# Event Details - **Event Name**: Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 17 May, 2026 at 09:30 am – Sun, 17 May, 2026 at 02:00 pm (-04:00) - **Event Description**: A Special Event with ARS CT Chapter & Blau House & Gardens Co Sponsored by Wakeman Town Farm featuring Melissa Finley Senior Curator, NYBGAbout this EventJoin us for a journey through the evolutionary origins and modern hybrids of the rhododendron and their landscape use.Melissa Finley, a Senior Curator at the New York Botanical will giver her presentation on Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms”.Box Lunch Option: Enjoy a delicious meal with fellow plant enthusiasts.Guided Tour: Explore Blau House & Gardens, a Westport hidden gem.Schedule:Starting at Wakemam Town Farm 134 Cross Highway Westport, CT 06880• 9:30 AM – Coffee and Pastries ( sponsored by Oliver Nurseries )• 10:00–11:15 AM – Rhododendrons History with Melissa Finley• 11:15 AM–12:15 PM – Box Lunch• Select this link to purcahse your Box Lunch • 12:30–2:00 PM – Tour of Blau House & Gardens (BHG) contributions (Parking directions and map to BHG will be sent after registration)Address of BHG is 9 Bayberry Ridge Road , Westport, CT 06880Melissa Finley Bio:Melissa Finley is the Thain Senior Curator of Woody Plants and Curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden. She leads the development of the Garden’s woody plant collections, oversees tree risk management data, and advances plant science communication for diverse audiences. Melissa holds a master’s degree in plant pathology from the Pennsylvania State University, where her research examined how Erwinia amylovora—the bacterium responsible for fire blight—parasitizes apple fruit tissue. She is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and a qualified Tree Risk Assessor. Deeply engaged in the science of trees, Melissa is a dedicated student of tree physiology, biomechanics, and pathology, bringing both technical expertise and curiosity to her work in urban horticulture. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/westport/rhododendrons-from-wild-roots-to-modern-blooms/100001985521510286 - **Event Categories**: science-fair - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 12.51, max: 12.51, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Westport - **state**: CT - **country**: United States - **location**: Wakeman Town Farm - **lat**: 41.1631962 - **long**: -73.3339103 - **full address**: Wakeman Town Farm, 134 Cross Highway, Westport, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/aadaa04f6bbd40a5c833c220ae2c2c9f21db457e986d9d4a84bc912cc35c33dc-rimg-w1200-h848-dcfdf3ea-gmir.jpg?v=1777382071 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms being held? - **A:** Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms takes place on Sun, 17 May, 2026 at 09:30 am to Sun, 17 May, 2026 at 02:00 pm at Wakeman Town Farm, 134 Cross Highway, Westport, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms? - **A:** Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms is organized by Wakeman Town Farm. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/aadaa04f6bbd40a5c833c220ae2c2c9f21db457e986d9d4a84bc912cc35c33dc-rimg-w1200-h848-dcfdf3ea-gmir.jpg?v=1777382071", "startDate": "2026-05-17T09:30:00-04:00", "endDate": "2026-05-17T14:00:00-04:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/westport/rhododendrons-from-wild-roots-to-modern-blooms/100001985521510286", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Wakeman Town Farm", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "134 Cross Highway", "postalCode": "06880", "addressLocality": "Westport", "addressRegion": "CT", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "41.1631962", "longitude": "-73.3339103" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "A Special Event with ARS CT Chapter & Blau House & Gardens Co Sponsored by Wakeman Town Farm featuring Melissa Finley Senior Curator, NYBG", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-28", "availabilityEnds": "2026-05-17T14:00:00-04:00", "validFrom": "2026-04-28", "lowPrice": "12.51", "highPrice": "12.51", "price": "12.51", "url": "https://allevents.in/westport/rhododendrons-from-wild-roots-to-modern-blooms/100001985521510286" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-28", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-28", "url": "https://allevents.in/westport/rhododendrons-from-wild-roots-to-modern-blooms/100001985521510286", "price": "12.51", "name": "Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern Blooms" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Wakeman Town Farm", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/wakeman-town-farm/18473003", "description": "Wakeman Town is Westport's Community Farm. We are a Town-owned resource and gathering spot created and run by a grassroots team of individuals who want to bring wholesome events and farm education to children and adults. From raising chickens, to vegetables to new puppies, to learning to cook, preserve, compost and recycle, this Farm has grown organically over the years. We rely on the support and the enthusiasm of the community to operate, and our volunteers come from all walks of life, from teen service groups to moms and dads to seniors and retirees, from local realtors and small entrepreneurs to large companies -- and everyone in between. We love beer gardens, family fun days, pizza nights, CSAs and almost any excuse to gather at the Farm! Check out our programs at wakemantownfarm.org " } ] } ] ```