Greg, Robin, Dave; thanks for the update! …still nose-blowing out here … and the last thing I cared to do was pass this virus off to anyone else! --Eight Grafters? -- well blow me down!

One thing I’ve consistently missed is listening to our Speakers… People will show up at our table wanting to know if there’s enough time to have the grafts made because they’re anxiously awaiting a presentation. Before I began grafting at the Exchange / Fair I was also taking notes at those presentations … well over 20 years ago – I’ve still got those notes; they’re a kick to read! So, with that many grafters, one could likely sneak away to watch a Presentation..? It’s getting better all the time!

Glad you got your M-9 Dave … Shaun’s pretty sharp. My problem saving interstems is keeping from mixing them up with incoming scions! I remember once splicing together ‘the same’ tree when my client timidly questioned if I’d ‘used the right piece of wood’...? Glad they asked, embarrassing… Hardy kiwi start easy from cuttings … you’ll likely end up giving several away.

Was Jim Gilbert, of One Green World, around? A few years back, Jim always had an entourage! His HOS presentations inspired me to plant persimmons, figs & kiwi; and though I knew several of his ‘contacts,’ was for too many years in awe of him to strike up a conversation. …Until a few years ago, at an after-event (scion exchange) dinner in Canby. I likely embarrassed him with my pent-up praise, but hey – he’d earned it! Lately he’s had a political bent; I last met him at the State Capital where he asked me, of all things, if I’d received their new catalog? I hadn’t, jotted down my address and received one within days – thanks Jim!

Robin, glad you made it, and happy to read you’ve got the masking tape dilemma figured out… Took me a few years to remember to bring my own. There’s a justifiable reluctance in the eyes of anyone loaning their tape & pen during the heat of the exchange – they quite often walk away! I’ll occasionally have them ‘spell it out’ as I write it down and hand them the strip ~ pens and rolls of tape begin to add up. Occasionally, people want to ‘borrow’ something from my grafting box; they always ask, but one event haunts me…

An attendee (of the scion exchange) was apparently having difficulty grafting his scion & rootstock; though the Fair’s not set up for do-it-yourselfer’s – that’s what our yearly classes are for – interrupting me while grafting, he insisted on borrowing one of my knives. As I was using my real grafting knife, he spotted my 4 inch straight-bladed stainless steel ‘rough-cut’ knife. I warned him, ‘It’s sharp as a razor!’ “Good!” he said, and began a wild attempt at making a cut, aggressively pushing the knife toward his hand holding the stock. On the opposite side of the table, and a pretty big (if insistent) guy, I just told him to “Hold it!” Though my command turned quite a few heads toward the action – he ignored me. Like a Cop (actually had some schooling for that), I gave clear and distinct directions – and though everyone else understood what I was saying -- this guy continued violently carving. I then turned around and continued my work. He eventually returned the knife … and after disappearing, became the talk of the room. All agreed, “I’d” done all I reasonably could have to stop him – I’m sitting here laughing at the knife-fight likely to have ensued had I tried to take it away from him – especially using my little ‘inch and a half’ grafting blade… But it wasn’t funny, and if he was about to lose some fingers - I didn’t care to see it happen

I’ve previously described other encounters, all positive; some of the ‘best’ from people whose trees I’d grafted a year or two back, telling me of their success. Yep – I missed the Show!

And Greg, you’re just going to have to tear yourself away and get down here to share some of your hard-earned knowledge… See you next year?

…Ouch! As much enjoyment as I’m getting reading about the show …I’m beginning to miss it again – bad. But thanks for the continuing updates; I think all feedback makes for a better program; and come to think of it – I’d like to thank our Forum Originator, Steven, for putting this place together and keeping it up and running! Finally got to meet him at our last All About Fruit Show; wish we’d have had a way to compare notes like this so many years ago!

“…the place was packed, and it didn't let up until noon.” – That sounds like The Place! The grafting station never seems to let up that early, but with up to 8 grafters -- guess it could. Isn’t if fun to watch the intensity with which people clutch their coveted scions – and darn, my pristine persimmon wood’s still safely nestled in my refg… But my coughs loosening!

“i'd bet this was record breaking for attendance.” – That must have been something! I’ve seen it nearly wall-to-wall, and quite competitive! The ‘slippery’ ones usually (sneak) in early but are easy to spot. First, we don’t recognize them; second, their nervous! They’ll generally scurry back to the grafting tables where if any of us feel ‘charitable,’ we’ll make the splices - after making sure they’d paid. I’ve always thought the early stuff should go to those of us volunteering all day and rarely finding the time to collect it during the show. But I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and consider it conformation of the Society’s fine work.

“…empty mason bee tubes were sold out by 10:20, mason bees were gone by 12:30” – Wow! I’m sure we’re all following the (most recent) Honey Bee die-off … I wonder if Mason Bees can / will take their places..? Seems a lucrative opportunity for the Society; send empty tubes and a shelter back home with us each year and we can bring in some full tubes next season – worth asking / doing? I remember a day I spent pruning at the Arboretum (just for fun), Karen was constantly being interrupted by Mason Bee sales. Thought I might be in the wrong business (that of pruning for free)?

“…missed you viron - the grafting tables weren't the same without you and your daughter.” Thank’s Karen, she’s been listening to these ‘after event’ reports with the same feeling of loss I have… She’d even canceled a major ‘sleep-over’ to “wrap” for the HOS! I’d nearly cut her practice sticks, with size variations in the stock so she could ‘master’ the trick of keeping one side aligned… Sometimes wonder if I’m training the next generation of Grafters?

“all in all, a great time, long day, and some fine libations at the end, in the parking lot, thanks to shaun and yours truly.” – Missed that too… other than my last experience had Shaun and me yakking in the CCC parking lot for maybe 3 hours after the event – got a DVD to get back to him. The most difficult aspect of the event (for me) is the torture of walking past long-time friends … with your mental blinders on, headed to ‘your station.’ Though most understand, even the slightest conversation can get you playing catch-up for the next few hours! (and obviously, I like to talk…) But we’re there to share our knowledge and experience with the public, because our friends have likely heard it all before… Did sip a cider a couple weeks ago during a visit from my Dad; he brought some self-‘jigged’ & canned sardines – I had the cider, complements of Shaun. A special time, and the only alcohol I’ve ingested in weeks. (thanks again S.)

John: “It's a little harder when you've gotta watch young kids.” – I’ll never forget my first event grafting at the ‘Fair,’ I was so focused on not-messing-up that I hadn’t noticed some crying / whining children in the distance, until my client, a woman, said, “I can't stand the sound of whinny kids” – “especially little girls, little girls are the worst!” I stopped to smile, saying something like, ‘as hard as I work today, it could always be worse - I could be home with my whining little girls’ - ‘but my poor wife’s taken that on today so I can be here doing this.’ ...I was, and basically remain an ‘At-home-Dad.’ I’ve always felt bad for parents holding a squirmy littleone about three people back in line, waiting to have a couple trees made… I’ve often wanted to grab my box, motion them outside and do-up their trees. …Instead, I’ve realized I can’t rush anyone’s job … and kids don't stay that size…

Hey J: “I couldn't believe the crowd either. There were easily twice as many people as last year.” – Stop rubbing it in! But I love it, gets me into ‘Crowd Control mode!’ Funny, back when I went to school to be a Cop, they’d actually predicted ‘Food Riots’ in the future -- and were training recruits for crowd control. Granted, their ‘future’ was long before the turn of the last Century – but maybe they meant Scion Exchange Riots! I love the Buzz & Rumble!

“I was there pretty much the whole time. I got there 15 minutes or more early because my girlfriend was volunteering at the concessions. Unfortunately that wasn't enough clout to get me in early as the chauffeur.” -- I’ve seen your kind! (try the back door, and look busy)

“I almost feel bad asking questions sometimes because everybody is so busy.” -- Me too. A great aspect of our All About Fruit Show in October is, instead of everyone wound up tight for Spring, they’ve mellowed out, literally offering the ‘fruits of their labor’ – and it’s a great time to ask questions! I set up a grafting display at the last AAFS event, with examples of both bench & top working; I had plenty of time to talk to all comers. Granted, it was magnificent weather outside, with confirmation that ‘that’ had kept turnout lower than normal; but during the presentations (when everyone disappeared to listen to Glen or Ted…) we’d occasionally talk to each other! Much less stress and far more casual … and though you don’t go away with ‘new trees,’ there’s plenty of fruit to sample and admire. …I’ll see if I can make it again this Fall … about the time next season’s colds arrive home from school ~

“I probably spent 20 minutes or so checking out the grafting operation. One lady had some type of stonefruit that was really pushing leaves and flower buds.” – I hope she went to Shaun " title="Laughing" /> Those bother me too, and of course I’m asked, “Why?” “Because I try not to make any grafts I wouldn’t do for myself, and I’m not confident grafting ‘pushing’ wood on dormant rootstock (not that you’ve a much greater chance when the ‘saps’ flowing).” Though – I was handed a roll of “Parafilm” at the AAFS (Thanks!), and have read around here to wrap some over the buds or paint some ‘Doc’ over them to seal and delay further budbreak, just enough for the union to form and transmit the nutrients they need. I was actually looking forward to ‘playing around’ with that this year… Previously, I’d been breaking off the swollen buds to allow the ‘lateral’ buds to develop instead – maybe that’s been working..? But most of the time I’ll send them back out to grab some dormant scions... The problem is when someone plops down branches from a cherry tree (they don’t know the name of) that were cut the day before… But hey – if they paid at the door, and insist – I’ll hook em up! My ‘disclaimer’ being a sober prediction of around a 20% chance of survival … but I remind them to ‘save the rootstcok’ if the scion doesn’t go.

“I've considered volunteering to graft but I have a couple of reservations. The biggest one is that I don't want to miss the exchange and lectures. But there is also that I have limited experience and I'm apprehensive about how to handle ill-advised requests.” -- I hear ya… I’ll have ‘clients’ anxious to discus something they’d just learned from a lecture … as if I’d been there too. But I just have them tell me all about it! If we continue to cultivate grafters (hat-tip to Dennis – well done!), maybe we’ll be able to wonder off to eat, or listen to a lecture… or help dispense rootstock ~ As far as those “ill-advised requests,” I’ve always felt free to (interrupt) ask a fellow grafter what they think – we all seem plenty opinionated...

I remember (in my younger years) nearly scaring clients as I’d keep running questions by a neighboring grafter. Some would politely ask if ‘I knew what I was doing?’ I told them I had no problem splicing their trees together, but I was learning too; and though they’d picked ‘my line,’ I was likely standing next to the best grafter in the Western US! (the best I’ve knowingly met) …Darn, I’d have to look up his name in my HOS notes. I later toured his orchard, south of me… Anyway, I’m sure we’re all learning; and if worse comes to worse – do what a number of these guys have done – send them to me. At first it was funny, I’d thought they were joking – then I realized they really were sending all the hard cases over to me … ‘talking me up’ just enough to make it OK. I’d end up doing multiple, nearly microscopic cleft grafts, then joke to my client they were ‘getting an $8 graft for $4’ -- It all seemed worthwhile when they asked, “Can I pay you instead of getting back in line?” “no, you paid.”

Hey, two questions:

1) Did anyone do a grafting display, like Wane has always done..? I’ve half-thought that could be my ‘retirement’ position…

2) How’d the '4-tree limit' work? I feared that was too few ... and think my final recommendation was six trees; before returning to the end of the line. I’d hate to find people were having fewer trees made for fear of having to wait … again.

Otherwise, thanks for the feedback, I’m sure it will improve our show – now all we need is a larger space (preferably on the west side, for a switch!)

An ‘earful’ and an eyeful - Magnificent! I do believe the HOS Forum has reached Critical Mass!! -- there were 12 people on last night, 13 this morning, and 15 just now. And look at those beautiful photos! …Though I was apparently caught in action -- my favorite (so far) are the “pruned grapes on fence [in] fog" – has me longing for Winter!

OK … Where to start..?

Shannon: “Jim and I both had fun and worked our tails off. Jim took money for the entrance fee and, I worked in the scion exchange. There were so many helpers this year that when we showed up early to see if we could be of assistance they turned us down!!!” – Jim Gilbert I presume..? Sorry Shannon, it likely took me a decade to remember ‘Jim’s name.’ Glad to hear you made it!

Jafarj: “Stan is about the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He's great to have at the door as an Ambassador for the HOS.” – Isn’t he! Stan, and his wife Marie are two of my families favorite people! We’ve been overnight guests several times at their beautiful home, west of Salem, and had gotten to know them from many tours and visits out here. In fact, [in part] the following email is from Marie:

“Hi, Viron,
We and the gang missed you today at the Show--sorry to hear you're down with a cold or whatever is going around. Jerry Shroyer caught the bug on Thursday night, was able to work a fraction of Friday on the set-up and stayed only a brief time today.

We're still counting but this looks like the most successful Scion Exchange we've had yet. There's no definite count on admissions because people were lined out the door well before 10:00 a.m. and the admissions crew didn't have time to use the clicker counter for the first half hour. By mid afternoon the clicker had 352 on it, so we guess about 400 people came.

Stan and his membership crew (he's in charge of both that and admissions) signed up 60 new members today (a record) and 41 renewals. I talked briefly with Shaun Shepherd in grafting. They'd done over 200 grafts at that time. In plant sales (my department) we made over $700 and Chuck James said publications sold well. Mason bees were sold out early and people went home with many scions and rootstocks. All of us were surprised we drew such a big crowd considering that we've been in that same location for several times.”

Jafarj - “I don't know how well the 4 tree limit went, but I did overhear somebody rounding up companions to stand in line with her so they could do more than 4 at once.” – That’s had me laughing So, instead of explaining the grafting procedure to ‘the real owners,’ the following two would stand there pretending they cared..? I think 6 would be a bit more reasonable; keeping in mind, I only got concerned when last year a couple handed me the fixin’s for 25!

“Viron, I'd wondered if you'd tried that parafilm. I love it.” – No, I haven’t … but since I failed to procure the plum wood I’d planned to get at the exchange, I may use it this year while Budding the same! Never having Budded, lets hope it - “adds some margin of error for my relative inexperience” – too!

“The HOS should sell a little roll of tape and a pen for $2 or something, in addition to the notice” [that the scion wood is free]. – Sounds reasonable … I sometimes worry that it begins to look like this is strictly a ‘money making event,’ especially as we continue to find new things to sell… But since we’re charged for the use of the event space (every event), we can hardly afford to give stuff away; that may be a good idea – especially if the pens where all marked: Home Orchard Society!

{Stan – Marie – checkout the photos, you’re famous!} I sometimes have to personally remind our members that they should look at our online site, or at least the forum. On the cusp of computers, not all our members are up to speed online (though Stan & Marie certainly are!) – and unfortunately, they’re the members with the most knowledge!

Good Show – and my knives are sharpened!

“Can anyone tell me whether one of the apple varieties among the scion wood was "Pumpkin Cider"? I thought I saw such a label, but have been unable to find the name online. Thank you.”

Much effort is put into recording the scions having shown up at the Fair. They seem to eventually get published in our quarterly Pome News publication … but I can’t tell you when. …And I don’t think the volunteer compiling that information visits the forum? We’ll see ~