The fifth International Vireya Seminar will be hosted Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, in Keaau. Cost is $50 per day and includes lunch.
The fifth International Vireya Seminar will be hosted Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, in Keaau. Cost is $50 per day and includes lunch.
The event will be hosted by the Hawaii Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, aka the Hawaii Vireya Society. The first day will be dedicated to visiting Hawaii gardens, and the second day dedicated to speakers from around the globe. For more information and registration, call Sherla Bertelmann at 966-9225 or email vireya@PacificIslandNursery.com.
The Hawaii Chapter has been in existence since 1997 and has the distinction of being the only rhododendron chapter focusing only on vireya, a semi-tropical rhododendron. Its mission statement is “to promote, encourage interest and provide information on Vireya rhododendrons.”
February speakers will include Steve Hootman and Dennis Bottemiller, each representing a different aspect of the Rhododendron Species Foundation in Federal Way, Wash.; Neil Puddey, a commercial grower in Australia; Andrew Rouse, a hybridizer/grower in Australia; Christy Hartsell, a vireya grower and enthusiast from California; and George Argent, a retired Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh taxonomist.