Symposium registration is now open. Cost to at tend the entire Symposium weekend\, including all sessions\, speakers\ , classes plus Saturday lunch and Saturday evening banquet will be onl y $125 if registered before March 10th. Late registration of $145 begi ns March 11th.
\nAll events take place at the Evergreen Inn & \; Suites Best Western Plus or at the Rhododendron Species Botanical G arden. This schedule is subject to change.
\nFriday\, Ap ril 7 – Cascade meeting room
\n\n1:00 – 3:30 pm RSF Annual m eeting
\n3:00 – 3:30 pm Break\, Snack &\; Chat
\n3:3 0 – 4:30 pm “The Rhododendron Gardens of Europe” with Hartwig Sche pker\n
Hartwig will show images and d iscuss some of the finest gardens in Europe\, specifically those that feature outstanding collections of rhododendrons. He will take us on a journey through the United Kingdom and into continental Europe includ ing Italy\, Denmark and Germany among others. This will be a lavishly illustrated and very enjoyable insider’s look at some of the most beau tiful gardens in the world.
\n4:30 –\; 5:00 pm Species
ID Contest and Student Poster Session
\n6:00-8:00 pm Din
ner on your own – local restaurants with staff and speakers.
Optional after dinner Meet &\; Mingle at hotel bar
\nSaturday\, April 8 – Cascade meeting room
\n\n8:30 – 9:15 am Speaker: Valerie Soza
\n10:30 – 12:0 0 Species Symposium with moderator\, Chip Mueller
\nCash bar
Sunday\, April 9
\nOptional local attract ions and garden visits
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Saturday Morning
\n“\;Elucidating the t ropical diversification of rhododendrons and the genetic basis for cha nges in floral shape using genomic data”\;
\nVireya rhodode ndrons are unusual from the majority of temperate rhododendrons for th eir tropical distribution and wide range of floral morphology. Vireyas are a group of about 320 species that occur primarily in Southeast As ian islands with diverse floral shapes suitable for birds\, bees\, but terflies\, and/or moths. Their present-day distribution\, combined wit h sampling throughout their genomes\, has allowed us to infer ancestra l ranges and estimate the direction and timing of dispersal across the se islands. In addition\, we observe changes in floral shape and stame n arrangement in vireyas as they moved east\, which are most likely du e to changes in flower symmetry genes. This has prompted us to examine flower symmetry genes from across rhododendrons to look for evidence of gene duplication associated with flower symmetry changes.
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a href=https://rhodygarden.org/c19/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Speaker-
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Satu rday afternoon Field Laboratory Horticulture Classes at the RSBG:
\nFeaturing RSBG Staff
\n“Big-leaf Rhododendrons” with Steve Hootman\, Execut ive Director and Curator
\nSteve will lead a tour of the big-lea f collection to examine and compare all of the species in cultivation including several so new that they have yet to be named! He will discu ss specific identification traits and the best cultivation methods fo r each species\; a detailed handout will be provided.
\n“Secrets of species propagation” with Dennis Bottemiller\, Nu rsery Manager and Propagator
\nDennis will lead a detailed discu ssion with demonstrations of the best and latest techniques in Rho dodendron species propagation. A full and in-depth tour of the en tire nursery facility is included.
\n“Successful cultiva tion of rhododendrons – the RSBG way” with Atsuko Gibson\, As sistant Curator and Ben Meersman\, Gardener
\nJoin RSBG’s expert horticulturists Atsuko and Ben in the garden to learn the best techni ques for the successful cultivation of Rhododendron species a s well as Himalayan Blue Poppies and Cardiocrinum (Giant Lili es). Watering\, soil prep and pest and disease issues will be highligh ted.
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\n\ nThere will be a banquet and lecture on Saturday evening.\n
Featured Speaker: Hartwig Schepker \, Scientific Director of the Botanic Garden and Rhododendron -Park Bremen
\n“The “other Rhododendron species” – the rhododendrons of Kamchatka\, the Russian Altai and beyond”
\nJoin Dr. Hartwig Schepker as he discusses and shows images o f the “other” rhododendrons of the world. Hartwig will be informing us about those Eurasian species which are often overlooked in favor of t heir Himalayan and Chinese relatives. These include the species native to the European Alps to as far away as the Russian Far East and inclu ding the ornamental species of the Caucasus Mountains and even Spain a nd Portugal. This will be an incredible introduction to some of the le ast known rhododendron-regions on the planet and you will not want to miss this exciting opportunity.
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You m ay register online to the right\, or
\nDownload the Species Symposium Registration Fo rm and mail to
\nPO Box 3798
\nFederal Way\, WA 98063\n
International only – please take advantage of the specia l registration rate of $110 US due to the exchange rate. Please regist er by February 10th to take advantage of the early registration rate.< /p>\n
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Lodging &\; meetings will be at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Evergreen Inn &\; Suites\, Federal Way\, f eatures complimentary amenities like free parking\, free Wi-Fi\, shutt le service\, and complimentary deluxe hot breakfast.
\nReserve y our room now by calling 253-529-4000 and use the code “RSBG” to receiv e the group rate of just $119 per night for either a King or Queen roo m. The rate (single or double occupancy) is $119 per night\, when book ed by Friday\, March 17th\, 2017. After March 17th\, reservation reque sts after that will be accepted at the hotel’s prevailing rate\, based on room type and availability.
\nThe Commons Mall is located one block from the Best W estern Plus Evergreen Inn &\; Suites. It has over 100 stores and a movie theater. There are also many restaurants in this area
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Species Symposium registration is now OPEN.< /span>
\nFrom the Field Laboratory Horticulture Classes to the live
ly discussion at the Species Symposium to the casual conversations wit
h other Rhododendron enthusiasts\, the Symposium is educational
\, inspiring\, motivating and just plain fun!