Hosta Sale and Bolivian Arts & Crafts Fundraiser

Conifer Rendezvous

Saturday, August 29, 2015

9am - 4pm

11618 McConnell Rd, Woodstock IL

In addition to the fundraiser, RFWP is also hosting a Conifer Rendezvous, featuring a full roster of talks and demonstrations about conifers, hostas, sedums, and hypertufa troughs. Hundreds of varieties of hostas available, $5 and up.  All proceeds benefit  Heifer International.  Sale of colorful Bolivian handicrafts benefits Mano a Mano International Partners. This year's fundraising efforts with Mano a Mano will go toward building a school in rural Bolivia in honor of Margaret Eyre. Rich Eyre's mother Margaret recently celebrated her 97th birthday. Donations can also be made online at Margaret Eyre School. Cash or check only. 

10am  Tips of the Trade: Pruning Conifers and Other Trees  

Dave Graham, Registered WI Landscape Architect (#137) and ISA Certified Arborist (#311), will discuss the basics of pruning trees, focusing primarily on conifers. Q&A session at end of talk. 

10am-12noon  Hosta Leaf Identification    

Tom Micheletti, former President of the American Hosta Society and Midwest Regional Hosta Society, and founder and first President of the Northern Illinois Hosta Society, will be available to identify hostas for people who bring the leaves of unknown hostas.

11am  Hypertufa Trough Workshop  

Cindy Hayden, Master Gardener, uses her artistic flare and passion for gardening to create hypertufa troughs that can be planted with alpines, mini conifers, hostas, sedums, and more. Create and take a trough home. Cost $15. Please email or call 815-338-7442 to register for workshop.

1pm  Hostas of Distinction  

Mark Zilis of A to Z Perennials will highlight some fascinating hostas. He has been involved in plant propagation since 1977, founding and running Q&Z Nursery for 22 years. He has introduced hundreds of new hostas. He will have copies of his latest book for sale.

2pm  30 Plus Sedums in 30 Minutes  

Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Garden has been breeding plants for over 20 years and has more than 50 unique plant introductions. He will talk about sedums and will have copies of his book The Plant Lover's Guide to Sedums for sale.

Refreshments will be served. Coffee and bakery goods in am, pizza and soda/water at noon. 

Heifer International (HI) is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty, and caring for the earth. HI provides livestock, trees, training, and other resources to help struggling families build sustainable futures.  The recipients of the animals must "pass on the gift" of the first female offspring and training in environmentally sound agriculture to another family in need.  In this manner, an endless cycle of transformation is set in motion as recipients become equal partners in ending poverty and hunger.

Mano a Mano International works in rural Bolivia building clinics, schools, roads, and irrigation projects, and provides airplanes for medical emergencies.  Rich and Susan visited these projects on their recent trip to Bolivia.  95% of funds collected are spent on projects.  

Rich Eyre worked with Heifer International in the Peace Corps 43 years ago in Bolivia and he can give testimony to its positive effects in those communities. In 1968, Rich worked in Bolivia with Joan Velasquez as a Peace Corps volunteer. She and her husband Segundo began Mano a Mano International 17 years ago to assist rural Bolivians with health care, economic development, and education. For her work, Joan received the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service 2008 for continued work by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.