JARS v59n2 - From the Executive Director

From the Executive Director
Laura Grant
Toronto, Ontario

Since my last column, the ARS office has gone through a lot of organizing in preparation for a busy renewal season. An enormous amount of work was completed in the first six months in our new location thanks to the encouragement, support and dedication of Mike Stewart and the wonderful members of the ARS Board.

We now have a good supply of those beautiful Bronze Medals; please recognize your deserving members by giving them the highest chapter award - the ARS Bronze Medal. I would like to thank our "Web Spiders," those knowledgeable members always available to answer questions that are arriving daily from all over the globe.

Once again, through the generosity of the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust grant, the "Planting & Care Guide" will be available to all chapters, upon request. I encourage you to take them to all nurseries wherever rhododendrons are sold. Those guides will be useful in helping to educate the public on correct planting and care, so that these long-lived plants have a good chance of survival in the hands of novice gardeners.

With the arrival of spring our thoughts turn to our annual convention. This is a chance to see old friends, meet new ones, visit beautiful private and public gardens and hear great speakers. I am looking forward to seeing you all in Victoria BC.