International Rock Garden Conference 2021

[Maggi Young]

The International Rock Garden Conference 2021 is  progressing through its planning stages.

Advance notice for your diaries: the International Rock Garden Conference 2021 - a gathering for lovers of plants, gardens and mountains - will be held 08-11 May 2021 at Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland.


SRGC looks forward to welcoming you all to Scotland in 2021.
More information will follow in the coming months and years!
We are confident that this will be a superb event where  plant lovers from across the world  can convene to celebrate our  common interests.

Edit- 5th April 2020  Alpines 2021- cancelled

From Matt Topsfield, registration secretary and  Julia Corden SRGC President 

ALPINES'21 & CORONAVIRUS (SARS-COV-2 / COVID-19)

Dear delegates, friends and colleagues,

Following careful consideration and discussions between the 2021 Conference Committee, the SRGC Council and the AGS, we have taken the unanimous decision to cancel the "Alpines 2021” conference, due to the ongoing coronavirus (SARS-COV-2 / COVID-19) pandemic. We do this with a heavy heart, and hope you understand this was not an easy decision, but it is our belief that the effects of this virus will be felt for a considerable time. International travel, which is an essential part of any international conference is also likely to be curtailed through next year at least. Therefore, cancellation at this time is in the best interests of everyone's health and wellbeing.

The Scottish Rhododendron Society, the Rhododendron Species Conservation Group and the  Czech Rock Gardeners Society were pleased to be sponsorship partners to the Conference but understand the reasons to cancel.

REFUNDS
We are arranging for all booked delegates to receive a full refund of their registration fees. We have directly emailed all booked delegates with more information.

CONTACT US
The Alpines 2021 email address will remain active and regularly monitored for some time yet. If there are any problems or queries with your refund, please contact us at: alpines2021@gmail.com

We know that you will be as disappointed as we are, but we hope we can all meet again when circumstances permit.

Keep well all.

Best wishes,

Matthew Topsfield
Registration Secretary
International Rock Garden Conference 2021

[angie]

Can’t wait , just wish it was sooner .

Angie 

[sippa]

We hope to be there.

Marianne

[angie]

Today it is  .......
(Attachment Link)

Roll on 

Angie 

[brianw]

Like the Scottish alpine meadow in the August posting. Wonder what currency fees will be in that far away?

[Maggi Young]

I don't think there was ever any intention to restrict  the conference to Scottish mountains, Brian! 

The organisers are  working to make sure there are  many choices for those attending - which will help whatever the  currency situation might be - they're a clever bunch!

[Ophrys]

Hello,

sounds very interesting! I saved the date and I'm keen to the International Rock Garden Conferenz!

Ophrys

[Susann]

My female friend is looking for someone who would like to share a twin room at Salutation hotel. No other hotel. She is the sweetest person ever, fanatic rocker and speaks very good English. She is staying from 9th to 12th May. If you are searching for someone , please send me a message. So looking forward to see you all!

[Jan Jeddeloh]

Shall we start making a list of forum participants planning to attend the conference?

I'll start.
I'm Jan Jeddeloh from Portland, Oregon USA and I'm signed up for the seven day pre-conference tour (at least I hope I am-emailed the form today) and the conference. 

[Maggi Young]

International Rock Garden Conference 2021
ALPINES '21 INTRODUCES...PERTH, SCOTLAND

Booking now open at: http://tinyurl.com/t5238vx   where  further  details can be  found  too.

Booking  is  going  well  but  remember- book before  31st May 2020 to get  a  10% conference  discount!!
Early bird discount until 31 May 2020

Our home for the International Rock Garden Conference 2021, Perth is an attractive and convenient city located in the centre of Scotland, well connected to many attractions near and further afield.
Our venue, the modern Perth Concert Hall is located on the northern edge of the city centre and provides all the facilities we need.
There are attractive gardens within the city, including Branklyn and the Bellwood Heather Garden. Further afield are delights including Scone Palace, Cluny House Gardens and Explorers at Pitlochry.
We hope delegates will enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Perth, Scotland

Speakers for the International Rock Garden Conference include Marcela Ferreyra, an expert in Patagonian flora, John Massey, a decorated plant breeder with specialist knowledge of hellebores and alpines, and Robert Rolfe, a celebrated author and alpine enthusiast. Join us in Perth, Scotland 7th-11th May 2021 for fun, games and PLANTS!

Speakers so far include:

Olga Bondareva – Russian Alpines
Hamish Brown – New Zealand Alpines
Ian Christie – Scottish Alpines and Orchids
Paul Cumbleton – South African Bulbs
Marcella Ferreya - Patagonia
Jim Jermyn – European Alpines
John Massey – Hellebores and Alpines
John Mitchell – 25 years of China
Johan Nilson – Himalaya
Jiři Papoušek – Tufa and Alpines
Robert Rolfe – Alpines in Cultivation
Anne Spiegel – Anne’s Rock Garden
Paul Spriggs – Crevice Gardens
Ian Young – Bulbs in Cultivation

[Maggi Young]

From Matt Topsfield, registration secretary and  Julia Corden SRGC President 

ALPINES'21 & CORONAVIRUS (SARS-COV-2 / COVID-19)

Dear delegates, friends and colleagues,

Following careful consideration and discussions between the 2021 Conference Committee, the SRGC Council and the AGS, we have taken the unanimous decision to cancel the "Alpines 2021” conference, due to the ongoing coronavirus (SARS-COV-2 / COVID-19) pandemic. We do this with a heavy heart, and hope you understand this was not an easy decision, but it is our belief that the effects of this virus will be felt for a considerable time. International travel, which is an essential part of any international conference is also likely to be curtailed through next year at least. Therefore, cancellation at this time is in the best interests of everyone's health and wellbeing.

The Scottish Rhododendron Society, the Rhododendron Species Conservation Group and the  Czech Rock Gardeners Society were pleased to be sponsorship partners to the Conference but understand the reasons to cancel.

REFUNDS
We are arranging for all booked delegates to receive a full refund of their registration fees. We have directly emailed all booked delegates with more information.

CONTACT US
The Alpines 2021 email address will remain active and regularly monitored for some time yet. If there are any problems or queries with your refund, please contact us at: alpines2021@gmail.com

We know that you will be as disappointed as we are, but we hope we can all meet again when circumstances permit.

Keep well all.

Best wishes,

Matthew Topsfield
Registration Secretary
International Rock Garden Conference 2021

[Maggi Young]

I know  how  hard  the  SRGC committee  has  been working  and  how advanced  most of the  arrangements were - but  this  is  a  pandemic and we  cannot  expect  things  to return to "normal"  at any  speed, even if  the  crisis  passes  as  quickly as the  most  optimistic models hope for - a difficult  decision to cancel the  event and  a  great disappointment  to many,  but the  right  one.

This  is  very  sad  and we  can  only hope  to meet  again.
 
Well done  President  Julia  and   your  2021 committee for  taking the  brave  decision. Safety first.

 MargaretYoung  SRGC Hon. Vice  President.

[Margaret Thorne]

Why not invite all the speakers to do their Conference talks on Zoom? That way a lot more members could be involved and the quality of the photographs would be even better than in a lecture theatre. Richard Green's excellent Zoom talk last night demonstrates how the Club can move forward safely even during the difficult times we are now experiencing.

[Maggi Young]

Time  zone  differences  are  the  main problem for  international involvement for  these  zoom talks -  Arie  and  Lee  Vanspronsen in Canada had to  get  up at 4.30am to join Cliff  Booker's  AGS  talk the  other  day!  Not  sure  how  many  would  be  game  for  such and  early  start- or the  UK folks for  a  late night  talk. A lot  of  speakers  might  mot  be  exactly  sparkling  at that time  of  day, either!!

 I'll draw  the  attention of the  2021 committee  to  these  posts.

[Ian Y]

Why not invite all the speakers to do their Conference talks on Zoom? That way a lot more members could be involved and the quality of the photographs would be even better than in a lecture theatre. Richard Green's excellent Zoom talk last night demonstrates how the Club can move forward safely even during the difficult times we are now experiencing.

Margaret to hold the full International Conference by Zoom in theory is a nice idea and while it sounds easy there are many issues that would need to be resolved and I cannot see it happening.
As you state some groups are hosting  meetings on zoom and I am sure we see more of that happening in the coming months.
I am sure if it remains that meetings are not possible then the SRGC will explore more options but all that requires willing volunteers with the necessary skills.