Day 307 2014 Rhododendron Festival in Sandwich MA
The 2014 Rhododendron Festival returns to Heritage museum Saturday May 17th to Sunday May 25th in Sandwich MA. Thousands of world-famous rhododendrons in over 100 varieties and an explosion of color cover 100 acres with spectacular blooms during this week-long event. Enjoy a peaceful walk surrounded by walls of flower, learn more about these gorgeous plants from horticultural experts, explore Heritage’s connection to noted rhododendron hybridizers Charles O. Dexter and Jack Cowles, challenge yourself to a Dexter cultivar scavenger hunt, and participate in other family activities related to our signature plant. Take a piece of Heritage’s rhododendron legacy home with you by purchasing a rhododendron at a special plant sale.
PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
• May 17- 25, 2014 between 11- 11:30AM and 2- 2:30PM—DAILY WALKING TOURS: Docent Tour Guides will lead 30-minute walking tours of Heritage’s renowned rhododendron collection. Discover how two hybridizers associated with Heritage– Charles Dexter and Jack Cowles – contributed to the genus Rhododendron and created the plants we love today, and learn about current efforts to maintain this important collection. Guides will select the best spots for viewing these stunning plants daily.
• May 17- 25, 2014 between 11- 11:30AM and 2- 2:30PM—DAILY WALKING TOURS: Docent Tour Guides will lead 30-minute walking tours of Heritage’s renowned rhododendron collection. Discover how two hybridizers associated with Heritage– Charles Dexter and Jack Cowles – contributed to the genus Rhododendron and created the plants we love today, and learn about current efforts to maintain this important collection. Guides will select the best spots for viewing these stunning plants daily.
• May 18, 2014 or May 25 between 1- 2PM—BEHIND THE SCENES GREENHOUSE TOURS:Visitors can go behind the scenes with Director of Horticulture Les Lutz for a tour of Heritage’s new greenhouse. Les will share facts about the structure and why it was built and what it is used for. Participants will also learn how the building is being used for to help save the Dexter and Cowles Rhododendron collection from extinction and about plans for the future of these collections. Visitors can also learn how the plants for the ‘Wicked Plants’ exhibit were started and grown right in the greenhouse along with all of the annuals used in the Gardens.
• May 20, 2014 between 1-2PM—EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RHODODENDRONS: Director of Horticulture Les Lutz will demonstrate and discuss the basics of how to maintain and care for your rhododendrons. This program features discussions and demonstrations on removing dead-wood, pruning, fertilizing, bud-pinching, and dead-heading these beautiful plants. Other basics, such as the importance of watering and mulching, will be discussed as well.
• May 21, 2014 between 1-2PM—RHODODENDRON REDUX WITH JOHN DELANO: Visitors are invited to go “off the beaten path” with rhododendron expert John Delano and Director of Horticulture, Les Lutz. This tour will take participants to parts of the grounds overlooked by most casual visitors, where spectacular Dexter varieties not found elsewhere on the property grow. Learn more about Heritage’s outstanding collection of rhododendron hybrids and the history of rhododendrons at Heritage. John Delano is a member of the American Rhododendron Society and has grown many hundreds of outstanding rhododendrons both at Heritage and in his own garden in Duxbury, MA. He has also done invaluable work at Heritage by cataloging the Dexter and Cowles hybrids.
• May 23 and 24, 2014 between 1-2PM—RHODODODENDRON PROPOGATION WORKSHOPS:Everyone wants more of these great plants, and Director of Horticulture will demonstrate how easy it can be to propagate them. Participants will learn how and when to take cuttings and what rooting medium (soil) to use. After watching a demonstration, participants will have the opportunity to practices these techniques, and will leave knowing how to successfully propagate rhododendrons of their own this fall.
