It is our great pleasure to invite you to participate in the following symposium of the 8th European Palaeobotany & Palynology Conference (EPPC), to be held in Budapest on July 6-10, 2010.

Our 2009 recipient was Marlyse Duguid. Marylse started her education as a Biology Major at the University of Connecticut. She changed her major to Horticulture after taking a class in Dendrology and graduated in 1999. Marlyse then worked for a major retail nursery for nine years and served that establishment in several capacities. She returned to school the fall of 2008 to pursue a Masters Degree in Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry. She currently has memberships in the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association, the NE Organic Farmers Association, The Society of American Foresters and the North American Rock Garden Society.

Marlyse developed her passion for plants while working in the green trade. She especially became fond of high mountain alpines, rare Rhododendrons, and dwarf conifers.

An unusual opportunity for ACS Scholarship recipients is to have their experience published in the Conifer Quarterly (CQ), a highly regarded publication with international exposure. We can look forward to Marylse’s Scholarship Article in the 2010 Winter or Spring Issue of the Conifer Quarterly.

The ACS Scholarship was established in 2005. Kevin Stevens received $1000.00 in 2006 to help meet his expenses to travel to Kyoto, Japan and attend a 6 week Garden Seminar.

Andrew Pulte, a Masters Thesis Candidate at the University of Tennessee, received $1000.00 to cover his travel and lodging to attend the ACS 2007 National in Seattle. His story appeared in the 2009 winter issue of the CQ.

Ryan Contereras (PhD Candidate at the University of Georgia) and Matthew S. Wilson (Master Thesis Candidate at the University of Auburn, Alabama) each received $1000.00 to cover their school expenses and purchase educational materials. Matthew’s story appeared in the 2009 spring issue of the CQ. Ryan gave a very professional and enticing presentation at the 2009 National on Long Island.

The new 2010 Application Forms can be downloaded here:
Download ACS 2010 Scholarship Application form.

They may also be obtained by contacting,
The ACS Scholarship Committee
Gerald P. Kral
900 Winton Rd., N
Rochester, NY 14609

Email: gkral1@rochester.rr.com

The Southeastern Region cordially invites members to join us in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 17-19, as we host the 2010 National Meeting. Charlotte is known as the "Queen City," and members will enjoy the royal treatment as they tour Charlotte's lovely gardens, take in a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity, and receive a good dose of Southern hospitality.

In early 2007, experts determined that time and nature had weakened the tree beyond saving. The tree was still alive but there were many dead limbs and rot inside. Several limbs had fallen off. A windstorm in December 2006 ripped a large section of rotted wood from old lightning scar out of the trunk about 80 feet from the ground. A fruiting conk of Phaeolus schweinitzii fungus on the face of the trunk indicated spreading rot inside.

Prior to the storm the tree was estimated at 206 feet tall, 17 feet in diameter, with a crown of 93 feet. The age was estimated 500 to 750 years old. The tree sprouted from a seed on the forest floor around the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Due to the large size a accurate age was never possible.

The 17-foot diameter trunk remains, and visitors can get a sense of the massive size of the tree. Large portions of the fallen tree will be left laying on the ground to become a

By Laszlo Orloci

By following the major trends of Western Europe, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana cultivars have become too widespread in Hungary, though it is clear by now that their adaptability to the general climatic conditions in Hungary is poor. Most of these cultivars require a temperate maritime climate with cool summers and ample precipitation all year round. Under the climatic conditions of Hungary, with hot, arid summers and a generally continental character, these cultivars provide good aesthetic appearance only in humid microclimatic areas. There is a strong demand for better substitutes for these taxa, which are similar in habit but are more adaptable under our climate. For this purpose X Cupressocyparis cultivars (hybrids of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and one of several Cupressus species) would be the best choice, since the few taxa already introduced have proven their adaptability.

What is a Renaissance?
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Renaissance as "A rebirth or revival.". Conifers are enjoying a Renaissance of sorts. Now more than any other time conifers are in the limelight. Technology has had a tremendous impact on information and availability of many plants and this has affected conifers as well. Even the media is publishing more information about conifers. With all of this focus, awareness of our favorite plants is on the rise.

Pine Trees?
How many times have you heard someone say, "I like this pine tree! The needles are so blue!"? This may not sound that strange to you at first, until you remember that they were referring to a Colorado Blue Spruce , (upper right Picea pungens). Many gardeners will refer to all needled conifers as Pines, (left Pinus), or all conifers as evergreens. This is far from being accurate, but it is really not their fault and is the same our calling any dog a "dog" or all insects are "bugs". It is mostly a matter of education and interest. The more interested you are in something generally the more you want to know about it and surround yourself with people of like interests. This is mainly the reason that the Conifer Society was created. We are a community of conifer enthusiasts and when we meet we relish in our ability to converse with each other and have others understand exactly what we are talking about.

Pruning Dos and Don'ts, and Some Conifer Tips

By Wade Harris

Editor'sNote: The information contained in this article was presented by the authorand Jack Wikle at the August 2000 National Meeting in Michigan.]

Thereare general rules to follow when doing any kind of pruning, whether the materialis deciduous or coniferous. However, it is also useful to think of pruning aplant in two stages: pruning required to maintain plant health and pruning forform or aesthetics. These areas are not exclusive and there is considerableoverlap. For example, removing dead or crossed-over limbs is necessary forhealth, but it also improves the form or aesthetic value of the plant.

It is also important to know how the plant grows. Does it push candles like pine? Does it flush multipletimes per year like hemlock? Does it grow continuously till fall like juniper?All these factors and more will determine the best way to prune for the desiredresults, and will also help dictate when to prune. For any species, how it growsis partly dependent on where it isgrowing, and partly dependent on the genetics of the plant. Plants respond totheir environment. Hemlock, for example, may flush three or four times per yearin Oregon, but here in Michigan we usually only get two growth flushes.