Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms

A Special Event with ARS CT Chapter & Blau House & Gardens Co Sponsored by Wakeman Town Farm featuring Melissa Finley Senior Curator, NYBG

Join us for a journey through the evolutionary origins and modern hybrids of the rhododendron and their landscape use.

Melissa Finley, a Senior Curator at the New York Botanical will giver her presentation on Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms”.

Box Lunch Option: Enjoy a delicious meal with fellow plant enthusiasts.

Guided Tour: Explore Blau House & Gardens, a Westport hidden gem.

Schedule:

Starting at Wakemam Town Farm 134 Cross Highway Westport, CT 06880

• 9:30 AM – Coffee and Pastries ( sponsored by Oliver Nurseries )

• 10:00–11:15 AM – Rhododendrons History with Melissa Finley

• 11:15 AM–12:15 PM – Box Lunch

• Select this link to purcahse your Box Lunch

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1FWmy08RK2yrsXhJSkMGKxXDR7vBx9DNrj4QfTZvMjb2W1Q/viewform

• 12:30–2:00 PM – Tour of Blau House & Gardens (BHG) contributions (Parking directions and map to BHG will be sent after registration)

Address of BHG is 9 Bayberry Ridge Road , Westport, CT 06880

Melissa Finley Bio:

Melissa Finley is the Thain Senior Curator of Woody Plants and Curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden. She leads the development of the Garden’s woody plant collections, oversees tree risk management data, and advances plant science communication for diverse audiences. Melissa holds a master’s degree in plant pathology from the Pennsylvania State University, where her research examined how Erwinia amylovora—the bacterium responsible for fire blight—parasitizes apple fruit tissue. She is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and a qualified Tree Risk Assessor. Deeply engaged in the science of trees, Melissa is a dedicated student of tree physiology, biomechanics, and pathology, bringing both technical expertise and curiosity to her work in urban horticulture.