ABS-SEC Meeting at Lewis Bamboo.

It was one of the largest turn outs we have had for the Southeast Chapter. We had free bamboo plants for each new member who joined. There were door prizes given away plus food and drinks for everyone! We had 41 folks attend with visitors and members from Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska and of course Alabama. Several visting members have large commerical bamboo nurseries. The president and vice-president of the chapter were present along with two directors and the founder of the Southeast Chapter. We had four master gardeners attend so all questions about bamboo and gardening were answered. Above is some of the door prizes given away after lunch was served. Some bamboo staffs, a bowl, vase and tray with coasters plus place mats all made of bamboo.

Each visitor received free bamboo socks. Over fifty pair of bamboo socks were given away. These socks are 100% bamboo fiber made through a high-tech process. The canes are 3 to 4 year old canes and are of excellent quality. Bamboo fiber is a natural, eco-friendly fiber without any chemical additive. the entire distilling process adheres strictly to 'green processing' standards. If you would like to purchase any of these socks or other clothing items made from bamboo just go to their web site. Rich Delano was nice enough to offer these to us for our meeting so please contact him @ http://www.bambooclothes.com

Top left, the group is in an area with P. v. Robert Young, Giant Gray Henon, P. bissetii
and are looking at a planting of P.a. Harbin. In the photo to the right, we are entering the
northeast section of groves were over 30 species are planted.

Above is one of our Moso groves which has many 4 and 5 inch diameter canes towering

over 60 feet overhead. In the photo to the right, Adam Turtle measures some 'sweetshoot'
dulcis at three inches.

Several members wonder through one of our Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'spectabilis' groves.
To the right, John from Michigan was amazed at the bamboo sizes here in the south. He
purchased five new species to add to his collection of cold hardy bamboos growing way up north.

In the center of the above photos is Roger Jr. He graduated from the University of Alabama
in 1999 with a BS in Business Management. He is a state licensed landscaper and now owns
and operates Lewis Bamboo, Inc.

the door prizes, a bamboo vase. In the photo to the right is Steve Deneham from Florida,
speaking with Dr. Mike Hotchkiss from Georgia. Roger Jr. is in the corner grabbing
a quick bit to eat before going back to giving tours.