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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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February 2025
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Feb. 16
Sunday
1:00 PM
2025
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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:
Tara Spears: "Native Azaleas of North America"
 North America is home to many native Rhododendron section Pentanthera species, commonly referred to as native azaleas. They are primarily found in the eastern United States, but can range from Canada to California, too. This presentation explores the different species, their ranges, and popular selections.
Tara Spears is the Curatorial Assistant at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens and works closely with their Nationally Accredited Rhododendron Collections. She recently completed her Masters in Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania where she conducted research with Rhododendron smokianum, a newly described species of Rhododendron in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tara studied R. smokianum's population distribution and genetics. On completion of her degree, Tara thru-hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, identifying Rhododendrons along the way.
Additionally, Tara is co-organizing the Azalea Society of America National Convention in 2025, co-organized the Early-Career Rhododendron Research Conference in 2024, and presented at the American Rhododendron Society and Azalea Society of America National Convention in 2023.
In her spare time, Tara enjoys life outdoors, especially with her dog, Stan.
Tara's presentation will be on her research on native azaleas. North America is home to many native Rhododendron sect. Pentanthera species, commonly referred to as native azaleas. They are primarily found in the eastern United States, but can range from Canada to California, too. This presentation will explore America's native azaleas.
Refreshments: You are invited to bring savory and sweet items.
The chapter will NOT be doing any cooking again this year. All food will be brought by volunteers. We will NOT be using any equipment in the kitchen other than Tea and Coffee pots. We will NOT warm up any item NOR use any of the ovens. Therefore dishes that are brought must NOT need to be warmed up. Food can be refrigerated though. Wine will be provided as will plates, napkins, cups, and utensils.
Directions to Uwchlan Meeting House, 5 N. Village Ave., Exton, PA
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From the Exton Mall at Rt. 100 and Lincoln
Highway (Bus. US 30): Go north on Rt. 100
for 2.9 miles, turn left on Rt. 113, Uwchlan
Ave. and go 0.4 miles, turn right onto
Eagleview Blvd. (at 2nd light from Rte. 100),
make a right and then another right at Dowlin
Forge Rd. (2nd light from Rte. 113), and
come in to the Meeting House. |
From the Pennsylvania Turnpike: Take
Exit 312 at Rt. 100: Go south on Rt. 100 for 1
mile, turn right onto Rt. 113, Uwchlan Ave.
and go for 0.4 miles, then turn right onto
Eagleview Blvd. (2nd light from Rte. 100),
make a right and then another right at Dowlin
Forge Rd. (the 2nd light from Rte. 113), and
come in to the Meeting House.
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March 2025
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March
1:00 PM
2025
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Tyler Arboretum Edible Garden Building, 515 Painter Rd, Media, PA
Meeting at Tyler Arboretum
 Dr. Will Ryan, Director Horticulture and Land Stewardship at Tyler will be our speaker at our March Meeting at Tyler Arboretum.
Dr. Ryan recently came to Tyler with 25 years of experience in horticulture, plant ecology, natural areas management, and ecological restoration. He is widely regarded as an expert field botanist, in addition to being a well-rounded natural scientist. Whether designing woodland, meadow, and wetland habitats; designing living collections, arboreta, and nurseries; or overseeing large-scale conservation initiatives and biological inventories, Will makes his passion for plants and the natural world shine. We have no doubt that Will’s experiences with academic institutions, environmental non-profits, and conservation landowners will herald a new and exciting future for Tyler! On top of that, Will completed his PhD under the guidance of Dr. Doug Tallamy and Tyler’s own Board member Dr. Roger Latham, with a focus on adaptive management strategies for globally rare serpentine barrens —like Tyler's Pink Hill.”
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April 2025
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April 6
Sunday
1:00 PM
2025
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Jenkins Arboretum.
Heather Titanich: "Community Forestry""
 Heather Titanich was an intern at Tyler & an Educational Fellow at Jenkins. In her presentation she will discuss her work in community forestry, the importance of forested watersheds & her research trials in planting & maintaining forested riparian buffers.
Heather is the Watershed Restoration Coordinator at Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, PA. Heather’s background is centered around connecting people with plants, including working in public horticulture and urban forestry. She has a passion for supporting equitable access to green spaces and conserving forest resources. She works with landowners to establish conservation practices to improve the quality of nearby streams, such as planting and maintaining riparian buffers. In her free time, Heather enjoys going on hikes and mycological forays.
She received her B.S.from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, with a major in environmental resource management and a minor in urban forestry.
Previously she was Community forester at Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington, DE, from 2021–2023. Prior to that she was the Dorrance H. Hamilton educational fellow at Jenkins Arboretum from 2019–2021; Native orchid research intern at Mt. Cuba Center in 2018; Dendrology teaching assistant at Virginia Tech in 2018; and
Horticulture Intern at Tyler Arboretum in 2018.
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April
25-27
Fri-Sun
2025
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 Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Rhododendron Plant Sale at Jenkins Arboretum.
Friday thru Sunday, April 25-27, 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 each spring 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 2025
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May
2-4
Fri-Sun
2025
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 Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Rhododendron Plant Sale at Tyler Arboretum.
Saturday and Sunday, May 2-4, 9 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 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 7-9
2025
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Azaleas Society of America Convention in Malvern, PA
Azaleas Society of America Meets in Malvern
 The Azalea Society of America 2025 National Convention will be held in the Philadelphia region from May 7th through May 9th. The tagline “History and Horticulture” could not be more appropriate as the region is loaded with both. The historic sites go well beyond Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. In fact, there are more than 1,200 properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia and its four surrounding counties! Philadelphia is also the birthplace of American botany and home to John Bartram’s garden, created nearly 300 years ago. Bartram’s legacy lives on as the Philadelphia countryside is now peppered with dozens of beautiful gardens, both public and private. With more than 35 public gardens within 30 miles of Philadelphia, the region has been dubbed “America’s Garden Capital”. As the host of the Convention, Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens is excited to invite you all for a few days to explore some of these great destinations.
The Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PA will be our home base. This beautiful, award-winning hotel sits in the middle of Philadelphia’s historic countryside with easy access to Valley Forge National Historical Park and Brandywine Battlefield, and a short distance to all our trip destinations. Reservations will include free parking, a local shuttle, complimentary wi-fi and a free hot breakfast each morning.
80 rooms have been reserved for this event with the special Convention rate of $169. In addition, 20 rooms have been blocked with that rate for Tuesday night for any early arrivals as well as Saturday night for those wishing to extend their stay. Please contact the hotel directly at 1-800-575-1776 or reservations@desmondgv.com to make your reservations. Be sure to let them know you are attending the Convention and use the three-letter code “ASA”. Blocked guestrooms will be released Tuesday, April 8th, so be sure to make your reservations by then.
For more details and to register go to https://azaleas.org/convention-2025/
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May 10
Saturday
2025
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Flower Show at Jenins Arboretum
On Mother’s Day weekend we hold our Rhododendron & Azalea Flower Show at Jenkins. The trusses are entered in groupings of similar plants. They are judged and ribbons and trophies are presented.
Click for 2024 Entry Rules and Essential Information
Click for 2024 Catalogue of Previous Entries
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June 2025
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June 5-8
2025
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American Rhododendron Society Convention in Wolfville, Nova Scotia
American Rhododron Society Convention
 Join us in Nova Scotia, Canada for the American Rhododendron Society Convention, “Emerging Trends for Rhododendrons” in Wolfville, a town known for its beauty, food and gardens.
Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to learn about growing, breeding and gardening with rhododendrons. The 2025 American Rhododendron Society Spring Convention will be offering presentations, plant sale, garden tours, and networking opportunities!
Speakers include Dr. Hartwig Schepker of the Rhododendron Park and Botanical Garden in Bremen, Connor Ryan from the Holden Forests and Gardens, and Joe Bruso President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.
Garden tours will include the Kentville Research Centre as well as private gardens. Networking opportunities will include the Breeder’s Roundtable where you can hear about the latest trends in rhodo breeding, and social events that feature the seafood, cider and wine from our local producers.
To see more of the rhododendron gardens of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick join us for a five day, four night pre convention coach tour of the gardens of Halifax and South Western Nova Scotia and a five day, four night post convention coach tour of gardens in New Brunswick and northern Nova Scotia.
For more details and to register go to https://ars2025.org/
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Recent Events (also see Coming Events)
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Nov. 17
Sunday
2024
Noon
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Banquet, St. Davids Golf Club, 845 Radnor Street Rd, Wayne, PA 19087.
Cocktails and conviviality begin at noon, with buffet luncheon beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: Nicole Juday
Program: "Private Gardens of Philadelphia"
 Our speaker was Nicole Juday who related the fascinating history of Philadelphia's preeminence in horticulture. Using examples from her new book, Private Gardens of Philadelphia, author and garden historian Nicole Juday showcased some extraordinary properties in which conservation, environmental sensitivity, and wildlife value drive the gardens' overall design and aesthetic. Illustrated by gorgeous images by photographer Rob Cardillo, this talk focused on specific gardens that have made a commitment to environmental practices and achieved stunning results.
Nicole Juday has a deep background in public horticulture. Nicole Juday's career has encompassed many areas of horticulture, including her own garden design business, working as Landscape Curator at Wyck Historic Garden, and running the renowned Arboretum School at the Barnes Foundation. She then served as Director of Audience Engagement at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, where she created content and programming to inspire gardeners everywhere. A Chanticleer Scholarship allowed Nicole to pursue an interest in garden writing, and she has gone on to publish numerous articles, winning a silver medal for her writing by the Garden Writers Association. She speaks frequently on various gardening topics. When not spending time in her own garden with friends and family, she enjoys volunteering on local beautification efforts. She serves as board chair for the IDEAL Industries Foundation. Her writing has appeared in many garden publications including her article, Philadelphia: a Legacy of Horticulture, in the Winter 2019 issue of the Journal of the American Rhododendron Society.
The banquet featured the speaker and 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. 20
Sunday
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Meeting, Tyler Arboretum Edible Garden Building, 515 Painter Road, Media, Pa. 19063.
 Steve Kristoph spoke on the Iron Clads. Steve is in his 44th consecutive year teaching about woody landscape plants at Rutgers University. Steve owns and operates Kristoph Nursery in Millstone Township of Monmouth County NJ where he grows many types of ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. He is passionate about plants, and likes to share this with others. Taking time to smell the roses is important to him and you can bet if there’s indumentum on a rhododendron leaf close by,it’s likely to get a gentle caress.
R. catawbiense was collected in the wild in 1803 in the Eastern U.S. and was introduced to Britain in 1809. When hybridized with other rhododendrons it introduced cold and heat hardiness into rhododendron hybrids. The first group of rhododendrons to become popular in gardens was the hybrids called the "iron-clads." There was a group of early British hybrids involving crosses of R. caucasicum, R. catawbiense, R. ponticum and R. maximum that survived the coldest winters at Arnold Arboretum in Boston. In 1917, Ernest Henry Wilson (1876-1930) published a list of what he termed the "Iron Clad" rhododendrons that for many years were successfully growing in the Arnold Arboretum.
Wilson's Dozen Iron-Clad Rhododendrons
• Album Elegans, pale purplish pink hybrid or selection
• Album Grandiflorum, pinkish white hybrid or selection
• Atrosanguineum, bright red, purple markings hybrid
• Catawbiense Album, pinkish white hybrid or selection
• Charles Dickens, crimson red, purplish markings hybrid
• Everestianum, purplish-pink, green markings hybrid
• Henrietta Sargent, a deep pink hybrid
• Lady Armstrong, deep purplish pink, pale center hybrid
• Mrs. Charles S. Sargent, rose pink hybrid
• Purpureum Elegans, pinkish purple hybrid
• Purpureum Grandiflorum, violet with green flecks hybrid
• Roseum Elegans, lavender pink, green markings hybrid
Iron-clads are by definition plants that have been popular for a long time and are easy to grow, even in cold climates. Some of the original "Wilson's Dozen" plants are no longer easily found and have been replaced by the modern list of "iron-clads":
• Boule de Neige
• Catawbiense Album (original ironclad)
• Catawbiense Boursalt
• English Roseum
• Ignatius Sargent
• Ken Janeck
• Lee's Dark Purple
• Minnetonka
• Mrs. Charles S. Sargent (original ironclad)
• Nova Zembla
• Olga Mezitt
• PJM
• Purpureum Elegans
• Purpureum Grandiflorum (original ironclad)
• Roseum Elegans (original ironclad)
Here are some other takeaways from the Journal articles and Steve's presentation summarized by Michael Martin Mills:
• Older cultivars that have stood the test of time are likely to be better at standing the test of the future. Keep in mind that our summers can be like ovens now.
• A surprising number of almost-local hybrids make the drought tolerance cut - cultivars bred by Joseph Gable of York County, Pa.
• Yellows and oranges may be doomed. It took forever to breed some winter-hardy ones, and it turns out they are real wimps in hot dry spells.
• Truly appropriate planting conditions are more important than ever. Drainage, drainage, drainage plus lots of organic content. The way the weather is going, if you plant a rhododendron in a marginal site don't be surprised by marginal results. And if you don't mulch - not for weed prevention but to minimize drying of the soil - you're a nincompoop.
• Whoever heard of 'Lady Grey Egerton'? This lilac-tinged white is an English hybrid by Waterer, pre-1890, cited by C J Patterson in her Journal article as the "most drought-tolerant ironclad I know of." It may be an English cross, but the key parent is the American native R. catawbiense.
Even Joe Gable extolled is performance in dry spells.
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Sep. 22
Sunday
2024 PM
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society’s Plants-By-Members sale.
The Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society's propagation team, headed by Karel Bernady, annually acquires cuttings from the gardens of accomplished ARS members. They are prepped and rooted and come to market each September.
There were year-old rooted cuttings in small pots, as well as grown-on plants in gallon pots. The price was $5 each for rooted cuttings, $15 for larger plants. Varieties you've never seen for sale anywhere were among the choices.
You can download the two lists of plants that were available for the Plants for Members sale at:
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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Aug. 18
Sunday
2024
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District 8 Rhododendron & Azalea Cutting Exchange and Plant Auction, Jenkins Arboretum, 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA, rain or shine.
Thanks to those that brought donations for the cutting exchange and plant auction.
The plant auction raised $1,538 which benefit ARS Endowment Fund and ARS Research Foundation
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June 30
Sunday
2024
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Delaware Valley Rhododendron Society Picnic & Business Meeting, Wilson Farm Park Pavilion, 500 Lee Road Chesterbrook, PA.
Wilson Farm Park Pavilion
The chapter provided a selection of sandwiches (including vegetarian) and beverages. Members were welcome to bring appetizers (if arriving on the early side) or desserts, but no obligation.
Order of activities:
Gather, convivialize, have an appetizer.
Annual meeting and election.
Lunch
Presentation of truss show trophies
Dessert
Slate of officers:
President: Stuart Brooks
Vice President: Perc Moser
Secretary: Kim Kopple
Treasurer: Bob Smetana
Directors: Mimi Favre, Maris Ogg, John Weygandt
Nominations from the floor were permitted.
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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. 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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To see the complete archive of past events Click Here.
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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