2003 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, February 15 - 10:00 AM - Winter Meeting - Horticultural Center, Philadelphia, PA.
The meeting was cancelled due to bad weather. Dr. Rhoades has agreed to make her presentation at our Annual Meeting in November.
March 2 - 9, 2003, Philadelphia Flower Show, "Festival de las Flores"
According to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society' press release, the 2003 Flower Show, "Festival de las Flores," will evoke "a fiesta of floral color and beauty." A festive theme of tropical colors and sounds will greet the visitors at the entrance and be found throughout the show. The Delaware Fern and Wildflower Society will be back again this year as well. What we may lack in color, we'll more than make up in exotic fronds; lots of tropical ferns that our visitors can replicate in their own homes. Our exhibit is entitled "Fronds Forever." It will feature a very large (nine feet tall) painting of a Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) as a background to a display depicting the life cycle of a fern. The foreground and the balance of the exhibit will depict a festive outdoor market that could be found "south of the border." The intent of the display is educational. We want to illustrate to the general public how ferns reproduce and to exhibit some of the vast variety of exotics available for indoor use. We are partnering this year with our own Fern Society artist, John Albright, our friends at Meadowbrook Farms, and E. P. Henry, supplier of "hardscaping" materials.
Saturday, April 19 - Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve, PA
Coordinator: Otto Heck (908-996-2598)
Normally we see acres of Trilliums (erectum) and Virginia Bluebells. Last year we were late in the season and John Manion in his report wrote "--and the most impressive visual aspect of the walk had been the blankets of lavender-blue forest phlox, more than any of us had ever seen in one place. I've always been impressed by the luminescent quality of this color when the light is low, such as in wooded areas or in gardens at dusk. It was a stunning sight and one that I shall not soon forget." Pack a lunch since we hope to get over to Haines Station for Trillium grandiflorum. We will meet at the Conestoga Wagon Restaurant at 10 AM.
Saturday, May 17 - Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills,
NJ
Coordinator: Mike Rosenthal (908-852-5133) michael@msrosenthal.com
In springtime, wildflowers bloom along woodland paths intermingled with ferns, rhododendrons and azaleas. F. Gordon Foster who wrote Ferns to Know and Grow in 1986 donated his extensive hardy fern collection to this garden as well as to the New York Botanical Garden. Maybe we'll see Marsilea quadrifolia, European Water Fern, introduced in Connecticut in 1860. This garden has a reputation for great beauty in the spring and it is easy walking. Pack a lunch. We meet at the Garden at 10 AM
Sunday, May 18 - 1-4 PM - Plant Experts Exposition at Longwood Gardens
Again this year DVFWS will have an exhibit table set up by the Bondinells.
Saturday, June 14 - Chanticleer, Devon, PA
Chanticleer is a 30 acre estate garden from the early 1900s. It is more recently being continuously renovated. It incles 3 woods gardens yet is 95% accessible. It has many specimen trees, a variety of ferns and over 50 gold medal plants. One intraiguing feaure is a planting of hundreds of quamash, a native bulb. The admission price is $5 per adult. Donna will meet people at the admission gate at 10 AM. Let her know ahead of time that you are coming. Bring a bag lunch for a picnic afterward.
Monday-Friday, August 4-8 - Cazenovia, NY
Coordinator:
Otto Heck (908-996-2598)
An area which includes several fascinating locations and the elusive Harts Tongue Fern. Originally introduced to us by that foremost fern enthusiast, Dutch Huttleston.
Saturday, September 6 - Pine Barrens
Ellen Wilen coordinator.
Saturday, October 11 - Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, New Hope, PA.
Dr. Ann Rhoads -- Morris Arburetum of the University of Pennsylvania
RELATED
EVENTS
June 22-26 - Joint Botanical Field Meeting- Long Island, NY
Everybody interested in field botany or nature in general is welcome to attend. $350 includes housing, meals, evening programs and some local transportation. Pre-registration required. Contact Joanne Tow at P.O. Box 7323, Hicksville, NY l l802, (516) 931-2073, or botany2003@hotmail.com.
July 15-25 - Field Trips in the state of Washington
Sponsored by the Hardy Fern Foundation and/for the British Pteridological Society. Organized by Sue Olsen at foliageg@juno.com Western ferns are very different and worth the trip. Contact Sue of Jack Schieber or John Scott for info.