American Bamboo Society Annual Conference 2019 

This is a hands-on conference, where you can see and touch bamboo in the garden, as a farm crop, being used as cane, as art, and as a plant-tool to combat climate change. Each day is priced separately, but there is a Special Three-Day Package (excluding workshops) if you register before August 31, 2019. This conference will be memorable and fun!

Register Now! 

Thursday, 17th October, 2019, Garden Day in Portland, Oregon

8:15: Gather at Mark Spencer Hotel, bus leaves promptly at 8:30

9:00 Bamboo Craftsman

10:00 Bamboo Revolution

11:00 The World Bamboo Collection at the Hoyt Arboretum. 

12:00 Lunch

12:45 Japanese Garden and Rose Garden (1:00 and 1:30 pm tours at the Japanese Garden)

Options when done: Drop off at Hotel, drop off at Chinese Garden, or walk back. Admission to Chinese Garden not included.  

5:00 – 8:00: (optional) Charissa Brock - open studio. 

Take public transportation, an Uber, or carpool out to Charissa Brock's studio for an informal studio visit.

Friday, 18th October, 2019:  Bamboo Farming field trip at Bamboo Valley in Albany, Oregon

8:15: Gather at Mark Spencer Hotel, bus leaves promptly at 8:30

Field trip down the Willamette Valley to witness bamboo farming and production with Dain Sansome of Bamboo Valley, demonstrations of tools and equipment, as well as a visit to the largest grove in Oregon of Phyllostachys vivax. 

6:00 Return at Mark Spencer Hotel.

Saturday, 19th October, 2019: Lectures & Bamboo Fence Workshop at Bamboo Garden Nursery

8:15 Gather  at the Mark Spencer Hotel, bus leaves promptly at 8:30

Silent Auction - continuous

9:30 Jared Kinear, Clean Water Services and Deke Guderson, Pacific University – Wastewater Treatment using Bamboo Plantings

10:15 Andrea Melnychenko  – Biochar for Soil Remediation 

10:45 Daphne Lewis, author of Farming Bamboo - Bamboo Farming for Shoots in Georgia

11:30 Jos van der Palen, Kimmei Nursery, The Netherlands, Bamboo Introductions in Europe

12:30 Lunch

1:15 Fence Building Workshop with Mark Meenan – upper greenhouse

Tours of Bamboo Garden with Noah Bell

4:00 ABS General Meeting with snacks and beverages

4:30  Live Auction 

5:30 Dinner

Close silent auction

6:30 Cashier

7:00 Leave for Mark Spencer

 

Saturday Night - join bamboo friends for a Barbeque Dinner as ghosts of bamboo keep us company

 

Saturday Night - Exciting Live and Rare Bamboo Auction.

Sunday, 20th October, 2019:

Either: 10:00 -4:00 Class “Introduction to the fine craft of bamboo” workshop with Charissa Brock in Aloha Oregon. Or: Scavenger hunt of private gardens in inner Portland (directions provided at Saturday meeting). 

 

Charissa Brock's Workshop -  Introduction to the Fine Craft of Bamboo.  Until recently, the use of bamboo as an art material has been a mystery in the United States.  Through examples, demonstrations and a project, students will learn how to use heat preparation, splitting, cutting, bending and tying.  The end result will be a small-scale vessel which will be easy to take home.  Charissa is a fiber artist working with bamboo; she integrates wood, glass, paper and thread as visual accents and structural components.  The workshop is priced separately.  4 to 10 people can register. Don't miss it!

Auction Plants

Thamnocalamus crassinodus ‘Kew Beauty’

The blue canes of the delicate, airy cultivar develop bright red tones with morning sun exposure. 10 -15’ tall; tall hardy to Zone 9, but will take Zone 8 with some winter protection.

Donated by Stan Andreasen

 

Phyllostachys bambusoides ‘Richard Haubrich’

Very rare! The most unusual cultivar of “Japanese Timber Bamboo”. This slow-growing, heavily variegated specimen has a sherbet-orange glow in early summer as the new foliage begins to emerge. It only spreads a few inches per year so can be planted without fear of aggressive rhizomes. Unique color and very rare due to a slow-growing habit. Usually achieves 10-15’ in height, though can achieve 20’ in a mild climate with part shade. Hardy to Zone 7, but best in Zone 8-9.

Phyllostachys aurea ‘Albovariegata’

When this form of Phyllostachys aurea flowered in 1999 and either died or reverted to green, it was thought that this unique cultivar was gone forever. Fortunately it has reappeared. The leaves develop an orange cast in the fall, similar to P. bambusoides ‘Richard Haubrich’. To 15-20’ tall; hardy to Zone 7.

 

Phyllostachys nigra ‘Midnight’  (Clone X)

This seedling was chosen for its dark color and vigorous growing habit. Like the cultivar ‘Hale’ it darkens up quickly and evenly. We are not sure yet how tall it will get, but it should be similar in height and hardiness to regular Phyllostachys nigra. Seed collected and germinated in 2012. Hardiness is 5^oF

 

Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Argus’

First release into US market.  Similar to Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Harbin Inversa’, this new introduction from Europe has dark green stripes on a gold cane; however these stripes are much broader and showier than ‘Harbin Inversa’. Like all gold-caned P. aureosulcata, the new canes will blush red in the sun. To 20-30’ tall; hardy to USDA Zone 5.

 

Himalyacalamus asper ‘Variegata’

This beautiful variegated form of Himalyacalamus asper was discovered at Bamboo Garden several years ago. Hardy to 25F, so best for USDA Zone 9 or 10.  Extremely rare. 

 

 

Fargesia sp. ‘Scabrida’ “Silver Dragon”

 

The leaves of this new cultivar of F. sp. ‘Scabrida’ emerge with heavy white variegation, giving the plants a frosted look. The variegation mostly fades by midsummer. Discovered at the Bamboo Garden. New shoots are also more pink than the species. To 12-16’ tall; hardy to USDA Zone 7. Newly released.

 

Fargesia nitida ‘Ned’s Red’

 

A shorter seedling selection of Fargesia nitida chosen by Ned Jaquith for its deep red canes and slightly more upright habit than the species. To 8-10’ tall; hardy to USDA Zone 5. 

 

Fargesia sp. ‘Rufa’ “Little Red”

 

A sport of Fargesia sp. ‘Rufa’ with small leaves and a shorter, somewhat spiky habit. Most likely has similar hardiness to the regular Fargesia ‘Rufa’, but will only get around 5’ tall.

 

Fargesia demissa ‘Gerry’

 

Our most exciting new Fargesia. Purple-blue canes that are stouter than most Fargesia species, and a more open habit, give this new import a striking quality. Collected by Jos van der Palen of Kimmei Nursery in the Netherlands. To 10-15’ tall; supposedly hardy to Zone 5.

Chusquea virgata

 

A bamboo native to high-elevation streambanks in Costa Rica. The purple-mottled canes start out upright before gracefully arching over at the top. Not very tolerant of heat or cold, so a mild Zone 8-9 would be perfect for this plant. Donated by Susanne Lucas.

Arundinaria gigantea ‘Wisconsin’

 

A form of Arundinaria gigantea collected in Wisconsin, and reportedly leaf-hardy to USDA Zone 4. Should get 12-15’ tall in most climates. Not in cultivation yet, new release.  Could be the most cold hardy of any bamboo.

 

Phyllostachys edulis ‘Nabashimana’ (Stans Collection)

 

A seedling showing the same bold striping as the legendary Phyllostachys edulis ‘Nabashimana’. Should be hardy to at least USDA Zone 8 and should get 25-45’ tall. Donated by Stan Andreasen.

 

Phyllostachys edulis ‘Bicolor’

 

Rare form of “Moso”.  Golden canes with a green stripe show well against the backdrop of small, delicate leaves. To 25-50’ tall; hardy to USDA Zone 7 (although grows best in Zone 8-9).

 

 

Our Presenters and Tour Locations

Bamboo Craftsman

Troy Susan Started Bamboo Craftsman in the early 2000’s. The business has a showroom with beautiful imported objects including bamboo poles, and a bamboo nursery. In addition to the retail space Troy has done extensive public works incorporating bamboo for private clients and places such as McMenamin’s, a unique chain of hotels and restaurants. 

 

Bamboo Revolution

Mike Pullen started Bamboo Revolution in the early 2000’s in Portland Oregon. Bamboo Revolution is designed to inspire architects, contractors and homeowners to visualize the possibilities of bamboo.

Hoyt Arboretum 

See the The World Bamboo Collection at the Hoyt Arboretum. A wonderful collection of bamboo partially funded by the Ned Jaquith Foundation.

Japanese Garden 

Our tour group will be divided for this presentation. Both groups will visit the Japanese Garden and International Rose Test Garden of Washington Park then switch. The Japanese Garden just went through a large re-innovation, adding buildings and tea house to their already amazing gardens. Stop to smell the roses as you wait your turn for a guided tour.

Lan Su Chinese Garden 

A crowned jewel of Portland, the Chinese Garden features not to be missed traditional architecture, an art gallery and gift shop, ponds, and gardens all within one block. Drink tea in their tea room or just soak in the beauty. Entrance fee to the garden is not included with the conference. Walk back to the hotel from here, take an Uber, or the MAX. 

Charissa Brock

  has been working with bamboo as an art material since 1999 when she discovered it while pursuing an MFA. She travels around the USA to teach about bamboo art as well as creating bamboo and glass sculptures in her studio in Aloha, Oregon. She recently had two shows this summer, one at the Anacortes Arts Festival in Washington and the other at Riversea in Astoria, Oregon.

Her studio is open Thursday night from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM. Car pool or take the MAX to the Beaverton Transit Center and Uber from there to her studio. She is also teaching a workshop Sunday. 

Bamboo Valley Nursery, Albany, Oregon 

Dain Sansome and his wife Suya have been operating Bamboo Valley since 2003. They met while volunteering at Asian Rural Institute in Tochigi. Seeking excellent bamboo growth conditions in the US they landed in Portland, Oregon meeting Ned Jaquith, founder of Bamboo Garden, and he offered them work. A dream come true they packed up in February 2003 at -18F and drove to Portland to begin a life together with bamboo. Since moving to Albany and establishing their bamboo farm they have planted around 20 species, while giving wide berth for “Vivax”, “Moso”, “Bory”, and “Henon”. Truck work, excavation and stump grinding help pay bills and are practical since the same machinery is useful on the farm.

Jared Kinear and Deke Guderson

Jared is the Recycled Water Program Manager at Clean Water Services.  He is a Professional Wetland Scientist and has worked on design, permitting, and implementation of wetland mitigation and stream enhancement projects throughout the Pacific Northwest over the past 20 years.  Jared also manages the Reuse and Biosolids Programs for Clean Water Services. He will be joined by Deke Guderson of Pacific University who partnered in this project.

Andrea Melnychenko

Andrea Melnychenko is a plant biologist who has been working in the horticultural field for the last 18 years. She holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Biology from Portland State University where her research focused on studying bamboo physiology and plant/atmosphere interactions. She presented her work with bamboo at the World Bamboo Congress in Belgium in 2012.

Daphne Lewis

Daphne Lewis is author of “Farming Bamboo”. Daphne documents yearly yields of bamboo shoots of various species of Phyllostachys in Georgia. Since 2011 she has harvested shoots from 20 year old groves of several varieties in nearby towns. In April of 2014 she planted twelve species of Phyllostachys on her farm in Hawkinsville Georgia. In 2020 they will produce their first crop of bamboo shoots. Like all bambuseros, she looks forward to “shooting season”.

Jos van der Palen

bamboo horticulturalist & collector 

 It’s now more than 30 years ago that I started with collecting bamboo. A few years later I founded my Kimmei Nursery in the Netherland in Valkenswaard in the south of Holland and started with my garden. China was slowly getting more open and me and my wife Gerry were able to travel several time across this country to search for new bamboos. We made contact with some Chinese bamboo experts and  this was the beginning of many  new introductions to Europe. But also today many exiting species find their way to “Kimmei”.

Mark Meenan, American Bamboo Company

The American Bamboo Company offers landscaping services including maintenance and removal of bamboo.  Mark has traveled intrenationally in pursuit of a deeper knowledge of bamboo. Mark has over 10 years of experience as a bamboo carpenter. He specializes in building eight styles of takegaki fencing for his clients and will often customize pieces for a client’s individual specifications. 

Noah Bell  

Join Noah Bell in an interactive walkabout of Bamboo Garden. The tour will introduce the group to the vast collection of bamboo present at Bamboo Garden and cover the basics of bamboo propagation with a special interest in rhizome division and seed collecting.  Managing Bamboo Garden since 2004, Noah brings a wealth of knowledge, with over 18 years of experience in bamboo production and nursery management. Ned Jaquith, the late founder of Bamboo Garden, started the business in 1984. Life long member of the ABS and founding member of the PNW Chapter, his amazing and diverse collection of bamboo evolved into the 20-acre bamboo nursery in North Plains, Oregon.