for a while, I met with Frank Robin- The George Harding Azalea Garden at son, their Executive Director, in the fall of 1990 and reached general River Farm agreement with him on the site and garden concepts. In December 1990 I Robert Stelloh went with Ralph D'Amato, a land- Germantown, MD scape architect and member of the Brookside Gardens Chapter, to River Farm and helped him map the site of the garden. Mal Clark and I met with Background Frank Robinson in May 1991, showed him the map and some preliminary We were all saddened in February 1990 by the death of George Harding. concept sketches that Ralph had George, who lived in Germantown, Maryland, was one of the leading azalea ex- drawn, and reached general agree- perts in the country, and one of the founding fathers of the Azalea Society of ment on the approach we were tak- America. He was also one of our best-liked members: George loved people at ing. The three local chapters, Ben least as much as he loved azaleas, and it showed. After George died, the Board of Morrison, Brookside Gardens, and Directors suggested that a possible azalea garden at River Farm we had been dis- Northern , were approached cussing for some time would be a fitting memorial to George, since he was so in- in October 1991 to elicit their support terested in increasing the public awareness and popularity of his favorite plants. in terms of garden committee mem- River Farm is an historic 27-acre site on the Potomac River, just south of bers and their general commitment to , D.C., between Alexandria and . Once owned by support the garden. Two of the chap- , it is now the headquarters of the American Horticultural So- ters were immediately enthusiastic in ciety(AHS). It's a lovely open area of rolling green lawns and mature trees, with their support, and the other chapter is a number of display gardens behind the main building, and a gentle slope down still considering how best to support to the Potomac River. it. The idea of an azalea garden started in the spring of 1989, when the Swit- Purpose zers, the Hobbs, and the Stellohs joined a number of other gardening folks on a The purpose of the garden is to use delightful cruise and garden tour of the Windward Islands of the Caribbean, native azaleas, and other deciduous sponsored by the American Horticultural Society. On that cruise, Bob Hobbs, and evergreen hybrid azaleas appro- then-president of the Azalea Society, spoke to Carolyn Lindsay, then-president of priate to this climate, planted in the the AHS, about the possibilities of the Azalea Society working more closely with woodland edge setting at River the AHS. One of the ideas they discussed was the Azalea Society of America Farms to be: sponsoring an azalea display garden at the AHS River Farm headquarters. - A permanent memorial to George Site Harding. The specific garden site offered to us by the AHS is about 350 feet long and - An educational and attractive dis- ranges from 20- to 80-feet deep, running east to west and open to the north. It in- play of azaleas. cludes some Franklinias, dogwoods and young Dawn Redwoods, with a number - The focus for possible annual of mature Norway spruce, hemlocks and American hollies along the southern "Azalea Days" in the future. These edge. The site fronts a grass strip and their main driveway to the north and is "days" would be a day or a weekend backed by a low brick wall to the south. It offers conditions ranging from full sun each year publicized by AHS as an to almost full shade. It's a prime location seen by every visitor to River Farm opportunity to see the garden at its (about 10,000 visitors each year from all over the world), since it's along the drive peak, and to meet with members of between the entrance and the parking lot and faces the front door of their head- the Azalea Society to have questions quarters building. It will show off azaleas to their best advantage as a border answered, to learn about the Azalea landscape, faced off by a large expanse of grass. This should make it a good Society, and to sign up as new mem- source of ideas for using azaleas to many homeowners, who are usually interest- bers. Such events have been quite ed in at least landscaping their borders if they have any interest in plants at all. successful in the past for other plant societies which already have display Although River Farm is planning a major renovation and revision, the gar- gardens at River Farm. den site is outside of the area they are planning to change. Also, while River Farm hosts many large public gatherings with tents and booths each year, they After the garden is installed, AHS will never encroach on this site because of its location at the south edge of their is also interested in working with oth- property, and their desire not to disturb their neighbor to the south. er plant societies, with the goal of augmenting the garden with compan- History ion plants such as ferns, bulbs and In the summer of 1989, I took on the job of pursuing this idea of an azalea wildflowers, to be provided by those garden with the American Horticultural Society. After corresponding with them plant societies.

6 • THE AZALEAN/M arch 1992 Current Status along with sand, gypsum, fertilizer - You can contribute your time. The correspondence and meetings and other amendments. Each of these different ways to with AHS have resulted in agreement 5. Design an interpretive sign to help is open to everyone, either as an on a number of concepts: AHS will describe the garden purpose, features, individual or as a Chapter. Or both: provide the space to work with; AHS and plants. think about how you're going to par- would like us to feature native azale- 6. Design a visitor handout with ticipate as an individual, and then as to the extent possible; we will de- the sign information and ASA mem- bring the idea of Chapter participa- sign and plant the garden, after which bership information. tion up at your next Chapter meeting. the plants will become their property; We expect to have more information and they will be responsible for the 7. Get the handout written, ap- about the garden design and the de- routine ongoing maintenance of the proved, and printed - $$$. sired plants in the June 1992 issue of garden, with the Azalea Society re- 8. Get the interpretive sign ap- THE AZALEAN, but don't wait until sponsible for periodic inspections of proved and constructed - $$$. then—do something right now. the garden, and for providing replace- 9. Install the sign and other perma- Chapters and individuals should ment plants and additional plants as nent items (water lines ?) - $$$. send their donations of money for the they are needed. 10. Locate and acquire 300 to 600 garden expenses to Glenn Taylor, At this time, eight persons have mature plants (identify specific do- ASA Treasurer, 5203 Queensbury Av- volunteered to work on the garden nors for the desired plants). enue, Springfield, Virginia 22151, committee: Ralph D'Amato, Jean Cox, identified as being for the George Milt and Joan Lerner, Nancy Stipa, 11. Plan the planting (line up work- Harding Azalea Garden. If you wish, George and Sue Switzer, and myself. ers for specific dates, get the plants, you can identify your donation as be- About $450 has been donated toward maybe stage them locally). ing for a specific activity, such as one the garden expenses, against an ex- 12. Plant and finish the garden of the activities marked above with pected need of about $4000 for mate- (spring of 1993 target date). $$$. And don't worry about sending rials and supplies (we anticipate the 13. Dedicate the garden, prefera- too much: we'll put the leftover mon- plants and labor will be donated). bly: ey into a trust fund to handle future At the first committee meeting on - During the peak bloom sea- maintenance and replacement costs. January 25, 1991, the committee elect- son. You should send your ideas and ed me as chairman. They set the - Attended by the Harding family. commitments to donate plants to Bob spring of 1993 as a realistic target date - Attended by ASA and AHS offi- Stelloh, 15241 Springfield Road, Ger- for the garden dedication, and they cials. mantown, Maryland 20874. (Local adopted a work plan that covers these - With media coverage. members, think about the plants items: 14. Maintain and improve the gar- George gave you or sold to you, and 1. Select the specific species and den. which ones, or their offspring, you cultivars to use in the garden: - AHS will do routine maintenance would like to give back for his memo- - Natives and their hybrids. (watering, weeding). rial garden.) - George Harding favorites (for ex- - Azalea Society local chapters/ George is gone, and he is missed ample, as discussed by Ryon Page members will inspect and replace by everyone who knew him. With in issues of THE AZALEAN). or add plants as needed. your help, we can make this garden - Other azaleas, to show varieties 15. Sponsor and staff annual "Azal- an outstanding memorial to George. of plant size/shape/foliage and ea Days" (local Azalea Society chap- The goal is to keep his memory alive bloom size/shape/color/ time. ters). by continuing to educate people and 2. Finalize the garden design and share the beauty of azaleas with 16. Augment the garden with com- them, just as George did. plant list (in time for the June 1992 is- panion plants (AHS will ask other sue of THE AZALEAN ). plant societies to do this). 3. Have the garden design ap- Bob Stelloh and his wife, Denise, knew proved by the AHS. Your Participation George for a number of years, and have a 4. Prepare the garden site in the fall There are at least four ways you number of plants from George's garden, of 1992: can help to build the George Harding along with many fond memories of time - Outline the planting areas and Azalea Garden: spent with him. Bob recently retired from paths (permanent edging ?) - $$$. - You can contribute your ideas. a career of computer programming, and - Dump leaves on the planting area - You can contribute your plants is currently marketing a garden informa- (AHS has agreed to do this). and other materials. tion management computer program he - Till the area with the leaves, - You can contribute your money. has developed for public gardens. ❑

March 1992/THE AZALEAN • 7