Rhodoland ASA Convention 2003 Chattanooga

Convention of the  Azalea Society ofAmerican, the ASA  2003, in Chattanooga, Tennessee           After some visits to several Conventions of the ARS, i got an invitation to come to the ASA Convention to be apeaker on the development of the evergreen azalea hybrids of western Europe. That's what can happen, when you write articles about this subject and even for e new Chinese encyclopedia of azaleas. This can be the result of it, and I don't regret it at all!          The first days I stayed with friends in South Carolina and attended the Flowershow of the  'Southeastern'  chapter of the ARS  in Ashville. I must say, that this flowershow impressed me very much! What a great organisation, fine quality of the flowers and nice people, as plantlovers are. I was very honoured to be a member of the jury.  With Patricia Phillips we have seen several more gardens in the neighbourhood. Took a lot of pictures. And to have some rest for myself, I drove around a bit, went through some parks, photographed plants like native azaleas and orchids etc. It is such a nice area here. I could live here with pleasure!        After these days I drove to Chattanooga in Tennessee for the Convention in the Clarion hotel. This convention was about 4 days, from May 1 to 4, from Thursday till Sunday morning. During the days we visited gardens and parks, in the evenings we had speakers, book sales, a flowershow and plant sales. This is very important for me to take some 'goodies' home.  And not to forget, the talks with some good friends or making new friendships. We also made some agreements for exchanging seeds and cuttings. Very instructive and interesting!

      Short report with pictures

          Here you find a short report  with some pictures of the convention. Later I will add one or more albums with more pictures to give you more details. Unfortunately my voice recorder did not work so well, so I lost some comments.
           After visiting - on Friday - the fine gardens of Craig Walker (they were so kind to let me call my wife!) and Vernon Carpenter, we came to Joe Schild's garden and small nursery. And I know how this is - if plants can be bought, folks come into action, and not without reason, as you can see....

 May I, Joe, thank you for giving us all, with all the assistants "for their hard work and decication to making this convention a grand success!" And let me gratulate the ASA to the 25th Anniversery. It was my first time to attend an ASA convention and I hope it was not the last one.

          After visiting Joe's garden we had time enough to see the 'Reflection Riding Arboretum and the Botanical garden". Below some pictures of some native azaleas there. I hope some members can send me photos of the park itself to get a more realistic view.  At least Dave Hoplins who had his talk with slides on Thursday night.

           On Saturday we visited the garden of Bob Enck, where I found a lot of fine plants to photograph. I am almost jealous to see azaleas growing in such an abundance we hardly have here in western Europe. And a footwalk away the Wooten garden. It's always nice to see someone else's greenhouse with hidden treasures. 

        As far as I remember the pictures below are from the garden of Frances Jones, with neighbours who wanted to sell their large wooden house with all the steps. So nice, but what a work to do all the painting....And we saw a collection of Irisses, realising that there are more fine plants than only azaleas!!

          Then we went to the 'Lookout Mountain Commons', right? If not, just tell me. And send me some fine pictures, because I failed here - may be also, because I had a nice chat with a couple from Alabama; she came originally from Germany. I forgot her name....I am getting old........

        On Sunday we - some members of the convention -  visited the garden of Mr. Pilkerton (is this the right name?) 

                                                  more fine and good quality pictures?, please send them to  see below 
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