In Celebration of PPA's 40th Anniversary, we will be publishing a series detailing each of the four decades of the Association. Thank you to John Friel, longtime PPA member and previous board member, for researching and writing this series.
A Brief History of the perennial plant association: Chapter III, the Third Decade
We left you last episode in scorching Sacramento. Let’s polish off the first decade of the 21st Century and sample a bit of the second. We can neither confirm nor deny that skinny-dipping incidents have occurred during Symposium tours. Nor can we officially endorse the widely held belief that a PPA symposium week is not deducted from one’s allotted lifespan. We can, however, confirm the timeless truth uttered by John Greenlee, grower, author, and TV guy: “Sleep deprivation is an essential part of the PPA experience.”
2004 New York City
Perennial Plant of the Year®: Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’
President Joe Kunkel presented the Award of Merit to Albert Hicks, Hicks Nursery. The Educator Award went to Dr. Leonard Perry, U-VT, and June Croon of The Plantage took home the Grower Award.
The NYC confab set multiple records. Attendance: 1,200. Buses for Wednesday tours: 14. Attendees on the Fourth of July fireworks cruise: 260. How could our notoriously frugal Association afford all this in the notoriously pricey Big Apple? It has to do with the need to plan years in advance to pull off a National. Dr. Still was negotiating for sleeping rooms, meeting halls, trade show venue etc. in 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. No one knew if it was over, or what might come next. Reeling from the horror of that infamous day, New York’s tourist industry was willing to negotiate with anyone who’d stake a bet on an uncertain future. Hello, PPA.
Yes, that’s a tiny silver lining in a vast dark cloud. But that’s how we scored an upscale hotel, steps from Times Square and Grand Central Station. We made the most of it. And when you think about it, we fit that scenario snugly: Growing and gardening are always acts of faith.
The fireworks cruise featured views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge – and the eerie gap where the twin towers had stood.
2005 Knoxville/Nashville TN
Perennial Plant of the Year®: Helleborus xhybridus
I still have my T-shirt from this one: It features a bear playing a banjo. President Janet Anderson presented the Award of Merit to Sam and Carleen Jones, of Piccadilly Farm. We visited Stanley’s Greenhouse, a second-generation garden center established in 1955. Monte Stanley was our Retail Sales Award winner. Richard Hawke, now our President, received the Educator Award. Bobby and Richard Saul, whose nursery we’ve visited twice when we met in Atlanta, shared the Grower Award.
We were divided between two Knoxville hotels. I got the second, so to get to lectures and meetings, I had to pass the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Sorry, Caitlin, I never made it inside.
Our dinner cruise on the Star of Knoxville, plying the waters of the Tennessee River, featured both kinds of music: Country AND Western! The Knoxville festivities wrapped up with a Southern barbecue dinner at the U of Tennessee Gardens, and then the fun moved on to Music City: Nashville. I, alas, had to skip that leg and drive home – a long but serene trip with magical views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
2006 Montreal, Quebec
Perennial Plant of the Year®: Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Feuerhexe'
The Award of Merit went to Stephanie Cohen, who has also won Educator, Garden Media Promoter, and Service Awards. The Diva is about out of wall space. Penny and Roger Preuss, Equinox Valley Nursery, copped the Retail Award. Alain Baril, Plant Select Inc., Quebec, took home the Grower Award. Piet Oudoulf of The Netherlands was our International Contributor.
Garden writer Larry Hodgson, who snagged the Garden Media/Promoter award, explained Zone 5 gardening: Snowy winters followed by short summers composed of long days make for exuberant explosions of color, with three overlapping growing seasons happening all at once.
Our trade show was in the Complex Desjardins, a retail shopping mall adjacent to the hotel. Eight tours visited area retailers, private gardens, and the spectacular Montreal Botanic Gardens, of course. An international exhibition, Flora Montreal, featured numerous imaginative, borderline-bizarre gardens against a soaring backdrop of gargantuan grain silos. The designers among us were downright giddy.
Post-Symposium tours took attendees to Ottawa or Quebec City. Sadly, I had to return south to PA by way of the spectacular Thousand Islands region.
2007 Columbus, OH
Perennial Plant of the Year®: Nepeta 'Walker's Low'
The Association came home for its Silver Anniversary, with a full week of tours, lectures, tours and more tours – 13 in all. Branching out from centrally located Columbus, we went south to Cincinnati and north to Cleveland. But the capital city has its own treasures, like the gardens of German Village and Franklin Park Conservatory.
The Award of Merit went to past President George Pealer of Millcreek Gardens, who chaired the Local Site Committee. Gus Corso was Grower of the Year; Dr. Laura Deeter, Educator; Retail sales, Donald Post of Farmer’s Daughter/Hillcrest Farm, MA; Young Professional, local designer Kris Cady.
Oddly, we don’t know who received a Service Award that year. If it was you, please raise your hand. But we do know that Poul Peterson of Denmark was our International Contributor of the year.
PPA’s birthplace is the only city that’s hosted four PPA Symposia. We’ve met twice in 11 cities. How many can you name?
2008 Philadelphia, PA
The Perennial Plant of the Year, presented by Karen Olson of Sunny Border, was Geranium ‘Rozanne’ -- the first patented plant chosen, and a controversial pick. Many folks, including some Board members, felt patented plants shouldn’t even exist, let alone be the PPOY. But in fact, the membership had voted ‘Rozanne’ #1 for three years running before that opposition was overcome. Only two other patented plants have been chosen as our PPOY since, in 2012 and 2023. Can you name them?
Philly #2 offered 40 speakers and 10 tours. Kirk Brown debuted his John Bartram persona. John Story dished on the science and magic of forcing perennials into bloom for flower shows. Polar opposite views of growing for landscapers came from Jerry Fritz, whose clients fly him to their second and third homes, and Bruce Hellerick, whose firm spiffed up industrial parks and shopping malls. Ed Overdevest asked, “Is There Still Money To Be Made in Perennials?” Sixteen years on, I guess that’s a Yes.
We finally got to Chanticleer, “A Pleasure Garden,” which hadn’t yet gone public back in ‘94. That small gem was a huge hit. Several attendees were heard to say, “I want to live here!” Many were reluctant to reboard the bus and leave -- for Longwood Gardens, where fountains and champagne awaited!
Other tours included Mt. Cuba in Delaware, Conard Pyle (now Ball/Darwin) and Aquascapes Unlimited, with tour guide John Courtney – a speaker in Asheville this year. President Caroline Kiang presented the Award of Merit to Roy Klehm, and the Educator award to Dr. Holly Scoggins, who later became President herself. North Creek Nursery hosted an epic dinner party with a surprise guest: Elvis, a.k.a. Neil Diboll of Prairie Nursery, arrived in a 1956 Chevy.
2009 St. Louis, MO
PPOY Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
The 27th National drew 658 attendees, including visitors from England, The Netherlands, Germany and Israel. A day of education open to all drew 220 gardeners, Master Gardeners and various professionals. It was the first, and most successful, of several such outreaches. It takes lots of local support, and co-Chairs Bill Ruppert and the late Cindy Gilberg nailed it.
Tours included the fabulous Missouri Botanical Garden. A Foundation benefit dinner cruise on the mighty Mississippi River aboard the Becky Thatcher paddlewheeler attracted 175.
A tour stop I’ll never forget: The rooftop garden at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a healing oasis where desperately ill kids and their families can find some peace. Among the plantings, paths and ponds was a visitor’s book. I flipped it open at random and read: “I love this garden. I was sitting here the night the helicopter landed with my daughter’s new heart.”
Seventeen years later, I still can’t tell that story without choking up. Don’t ever let anybody tell you a garden is a luxury.
I visited the Gateway Arch. If you’re claustrophobic, you’d hate the cramped trip up and back down, but the city and river views are worth a little discomfort. Way up top, you can feel that audacious structure sway ever so slightly. So if you’re claustrophobic AND acrophobic, just admire it from ground level. It’s pretty cool that way, too.
Paul Westervelt, of Saunders Brothers Nursery, received the Young Professional Award. The Educator Award went to Jennifer Brennan, who served as President during a difficult transition in Association leadership. Our Award of Merit winner was Dr. Darrel Apps, daylily breeder extraordinaire, erstwhile Director of Education at Longwood, and force of nature: At 86, he’s still breeding and gardening in Wisconsin.
2010 Portland, OR
PPOY Baptisia australis
Lucky me! I got to Portland, one of my favorite places ever, twice that year, first for PPA and then the FarWest Show. It’s almost cheating to grow in the Pacific Northwest. Climate and soil conspire to create near-perfect growing conditions (aside from several droughty weeks most years) for perennials and shrubs. You won’t see bigger, better Hydrangea anywhere.
President John Hoffman presented the Grower award to Grace Dinsdale of Blooming Nursery, co-chair of the Local Site Committee, which assembled a stellar week of tours and talks. We explored wine country, gaped at Mt. Hood and the Columbia River gorge, and wrapped up with a marvelous green (zero landfill waste!) dinner and plant sale at Washington Park.
Blooming Nursery and Terra Nova Nursery were highlights, as were Rare Plant Research and Dancing Oaks. The Award of Merit went to Dan Hinkley, whose Heronswood Gardens is now owned by the S’Kallam Tribe.
2011 Atlanta, GA
PPOY Amsonia hubrichtii
Ken James, James Greenhouses, won the Grower Award. Kelly Norris, now a fixture on the lecture circuit, copped the Young Professional Award. Debra Knapke was our Educator of the Year. The International Contributor Award was shared by Mordecai Kopilovich, Israel, and breeder Thierry Delabroye of France.
The Award of Merit went to Allen Bush, formerly of Holbrook Gardens, now retired from Jelitto Seeds. He’ll be a keynoter in Asheville, scrolling through PPA history. Catch his talk, and you’ll understand why Allen’s is the face that comes to mind whenever I hear the term “Southern Gentleman.”
But! Allen is also an alumnus of the infamous Ratzeputz Gang, a rowdy roving band of horticulturists who wined, dined, and botanized their way across several continents. It’s always the quiet ones.
2012 Boston, MA
PPOY Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ PP13859
My Boston memories actually begin in autumn 2011, when the Board met to cruise potential Symposium tour stops. A freak October blizzard tracked up the coast, dumping heavy wet snow and trashing trees from MD to ME. The soundtrack of that visit was a constant chorus of chainsaws and chippers. The scars were still visible in July.
We were in Boston for Independence Day so once again, there was a fireworks cruise. Speakers included famed British plantsman and Award of Merit winner Adrian Bloom, and Roger Swain, the red-suspendered star of Victory Garden.
As President, I had the honor of presenting the Award of Merit to William Cullina. Our Grower of the Year was Peter van Berkum, who also recounted rebuilding after a tornado flattened his New Hampshire nursery. Fergus Garret of Great Dixter, England was honoured as International Contributor. Dr. Laura Deeter of Ohio State, our go-to AV tech for years, received a well-earned Service Award. The Young Professional Award went to forever young James Brown of New Moon Nursery, NJ. Russel’s Garden Center of Wayland MA took home the Retail Award. C.L. Fornari, stalwart lecture circuit regular, copped Garden Media Promoter honors.
We toured Elm Bank, the MA Hort Society’s home, and its large Adrian Bloom-designed garden. Other highlights: Cavicchio Greenhouses, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Garden in the Woods, Weston Garden Center and Stonegate Gardens. A post-Symposium tour took a long bus ride up the Atlantic seaboard to the Coast of Maine Botanic Gardens.
I have very few regrets about PPA symposia over the years. But in Boston, I stupidly passed up a Red Sox game at sacred Fenway Park. What was I thinking?
2013 Vancouver, BC
PPOY Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’
Our Award of Merit winner was Tony Avent, whose nursery we’ve visited twice. Regional Director Gary Lewis, of Phoenix Perennials, put together a true tour de force with this Symposium, including ferries, fabulous gardens, and a gorgeous dinner cruise. 2010 Award of Merit winner Dan Hinkley spoke, and joined us for a high-altitude botanizing hike on Whistler Mountain, with lush alpine meadows and multiple ski lift rides. One gondola featured a glass floor.
Western hort heroes Sean Hogan, Flora Grubb, Brian Minter and John Schroeder shared their wisdom. Friendly rival John Hoffman and I teamed up for a look at Panicum ‘Northwind’ and friends. Board member Irvin Etienne joined a panel discussion. If you can stay for Irvin’s talk in Asheville, you won’t regret it. He’s a hoot.
A pre-Symposium Vancouver Island tour took attendees on a long ferry ride to visit Butchart Gardens, the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, and more. Wednesday’s tour highlights included Valleybrook Gardens, Burnaby Lake Greenhouses, and lavender specialists Qualitree Propagators. All buses convened for dinner at lovely Minter Gardens.
As I mentioned re the Portland event: It’s practically cheating to be a grower or gardener in the PNW. Gary tells his retail customers to add 20 – 25% to the finished sizes on his printed tags, as a regional bonus.
Thus ends the penultimate chapter of this four-part history. Stay tuned for the last verse, 2014 – 2023, which includes the Lost Years of the Covid era.
The aforementioned Paul Westervelt told me recently, “It's humbling how much the PPA has offered me -- more opportunities than I have time to take full advantage of. The one downside: It’s totally screwed my expectations for other organizations.”
Think about what PPA has been to you as you finalize your Asheville plans. And remember: “symposium” is from a Greek phrase meaning “To drink together.” L’chaim!
Wondering about the trivia questions? Patented Perennial Plants of the Year are Geranium 'Rozanne' (expired), Brunnera 'Jack Frost' (expired), and Rudbeckia 'American Gold Rush'.
Cities that have hosted two PPA National Symposia are:
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
- Philadelphia, PA
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- St. Louis, MO
- Vancouver, BC
