Craig George, Director of Hershey Gardens  (Hershey PA), will be the featured speaker for our Awards Banquet on Saturday, September 19.  Speaking  on the topic “Hershey Gardens and Our Roses.”  He promises an interesting evening with some horticultural humor, garden news, and beautiful images of the Gardens and its roses. 

Mr. George began his varied career as a Master Photographer Craftsman in Oklahoma, creating private portraits of two U.S. Presidents, as well as portraits of leading oil executives, business leaders, and others.  He also became a dedicated gardener at that time and currently grows his own roses. 

Moving his family to Washington DC in 1987, Mr. George turned to working with nonprofit organizations, high technology, public gardens and television.  As Director of Operations and Executive Director of the International Interactive Multimedia Association (IMA)., he oversaw the development of international standards for CD-ROM technology.  .   As Jr. Development Officer for the Smithsonian, he was involved in fund-raising and planning for the  new National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall.   During this time, he was deeply involved with public gardening management on all levels for the grounds surrounding the museum, directly across from the U.S. Capitol. 

 Craig and his wife moved to Pennsylvania in July of 2005, opening a bed and breakfast. Soon afterward he assumed Directorship of the 72-year-old Hershey Gardens.   He now oversees operations for the 23-acre garden with its 7500 roses, abundant other plantings, conservatory, butterfly house, and public programs.

David W. Wolfe will speak at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September19, on the topic “New Challenges and Opportunities for Managing Soils and Gardens in a Changing Climate.”  Receiving his Ph.D. in Ecology from UCLA Davis in 1984, Dr. Wolfe joined the faculty in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University that same year.

 Dr. Wolfe co-chairs the Cornell Soil Health Program Work Team and is on the Advisory Boards for the NY Water Resources Institute, the NY Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Change Planning Committee, and The New York Botanical Garden.

   He is a leading authority on the effects of climate change on plants, soils, and ecosystems.  The national media have reported on his recent research documenting the earlier spring bloom date of lilacs, apples, and grapes in the Northeast.

 Dr. Wolfe was lead author for the agriculture chapter of the Northeast Climate Change Impacts Assessment released July 2007and co-authored the agriculture chapter for the national Assessment report released in May 2008 by the U.S. Climate Change Research Program (www.sap43.ucar.edu).  Dr. Wolfe has published numerous books and articles on topics of plant physiology, soil, water, and the environment.

Louise Coleman  will speak at 11:30 a.m. on "Grooming the Rose:  How to Make a Good Rose Look Great".  

Mary Peterson will present her program,  “Griffith Buck’s Winter Hardy Roses”, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 19.  Mary’s articles appear regularly in in the American Rose magazine, other national publications, and several ARS bulletins. Her article on needle arts appeared in the 2008 American Rose Annual and she chaired the first quilt show at an ARS National convention in Shreveport.

  A frequent speaker both at the local and district level, Mary was instrumental in hosting a District all mini show and seminar for many years. She also presented a program at the second ARS Mini National convention in Missoula, MT on Mini Rose Bonsai.

  An ARS member since 1974, Mary and her husband Larry, grow approximately 200 roses and especially enjoy OGRs and Miniatures.  She is the past president of her local society and secretary of the Rose Hybridizers Association. She has held assistant district director and secretary positions in the New York District and serves on various committees at both the district and national level.            

 Her NY District awards include the Silver Honor Medal and the  Outstanding Consulting Rosarian Award; at the local level she earned the  Bronze Honor medal.  She is a Master Rosarian.