INDEX
Article from The American Gardener Wins Award
Glasses Retire
Youth Workshops
William Carlson Wins First Cathey Award

Article from The American Gardener Wins Award

Pam Baggett, a regular contributor to The American Gardener, recently received the 2000 Quill & Trowel award for magazine writing from the Garden Writers Association of America for an article titled "Bold Plants" published in the January/February 1999 issue of The American Gardener. The article focused on plants with eye-catching foliage or flowers that add a dramatic presence to otherwise staid flower borders. Baggett described bold plants suitable for both large and small gardens and discussed how to combine them with appropriate companions. If you missed Baggett's article the first time around, you can order a back issue of the magazine from our Web site by clicking here. You can also read the text of the article by  clicking here!

Glasses Retire

Aubrey Glass, long-time caretaker and groundskeeper at the American Horticultural Society's River Farm headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and his wife, Eleanor Jane, who had been River Farm's housekeeper for many years, retired in May to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Their association with River Farm spanned more than 40 years.

After returning from military service in the Korean War, Aubrey Glass began his career at River Farm in the 1950s when the Matheson family, who owned the property at that time, hired him as a groundskeeper for the 27 acres of woodland, lawn, and gardens along the Potomac River. The Glasses took up residence at River Farm in 1969 and then stayed on when AHS acquired the property in 1973 and moved its headquarters here. The couple's two sons, Aubrey Jr. and Glen, were raised at River Farm, and Aubrey Jr. assisted his father on the grounds for many years.

Among his many duties over the last four decades, Aubrey Glass was largely responsible for pruning and maintaining River Farm's historic collection of boxwoods, some of which are believed to date back to the Civil War. His green thumb also extended to houseplants-at one time his collection of African violets numbered in the hundreds.

During their tenure at River Farm, the Glasses provided a unifying presence for the countless AHS staff, board members, interns, and volunteers who have come and gone over the years. "For nearly three decades Aubrey and Jane Glass have played an integral role in day-to-day buildings and grounds maintenance at the Society's headquarters," says AHS President Linda Hallman. "Their dedication to River Farm and the surrounding community has been outstanding and I know I speak for all the staff and board members when I wish them all the best in their retirement."

Youth Workshops

This summer, show your kids that gardening is fun by enrolling them in an AHS Youth Workshop at River Farm. On July 8, "Scarecrow Creations" combines the history and purposes of scarecrows in the garden with teaching kids how to make one to take home. On August 12 "Dried, Pressed Flower Masterpieces" includes instructions for making bookmakers, decorated folders, and other gift items using preserved plant materials. And on September 9 "Colonial Herbs" focuses on early American colonists use of herbs; attendees will also learn how to make potpourri.

Workshops are held 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, in Alexandria, Virginia. Boys and girls ages five to 13 are welcome, and parents are encouraged to attend the workshops with their children. Classes are limited to 20 children; the cost is $3 per child. Call (703) 768-5700 ext. 144 to make reservations.

Member in Focus
William Carlson Wins First Cathey Award
by Margaret T. Baird

William H. Carlson, a distinguished professor of horticulture and Extension specialist at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, was honored with the Society's inaugural H. Marc Cathey Award this past March. The award was presented by Cathey himself at the Society's Annual Meeting in Houston. Formerly the Scientific Award, the award was renamed last year by the AHS Board of Directors in honor of Cathey, AHS president emeritus and a renowned research horticulturist. The biennial award recognizes outstanding horticultural research in American institutions related to the basic problems of horticulture as they pertain to gardening and landscape restoration. A panel of five judges drawn from all segments of American horticulture selects the winner.

Carlson has been a member of the Michigan State horticulture faculty since 1966, after earning all of his academic degrees from Pennsylvania State University. Over the course of his career, his work has had a significant influence on the floriculture industry and gardening public. Thirty years ago, Carlson recognized the demand for high-quality bedding plants-annuals, biennials, and tender perennials-in the spring marketplace and established the national grower's organization, Bedding Plants Foundation Inc., that disseminates the latest information on production techniques to growers, thereby improving the quality and diversity of plants available to home gardeners.

"I would describe Dr. Carlson as a 'grower's researcher'," says Peter Konjoian, president of Konjoian's Floriculture Education Services in Andover, Massachusetts, and a member of the 2000 Cathey Award selection committee. "I've known him for many years and have been impressed by his dedication to helping professional growers continually raise the bar."

Carlson's research has primarily focused on the physiology of flowering crops. He is one of three scientists overseeing an ambitious perennial cultivation project at MSU. Started in 1993, their research has helped Michigan greenhouse growers-the third largest producers of floriculture crops in the nation-efficiently meet the increased demand for perennials in the marketplace. "Dr. Carlson and his research group are investigating the factors that make perennial plants flower," says Konjoian. "The benefit for garden enthusiasts is not only a better understanding of this important group of landscape plants, but the ability to use that information to force perennials into bloom for special occasions-such as flower shows and the like."

An internationally recognized researcher and lecturer on floriculture, Carlson has published hundreds of scientific and popular articles on the physiology of a variety of ornamental plants, including geraniums, chrysanthemums, poinsettias, and roses.

In 1986 Carlson spearheaded the development of the acclaimed MSU Horticultural Demonstration Gardens, a collection of public gardens that serve and educate adults as well as children; the 4H Children's Garden is considered by many to be the finest in the United States.

Carlson continues to serve as the faculty coordinator for both the gardens and the Michigan Master Gardener program, run by the university's Extension office. Since the program's inception in 1978, more than 10,000 Michigan residents have been trained as Master Gardeners. "Dr. Carlson's work has affected so many gardeners, young and old," says long-time colleague John Peterson, president and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. "His research has enhanced commercial horticulture's economic viability and vitality-providing the basic resources that make home gardens such an important part of people's lives." m

Margaret T. Baird is Communications Assistant for The American Gardener.