Lewis Bamboo
Southeast
Chapter of the American Bamboo
Society meets in Savannah, Georgia
16th Annual SEC meeting at the Bamboo Coastal Gardens (Feb. 18th.
2006)
We will be adding more photos to this page as members forward them to
us.
New director of
the Bamboo Coastal Gardens,
Dr. Steve Garton, spoke with members about his future plans and
projections. These great
and historic gardens have much to offer and require many hours of
dedication to maintain.
Many of our active members own bamboo farms like Lewis Bamboo and every
spare minute
is spent working the groves. Our nursery is not a side line to make
money, but a life long
commitment to the world of bamboo. We attend and contribute every way
possible to assist
in the future of Bamboo.
Left to right are Adam and Sue Turtle, Steve Ray, Mary Ann Silverman,
Gayle, Roger Sr., Roger Jr. and Rachel of Lewis Bamboo.
Above,
Adam examines an unknown bamboo. Mike Hotchkiss, Adam Turtle,
Steve Ray, Roger Jr. and Roger Sr. of Lewis Bamboo were among those who
identified unknown bamboo species at the farm.
P. aurea 'Holochrysa'
Above,
Roger and Rachel speak with Tracy and his wife who have started
up a bamboo
business. They worked an apprenticeship with Adam and Sue Turtle
years ago where we first
met them. Lewis Bamboo will be referring customers to them as
soon as their groves can
support the bamboo orders. There are great opportunities available for
our younger bamboo
members in the bamboo world.
Below right, Steve Ray Sr. and Roger Lewis Sr. have over 60 years of
bamboo knowledge
in growing temperate bamboo.
Above left,
Roger Jr. talks with David Arnold of Tennessee. David just visited
Lewis
Bamboo Inc. a few days ago for the third time to purchase more bamboo
for his
collection. He helped us with the many photographs of this
wonderful meeting. We
hope he enjoyed his first visit to the Bamboo Coastal
Gardens and his impute was
greatly appreciated.
Above Roger Sr. and Steve Ray spent a lot of time with several other
bamboo nursery
owners helping the new directors ID bamboo at the gardens. Over the
years many
species have been misidentified and had to be sorted out.
Above left in the background shows some of the massive clumping bamboo
found
in the warm climate zone 8 of Savannah and Roger Sr. speaks with Mary
Ann
Silverman
about an up coming trip. Photo above right is Steve Ray, Roger Sr. and
Bert Silverman
outside the conference room where the bamboo auction was held.
Roger Jr. and Rachel with David Arnold set up for pictures of the
auction.
There are were quite a few bamboo plants and several bamboo items
auctioned
off with all the proceeds donated to the Southeast Chapter of the
American Bamboo
Society. Around $1000 was raised by the auction and another $1000
donated for
a memorial fund for Richard Waldron.
Above left David photographs the rare striping on 'Holochrysa'
culms.
Below left Roger Jr. and Rachel outside the audition where some giant
bamboo
hides most of the building. Below right Rachel with Sandra Kilgore talk
and stroll
through the groves scattered throughout 50 acres.
Members, Joe and Sandra Kilgore, pose in front of a beautiful
grove of Phyllostachys b. Castillon. They are growing around 12
different species of bamboo currently. They have been traveling
and assisting us with our nursery endeavors for years.
Below
Adam and Robby conduct the auction which brought around $1000 in
donations
to the chapter. Roger and Rachel look on at the bamboo is auctioned off
at a
swift pace.
Below are just of the few beautiful containers of bamboo and related
items that
were donated to raise money for our chapter. Robby Russell, Mike
Hotchkiss, David Arnold,
Roger Jr., Mary Ann, Karen, Steve and several others donated to help
our bamboo chapter.
Bamboo articles such as formed Square Moso bamboo, bamboo candles,
pandas and learning
CDs were auctioned. The giant bamboo sitting on the table below was
bought by Rachel
and Roger for Harper.
Robby
Russell addresses some members
as Rachel and David help set up the photography equipment for the
afternoon
business meeting.
Below Mike stands next to the rare bamboo, Robby and he donated to the
gardens.
Most all the wonderful members who attended donated at least $5 each to
the
Richard Waldron memorial fund and nearly $1000 was raised. Richard is
missed
by all of us who knew him and our bamboo world is smaller now that he
is gone.
Mike and Robby do not get enough recognition for the work they have done
freely over the years. From our family comes heart felt gratitude for
the
countless hours of volunteer work and donations they have so generously
provided.
Roger
Jr. of Lewis Bamboo Inc. along with his lovely wife Rachel attended the
annual meeting.
Their
beautiful 3 month old daughter, Harper, wasn't able to go this time, but
sent her
regards. She stayed behind with Granna and Grampy, another set of proud
grandparents.
Gayle Lewis
and Roger Sr. of Bamboo Design also attended.
Harper will begin attending meetings soon. While we have been talking
bamboo
a good bit to
her she only smiles at this time. We are sure bamboo will become
an important
part of her life and look forward to her playing in the groves.
