“I just finished planting all my new rhododendron dell paths - no more paths” I proudly announced to my wife this spring. She gave me that indulgent smile all wives seem to be born with and calmly asked, “That’s nice dear, where are you going to put the 20 you just brought home from Plants for Members?” ---All right--- so maybe I need to rethink my statement!!!
Well, that is the way with Rhododendrons for some of us. We find and travel a path and think we’re done only to find another becomes obvious. For example, we may not hybridize rhododendrons like some club members do because of space issues. We may not try and grow them from seeds like some members do. We may not even try to take cuttings and donate them to Plants for Members. However, we see a picture of new silver foliage on a species and begin to ponder, ummh, we wonder, could we grow species and miniatures in our gardens?
We all join the Rhododendron Society for different reasons – each of us seeking our own path. Thankfully, we can offer ARS journal stories, club newsletters and research on a myriad of subjects. We have a book library for loan and a collection of how –to “tip” sheets. Each month, Sept –April we are enriched with wide ranging programs on our main subject of interest. And best of all, we have many club members, each with different interests and depths of subject knowledge.
So, fellow members, welcome to the 2007-2008 travel along our respective paths. I am again honored to be the President of the Cape Cod Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. I look forward to the coming year and our once a month meetings and speakers, each with related presentations (see enclosed date and topic information).
Membership and education remain important missions for the club. Last year we began to tackle the collection of club history and that will continue in the coming year. We also began to wrestle with the logic of creating a web site for members. I hope that this year we will see major steps forward in both areas. I also hope to extend the community’s awareness of some of our offerings this year. Along that vein, I challenge each member to befriend old and new gardeners let them know about the chapter.
In the following pages you will see the list of the chapter’s committees, officers and board. If you aren’t involved in one of those areas, take some time this year to learn more about an area that might interest you next year. We have position descriptions and committee details available. Most importantly as we go through the year, send your ideas to me at the enclosed email address.
Don’t overlook the opportunity to add to or trade some of your collection by focusing on our club’s plant sales in May 08, the Van Veen order midyear, the annual dinner auction, Plants for Members (if you belong to the MA chapter) and the occasional stray plant that might wander into our meetings looking for a home!
Enjoy the path you select to travel this year and don’t forget to take time and smell the rhododendrons!
