Is the heat off on the destruction of the azalea collection? Some would have you believe so, and the new director has said that she is delaying the matter in the face of community outrage after the semi-announced destruction was leaked. What are we talking about? Azaleas. Old azaleas. Pretty ones. Pretty big ones. Pretty big, pretty old, pretty azaleas.
Again- Arb management off-handly announced the destruction of the azaleas (an attraction that draws 100,000 people each spring) with little notice last fall. So who's to say that they might not send in the chainsaws if we don't watch them?
For a brief update on what's happening Visit here (my previous diary entry)
The HillRagis taking an upbeat approach to the azalea controversy, so what's to worry? Written by Rindy O’Brien who was the Executive Director of the Friends of the National Arboretum, and believes it is the best open space on Capitol Hill. She writes of the new director delaying, not rescinding the removal decision.
The telling quote from Rindy's article? "Fortunately, Dr. Hefferan, the new Director of the National Arboretum, has slowed down implementation of the plan to remove the azaleas. She wants to find a way to suspend the earlier directive. An announcement about the future of the azaleas should be forthcoming very soon."
The announcement of the Chinese Garden, on January 24, evidently took the FONA people by surprise. It's still not reflected on their website, while there is avery big and active link on the Arb's website.
Are there other wheels within wheels that we don't know about? Is there a move afoot among commercial nurseries that depend on the good graces of the Arboretum to lobby for the destruction of the azalea collection- either through inattention or outright bulldozing? Does the plan to upgrade the main admin building have anything to do with the destruction of the azaleas?
Are the unlabeled azaleas culls, rejected sports or other outright garbage? (and why do they look so good?)
For up to the minute information visit:
A save the azaleas website: Save the Azaleas
And the FONA website
And for those who care- No I'm not really a plant person. I'm an anti-stupid bureaucracy person.