x - Hawaii Chapter, American Rhododendron Society

VIVA VIREYA
HAWAI’I CHAPTER AMERICAN RHODODENDRON SOCIETY
Volume 15 Issue 5 May 2010
Vireya of the Year
‘Taylori’
Hawai’i Chapter Website: http://www.hawaiivireyaars.org/
May President’s Message
For those of you who did not attend the last
meeting, you missed an interesting meeting. We had
a resignation, elections, another resignation and an
another election, but it all worked out in the end and
we have a slate of officers as noted at the bottom of
this page.
Ray has made it easy on the rest of us these past two
years because he has taken on many jobs and spent
more time on the club than any officer should have
to for a “fun” society like ours. I have big feet, but
don’t come close to filling Ray’s presidential shoes.
Because my time and Richard Miller’s is more
limited, we have unbundled both the jobs so we can
spread the work among more people. The following
is a list of those who serve the club in volunteer
positions: The people fulfilling those roles are listed
below.
Jane Adams Newsletter Editor & Web
Master
John Barbour Program Chairman
Sherla Bertlemann Membership
Dale Dinsmore Parliamentarian &
Designated Substitute **
David Gay Cold Drinks
Ed Hara
Printer for Member Directory
Marijean Horton* Cards and Flowers (Pat
Jaworski as back-up)
Elaine Inouye Designated Substitute **
Richard Kruppa Truss Set-up
Richard Miller Tickets
Chuck Martin Name Tags
Richard Rhodes & Ronnie Nickson
Zoo Workday Coordinators
& Plant Club Liaison
Cindy Schimpf
Ray Schimpf
Library & Flower Designer
Zoo Council
Representative,
Properties & Brochures
Bettye Wakabayashi Raffle Coordinator
& Meeting Clean-up
Oversight
Dorothy Walker
Your Name Here
Coffee
Potluck Coordinator
* Please call Marijean on her land-line (965-9877)
if you know of a club member’s illness.
** Go-to person for help with when it is needed
We still need someone to step forward and take
responsibility for the Potluck impedimenta as
Richard and Ronnie wish to give it up (which is a
shame as they have done such an excellent job of
it). I would love to see some of the newer members
step up and offer to help the club, even if it is as
back-up on one of the jobs listed above.
Our next meeting will feature a very special video
garden tour which will give us time to have a Vireya
round-table discussion and talk about the club’s
future direction. I look forward to seeing you there.
Let’s get together and have fun.
Joyce Gay, Hawai’i Chapter President
Officers of the Hawaii Chapter ARS
President Joyce Gay (808) 966-5572 davidandjoyce60@hotmail.com
Vice Presidents Dick Kruppa (808) 967-7349 richardkruppa@hotmail.com
Secretary Jurahame Leyva (808) 966-6693 jurahame@kurtistownorchids.com
Treasurer Richard Miller (808) 967-4371 richardandalison@hawaiiantel.net
Newsletter Editor Jane Adams (808) 345-0959 jane@whitecloudnursery.com
Directors: Ray Schimpf, Bettye Wakabayashi, Ron Phillips, Dale Diinsmore, Richard Rhodes , Mitch Mitchell (Emiritus)
Viva Vireya Page 1 May, 2010

Mitch’s Corner
I won’t say it again, but I do find species Vireyas fascinating. So you won’t be surprised to hear that I try
to photograph them as they come into bloom. Perhaps there are some of you out there who share my
enthusiasm for the species. If so here is my plan (if the editor agrees). Each month I will include two or three
photos beginning with R. acrophilum, R. aequabile and R.album. Perhaps , if you wish, I may also include
some interesting facts drawn from sources like Dr. George Argent's great book, "Rhododendrons of Subgenus
Vireya"
Treasurer’s Report
by Joyce Gay
Year End Reconciliation 4/1/2009 thru 4/30/2010 Yes, I know it is 13 months but since the new Treasurer
doesn't take over until May 1, I thought this might be better:
Club Funds Kimalia Trust Zoo Funds
Credit Debit Credit Credit Debit
Opening Balance $7,037.97 0 $4,780.62
Interest $30.54 $63.19
Contributions $210.00 ($1,000.00) $1,075.00 $35.00
Raffles $279.00 $296.00
Membership Dues $2,285.00
Seed Sales $44.75
Plant Auctions $1,845.00 ($130.40)
Newsletter/Office ($1,777.01)
Club Expenses ($999.52)
Miscellaneous $5.31 ($107.13)
Transfer from Zoo $72.13
Totals $11,809.70 ($5,595.93) $1,371.00 $4,878.81 ($107.13)
Ending Balance $6,213.77 $1,371.00 $4,771.68
As you can see, even with adding those monies contributed to the Kimalia Trust, the club was able to bring in
more than it expended. The nominal Zoo expenses were almost covered by interest and contributions with
only a minimal amount of the fund capital being used.
Thanks to all for making this a successful year financially.
Viva Vireya Page 2 May, 2010

Vireya of the Year Contestants
If you are reading this, you can vote!
Which vireyas will own the titles “Vireya of the Year 2011 & 2012”
Look over the following list and Vote for your top two by putting an “X” by your selection. Mail to: Sherla
Bertelmann at HCR-1 Box 4641, Kea’au, HI 96749, or call (808)-966-9225 or email her at
sbertelmann@hawaii.rr.com.
Email, snail mail, phone call, vote at the May meeting...however you do it, please vote.
‘Arthur's Choice'
christianae x viriosum F2
Large reddish-orange
flowers inside and out
fading to a yellowish pink
in the throat. Compact, full
grower.
‘X’
‘Haloed Gold'
christianae X Tropic Glow
Large strong yellow
flowers with a red
ppicoteed halo on the
edges. Upright, good
branching shrub.
‘X’
‘Candy'
jasminiflorum X christianae
Long. thin. tubular. pale
pink, fragrant flowers on
an upright, bushy, full
shrub.
‘Java Light'
laetum X javanicum
Medium sized, bright
orange flowers on an
upright, open grower
‘Coral Sea’
Pink Delight X Simbu Sunset
Medium sized coral
flowers with yellow
centers, dark green leaves
& red stems on an open
growing, upright,
‘Rocky’s Mom'
(Felinda x (aurigeranum X Dr.
Sleumer)) X javanicum.
Full round trusses of wavy
lobed, red-orange flowers
with darker red-orange
edging.
‘Cyril’
leucogigas x (konori x laetum)
Large, 5’ to 7’ across,
fragrant, cream flowers.
Blooms more pink in the
winter. Upright, sturdy
grower with big leaves.
‘Star Posy’
'Pink Delight' x jasminiflorum
Light purplish pink flowers
with contrasting red
stamens on a compact
growing shrub. Lightly
fragrant.
‘Dawn Chorus’
Tropic Glow X (macgregoriae
x viriosum)
Medium sized, coral
flowers with yellow centers.
Shorter tubular shaped with
wide faces. Upright, bushy
grower.
‘Veryl Ann' (M6)
laetum X H018
Large dark red orange
flowers with deep yellow,
star centers. Upright,
bushy grower.
‘First Light’
‘Pink Delight’ X jasminiflorum
Lightly ruffled all pink,
fragrant flowers on a
compact growing shrub.
Handles all conditions.
‘Honey Star’
‘Star Posy’ X unknown
Amber yellow star shaped
flowers on an upright,
bushy shrub.
Viva Vireya Page 3 May, 2010

Lloyd DeGarmo - Gentleman, Scholar, Plant Lover, & Friend
Friend and HI Chapter ARS member, Lloyd DeGarmo, passed away on Feb. 22
in California. He was a Renaissance man who loved his plants, his classical
music and his books. I loved his calmness, his stories & his wittiness. He was a
rarity today- a real Gentleman. (Sherla Bertelmann)
Glenn immediately commented that he always liked him and that he had the best
Kumquat Tree on the island. One of my fond memories was, because he heard
that I liked to make marmalade, he called and almost demanded that Sherla and I
come out to his house and pick his kumquats to make marmalade. Of course, he
couldn't just give us the kumquats. We also had to take a tour of the yard and
green house and take home some cuttings of bromeliads too. I also remember
spending a fun afternoon with Sherla and Bettye Wakabayashi pulling weeds in
his green house and getting it back into shape. He was a grand man with a big
heart and he will be missed. (Veryl Ann & Glenn Grace)
My vivid memory of Lloyd was at Ron and Donna's home and the going away
party for him. There was a calendar we all signed. He was a giving man. (Maryjean Horton)
Lloyd was such a generous man - I can remember him inviting us out to his home, and telling us to take so
many gorgeous orchids. I still have some!! And the champagne he left for us to share at Thanksgiving - we
toasted him every year - even after he left. I wish we had some to toast him, now - a really gentle soul! (Bettye
Wakabayashi).
Vireya Gladiators
by Bettye Wakabayashi
In the February Newsletter, we saw some beautiful plants without blossoms. I
would like to add to that article with, not only two lovely foliage Vireya, but
also encourage timid, new members by telling you a tale about these two plants
and the marvelous survival stamina of the Vireya!
I like to take my free trusses home from the meetinig each month, put them in a
pretty bottle and enjoy the trusses as long as they bloom. When the blossom
dies, I take each petal off and leave the truss in the bottle in the window to
admire, and wait until I have time to plant it in the ground. I often don’t seem to
ever get around to this for months!!
In September, I went to the Mainland for a two monthís visit. George remained
home to feed the cat, water the plants, and play golf! I felt that leaving him with
9 trusses to water was asking a little too much (nine trusses adds up to four
months of collecting trusses at each Club meeting!!!). Therefore, I decided to
stick them in the ground and hope for the best!
First Light
I got a cup of potting soil, 1/2 cup of Vermiculite, dug a hole in the cinder,
packed everything in the hole, labeled the truss, and left town!
That was in September, considering that I had been collected these trusses since
May 2009, that may make them almost a year old at the present time! These
pretty little plants are now five months in the ground - without a bit of help from us!! Cair Paravel
Because of the drought, we cannot waste water on plants - they make it on their own,
or not! They are on the South side of our house, full sun, all day, and no trees to give any shade! Talk about
survivors!!
If you have any doubts about your ability to grow Vireyas, please put them to rest - these darling plants are
proof of their remarkability to survive - in spite of us!!
Viva Vireya Page 4 May, 2010

Tidbits and Notes
*****
Aloha from the Zoo Crew!
Big things were happenings at the Pana’ewa Zoo
Sunday April 25th. The new hapu’u (Hawaiian
native tree ferns) surround of the species bed is now
complete! Thanks to Ron Phillips and Donna
Thomas for their donation of the hapu’u for this
project. The next item of improvement will be a load
of black cinder for the Vireya beds. The old cinder
has decomposed and the Vireya need more aeration.
Mahalo to Ray and Cindy Schimpf for all of their
energy and hard work. Ray meets regularly with Zoo
Director Pam Mizuno, to facilitate our on-going
project. Sherla Bertelmann and Richard Marques
once again came to the rescue weeding, pruning and,
more importantly, identifying untagged species.
They also made recommendations of which Vireyas
need to be replaced. Richard was one of the driving
forces in setting up the Vireya project at the Zoo
over ten years ago and it’s always great to get his
insights and recommendations on future
improvements. It takes many volunteers and
employees to keep the zoo operating and we would
especially like to thank the great staff at the gift
shop. Lani Merck, Patsy Tamashiro, and Pat Larson
are always there to give their support and let us
know when more Vireya brochures are needed.
Hawaii chapter members and others who have not
participated in one of the Zoo work parties or have
not been there in a while are missing a great
experience.
This great story comes from Sherla:
I want to share this wonderful story of love and
resourcefulness. An email arrived in February from
a woman in Palau asking for a vireya. “I plan to
plant this on my father's grave at the top of the hill.
The soil is heavy red clay, and the site is under a
tree with partial filtered shade. Please advise care of
the plant. (photo #1) In March, after emails
discussing vireya culture and the materials she had
for her use, we sent two vireyas. She repotted them
immediately using dried coconut cut into wedges
(photo #2). In April one of the plants was transferred
to the grave site. Note the new growth. She writes
“Mission accomplished. We have one on Dad's
grave, the other at our house for control. If ours
needs water, we will go visit its brother at the
cemetery.” (Photo #3).
Note: The words “Rhododendron Gardener” are
engraved at the bottom of the headstone.
Mahalo Nui Loa
Richard and Ronnie (AKA Saltnpepa)
*****
This message came in from the Board of Directors
regarding plant sales at the meetings:
The executive committee discussed the issue of
plant sales by individuals at club meetings.
The following policy statement passed:
Because the county does not permit sales for profit
by individuals, such sales are forbidden.
*****
Viva Vireya Page 5 May, 2010

Next Chapter Meeting:
When: May 16, 12:00pm for potluck, 1:00pm for
the meeting.
Where: Kea’au Community Center
Program: John Barbour is bringing the DVD
presentation that Fred Renich did at our last
conference. Many of our members did not get a
chance to see it, and we have many new members
who will find the visit to Fred’s garden in California
of great interest
Calendar of Coming Events:
Sunday, May 16: Regular chapter meeting at the
Kea’au Community Center. Potluck at 12:00pm,
meeeting at 1:00pm.
Sunday, May 23: Regular 4th Sunday Zoo work
party. 12:00pm - 3:00pm.
Sunday, June 20: Regular chapter meeting at the
Kea’au Community Center. Potluck at 12:00pm,
meeting at 1:00pm.
Very important reminder! Inspect your trusses before bringing them to the meeting. Fire ants were found
recently. We don’t want to spread invasive species , especially such a destructive one!
Viva Vireya!
Edited by Jane Adams
jane@whitecloudnursery.com
808-345-0959
Hawaii Chapter – ARS
P.O. Box 1963
Kea’au, HI 96749
Viva Vireya Page 6 May, 2010

Viva Vireya Page 7 May, 2010