Volume 37:7

October - the month of vivid colours and significant transitions

Editor: Verna Buhler
Contributors: Alan Campbell, Carrie Nelson, Joanne Meredith, Tricia Guiget, Verna Buhler
Technical Support: Joanne Meredith

There is much to look forward to, including an engaging lineup of speakers and a proposed round-table discussion where we can learn from the experience of our own members.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 7:00pm
at THE HUB, Cowichan Station

LLOYD GILMORE
of the Victoria Rhododendron Society

Presents
An Introduction to Hybridizing and Propagating Rhododendrons

It is renewal season for the CVRS. Money collected between now and the end of November will be credited to 2027.

Here are the 2 membership options that are available to us:

1. Receive the JARS via an email link for $40 CAD.

2. Receive the JARS by mail to your mailbox 3 times a year (and have digital access) for $65 CAD.

Article by Alan Campbell

What is the purpose of the rhododendron flower? Fundamentally, attraction is the basis of its design. The rhododendron flower is the allure which alters the path of a passing insect.  Mother Nature’s improbable flyer, the Bumble Bee, unwittingly becomes an instrument of conception for the perpetuation of the species rhododendron.

We often trailed behind our new friends because we were squatting down identifying, photographing, and closely examining details of the horticultural treasures we found. I was immediately drawn to trees and shrubs, and my sister was noting the tiniest alpine plants. We discovered, shared, and discussed plants on every hike.

Therefore, I thought that I would focus October’s feature plants on several surprises we found growing in their natural habitats in the Alps of Switzerland.

On our first hike in Switzerland, not far above Kandersteg, I unexpectedly noticed a pink flowered shrub — a dwarf rhododendron in bloom. I had not even considered seeing rhododendrons, so this delightful sighting nudged my interest.

The subalpine and alpine slopes of Switzerland feature a mixture of coniferous trees, the most common being Pinus cembra (Arolla or Swiss stone pine), Picea abies (Norway spruce), Abies alba (Silver fir), and Larix decidua (European larch).

High up,where the air becomes thinner and only a few plants can withstand the harsh climate, grows a flower that has fascinated people for centuries: the edelweiss.

By helping pollinators make it through the colder months, you’re also supporting the population that will return to your garden in spring, just as your rhododendrons begin to bloom.

One of the best mediums for seeding rhododendrons is sphagnum moss.

You can easily grow sphagnum moss at home by placing live sphagnum strands on a damp, acidic base inside a clear, covered container with bright, indirect light. 

I planted my first rhododendron 46 years ago, when we got almost an inch of rain a week throughout the summer, keeping all plants and lawns healthy. Now, with drought conditions and water restrictions, what can we do in October to ensure these beautiful plants live on?

Volume 37:6

Aconitum tauricum (Taurian monkshood) growing in its natural habitat at Jungfraujoch, known as “Top of Europe”, a famous mountain pass at 3,454 meters (11,332 feet) above sea level in the Swiss Alps.

Photo: Verna Buhler

I am honoured to be taking on the role of president of the Cowichan Valley Rhododendron Society. I hope to carry on the excellent work of those who have come before me and to help keep CVRS the welcoming, active, and enjoyable society it has become. It is a big challenge, but fortunately we have a wonderful depth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm among our members.

I am looking forward to the year ahead.

My gardening life has also entered a new chapter.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Diane Allen's House, Cobble Hill

Please confirm your attendance by clicking “Attending” so we can plan for seating and light refreshments.

Joining the local chapter of a rhododendron society can be the first step in an ever increasing and ever expanding experience. 

Please, however, do not view membership as an evening once a month, ten-months-a-year opportunity to discuss rhododendrons.

You will not be getting the utmost value for your membership dollar if you stay standing at the ‘window’ looking out.

Just north of Victoria on the craggy Malahat, noted for panoramic scenery and arbutus trees, a third-generation Vancouver Islander reached into his back pocket and found enough money to buy a mountain. He laid out a subdivision of the sort where quality mattered most. For a long time, it looked as if he'd lose his plaid shirt. In the economic downturn of the early 1980s, the 10-acre lots sat unsold while costs went into space orbit.

So join me in this article series as I create a “Rhodo Care-Calendar” with the expertise of CVRS members who have the experience and knowledge to guide us through the seasons of caring for rhododendrons in the Cowichan Valley.

The month for Summer Picnics and Celebrations

Rhododendron ‘Rose Tango’ Jim Barlup Hybrid

As many of you know, our recent Open Garden Tour at Verna Buhler’s beautiful Echoes of Nature garden was a great success, both socially and financially. The event not only provided a wonderful opportunity to share our passion for rhododendrons and gardening with the public, but it also helped offset the hospitality costs we incurred while hosting the ARS Tour of Cowichan Valley Gardens, featuring the gardens of Verna Buhler and George Morgen, Al and Liz Murray, and Elisabeth Zoffmann. Thanks to the excellent turnout of 131 visitors and their donations, the 16 May public tour successfully covered our cost overrun.