President's Summer Message
Summer Greetings International Plant Production Society Eastern Region,
The past few weeks have been packed with late spring cuttings—Leucothoe, Gelsemium, and one of my favorites, Hydrangea radiata, the silver-leaf hydrangea. We’re also fortunate to have a few plants of the native Spiraea virginiana, which has a very limited natural range. The new growth is firming up and ready for cuttings now. A co-worker and I recently took a great field trip to Unionville, Pennsylvania, to collect cuttings from a mature Ulmus americana—with coffee from the local café, of course. (See photos!)
The board took a short break to focus on the busy season but is now back in full swing—promoting the conference, approving budgets, and reviewing finances. I'm pleased to share that the 2025 conference budget has been approved, with no increase in registration cost compared to 2024. The Finance Committee also met to review and recommend updates to our annual operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). The full board will meet next week for final approval.
All board meetings are held via Zoom, and we always welcome member involvement.
Your challenge this month: Invite someone to Louisville, KY, for the Eastern Region Annual Conference, happening October 14–17! Stay tuned—registration opens in July.
Warm regards,
Shelby French
President, International Plant Production Society Eastern Region
sfrenchdoerun@gmail.com
302-723-6244
Get out there to seek and share.