November/December 2000
Issue
News from
AHS
Bulb Gift
to Blossom at River Farm
Visitors to River Farm can
look forward to an especially spectacular display of flowers
next spring and in succeeding years, thanks to the
generosity of a Dutch wholesale bulb organization that will
be providing the American Horticultural Society (AHS) with
an annual donation of bulbs. Howard McK. Tucker, a member of
the AHS board of directors, was instrumental in facilitating
the bulb donation, which was arranged through Henk Westerhof,
chairman of the Royal Dutch Wholesalers Association for
Flowerbulbs and Nurserystock. "This
generous donation will enhance the beauty and diversity of
the plantings at River Farm for many years to come,"
says Tucker.
This year's shipment featured
more than 1,000 nursery-propagated bulbs representing 25
different selections of crocuses, daffodils, tulips,
hyacinths, irises, ornamental onions (Allium spp.), and
fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.). The crocuses include
selections such as Crocus 5luteus 'Dutch Yellow', C. vernus
'Remembrance', and the lavender-flowered C. tommasinianus.
The daffodils range from popular cultivars such as 'Accent',
'Carlton', and 'Thalia' to lesser known selections like
'Mary Bohannon', 'Bridal Crown', 'Jetfire', and 'Tahiti'. 'Jetfire'
has deep yellow petals and a red-orange cup. The flowers
begin to open when the stems are short and continue doing so
as the stems grow to peak length; the effect is flowers at a
variety of heights blooming simultaneously.
The tulips include single and
double late species, as well as lily-flowered and
Darwin-hybrid tulips. Among these is 'Apricot Beauty', known
for its sweet fragrance and the harmoniously blended shades
of rose and apricot on its petals.
Janet Walker, the Society's
director of horticulture, has integrated these bulbs
throughout the existing display gardens at River Farm.
"Flowering bulbs play an integral role in lengthening and
enhancing a flowering perennial display," says
Walker, "and this annual
contribution will allow AHS to showcase some of the best,
the most unusual, and the newest flowering bulbs for
American home gardens."
Art in the
Garden
A display of metal sculptures
by Washington, D.C., area sculptor Peter Wood this fall and
winter marks the official launch of a rotating series of
outdoor garden art exhibits at River Farm. Wood's exhibit
includes eight outdoor sculptures that are located
throughout the gardens and three indoor sculptures displayed
in the River Farm Visitor Center. The show will continue
into early spring.
Wood designs and creates his
sculptures using a wide range of metals-including found
objects and old farm machinery-and occasionally other
materials, such as natural fibers. The sculptures are
shaped, cut, bent, bolted, or welded together in imaginative
ways. Wood says he prides himself on being able to take the
industrial feel of steel and create the image of flowing and
carefree movement.
"Gardens and
art have been closely related throughout history, and this
series will give local artists a venue to showcase current
garden art," says Janet Walker, AHS's director of
horticulture. Walker adds that the outdoor art exhibits
"will provide River Farm's visitors
with many opportunities to see how they might incorporate
art in their own gardens."
Gala
Offers Magic Moment
A crisp autumn evening
provided a perfect backdrop for the annual fund-raising gala
held at River Farm in September. More than 300 people
attended this year's event, titled "This Magic Moment." The
master of ceremonies was the Society's own President
Emeritus H. Marc Cathey. Among the highlights of the gala
was the silent auction, at which hundreds of items donated
by local and national businesses were auctioned to raise
money for the upkeep and operating expenses of the Society's
River Farm headquarters.
Thanks to the generosity and
support of the attendees, more than $30,000 was raised
during the evening. A complete list of sponsors is below.
AHS
thanks the following individuals and organizations for
supporting our 2000 Gala:
Benefactors
- Gerald T. Halpin
- Nancy Petersen
- Leonard Haertter Travel
Company
- Friends
- American Home Security
- Mitchell Petersen, Inc.
- Donors
- American Home Security
- American Horticultural
Society
- The Cloister
- Felicita Resort & Garden
- Howard McK. Tucker
- Mrs. Paul Mellon
- Disney World Resorts
- The Care of Trees
- Wild Horse Winery &
Vineyard
- Rubino & McGeehin CPA
Contributors
- Dr. H. Marc Cathey
- Linda D. Hallman
- Mr. & Mrs. Frank Nicolai
- Association Direct
- Mr. Charles H. Smith,
Jr.
- Mr. & Mrs. Tom Dunnigan
- SunTrust Bank
Supporters
- Cadmus
- Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kulp,
Jr.
- Mr. & Mrs. Earle
Williams
- Mr. Charles B. Ewing,
Jr.
- Mrs. Helen H. Spalding
- Mr. & Mrs. R.C. Bull
- Collingwood Garden Club
- Springfield Acres Garden
Club
- Mr. & Mrs. Edward Carter
- Harold & Melissa
Keshishian
- Mrs. Joyce Clevenger
- Mrs. Mary K. Ryan
Sponsors
- Catering by Windows
- Rent-All Center
- Southern Management
Sanitation
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Youth Garden
Symposium Proceedings Available
The published
proceedings of this year's AHS Youth Garden Symposium
(YGS) in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, are now available.
The proceedings include the full content of the
pre-conference session on designing children's
gardens; summaries of the presentations by the keynote
and concluding speakers; and copies of all the
concurrent sessions, including handouts and curricula.
All attendees of the
YGS 2000 have free access to the proceedings, which
can be downloaded using the username
AHS and a password. Click
here to access the proceedings. All attendees
will by now have received a postcard listing the
password.
If you did not attend
this year's symposium, you can access the proceedings
online for $10 by calling the Society's Gardeners
Information Service at (800) 777-7931 ext. 124 and
paying by credit card. A printed copy of the
proceedings can be obtained for $20 by calling the
same number, or by e-mailing your request, mailing
address, and credit card number to
mpolito@ahs.org.
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