[url:jxyztgpv]http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/events/[/url:jxyztgpv]
This Saturday August 4th 9-noon at the Arboretum
I have some questions for those that have participated in the past or are involved.
1. Are workshop participants intended to be there at 9 and participate in a program until 12, or is it more loosely organized than that with activity going on the whole time and people can drop in any time?
2. The notice says to bring bud wood, but what will it be budded to?
3. For the potluck picnic, what does a bachelor-type without any significant fruit ready for picking bring to such a thing?
Jafar,
You can drop in most any time in that window of time. Rootstocks have been available in the past, so they should be this year as well. You can take scions home for budding to your trees too.
For the picnic all they require you to bring is a case or two of micro brew beer. Or not! 
or just bring a bag of chips.
Yes I am going to try to be there on time.
For taking budwood home, just bring your cooler, maybe ice packs to keep everything absolutely fresh, masking tape (to label budsticks) and a marker to write names on tape.
I plan to bring my clippers and wander up and down the orchard rows, seeing if there is anything there I could use. I did it once before, but did not bring that much home.
My neighbor needs cherry scions of all types. I am going to supply him with Bing cherry, but could use all other types. I think he has Van or something.
Robin, bring a couple of those plums. I am thinking they might be Satsuma's and I could help you ID them.
Well, I missed everyone, and our picnic yet again ... let alone learning how to bud... 
" title="Crying or Very sad" /> I lobbied the powers-that-were to locate our Arboretum on the west side... but lost. So not only is it a long way from me, it's getting further every year!
I himmed and hawwed for days, had the families go-ahead, but instead of heading to Portland Friday night, spending the night with family and arriving at the budding classes at 9AM, I stayed home and slept in. But I was still coming! Actually headed off across the Chehalem / Yamhill Valley ... but instantly drove past five vehicles with occupants looking and driving like a niece who'd recently wrecked her second; then dodging countless bicycles, some riding 3 abreast, with one rider motioning an on-coming car into me on a blind hilltop... I took the next fork home.
The problem heading toward Portland is the traffic always gets worse, and not 5 miles from home it appeared as though anyone who could dive, was. So folks, I unloaded my chairs and a handful of Transparent’s and ended up reading & napping while sipping on a tall beer in our tent in the woods. Yes, I thought of you... and always miss you, but I boged out!
And about the food... that's always been hard one for me. I hate to ask my wife to bake one of her salmon loafs, they're always a hit, and we've plenty of canned salmon, but keeping it 'safe' while attending an extended event bothers me. ...And grabbing a bag of chips seems... less than enough. At past events I'd hit a nearby McDonalds, then sit nibbling cheese burgers on the sideline. Looking anti-social (if not feeling the same) I'd be invited to 'clean the dishes' that could “never be eatenâ€... I envisioned this again. Other times, I just wanted to roam the orchard; again, looking antisocial. No win..?
I'd have arrived late for the budding, but still want to see some of this "Parafilm" stuff... But as described, I had a relaxing lazy day. But I paid for it yesterday (Sunday)! I lost track of all the projects I took on around the yard. Let me try... Mowed, hours worth, including an access road to the top of this place where I got the mower stuck... Weed-ate around trunks and trails, and finished dicing up (W/ a steel blade straight-shaft industrial 'eater') a cover crop of Fava beans going to seed. Then roto-tilled them in while discovering my eventual meal of 'new potatoes' from the remnants of last years red and white crop being plowed up from the tines. With all the associated maintenance and hose dragging, it was a long productive day ... one I'd not have accomplished had I stayed (as planned) in Portland visiting relatives after the picnic. And I had these chores bouncing around inside my head ... like those old angel & devil cartoons; one sitting on each shoulder making suggestions as I headed out Saturday: Devil saying "keep going, forget about the chores" - Angel saying: "you're not only risking your life out here, your dodging your duties"...or maybe the other way around 
" title="Wink" />
Actually, I'll be 'lucky' to make it to the All About Fruit Show (as planned)... The harvest is more hectic than watering! (watered too). So if anyone would like to tell me what I missed, please do. If nothing else - I missed all of you, but not without trying~
Viron,
I didn't know the traffic was so bad or that you lived so far. You and you're Transparent's were missed (apples or plums?). I had even brought the last 5% or so of a roll of parafilm for you to play with.
I got there around 9:45 and missed the T-bud demonstration. I watched the chip budding demo. I've read about it and seen it in pictures but it helps to see it done live. I asked a couple of questions and then snuck off to explore the orchard while the others practiced. I figure I can practice all I want at home.
The highlights of the event for me were (in no particular order):
1) How friendly the members were, especially to my girlfriend who surprisingly decided to join me at the last second.
2) plumfan showing up with a pair of perfectly ripened figs for me to try (Negronne and Desert King), they sold my GF who didn't think she liked figs. He also got me excited about Captivator gooseberries which I liked much more than the other 5 or so variety samples.
3) discovering the aronia berries were ripe and much juicier and pleasant to eat than I expected. I liked them better than most of the fresh pears, apples, and gooseberries that I tried.
4) the Howard's miracle plum that tasted like peach to me. Since I'm afraid to grow peaches I figure that might be the next best thing.
5) getting to explore the Arboretum
On Sunday I half-heartedly t-budded some Feijoa seedlings from the arboretum to my seedlings at home. I also did the same with Mirabelle de Nancy onto my europlum and Compact Lambert onto my Compact Stella (I figured they should have similar growth habits). Before budding it on I did some research on it since I hadn't heard of it before. I learned that Lambert is one of the parents of Stella, and that both of the "Compact" versions were the result of a program in which the subjected scions to gamma rays and other radiation to induce genetic mutations. So these Compact versions are like the Incredible Hulk!
P.S. For the potluck my girlfriend went to a local Safeway's deli and had them slice some cheese and bought a box of crackers while I was listening to Ted talk about summer pruning. I can't say for sure if we were in the same spot when she got back that we were in when she left. He's a fount of knowlege. Worked for me.
Excellent! And thanks for the description! I took the instant 'traffic' out my way as an indicator of what lie ahead - and perhaps scared myself off the road. We've got the Chehalem Mountains between us and all points east, with no easy route over or around them; that's why I'll try to make more than a day-trip out of it... and knew I had other things, or nothing to do at home...
The "Transparent’s" were apples, some call them "Lodi." I procured the wood from the most prolific tree in Milwaukie, OR (as a water meter reader). I didn't think we had much of a crop this year, until they began falling. I've been told they're perfect - for around 8 hours, too green before - and too ripe afterward! ... Out on a limb to get them, these were perfect.
And I've still never T, or chip budded. I've watched both demonstrated, but it's been a good decade ago... And thanks for bringing your Parafilm, I’m on the lookout. Though scouring my yard / orchard for weeks now (after Joe Real's unreal antics), I've not found a use for the budding technique. I've one 'root-sucker' plum going crazy with ‘first year’ limbs already, and I’ve caged it in from deer, but whip & tongue grafts of well researched varieties next March seems the best method...
"Friendly members" - aren't they, and they're so healthy and well educated too. Many are a good decade younger than they look! But we're all in different stages of Orcharding; I'm at the less adventurous stage with an established orchard. Many of our members have truly forgotten more than I'll ever know... But we try to be there for those establishing and building their orchards -- just like someone was there for us, or at least me!
"Plumfun" -- did you wear your 'real names' or your Forum Handles -- or both? I'd even brought my aging "Luelling Memorial Chapter" button, with my weird 'given name.' ...I'm still waiting to hear someone name their kid "Viron." My advice to him/her would be, “it gets better, and, it makes a great Forum Handle!â€
I'm about to post something on Figs... or lack of. Glad your GF got to try a fresh one -- did she close her eyes..? Once you get past their 'fly larva' looks inside - they're great! My wife was as frightened as anyone with her first fig -- now she beats us to them! And I'd like to see our Arboretum in Summer... I try to check it out after our yearly grafting classes at CCC, but it's still dormant. ...Though the fruit generally teases me with possibilities I've either tried and failed, or haven't room for.
"Howard's miracle plum" -- now if I can only remember that for next Feb/March... Ozark Premiere has been the closest I've come to a "peach plum" (including a 'so-called' “Peach Plumâ€). I'm considering maxing out the little root-sucker I described. And: "I learned that Lambert is one of the parents of Stella, and that both of the "Compact" versions were the result of a program in which the subjected scions to gamma rays and other radiation to induce genetic mutations." -- Now I'm sure there's a 'political take' there, but I've never understood why more of that isn't / hasn't been done? Sounds like a positive use of nuclear energy to me! Between that, and genetic engineering - I'm still waiting for the seedless wine grapes the size of golf balls!
My fear has been just as I'd established my orchard - here'd come a generation of amazing fruiting plants that would have me replacing what I've got ... but we aren't even close. I wonder if commercial producers 'buy up' patents (like the auto industry) to keep new ideas (varieties) from making their investment's obsolete..? Just a thought~
And every time I get around Ted I wish he were my neighbor! Heck - we should all have adjoining properties! ...Speaking of which, I've got a garden to water and irrigation hoses to move... Glad you had a fun and worthwhile time - that's what it's all about. And my thanks to the organizers, those behind-the-scene members that make up for people like me 
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
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