2003 The Rhododendron

• Date: 22nd January 2016

Again this year we’ve been favoured with a generous body of contributions to The Rhododendron, covering a variety of interesting topics. Articles on practical aspects of propagating and caring for plants are always a welcome component, and a number of these appear in this volume. Alongside Neil Jordan’s discussion of using plastic boxes as convenient mini-glasshouses for propagation, it seemed appropriate to ask American Rhododendron Society member Joe Bruso for permission to republish his recent article on successful propagation using desiccated cutting material, and hopefully both will prove useful to readers keen on propagating plants, along with Lyn Craven’s note on the value of Condy’s Crystals to inhibit fungal attack. Similarly, Sylvia Saperstein’s discussion of a range of fungal and disease problems affecting vireyas and recommended remedies should be appreciated. And I’ve only highlighted some of the practically-oriented content, and leave it to the reader to discover the rest.

And, as always, there’s a wealth of news and interesting discussion of particular rhododendrons, their amazing diversity and rhododendron habitats.

Don’t overlook the possibility that you may have something to contribute to a future volume of interest to fellow rhododendron enthusiasts – whether it may be in a practical vein; a narrative or piece of history; information about the performance of rhododendrons in regional locations; preferences or problems; companion plants – there’s plenty of scope…

CONTENTS
Editorial · Barry Stagoll...............................................................................3
The President’s Report · Lesley Eaton..........................................................4
Annual Report for the Year 2002–2003 · Graeme Eaton...............................7
National Convention Hobart 2002 · Ted Cutlan.........................................10
Diversity in Yunnan, China · Geoff Sherrington.........................................13
Building a DIY shadehouse · Barry Stagoll.................................................17
Rooting desiccated evergreen rhododendron cuttings · Joe Bruso..............22
A glasshouse in a box? … Chickenfeed! · Neil Jordan.................................27
Cure for fungal attacks on newly sown rhododendron seed · Lyn Craven...30
When the Flowers are merely a Memory · Lesley Eaton.............................32
Foliar Feeding · Michael Hammer..............................................................36
Summer, rhododendron country and culture · Barry Davidson...................44
Rhododendron features on an Australian stamp · Barry Stagoll...................47
Susan Wells · Barry Davidson.....................................................................54
Moving from the Dandenongs to Swanpool · Graeme and Lesley Eaton.....56
Playing with names · Lyn Craven...............................................................62
Zeolites in Horticulture · Eric Jordan.........................................................64
Troubleshooting ... Problems in vireya culture · Sylvia Saperstein................66
A monumental work … Flora · Richard Francis.........................................70
Sudden Oak Death and the Importing Ban · Ken Gillanders.....................71
Liliums Update · Michael Hammer............................................................72
New Registrations 2002–2003 · Ken Gillanders.........................................75
Branch Information...................................................................................80