Come to Washington in October for the 2018 American Conifer Society Meeting! The heat and humidity of summer will be gone and so will the throngs of tourists. Washington will be downright pleasant. Sit back and relax on the tour bus as it navigates around D.C. Visit the US National Arboretum, a USDA research institution, and its 446 acres of gardens, research plots, and wooded areas. There are conifers throughout the Arboretum, but the centerpiece is the Gotelli Conifer Collection, an assembly of hundreds of dwarf and slower growing conifers in every shape, size, and color. You’ll have the opportunity to see some older specimens here, which we don’t always see in private gardens.
Washington is a city where north meets south, and the Gotelli Collection is no exception. Located on seven acres, the collection features specimens from around the world, and conifers native to USDA Zone 2 (brrrrr…) to Zone 8 (ahhh…) grow side-by-side. In addition, dozens of crape myrtles and Japanese maples, which complement the collection, will be beginning their fall display.
While at the Arboretum, you can tour of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. Among the 150 miniature trees there are many fabulous conifers. The oldest bonsai in the collection, a Japanese white pine, has been in training for almost 400 years. A Japanese red pine was in the Japanese Imperial household for 200 years and was part of the initial gift of 53 bonsai masterpieces to the American people for our bicentennial. Be sure to see the bald cypress and the California redwood expertly crafted in miniature. The maples, as well as many other deciduous trees, will be showing their fall colors.
For a special treat, we will also visit two gardens in northern Virginia. Joe Hallal is a certified conifer nut and has conifers artfully arranged throughout his lovely property. Joe claims to love Japanese white pines, but it is obvious that he loves all conifers. (It’s a condition perhaps you can relate to.) Joe’s love of conifers is so infectious, he got his neighbor, Larry Peters, hooked. Larry is rushing to catch up to Joe, incorporating his own unique design style into his garden, including a beautiful water feature in the backyard. Both Joe and Larry are excited to show you around.
It’s always exciting to visit a conifer nursery, and Susanna Farms will not disappoint. Susanna Farms is the largest conifer and maple nursery in the Mid-Atlantic area. They specialize in dwarf and unusual evergreens and hard-to-find Japanese maples. The rolling hills of Montgomery County, Maryland, are a beautiful backdrop for the thousands of conifers offered for sale. Be sure to leave enough time to walk through the large specimen collection where you will find many one-of-a-kind plants.
Our guest speaker on Friday night will be Dennis Groh, past president of the ACS. His talk, Fall Color Lottery, discusses combining evergreen conifers with the fall color of deciduous trees to create spectacular visuals. Those living in New England likely take fall color for granted, but this remarkable phenomenon does not occur naturally everywhere; colors can vary both in intensity and quality depending on your geographical location. Dennis will explain the many factors affecting fall color occurrence and intensity, and dispel many myths and misconceptions. He will give recommendations for conifer companion plants with reliable fall color and maintenance techniques necessary to improve your odds of “hitting the fall color lottery.” He will also provide insight into the color seen on new conifer cones. The presentation features outstanding images to illustrate both the concepts and amazing fall color plants.
We are staying at the Hilton Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, Maryland. Rooms are $109 plus tax. Come early, stay late. Based on availability, these same great rates are offered 2 days before and 2 days after our meeting. The Hilton is located across the street from the Twinbrook Metro Commuter Station, so getting down to the National Mall is easy, where you can visit the Smithsonian museums and national monuments.
Register online ($225 for admission) at https://secure.conifersociety.org/np/clients/acs/eventRegistration.jsp?event=37& and if you are not already a member, join for $40 at http://conifersociety.org/organization/membership/
