Welcome to the ARS Fall Meeting in Gettysburg!

285 Plants Including 129 Cultivars Available at Plant Sale [List of Plants]

The Mason-Dixon Chapter invites you to participate in the Fall ARS conference on September 27-29 in Gettysburg, PA.

Tuesday, Sept. 27 - Gettysburg Gardens & Opening Session

Wednesday, Sept. 28 - Tours & Closing Session

Thursday, Sept 29 - Enjoy Gettysburg & Adams County

Getting Together At Gettysburg!

Convention Hotel is The Wyndham Hotel - Gettysburg, PA

The Wyndham Hotel

The Wyndham Hotel - Gettysburg, PA will host our meeting. The hotel is giving the convention a special rate for rooms: $136 per night.

Hotel Reservations should be made separately and directly with the

    Wyndham Hotel - Gettysburg
    95 Presidential Circle
    Gettysburg, PA 17325
    Phone 717-339-0020

Mention "American Rhododendron Society" to receive our $136.00 conference rate. This rate will also be available to ARS members for a day or so before and after the meeting.

Tuesday, Sept. 27 - Gettysburg Gardens & Opening Session !

When you check in on Tuesday, submit your entries for the Photo Show & Foliage Display.

Gettysburg Gardens Open House

Anyone who knows John Bartlett knows that when he comes to a chapter meeting he brings along some plants, some very unusual native plants. You may have never heard of them, but after talking to John you realize that they are very special plants. Since 1986, Gettysburg Gardens has been propagating an extensive inventory of plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region.

John has invited everyone to come, visit and shop at Gettysburg Gardens Tuesday afternoon. It has a great selection of trees and shrubs including Magnolia, Stewartia, and Rhododendron, especially native azaleas. They have an extensive selection of native wild flowers including many primulas and hardy cyclamen. They have culinary herbs, Salvias, geophytes (bulbs, corms, tubers etc.) both hardy and tender.

Evening Program by Don Hyatt

The Opening Session Tuesday evening will feature a program by Don Hyatt. Besides being well known for his entertaining program, Don is the editor for the ARS's Rhododendron & Azalea news, has received the ARS Gold Medal, ARS Silver Medal and ARS Bronze Medals. Don is recognized as an international authority on both rhododendrons and azaleas and has served on the national boards of both the Azalea Society of American and the American Rhododendron Society.

Don's talk will emphasize the achievements of our newer East Coast hybridizers such as Ed Reiley, John Doppel, Tom Ahern, Joe Minahan and many others. These hybridizers will likely be featured in the new ARS/Tyler Arboretum Test & Display Garden. Don't be surprised if Don inserts some amusing tidbits we always enjoy.

Even though he had a 33-year teaching career at Fairfax County Schools, with a specialty in computer science, Don claims to be a "plant person" at heart rather than a computer scientist. He started his first garden at the family home in Northern Virginia when he was only three.

Don has focused on the preservation of hard-to-find native azalea species and natural azalea hybrids in the wild. He has long been associated with plant society sales and garden clubs.

Don also has great artistic talent as is illustrated by his watercolor illustrations of native azaleas. He offers limited edition prints of these and many other botanical drawings for sale. You can find them, along with more information about him, on his website: www.donhyatt.com.

Tuesday evening's activities will conclude with time to shop the plant sale.

285 Plants Including 129 Cultivars Available at Plant Sale [List of Plants]

Wednesday, Sept. 28 - Tours & Closing Session

Hershey Gardens

Overlooking the town of Hershey, Hershey Gardens features a breathtaking assortment of flowers and shrubs, a stately collection of rare, signature trees, and various programs designed to delight visitors of all ages. Indulge your senses in the color and variety of our brilliant seasonal displays and gardens, including the indoor, tropical Butterfly Atrium

Open year 'round! The new Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory features hundreds of tropical butterflies and horticultural displays in the indoor Butterfly Atrium. Hershey Gardens is filled with 23 acres of magnificent gardens, colorful seasonal displays, more than 3,500 rose bushes and a whimsical Children's Garden. This botanical gem is a garden for all seasons!

Hershey Gardens opened in 1937 with Milton Hershey’s request to “create a nice garden of roses.” 85 years later, the small rose garden has blossomed into 23 acres of botanical beauty providing visitors with unique experiences and enriching opportunities.

Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

The ultimate Gettysburg battlefield bus tour experience puts you on the famous Gettysburg battlefield with a professional licensed battlefield guide. We will relive the Battle of Gettysburg as told by the most knowledgeable historic storytellers in the area. Ironically, besides being historic, the battlefield is a beautiful, typically Pennsylvania area in the Fall.

While our Gettysburg National Military Park tour guide covers all three days of the Battle of Gettysburg, each guide tells their stories a bit differently during your bus tour. This means the specific bus route taken can vary depending on who you are matched with during your tour. Your tour will feature at least one scenic stop as well as a restroom stop.

Evening Program by Wayne Mezitt (on right is Edmund Mezitt with PJMs)

The Closing Session Wednesday evening will feature a program by Wayne Mezitt. Wayne Mezitt is a 3rd generation nurseryman, a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, now chairman of Weston Nurseries of Hopkinton, Chelmsford & Hingham MA, and owner of Hort-Sense, a horticultural advisory business. He currently serves in various capacities on several horticulturally-related organizations, including the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at The Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley MA, and chairman for the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group.

Since 1923 the Mezitt family has owned and operated Weston Nurseries. Peter and his wife Olga purchased 80 acres in Weston, MA. One of the most pivotal events in the early history of Weston Nurseries was the introduction of the PJM Rhododendron in 1945. Peter's son, Edmund, developed the hardy hybrid and named it in honor of his father. The PJM is now known worldwide as one of the most beautiful and resilient rhododendrons, and graces many gardens in New England.

In the 1960's, Peter's grandsons Wayne and Roger joined the family business and continued to expand and innovate, purchasing adjoining land in Hopkinton until the nursery encompassed over 900 acres by the end of the 80's. In 2006, Wayne's son Peter became President, and began the transition to a new business model more appropriate for the changing environment in the surrounding area.

Wednesday evening's activities will conclude with time to shop the plant sale.

285 Plants Including 129 Cultivars Available at Plant Sale [List of Plants]

Thursday, Sept 29 - Enjoy Gettysburg & Adams County !

Hybridizers' Roundtable: ARS/Tyler Hybrid Test Garden

In the afternoon will be a program by Karel Bernady about the ARS/Tyler Arboretum Rhododendron Test and Display Garden. This exciting new project is to be established at Tyler Arboretum. It is in the planning stages now, but has commitments from the ARS, Tyler Arboretum, and the three chapters in District 8 (Greater Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley & Valley Forge).

A group of four local ARS figures, with the approval of the national ARS organization, and Tyler Arboretum are planning a test and display garden in Tyler Arboretum for cultivars recently hybridized in the mid-Atlantic region. The goal is to seek out rhododendron hybrids of outstanding merit and hope wholesale propagators will take notice and retail garden centers will offer more interesting choices. The maturing garden should also prevent the loss of worthy hybrids that have had minimal propagation.

The Founding Task Force consists of Perc Moser, Karel Bernady, Tom Ahern and Michael Martin Mills. These four Task Force members and a representative of Tyler will be the core of the committee.

Among the hybridizers whose creations will be considered for inclusion in the garden are Joe Minahan, Tom Ahern, Joe Becales, Norm Beaudry, John Doppel, Frank Furman, Perc Moser, Ed Reiley, Bill Rhein, Hank Schannen, Ron Rabideau and Howard Roberts, whose works have been within a 150-mile radius of Tyler Arboretum. The intention is that all the hybrids being trialed are innately likely to be good-doers for the mid-Atlantic climate, with its hot, humid summers and winters that can have temperatures near zero Fahrenheit.

On Your Own: Fall Into Gettysburg & Adams County

Fall may very well be the best time to visit Gettysburg and Adams County. The weather cools off a bit from the summer heat and humidity to provide a crisp morning with daytime temps in the 60s. Early fall can still bring warm days in the upper 70s and 80s. Evenings offer a delightful coolness that long for a light jacket.

The senses are on overload in the fall. Bright colors begin to adorn the trees as autumn foliage takes over. Harvest season for apples, pumpkins and wine is in full swing. Many local orchards will let you pick your own produce, or you can sample homemade pies, ciders and more at various farmers markets, wineries and eateries. The orchards are bursting with apples that land in our markets and turn up in fresh-baked pies, ciders and delicious desserts. You can smell the crispness that is fall in Gettysburg.

This is the perfect time of year to stay longer on the battlefield or on the deck at the local winery without fear of overheating. With many festivals you’ll want to plan an extra day to make time for our traditional experience to be expanded with extra fun and food.

Click on the following links to learn what Gettysburg & Adams County have to offer:

      Destination Gettysburg and Adams County, PA
      https://destinationgettysburg.com/

      Gettysburg National Military Park
      https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm

      Gettysburg Welcome Center
      https://visitgettysburgpa.com/

      Eisenhower National Historic Site
      https://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm

      Wineries in Adams County – Pour Tour
      https://destinationgettysburg.com/pourtour/wine/

Click on map to enlarge.

Please come and enjoy our gardens and community.

Photo Show & Foliage Display

Photo Show Contest Entry

1. Competition is only open to registered attendees of the ARS Fall 2022 Meeting.
2. Entries for the Photo Show will be accepted when the registration desk is open on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, or by appointment.
3. The Exhibitors are limited to a maximum of two entries per category and must fill out a Photo Contest Entry-Release Form.
4. Judging will by ballot of all registered attendees, a "People's Choice" show. Voting results are final.
5. Judging will close Wednesday, September 28, 2022, before the Closing Session.
6. Winners will be announced and ribbons awarded at the Wednesday Banquet.
7. All entries must be picked up after the Closing Session or Thursday morning, between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. The committee will not be responsible for photographs that are left after the convention closes.

Photo Show Contest Rules

1. All entries must feature rhododendrons , azaleas, and/or vireyas in the composition as the main focus.
2. Photographs must be mounted on a solid backing or foam board no thicker than 1/4 inch. The photographer 's name will be affixed on the back during the entry process.
3. Photographs are not to exceed 12" by 16" in size including mounting. Frames, glass, canvas, or metal are not allowed.
4. Photographs must be taken between January 2021 and September 2022 , and not have won an award in another contest.
5. Photographs must occur naturally. Cropping and minor adjustments to exposure and color balance are permitted. Composites made with image editing software like Photoshop are not permitted.

Photo Show Contest Categories

1. Flower, truss, or spray
2. Landscape or plants in the wild or in a garden
3. People, insects, or animals
4. Foliage, bark, or seedpods

Note: Entrants submit their photographs at their own risk.

Click here to download PDF of Photo Show Entry Form

Foliage Display

We’ll put on display any fall foliage you find interesting. Just bring your foliage to the registration desk and fill out a card with your name, ARS chapter, and the plant name. They will be on display the duration of the Fall Meeting.

Share your favorite photos & foliage!

Registration

Click here to Register & Pay Online
[Note: this is handled on the Azalea Society Website]

Click here to download PDF of Registration Form

Registration includes admission to all events including:

Tuesday, September 27: Dinner in the Evening, the Evening Program, and Admission to the Plant Sale in the Evening.

285 Plants Including 129 Cultivars Available at Plant Sale [List of Plants]

Wednesday, September 28: Breakfast Buffet in the Morning, Bus Tour to Hershey Gardens with Admission, a Box Lunch, a Guided Bus Tour of Gettysburg Battlefield, the Banquet in the Evening, the Evening Program, and Admission to the Plant Sale.

Thursday, September 29: Meet The President session in the Morning followed by Hybridizer's Roundtable.

We hope to see you in Gettysburg.

ARS Fall 4-Page ARS Fall 2022 Conference Form

ARS Fall 4-Page ARS Fall 2022 Conference Promo

ARS Fall 3-minute PowerPoint Promo