Karl and I were two of 6 new convention attendees. New attendees were welcomed Thursday evening with the gift of a lilac plant – “Scentara Double Blue” – a most fragrant cultivar! We enjoyed the pizza dinner and meeting new lilac friends from various backgrounds: Industry (Plant Companies), Academia, Non-Profit and Private Collectors.
Thursday evening speakers included:
Jack Alexander III, Arnold Arboretum retired plant propagator, and an original ILS Charter member.
“A Trip Down Memory Lane”
Charlepan Dawson, Cherry Valley Lilacs.
“Lilac Enfleurage”
Kent Millham, Highland Park retired plant propagator & horticulturalist.
“Welcome to Rochester & Highland Park Collection”
Friday morning we enjoyed a continental breakfast before boarding the bus to Highland Park. On arrival,
Susan Maney, Highland Park horticulturalist, provided a brief introduction to the collection. I asked about wheelchair-accessible parking, and Susan pointed us to a new area developed for all abilities, including 40 lilac plants. Karl and I toured this area first. It delighted my heart that this area has been developed, since I last experienced this park 30 years ago as a University of Rochester undergraduate.
During the Highland Park tour, Karl and I also experienced a huge Katsura Tree, and are wondering now how much the “baby” 12-year-old planted Katsura in our front yard is going to overwhelm the rest of the Front Garden plants (Kitchen Garden, Cut Flowers, Fruit Trees, etc.) in 50 to 100 years.
Friday afternoon we toured the Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, NY. It is an example of a beautiful estate needing a sustainable financial plan. We learned that currently 6 staff and over 100 volunteers are maintaining the place.
Saturday morning speakers included:
Mary E MacDonald (myself), Owner & Founding Director, Rest-Stop-Ranch Respite Retreat Center
“Increasing Public Access to Enjoy the Lilacs”
Kelly Applegate, facilitator, Private Collector in Minnesota, USA.
“Open Mic”
Saturday afternoon we experienced our first Plant Auction (Lilacs). We bid and won 7 lilac plants:
1. “Rochester”: This lilac has a variety of flower petals. The record number is 28, per Pat Maurer, plant donor, from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
2. “Ami Schott”
3. “Beautiful Susan”
4. “Colby’s Wishing Star”: This lilac was propagated and registered by Frank Moro, in memory of his child with Down Syndrome. Neat story here: Gardening Guru
5. “Fiala Remembrance”
6. “President Grevy”
7. “Sweetheart”: In honor of our 10-year Marriage Anniversary.
We were gifted one, “Royalty,” by the ILS President, Bob Zavodny. Including the Thursday gift from ILS Board members, we drove home with 9 new lilac plants. 5 of these, brings our wheelchair-accessible lilacs number to 50!
Saturday evening we enjoyed the Awards Banquet, Silent Auction, and a Preview of the 2023 Convention, to be held in Germany. After the dinner, I advocated and a small group of us supported (technology) Jack Alexander offering a slideshow presentation of his propagation of the “Purple Haze” lilac. Jack helped Karl and I understand some of the techniques and magic involved in deciding which seedling(s) will be chosen from the many.
Overall, it was a wonderful meeting of like minds and lilac lovers. On the road home Sunday, I called John Learned, my 91-year-old Topsfield neighbor, and fellow lifetime ILS member. He was available to meet us at our home at 3pm. After touring our collection, we toured his, on Perkins Row. We will continue a lilac friendship.
Anyone may become a member of the International Lilac Society for a minimum annual contribution of $25. The membership offers a quarterly publication, and an opportunity to connect with fellow lilac lovers. Please check out their website to learn more: International Lilac Society