Daily Archives: July 14, 2009

Thursday – Saturday, August 6 – 8 – Annual Meeting of American Conifer Society

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Entitled “Great Gatsby on Long Island”, the 2009 American Conifer Society will present its 2009 Annual National Meeting in Hauppauge, New York, August 6 – 8.  The Northeastern Region is excited to host this year’s ACS National Meeting on Long Island. The emphasis will be the Great Gatsby themed estates of Long Island. Each of these estates were created with lavish gardens and magnificent landscapes. The estates contain their own pinetum which feature mature conifer specimens as well as dwarf conifer gardens. Participants will also visit  perhaps the finest public garden in the United States: the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, New York. The NYBG features the Benenson Collection of Dwarf and Unusual Conifers plus a number of the conifer discoveries of the late Dr. Sid Waxman. Fred Soviaro, Director of the Hofstra University Arboretum, will speak on “The Gardens and Conifers of Hofstra.” Vinny Simeone, Director of  The Planting Fields, will present “A Look at the Coe Family and Their Estate.” There will also be a session on “Conifer Gardens of Great Britain and the Netherlands.” Other tours will be of Old Westbury Gardens, 88 acres of formal gardens, tree-lined walks, grand allees, ponds, statuary, and architectural follies, Hofstra University, and the newly renovated Dwarf Conifer Garden at the Planting Fields.  Silent and live plant auctions will be held at the banquet dinner Friday nightt.  On Saturday, two tours, New York Botanical Gardens and Bayard Cutting Arboretum, will conclude with a Caribbean cookout.  The meeting site and accomodations will be the Hyatt Regency Long Island, 1717 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, New York.  For more information and to register, log on to www.conifersociety.org.


New York Botanical Gardens The ACS meeting will feature:

  • Premier garden tours
  • Educational Talks featuring the ACS Scholarship 2008 winner
  • Outstanding silent and verbal conifer auctions
  • Excellent accommodations
  • Plenty of conifer information and conifer comradery
  • PLUS attendance by members of the British and Dutch Conifer Societies
  • Exclusive Post tour (details soon)

Thursday, July 30, 6-7:30 – Opening Reception, “Illuminating Nature” Scanner Photography

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Ellen Hoverkamp was a pioneer in using the flatbed scanner as a tool to create fine art.  Her technique involves making intricate arrangements from plants, vegetables and natural objects.  The light from the scanner reflects the subject making the arrangement appear to glow against a dark background.  Inspiration for her work comes from the Victorian botanical illustration, particularly “Language of Flowers” bouquets, and Dutch still life painting.  Hovercamp gratefully utilizes cuttings offered from local gardeners and farmers in her scanned compositions. This collaboration with the gardening community began in 1997 and continues today, as she works to preserve souvenirs of the garden.  She views her pictures, often named for the gardeners, as portraits of flowers and also portraits of those who grew them.  “Friends, family, neighbors, and even people I hardly know invite me to cut and use their flowers and vegetables for my work.”  See more of Ellen Hoverkamp’s work at www.myneighborsgarden.com.  The Exhibit will run from July 28 – September 16, 2009 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts. The reception will feature a cash bar and light refreshments.  Free and open to the public.    For more information, call 508-869-6111 or log on to www.towerhillbg.org.