Rhododendron and
Azalea News

Bruce Feller
New York Chapter

The New York Chapter is pleased to award the Bronze Medal of the American Rhododendron Society to Bruce Feller in recognition of his more than 20 years of service to the New York Chapter.  During this time, Bruce has served as a board member, vice president, president, co-chair of our flower shows, and cop-chair of our annual dinner.  He has been alternate director and director of District 7 for eight years, and h as now been nominated to be Eastern vice president of the American Rhododendron Society.  Additional, Bruce is the chairman of the convention committee to organize and run the 20109 ARS Annual Convention to be held on Long Island.

Bruce has welcomed chapter members and many others to his showcase garden, which features an outstanding collection of rhododendrons as well as a broad selection of other plants, all of which are very well-sited and grown.

Marianne Feller
New York Chapter

The New York Chapter is pleased to award the Bronze Medal of the American Rhododendron Society to Marianne Feller in recognition of her more than 20 years of service to the New York Chapter.  During this time, Marianne has served as board member, co-chair and chief clerk of our flower shows, and co-chair of our annual dinner.  She has also served as membership chair, registrar for the 2001 East Regional Meeting that the chapter hosted, and is the registrar for the 2010 ARS Annual Convention to be held on Long Island.

Marianne has been hostess to our chapter members and many others who have visited her home and showcase garden for many years.

Jane McKay
Middle Atlantic Chapter

Jane McKay of the Middle Atlantic Chapter was awarded the Bronze Medal in October 2008.  She wrote a truly a beautiful thank you to her chapter, and the editor believes it deserves a place in R&A News.

"I want to thank the chapter for awarding me the Bronze Medal.  I was certainly surprised since I think many others are more deserving.  I have been a member of the American Rhododendron Society of 46 years and enjoying every minute.  I feel the best way to go in any organization is to get involved and hope in some small way to make it better.

Wally and I made many friends over the years and it would be more fitting for me to give the American Rhododendron Society and Middle Atlantic Chapter a medal instead of my receiving one.

Again, thank you for allowing me to be a part of you." Blessings to you and Wally, as you start another 46 years!  What an achievement!  There aren&'t many members who have as long a service records as you do.  In five years you deserve a bouquet of 50 red roses!  Go for it, Jane!  You will make it!

Certificate of Appreciation to Jay Y. Gillenwater
Middle Atlantic Chapter

The Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society presents this Certificate of Appreciation to Jay Y. Gillenwater, M.D., in recognition of his vital services to our chapter in rescuing our Plants for Members Program at a crucial time, for bringing high standards to the production of the plants, and for his exceptional generosity in support of this program and its many benefits to our members.  In addition, he has graciously opened his lovely garden for several tours during chapter and district meetings.  For these and other outstanding contributions, we present this Certificate.

Certificate of Appreciation to William Constable Jr.
Middle Atlantic Chapter

Deaths

David Sauer
Mid-Atlantic Chapter

David was an artist with a bachelor's of fine art from Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU).  He received a master's of fine art from Columbia University, New York City, in Oriental Art History and also did further post graduate work there.  He specialized in Southern Sung painting.  He came back to Richmond and taught art at VCU.  Later photography caught his interest and he studied under Ansel Adams at the Yosemite Workshop Series.  During his impressive 60-year career as a painter he exhibited in New York City, Atlanta, Richmond, North Carolina, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and San Francisco.

David was a strong support of our chapter since 1976 and was well known to all the members who attended meetings.  He was especially interested in evergreen azaleas, and he and Debby had fine collections of them, including some rare kurumes.

He opened their garden in Chester for many chapter garden tours.  David also gave talks about azaleas and had a web site about them.  David and Debby were in the MAC Species Study group and were among the group who made the famous extra long hike up Gregory Bald when the bridge was out.

John Withers
Mid-Atlantic Chapter

John Cure Withers, 87, a long-time Mid-Atlantic member, of McGaheysville, Virginia, died on Thursday, January 29, 2009.  He was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on December 10, 1921, and was a so of the late Douglas and Dorothy Cur Withers.  John's father (known as D. D. to MAC friends) had been a MAC member for some years previously.  John had been a member since before 1967.

John graduated from Roanoke College and was a World War II Air Force veteran with the 339th Fighter Squadron.  Among his accomplished citations, Captain Withers received the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with seven oak leave clusters.  John was a nurseryman and owned and operated Hi-meadows Gardens in Mount Solon for many years.  He enjoyed raising horses, cattle, and tending to his azaleas and rhododendrons.

His wife, LuDean Withers, survives as does his daughter, Dell Taylor (also a MAC member), and two sons, Dean Withers and John Withers, brother, Douglas Withers and six grandchildren.

John was MAC's first Plants for Members propagator back when Austin Kennell instigated our program before the Sheuchenkos then David Lay took it over.  John took cuttings from some of his own plants and probably others also.  John had been active in the chapter until the last few years.

Edmund "Eddy" de Rothschild

Edmund "Eddy" de Rothschild died on January 17 at the age 93.  Some will remember de Rothschild as the senior partner and chairman of NM Rothschild & Sons.  The "nitty-gritty"; of banking, according to his obituary in the Telegraph was not to de Rothschild's taste.

What many of us will remember about de Rothschild was his involvement on the board of the Smith Garden and his efforts to restore the Exbury Gardens in Hampshire.  Those of you who have walked this magnificent 260-acrre woodland garden understand the amount of work required...not only to create the Garden...but also restore and maintain it.  The Garden had been created by Lionel de Rothschild in the 1920-30's, and the Garden was used by the U.S. Navy during and after World War II.

Eddy de Rothschild replanted the approximately three-quarters of the Garden over the next 50 years, and created several dozen new deciduous azaleas.  Exbury deciduous azaleas are noted for their strength and color.

Harold Greer invited Edmund and his wife to attend the 56th annual American Rhododendron Society Conference in Eugene.  He was honored there with the ARS Pioneer Achievement Award and gave a delightful talk.

According to the DVD, “The Glory of the Garden”, produced by Nicholas de Rothschild and narrated by Edmund de Rothschild in 1980...Edmund had no interest in Exbury (the garden) or plants until one special day when he was serving as a battery-captain the 77th Highland Field Regiment in North Africa.  'He had a moment of clarity' the story goes, when lying in a field of countless wildflowers, totally overcome by their beauty.  From that day on he turned over a new leaf not only restoring the Garden...but producing several dozen rhododendron hybrids, and the Solent Range of Exbury deciduous azaleas.

Edmund de Rothschild was an honorable man, honored for his many military successes, his hard work for charitable causes, and generosity throughout his life.  In 1005, he received the Royal Horticultural Society's highest award, the Victoria Medal of Honour.

Roger Berryhill
Portland Chapter

Roger Berryhill of Berryhill Nursery in Sherwood, Oregon, died at the age of 75, on February 18.  Roger was a well-known nurseryman and farmer, along with his wife, Arda.  The Berryhills have been members of the American Rhododendron Society's Portland Chapter since 1978.

Don Rasmussen
Wilmette Chapter

Don Rasmussen had been long-time members of the Wilmette Chapter and quite active until recently.  Sadly, Don passed away in early February 2009 and is sorely missed.

Don was a jovial, thoughtful, encouraging, can-do-guy who easily saw what needed to be done and proceeded to do it.  He and Millie have been wonderful supporters of our Annual plant auction.  At the most recent one he attended, our system for distributing the goodies to each bid winner broke down with much tripping over each other.  Within minutes, Don figures out how to bring out of the chaos...with no small strain on his back muscles...and the evening ended with great success.

We very much appreciate the fun and contributions Don and Millie provided our chapter and extend our great sympathy to Millie and their families.

- Wally Reed, President

Tom Bowhan
Nanaimo Chapter

Tom Bowhan, a life member of the Nanaimo Chapter, passed away September 15 of aortic aneurysm.  He was well known for his knowledge of rhododendrons, and especially of species rhododendrons.  For some years he and Emma owned and operated the T. E. Bowhan Nursery, specializing in rhododendrons and azaleas.  His memory of plant names was legendary.  Rhododendron 'Pawhuska' was hybridized by Tom.

Several of our members came to the chapter through their acquaintance with Tom during the 18 years he worked as produce manager at the Oak Safeway Store.  He and Emma were very active in chapter activities until his health began to fail.

Tom was a member of the Osage Indian Nation.  He attended Junction City High School and later served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as an intercept radio operator with the 6983rd radar squadron at March Field in California.

After the funeral service, Harold and Nancy Greer hosted a luncheon reception of Emma and Tom's families.  He is survived by his wife, Emma, a daughter, two sons, a sister, and six grandchildren.  He will be missed.

The New Zealand Rhododendron Association will hold its annual meeting in Auckland on the North Shore, November 2-6, 2009.  Renown gardens will be visited and outstanding speakers from around the world will participate in the event. This exciting meeting should not be missed.

Scottish Rhododendron Society's 2010 Spring Tour Program

A thought to cherished...

Write it on your heart that every day
is the best day of my life.

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson