MAC Members and Friends,
OK, so you think you have garden problems. Wait until you see and hear from experts in Winchester about how to solve some of the most common garden problems. Announcing our MAC-ARS Fall 2010 Meeting planned for Winchester, Virginia on the weekend of September 24-26, 2010. Highlights of our "Hunting for Garden Solutions" weekend include:
- Faced with rocks in your yard? Glen Burnie, home of the founding families of Winchester, was built on land with more limestone and slopes than most of us have had to deal with, but some very creative landscaping created a beautiful six acre garden that makes the rocks a positive feature.
- Faced with building a house and gardens amid acres of lush pastures and miles of board fence? Historic Long Branch, begun in 1805, is perfectly sited at the end of a long driveway and proportioned to balance the stunning surrounding views. The estate features gardens renovated in the 1990's and dedicated to noted British floral designer Sheila MacQueen. (www.historiclongbranch.com)
- Faced with making ecologically sound plant choices for your yard? Kim Strader, Assistant Curator at Blandy Farm, will be our Friday evening speaker and will present "Invasion of the Alien Plants". Her presentation will detail the environmental damage that can be caused when plants from other areas or countries escape where they have been planted and will suggest alternatives to using potentially invasive plants.
- Faced with a visit to Germany and wondering what to do to fill the time? Don Hyatt, longtime friend of MAC and internationally known speaker, will be featured as our Saturday evening program on the topic of "Rhododendrons in Germany". Knowing Don, we will be entertained with beautiful photography, wonderful descriptions and stunning visual effects.
For more information about the stops on our Saturday tour, please visit their websites: www.historiclongbranch.com, www.shenandoahmuseum.org, and www.virginia.edu/blandy/.
The weekend will also feature a tour of Blandy Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia, our famous Plants For Members (P4M) Sale, Book Sale, Foliage Show, and Photography/Art Show. And as a bonus, we worked out a special arrangement with the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley for you to return on your own on Sunday to tour the Museum and Galleries. Also, as you depart Winchester on Sunday, plan to visit some of the local orchards for delicious Virginia apples!
Our base for the weekend will be the Hilton Garden Inn (Exit 313 from I-81). More information about the hotel is enclosed, along with a detailed schedule for the weekend, foliage show guidelines, and photography/art show information.
We hope you will make plans to join us for our "Hunting for Garden Solutions in Virginia's Hunt Country" the last weekend of September as we explore the Winchester, Virginia area, enjoy visiting two beautiful houses and gardens, munch on Virginia apples, and gain information about German rhododendrons and unique solutions to gardening problems in general. Pack your bags, bring a plant or two for the Saturday evening auction, plan your entries for the Foliage Show and Photography show, and prepare your P4M wish list! See you in Winchester!