There are very few visiting speakers at VRS meetings who are invited back very frequently, year after year. Those who are, are re-invited for good reason: because they are excellent speakers and because they have very interesting things to speak about. And, generally, because we like them. Steve Hootman, Co-Director of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, is one of this very small and elite group. From past experience I have complete confidence that Steve will be heartily welcomed by VRS members. The only problem that arises in repeat visits by people like Steve comes in writing something new about them in these biographical sketches. So much of the following may seem familiar to long-time VRS members.
As most of you know, the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, located in Federal Way, Washington (a nondescript southern suburb of Seattle), belongs to the Rhododendron Species Foundation. And most of you know, too, that Steve Hootman in the past has always provided fascinating accounts of his expeditions searching for plants in Asia. Generally we keep inviting Steve back both because his talks are so good, and because he keeps going on new trips which ultimately provide our gardens with extremely valuable new plants. His talk the evening of March 18th this year, however, will be entirely, or almost entirely, different from his previous ones. This time he will speak about the 'Rhododendron Species Foundation' (RSF) itself. Some VRS members are quite familiar with the Foundation, but many others, while most know of its existence, do not really know much about it.
For the benefit of newer members, I should mention that the many recent plant expeditions that have been carried out in Asia not only provide our gardens with beautiful new plants, but also contribute to the conservation of the species in their dissemination among gardeners, when they might otherwise be brought to extinction by destruction of their natural habitats. This is where the RSF comes in. Steve has gone on as many expeditions as anyone, bringing back propagating material collected in the wild. All the plants so introduced are propagated and eventually offered for sale. At the same time, especially beautiful clones of more familiar species are vegetatively propagated and distributed in a like manner, with similar benefits to the horticultural world. The RSF, and Steve particularly, also has much to contribute in the way of education about the natural species of rhododendrons. And finally, the RSF Garden is in itself not only educational, but also beautiful, and becoming moreso under Steve’s, and his Co-Director Rick Peterson’s directorship. Steve will give us information on the history of the RSF, which includes the crucial participation of UBC, an overview of the Foundation and its functions, and a tour of the Garden. The RSF is vitally important as an organization to all of us who appreciate rhododendrons and natural plant habitats. Steve’s title is simply The Rhododendron Species Foundation. It’s always a pleasure for all our members to welcome back this bright, young, articulate explorer, administrator and gardener.
