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The chapter's purpose is to promote the study and culture of rhododendrons and azaleas, and to increase the general understanding of and interest in all aspects of the genus Rhododendron.

Started in 1952, the Middle Atlantic Chapter (MAC) is one of the oldest chapters of the American Rhododendron Society (ARS) and as such has a rich history here in the Eastern United States. In recent years MAC has hosted five District conferences, at least two Regional conferences, and one ARS National Convention. In 1982, MAC became the first ARS organization to hold a joint meeting with the national convention of the Azalea Society of America and repeated this in 1984. As co-host with the Mason Dixon and Potomac Valley Chapters of ARS District 9 and the Brookside Gardens Chapter of the Azalea Society of America we participated in hosting the 2006 Joint Convention of the Azalea Society of America (ASA) and the American Rhododendron Society.

Traditionally, The chapter has two weekend long membership meetings each year at different interesting locations in Virginia and West Virginia, one in the spring during Rhododendron flowering season and the other usually during fall foliage season. Chapter meetings begin on a Friday evening and run through to Sunday noon. At each meeting there is either a flower or foliage show, seedling sale, book sale, plant auction, Friday evening speaker(s), Saturday evening banquet speaker, field trips, and at the fall meeting a distribution of special Plants for Members (P4M). Best of all, the meetings allow plenty of time to discuss azaleas and rhododendrons, ask questions, share experiences, and socialize with old and new friends who have similar interests.

To fulfill its purpose the Chapter, during the last decade has undertaken a number of projects. A MAC Nursery was established for the sole purpose of providing plants to public gardens. Several thousand dollars of plants have been donated to the arboretum at James Madison University consisting of many large McDonald Rhododendrons, landscape size selections from George Ring's collections, deciduous azaleas from the MAC Nursery, and a large number of the Glenn Dale Hybrids. Plants were donated to Louis Ginter Botanical Garden and the McDonalds also donated plants to the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Plants have also been donated to Blandy Farm, The Frontier Museum, and a few other public facilities.

The chapter's Species Study Group each spring provides multi-day outings open to the public to study or enjoy native Rhododendrons and their natural hybrids occurring throughout the eastern US. The group also has underway at this time a project to document and photograph the native deciduous azaleas of Gregory Bald in North Carolina and Tennessee. It is an exciting time here at MAC and it is only up to you to decide if you want to be a part of one of the projects and the comradery that results.

Below are links to some of the current activities and background information of the chapter.

Current

Here are some of the favorite things MAC members do:

• Calendar of Upcoming Fall and Spring Meetings
• Chapter Newsletters 2004-present

If you are interested in becoming a member of our chapter, you may join online through the American Rhododendron Society, or contact our MAC membership chairperson directly. ARS individual membership or family membership at one address is now a Regular Member at $40 per year, and include four issues of the informative and beautiful Journal of the American Rhododendron Society, along with the opportunity to attend regional and national conferences and conventions, access to the ARS seed exchange and pollen bank, and membership in our chapter. If you are already a member of another ARS Chapter, you may join the Middle Atlantic Chapter as an Associate Member for $10 per year.