The American Horticultural Society at River Farm
7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, VA 22308
Phone: (703)768-5700
http://www.ahs.org

Join or renew now!

Links:

Support the AHS with a tax-deductible donation

Reciprocal Admissions Program

AHS Heat Zone Map

AHS Books

National Children & Youth Garden Symposium

Annual Gala

Photo of the month:

"This brittlebush flower (Encelia farinosa) is just beginning to open. Here in the Arizona desert the blooms are pretty, but they don't last very long.  We have to enjoy them while we can."

- submitted by
William Christian,
Gold Canyon, AZ

Do you have a great photo you'd like to see in The AHS e-Bulletin? We are looking for candidates for our Photo of the Month – submit yours to newsletter@ahs.org, along with your name and a brief caption.

We’re always happy to hear from our e-Bulletin readers! If you’d like to give us feedback, email newsletter@ahs.org or call (800) 777-7931, ext. 140.

What's New at the AHS

May/June Issue of The American Gardener
The latest issue of The American Gardener is jam-packed with useful gardening information, insightful plant profiles, and beautiful color photographs. Some highlights include profiles of water-thrifty rockroses and versatile sedges, advice on how to battle weeds, and gardening insights from Panayoti Kelaidis, plant explorer and the 2009 recipient of the AHS’s highest honor, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award.  If you are not a member, you may view selected articles and excerpts on the AHS website, or to receive The American Gardener, you can begin or renew your membership online or call (800) 777-7931, ext. 119.

Get Sustainable Gardening Tips
Registration is now open for the AHS’s newest Garden School, “Green Garage: Sustainable and Earth-Friendly Solutions for the Landscape,” co-sponsored by the City of Alexandria. Taking place at the Lee Center in Alexandria, Virginia, on Saturday, June 27, this program will offer a wealth of environmentally sustainable practices for gardens, landscapes, and other green spaces that you can apply at home, in your community, or at work. Discounted registration is available for AHS members and City of Alexandria residents. For more information and to register, visit the AHS website.

Youth Garden Symposium in Cleveland
Registration is now open for the AHS’s 17th annual National Children & Youth Garden Symposium “Common Ground: Gardens for a Greener Tomorrow," hosted by Cleveland Botanical Garden on July 23-25. The Symposium will include an opening keynote by 2008 MacArthur Genius Fellow Will Allen, the founder and CEO of Growing Power, as well as more than 30 educational sessions and much more. Educators, garden designers, youth program leaders, parents and children’s gardening advocates are encouraged to attend. Register here or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 132.

Members-only webinar in July
With water becoming an increasingly precious resource, join award-winning author and garden designer Scott Calhoun to learn about “Dry Beauty: Strategies for Designing Water-Thrifty Gardens.” Please note: the date of this webinar has changed to July 30 from the previously announced date. This webinar is offered exclusively for current AHS members and registration will open on July 1 in the members-only area of the AHS website. There is no fee to participate, but space is limited so be sure to register early. A high-speed Internet connection is strongly recommended for best results from the webinars.

Visit Great Gardens with the AHS
This autumn you are invited to join AHS President Emeritus Katy Moss Warner for the “Gardens and Art of the Historic Hudson Highlands" in New York from October 14 to 18. The tour will include visits to notable landscapes ranging from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s lifelong home, Springwood, to Manitoga, the woodland garden of America’s first industrial designer, Russell Wright. The tour will also highlight art with visits to Olana, the home of Frederick Edwin Church—a master of the 19th-century Hudson River School of landscape painting—and Storm King Art Center, a sculpture park set on 500 undulating acres of the Hudson highlands. Throughout the trip, participants will dine on local cuisine at some of the Hudson Valley’s most acclaimed restaurants. Space is limited for this trip so make your reservation today.

Portland Trip for AHS President's Council Members
Exclusively for AHS President’s Council Members, there will be a special trip to Portland, Oregon, from August 13-16. Travelers will tour numerous world-class public gardens, such as the Portland Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden, the Classical Chinese Garden, as well as some of the city’s finest private gardens. There will also be a rare opportunity to visit the private garden of AHS Board Chair Susie Usrey and her husband, Bruce, executives at Monrovia nurseries. Additionally, there will be a behind-the-scenes tour of Monrovia’s Oregon nursery facility and a sneak peek at its newest plant introductions. For information, please contact Sue Galvin at (703) 768-5700 ext. 111 or sgalvin@ahs.org.

Green Gifts for Dads and Grads!
What could better express your affection for your favorite garden enthusiast than a gift that keeps giving all year long? A membership in the American Horticultural Society does just that and brings with it a variety of benefits. An AHS membership makes an excellent graduation or Father's Day gift. Best of all, you can give a gift of membership from our website -- environmentally friendly and no running from store to store! You also can do this by phone; just call (800) 777-7931 ext. 119. We’ll mail the recipients their membership cards and a letter announcing your thoughtful gift. A pleasant surprise: your gift is tax-deductible!

What's Growing On

By James Gagliardi, River Farm Horticulturist

Edible gardening recently has been enjoying a renaissance, and rightfully so. Most vegetables only need a minimum of six hours of sunlight to produce a good harvest. And even a little patch of earth or a container can yield surprisingly bountiful results. Don't be afraid to plant vegetables in your front yard, too. Many edible plants, such as colorful peppers or big, bold artichokes, can have ornamental appeal. You can get some ideas about artichokes in the March/April issue of The American Gardener, and AHS members can access an article about salsa peppers in the online edition of the May/June issue.