Dear Maple and Plant Enthusiast, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to the eighth annual spring maple gathering being held at my home at the New Jersey shore on Saturday May 15, 2010. I apologize for getting this invitation out a little late this year but I have been busy in the garden cleaning, pruning and removing damaged trees and shrubs from the worst winter I can remember. I have been growing Japanese Maples in my gardens for the last 20 years and have approximately 250 cultivars with over 400 maples planted in my gardens on just over two acres. This event is an informal gathering to provide an opportunity to talk maples and other plants and to help promote the Maple Society and build membership in our area. I was fortunate enough to have known Dick Wolff and have some of his lesser known cultivars in my gardens as well as his more popular trees. Our mother plant of Acer palmatum ‘Orion’ was crushed by one of the snow storms. I was able to keep about one third of the tree intact and hope it survives the damage. The good news, if there was any, is that I had lots of scion wood for new grafts. New additions to the garden this year are two island beds and many new cultivars of maples and other plants. New this year to the event is a plant sale held at the end of the day’s event. There should be some great plants available from some of the nurseries that help support the event. Below is a preliminary agenda for this event. 9:00 to 10:00: Continental Breakfast and Check In. 10:00: Welcome and Overview of the garden. Ed Shinn 10:15: Presentation, Benefits of The Maple Society! 10:30: Morning Garden Tour 12:00: Lunch (Menu in Planning) Time to talk, answer questions and visit with friends. 1:30: Afternoon Garden Tour (anything you missed), Refreshments, Networking and Silent Plant Auction bidding begins. 2:30 Silent Plant Auction ends. 3:00 Plant Sale (details to follow) The spring maple viewing is free of charge but we ask attendees to bring an item for the silent auction if possible. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the NAB Maple Society. Attendance is limited to 50 people on a first come basis. Please respond via email to edward@eshinn.com. My garden and home is located in central coastal New Jersey, about one hour from NYC, Philadelphia and Atlantic City and easily accessible from major highways. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or for directions. Edward T. Shinn 3214 Allaire Road Wall, NJ 07719
While I am too far away to visit, I just want to say a big thanks to Ed for putting this together. I'm sure it will be a spectacular event, as in previous years.
UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what a wonderful time we had at Ed's place! The weather was near perfect, the food and drink delicious, the company delightful, and the setting - well, its about as close to Maple Heaven as you can get!! :) In addition to the good time had by all 60 or so in attendance, we were able to raise almost $1000 for the Maple Society through the plant auction. Ed, a personal 'Thank You!' for the time, effort and expense you go through to host this event each year. You are tops in my book!!! Enjoy pics...
Doug, Nice post. Great pics. Sorry to have missed the gathering this year. Sounds as if Ed and Debbie hosted another spectacular event. G
Doug, Great photos. Thanks so much for letting us all see the beauty of Ed's event. What is that lovely orange maple in pic 4 just to left of center - very striking. Thanks again. Mike
All, This was an enjoyable day and the weather was perfect. The spring gathering has grown quite a bit from our early start with five or six people attending. Last years event had around 55 attendees and it was very hectic. It seemed like I did not get to talk or spend time with many of the visitors. This year K4 volunteered to help with the silent auction and he did an incredible job. I actually had time to spend with guest and talk to everyone. We again had Maple Society members from up and down the east coast attend and talk maples with the visitors that are new to the maple world. This is the second year we had attendees from the American Conifer Society and they are great group and conifers make great companion plants mixed in with the maples. The silent auction had some fantastic plants and many were sold at bargain prices. This year we had four nurseries bring plants to offer for sale and that was a big hit with the attendees and was a way to help support the nurseries that donate plants to the silent auction. Another highlight of the day was the plants that Fred from All Things Acer had with him to show. All Things Acer has introduced into the US market A. p. ‘Bihou’, A. p. ‘Hana matoi’ and A. b. Angyo Weeping’ to name a few. This year we got to see some great new plants under evaluation that will be heading our way that had only been available in Japan and Europe. There is only one drawback to this event and that is the amount of prep work in the early spring. I have not taken spring pictures in a few years and do not get to spend much time on the computer talking maples. Overall spending a day with 50 or so maple enthusiast is well worth the effort. Special thanks again to Debbie, K4, Fred Hooks, Scion Swapper, Acer palmatum ‘Crazy’ and all of the others that help out to make the event a success. Ed
Mike, That orange plant is not a maple its an azalea. In addition to maples, Ed has an amazing assorment of azaleas, hostas, and conifers - both full size and dwarf - as well as a few million miscellaneous accent plants scattered here and there!
K4, Thanks for answering that for Mike. I forgot to in my response. If my memory is correct I believe that it is Exbury Azalea 'Gibraltar'. Ed
Thanks, Ed & Doug, for the Exbury azalea explanation. Exbury's are breathtaking in general & that one specifically is lovely. I had a beautiful orange Exbury for years which eventually died sadly. Ed, you and your wife Debbie are incredibly thoughtful and generous to host this gathering each year. It is a wonderful thing you do. Thank you both. Mike
I'm so sorry I missed it again! Overseas this year like the last for that weekend, but I made it to the first gathering and have followed the photos as your garden developed, really a stunner. I hope to see more soon, and have bought trees after seeing them at your home. All the best, and congratulations on another generous year sharing your beautiful garden and trees. David
David and others, You are always welcome to visit the garden if you are in the area. Send an email and let me know when you have time to stop. Ed
