April 2017 Monthly Meeting

THE APRIL MEETING is at the Wakeman Center.

On Tuesday, April 18, Peter Norris, Garden Club Member and "Rhodie Guru" will speak on Rhododendrons for the Vineyard: Following in Polly Hill's Footsteps.

ABOUT THE TALK:
Peter says, "Polly Hill believed in ‘pushing the envelope’ to see what will do well on the Vineyard. She was an active member of the American Rhododendron Society [ARS] MA Chapter and obtained many plants through exchanges with its members."
 
This talk will focus on the wide variety of rhododendrons in a plethora of shapes, sizes and colors, which are proven to be suitable for growing on the Vineyard, including much of the work of Dexter/Cowles on the Cape. The Dexter/Cowles rhododendrons have been preserved by the work of the Sandwich Club over the past 40 years. Peter hopes to broaden Garden Club members’ appreciation of the great variety of rhodies that can be grown on the Vineyard.

ABOUT PETER NORRIS:
Peter Norris and Suzie Zell [Head gardener] care for Blueberry Ridge Gardens [BRG] in Chilmark. Peter has been a member of the ARS MA Chapter for many years and an active participant in the preservation efforts of the Sandwich Club at the Heritage Plantation in Sandwich on the Cape. He was on the Board of the Polly Hill Arboretum for nine years and prior to that a volunteer at Polly’s garden since the late 1980s. Peter is currently on the Board of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Seattle WA.
 
The primary collections at BRG are rhodies, Japanese maples and hydrangeas. Under development are arisaemas, epimedium and cyclamen. Peter and Susie propagate most new accessions from seed, following Polly Hill’s tradition. Unique, Vineyard-grown BRG rhodie hybrids are under development.
 
Blueberry Ridge Gardens has been featured in articles in the Gazette and MV Times as well as in C.L. Fornari’s book “Gardens of Martha’s Vineyard.”  Last summer the garden was on tour with the Garden Conservancy and will be again this summer.
NOTE:  Although the address is 67 David Avenue, the best way to get to the Wakeman Center is via Helen Avenue.
IMPORTANT:  
Until June, all meetings will be held at the WAKEMAN CONSERVATION CENTER in Vineyard Haven.  
Parking at the Wakeman Center is limited.  Please carpool.  
For more information about getting to the Wakeman Center, click HERE.
Upcoming Meetings:
The Program Committee have completed plans for monthly meetings our meetings for 2017.  Check HERE to see who else will be speaking in 2017.
 
* PLEASE NOTE:  
Our meetings are open to the public; there is a meeting fee of ten dollars for non-members. 
Any updates and weather-related scheduled changes will be noted here and messages sent via email to members.
2017 Program Committee:
Members:  Chair: Anda Woodward, with Karen Kolb, Kathy Kitsock, Tracie Clark, and Mary Lou DeLong.