PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I should like to take this opportunity to welcome our many new members and at the same time, once again greet our older members. Last season, climaxed by a splendid show and auction, was a year of definite growth and progress for the chapter. There is no doubt in my mind that with your continual interest and cooperation, this growth will accelerate. Under the supervision of Jack Cowles, our Vice President and Program Chairman, many exciting things are being planned. There will be outstanding speakers, clinics on many phases of rhododendron culture, and a "surprise" at each meeting. I urge you to attend each and every meeting.
A few words about the truss show and auction held last June 3rd. It set records of all sorts -- in terms of attendance (conservatively estimated at several hundred)-in terms of competitive entries (192 trusses and related material)-and not in the least in terms of financial success. Many thanks to each and all who participated and whose work and help made this event so successful.
I am sure that Louis Cook, our immediate Past President and Auctioneer, is not aware of this; one of our members clocked him. Louie sold approximately 275 plants in exactly one hour and forty-seven minutes. This, of course, is indicative Louie's outstanding ability. Yet it is also indicative of the tremendous growing interest in the field of rhododendrons. And this interest (as well as the growth of the chapter) is only limited by the time and effort necessary to make people aware of the existence of the chapter and of the inherent benefits of active membership.
Max L. Resnick, President
MEMBERS TOUR HUNNEWELL GARDENS
May 19
On May 19 members met at the Hunnewell place in Wellesley. While the group was convening, Jack Cowles and Willard Hunnewell showed early comers through the greenhouses where we saw seedlings from recent crosses as well as from the ARS seed exchange.
We then looked at the below ground level pit where the tender rhododendrons are stored in pots during the winter. Jack pointed out the damage to some plants which appeared as burnt edges to the leaves. This was caused by too warm weather in early spring while the plants were still in the dark pit and had no chance for photosynthesis.
We next went to look at the collection of iron dads but it was a little too early in the year for any but 'Boule de Neige' to be in blossom. A good number of these plants are at least 50 to 75 years old. By layering, some have spread into very large clumps. Several groups of handsome R. kaempferi were at peak of bloom.
We had a picnic lunch in the conservatory next to Mrs. Hunnewell's house. There was a fine display of tender rhododendrons and azaleas which cannot survive outdoors in the Wellesley area. One plant particularly admired was a specimen of 'Diane Titcomb'. Also in bloom were 'Mrs. G. W. Leak', 'Leo', hybrids by Mr. Walter Hunnewell between 'Cunningham's White' and 'Fabia', 'Butterfly', 'Scarlet Wonder', 'Mrs. Furnival' and fragrant R. formosum.
After lunch, as the group returned to their cars, we passed through one of the greenhouses and Jack offered seedlings of Abies Cilicica and Magnolia stellata to all.
Any interested member is welcome to come again at any time. Please call V.P. Jack Cowles or Willard Hunnewell in advance to let them know when to expect you.
Submitted by Willard Hunnewell
RHODODENDRON SHOW AND AUCTION HUGE SUCCESS
On June 3, 1973, the Mass. Chatter held its second annual Rhododendron Show and Auction at the South Shore Natural Science Center in Norwell, Mass. Under the direction of Show Chairman Max Resnick, the show was a tremendous success. Nearly two hundred entries were submitted for judging in the truss show and the exhibition hall was a veritable rainbow of colors. The show date came at the height of the blooming season, and viewers were treated to the widest possible variety of rhododendrons and azaleas, varying from the iron dads to exotic greenhouse types.
Faced with the enormous task of selecting the best from a multitude of excellent specimens, the judging staff did a highly commendable job. Those doing the judging were Ed Mezitt, Stephen Snell, Louis Cook and Charles Gredler on broad leafed rhododendrons; and James Wright and Jack Cowles on azaleas.
The following trophies were awarded:
Best of Show - 'Homer' by Dr. Max Resnick
Best Ironclad - 'lgnatius Sargent' by George Ware
Best New Hybrid - Pink Hybrid Seedling by Edmund Mezitt
Best Dexter - 'Westbury' by Charles Gredler
Best Azalea - Exbury Seedling by Charles Gredler
Photography Award - James Wright
Ribbons were awarded to the first three places in each of several classes.
After the judging the exhibition hall was opened to the public. The number of people attending the show exceeded all expectations. In addition to the truss show the hall contained a number of other exhibits and several clinics where the neophyte grower could secure the advice of the several experts on how to properly care for his plants. In addition, the chapter gained many new members at the show.
In the afternoon, Louis Cook took up the auctioneer's gavel and the rhododendron auction was under way. In just a short time hundreds of plants were placed on the block and sold "all over the place" to many satisfied buyers. In short, the whole day was a tremendous success. Plans are already being drawn to make the 1974 show bigger and better yet.
TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
This issue of The Rosebay finds its way to several new members as well as to many people who expressed an interest in joining the Society while at the show. To our new members we bid welcome and to the others a sincere invitation to join us.
NEW MEMBERS:
Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Budka
3 North Street
Reading, Mass. 01867
Mr. & Mrs. John C. Kepper
Box 28
Salisbury, N.H. 03268
Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Cahill
175 Williams Ave.
Milton, Mass. 02186
Mr. & Mrs. Fred MacDonald
457 High St.
Hanson, Mass. 02341
Mr. Gustaf H. Carlson
4 Heath St.
Westboro, Mass. 01581
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Phillips
25 Waterhouse Rd.
Bourne, Mass. 02532
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen M. Tipton
22 Farm Rd.
Sherborn, Mass. 01770
AN APPEAL FOR HELP
The editors of The Rosebay overshot the deadline for this issue for a very simple reason: we had precious little material to print. If this newsletter is to succeed as a quarterly, It must depend heavily on the contributions of its membership for informative feature articles, book reviews, almost anything. We have a number of articles available for reprint but have hesitated in using them so far because we feel there is enough expertise within our own ranks that should be our prime source of supply. Remember, it's your newsletter.
BOOK LIST
Society Publications:
No. Copies Price Tax Total
RHODODENDRONS $ 5.00
Fundamentals of Rhod. & Azalea Culture .50
Azaleas (N.Y.Chapter) .50
Rhododendrons (N.Y.Chapter) .50
Rhododendrons & Their Relatives
(Brooklyn Botanic Garden Vol. 27, No. 2) 1.50 e05
THE ROTHSCHILD RHODODENDRONS
(Barber & Phillips) 33.00 .99
RHODODENDRONS & AZALEAS (Sunset Book) 1.95 .06
RHODODENDRONS (Krussman) 6.50 .20
RHODODENDRONS OF THE WORLD (Leach) 22.00 .66
RHODODENDRONS IN AMERICA (VanVeen) 15.00 .45
E.I. Dupont, Botaniste (Wilkinson) paper 3.95 .12
cloth. 7.95 .24
TOTAL
The Rosebay Volume 2 Number 3 Fall 1973 official journal of the American Rhododendron Society Massachusetts Chapter
