The Portland Chapter is pleased to present, for its first regular season meeting, Peter Kendall speaking about Wisley, the garden of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Since its founding in 1804, the RHS has established itself as the world headquarters of horticulture and has promoted and sponsored such people as David Douglas (for whom the Douglas Fir was named) and Gregor Mendel (the father of the science of genetics).
In 1903, following a 30 year search, the Society obtained acreage at Wisley in order to display and study different aspects of horticulture -scientific and prctical, ornamental and cuilinary. It now includes 240 acres with a magnificent laboratory, and a grand collection of our favorite rhododendrons and azaleas in Battleston Hill.
Peter Kendal is ta landscape professional and the son and grandson of prominent gardners. He is a plant enthusiast, garden writer, photographer, wilderniss hiker, world traveller, ARS and Japane4se Garden volunteer, and the author of three haiku books. He has been a Portland Chapter member since 1974 and was awarded its Bronze Medal in 1992.
There will be a CUTTING EXCHANGE following the meeting. If you have some special rhododendrons that you would like to give to someone else, bring 2 or 3 cuttings in a sandwich bag (or several sandwich bags full of cuttings) and exchange them for someone else's cuttings. This is the way to expand your plant collection with those varieties that are never found in the general nursery trade. We will have instruction sheets describing how to root cuttings and how to care for them while they are in your possesion.