas and companion plants for your garden. The plants you are looking for, and many you have not seen before, are probably there, and the price cannot be beat!
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May
2-5
Thu-Sun
2024
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ARS 2024 Rhododendron Convention, Bellingham, Wash.
The Convention was held in Bellingham which is located in beautiful northern Washington State. The 2024 convention featured private & public garden tours, workshops, programs, seminars, banquets, poster shows, plant sale, and pre- & post-tours.
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April
28-30
Sun-Tue
2024
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We were invited to join the District 9 Meeting in Annapolis, MD.
Annapolis is a little over a 2-hour drive from the Philadelphia area. There were talks, garden visits, a banquet, and a plant sale.
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Mar. 9
2024
and
Mar. 13
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Propagation Workday at Steven Kristoph Nursery (no sign), 9 Roberts Rd, Millstone, NJ, in central New Jersey.
Plant Propagation Workdays
 About 10 people each day helped Karel Bernady and the Propagaton Committee transplant cuttings of incomparable rareness and desirability for this fall’s Plants for Members sale at Steve Kristoph's.
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Mar. 17
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Tyler Arboretum Edible Garden Building, 515 Painter Rd, Media, PA
On St. Patrick’s Day we met at Tyler Arboretum.
The Art of Flower Show Plant Forcing
 Hannah Deputy, Landscape Architect at Stoney Bank Nurseries, discussed the art of plant forcing and display that makes the stunning displays at the Philadelphia Flower Show possible. The wonder of the flower show is that all plants are in bloom at the same time, even plants that are normally fall blooming are in bloom. This is done by forcing them into bloom.
Hannah explained that she needs to know where plants can be obtained and how to force each variety. There can be considerable differences between cultivars. We see that in rhododendrons. Before the process starts, all plants are treated with a systemic fertilizer.
Dormancy: Most plants need a period of dormancy before being forced. This involves reduced moisture, reduced light, and reduced temperature. The length varies with the variety.
Forcing: Next the plants are watered normally, placed in a heated greenhouse with bottom heat and ample light, and, after leaves appear, are fertilized. Bottom heat is removed when flower buds start forming. If a plant is coming along too quickly, a shade cloth is used and the temperature is lowered.
Holding: When the plants are approaching being ready, they are placed in the same cold facility that was used for dormancy to hold them so they will be at their prime at the right time. Holding actually improves color and stem strength.
Transporting: When transporting it is necessary to avoid extremes in temperature and protect from damage.
Rhododendrons: Hannah listed her favorite rhododendrons to force: 'English Roseum,' the Girard azaleas, R. flammeum, R. poukhanense compacta, & R. arborescens.
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Mar. 23
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Propagation Workday at Steven Kristoph Nursery (no sign), 9 Roberts Rd, Millstone, NJ, in central New Jersey.
Plant Propagation Workday
 About 10 people helped Karel Bernady and the Propagaton Committee repot cuttings of incomparable rareness and desirability for this spring’s plant sales at Tyler Arboretum and Jenkins Arboretum.
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Feb. 18
Sunday
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Uwchlan Meeting House, 3 N Village Ave, Exton, PA.
We continued our tradition of having our February meeting at the historic Uwchlan Quaker meeting house.
Annual Meeting At Uwchlan Meeting House
 Seasoned Horticulturist Gregg Tepper provided an entertaining and informative presentation on the history of Laurel Hill Cemeteries. Laurel Hill Cemeteries were founded with a horticultural mission to provide a landscape of beauty and interest to both the Laurel Hill East and Laurel Hill West Cemetaries. The West location is well known for its stunning collection of Asian azaleas and hybrid elepidote Rhododendrons to which the public is drawn to visit each May.
Greg pointed out that his emphasis is on Hedera (the hollies) and Rhododendron. However, since the West Cemetary is habitat to deer, they are only planting new rhododendrons on the East Cemetary. They have found a product to prevent deer damage, Trico Pro deer repellant from Austria. It contains sheep fat which repels deer and rabbits before they even try to take a bite. It is sprayed on the woody parts and the undersides of leaves. It is long lasting, and only slightly more expensive than other deer repellants and seems to be very effective and long lasting. It has proven effective in saving plants from deer and rabbits on the West Cemetary.
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Jan. 28
Sunday
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Jenkins Arboretum.
On the Trail of Wild Prunifolium
 Trevor Schulte is the Morris Arboretum Azalea Meadow Horticulturalist and last year’s recipient of the Valley Forge Chapter Travel Grant Award. Trevor used this grant to travel to Georgia and Alabama with Connor Ryan from Holden’s David G. Leach Research Station in Ohio.
They spent 6 days visiting known sites where Rhododendron prunifolium is growing in the wild. They were there in August and saw R. prunifolium that were in bud stage, full bloom, and past and producing seed. In just about all cases, R. prunifolium is growing on the banks of streams and is growing out over a stream where deer can’t reach it. He only saw a couple R. prunifolium seedlings. He is wondering if deer brouse is removing most seedlings the dear can reach.
He had excellent photos of not only R. prunifolium and its habitat, but also of many other native plants that grow in sites where R. prunifolium is found. One place Trevor highly recommends for native plant enthusiasts is Bibb County, Alabama.
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Nov. 12
Sunday
2023
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Banquet, St. Davids Golf Club
 We returned to a familiar haunt for the annual banquet. Don Hyatt, one of the most entertaining rhododendron speakers on the planet, was the featured speaker with a program titled "Rhododendron Potpourri." Cocktails and conviviality began at noon, with buffet luncheon beginning at 1:00 p.m.
The banquet featured the a plant exchange known as "Rhododendron Roulette." Each person took home two plants, a table favor and an exchange plant.
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Oct. 15
Sunday
2023
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Tyler Arboretum Edible Garden Building.
 The meeting took place in the Edible Garden Building, a relatively new facility at Tyler. Mike Karkowski, director of horticulture at Tyler, presented an informal introduction to Tyler Arboretum. He updated us on the status of site preparation for the Rhododendron Hybridizers Test Garden. Currently they are still fighting some invasives like Goldenrod.
Members showed quite a bit of interest in Tyler’s current efforts to remove about 1,000 dead trees, mostly ash, that pose a danger to hikers. The woodland trails are currently closed because of this. A firm from Connecticut is falling and cutting to length all of the trees. They are attempting to have minimum impact, but restoration will be required when they are finished.
After the meeting, the group took a stroll to the new hybridizers test garden site. For more details on the ARS/Tyler Rhododendron Test Garden visit their Website.
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Sep. 10
Sunday
2023
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society’s Plants-4-Members sale at Jenkins Arboretum.
The lists of plants that were available are:
Photos of the plants were shown prior to the sale (top photo). The Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society has an extensive propagation program. Plants are propagated from cuttings and varieties that are hard to root are grafted. A wide variety of plants produced from this program are sold to members and guests. Rooted cuttings and 2-year grafts were available. As part of this effort members are invited to participate in the Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society propagation workshops.
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Aug. 20
Sunday
2023
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District 8 Rhododendron & Azalea Cutting Exchange and Plant Auction, Jenkins Arboretum.
A total of $ 562 was raised for the ARS Endowment Fund and ARS Research Foundation. The plants and cutting are donated by members. The cuttings are sold for one dollar for a packet of about 5 or 6 of one variety. The plants are auctioned off for the two charitable foundations.
Clockwise from the top: we had a lively group of bidders for the auction; before the auction over 50 varieties of rhododendron cuttings were available; Maris Ogg discusses some of the plants John Bartlett donated from his Gettysburg Gardens nursery; and finally Karel Bernady conducted the auction.
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June 18
Sunday
2023
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Picnic & Business Meeting
The annual picnic & business meeting was held at Perc & Sally Moser’s. The weather was perfect, the company was great, the food was wonderful and the Moser’s hospitality superb.
The first item of business was GP President, Ron Rabideau presenting Gary Ammon the Greater Philadelphia Chapter’s Bronze Medal, the highest award a chapter can present. See a photo and a list of previous recipients in the member section.
Michael Martin Mills with 2 of his trophies
Kim Kopple announced the winners of trophies at the Joint Rhododendron Flower Show. The winners were:
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Best Species
Karel Bernady Trophy
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R. viscosum ‘Delaware Blue’
Michael Martin Mills
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Best Foliage
Dan & Betts Layman Trophy
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R. brachycarpum
Michael Mills
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Best Rhododendron Hybrid
M/M James S. Sorber Trophy
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‘Cloud Nine’
Michael Mills
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Best Evergreen Azalea
Lloyd Partain Trophy
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‘Louise Gable’
Michael Mills
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Best Deciduous Azalea
Steven Wright Trophy *
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R. viscosum ‘Delaware Blue’
Michael Mills
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Best in Show
John Wister Trophy
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‘Cloud Nine’
Michael Mills
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Sweepstakes
Judi Meade Trophy
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Michael Mills
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Student Travel Grant
Introduction: The mission of the American Rhododendron Society is to encourage interest in, and disseminate information about, the genus Rhododendron. To help fulfill this mission on a local level, The Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society awards one $500 travel grant annually to support a university student, budding plant enthusiast, or emerging horticultural professional in Southeastern Pennsylvania who would like to learn more about the genus and/or connect with leaders in the field.
Grant funds may be used in any way that helps develop the recipient’s understanding of, and interest in rhododendrons and azaleas. These experiences might include visiting specialty nurseries or botanical institutions, participating in national conventions, regional conferences, plant exploration expeditions, and so on. Application Instructions and Information:
The grant period opens November 1, 2023 and closes April 1, 2024. At that time a grant application will become available.
Grant Report: At the completion of the experience, a brief written report must be submitted. This must include a spending report as well as photographs that may be used in newsletter and/or other promotions. Though not a requirement, grantees may be asked to deliver a program to a a meeting about their experience.
The recipient in 2023 used the funding to join a group of rhododendron experts to explore natural populations of roseshell and flame azaleas in the Monangahela National Forest and sweet and flame azaleas in the southern Appalachians. In her words, "The Travel Grant allowed me to deepen my understanding of azaleas, curation, and exploration. It was truly a highlight of my career."
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Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments feel free to send an email to
rhodies@DVChapterARS.org.
Our mailing address is:
Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society
14 Northwoods Rd
Radnor, PA 19087
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