Last
May, Norman Todd drew our attention to the singular lack of a proper collective
noun for our beloved rhododendrons, offering a valuable prize for the best
descriptive symbol, to be judged by
your editor. With the help of certain
members, the definitive book “ An Exaltation of Larks” identified
the subject as the study of Venery, a word whose associations
might be considered inappropriate in gentle company, were it not for its
impeccable origins, traced to Master Twicki, chief huntsman to England’s
Edward II, and Dame Juliana, prioress circa 1486, of the
famous Sopewell Nunnery.
A few more have been submitted in the meantime, and
these are listed below. Indeed, the
enthusiasm for the exercise has overflowed the original dimensions of the
contest, to include ‘venerics’ for named species and hybrids, and even further
beyond, to describe the legions of garden fauna, both beneficial and
accursed. Here are the latest
outbreaks: A Regalia…A Rejoicing of Rhododendrons; ….and then.. a Lust
of Loderi… a Sniff of Edgeworthii….an Adulation of Augustinii…..a
Mozart of Dora
Amateis…..a Tang of Orange Marmalade…...an Election of Senator Henry Jackson…a
Voluntary of Henry Purcell…a Pizza of Pontica…an Ebullience of de Rothschildii and, rather beyond the Pale…..
a Sting of Wasps….a Slime of Slugs…. A Notching of Weevils… a Spining of
Hedgehogs…..
Contributors
to the
contest were Margaret de Weese, Joe Harvey, Linda Harvey, Jim Hofmann, Arlene
McGinnis, Bill McMillan, Norman Todd, Don Whittle, and Joyce Whittle (who
found the invaluable reference work); plus various relatives and far-flung
friends of this assemblage.
The
Winning entry? A Resplendence of Rhododendrons.
The
Winner(s)? Don and Joyce Whittle (a joint submission)