The ARS/DRG 2018 International Rhododendron Conference in Europe

An archive of past alerts and other emails is available at http://ars2018.org/archive/

Alert!   Registration Closed, Mar. 15
All Payments were Due Fri., Mar. 30

Conference Description Details & Pricing Articles & Itineraries Conference Maps

Overall Description of the Conference

Download the Conference 4-Page Brochure (PDF)

The 2018 ARS Convention will be hosted by the Deutsche Rhododendron Gesellschaft (DRG) in Bremen, Germany. There will be 3 optional tours before the Convention and one optional tour after the Convention. The first pre-tour in the Netherlands will be hosted by the Dutch Chapter of the ARS. It will start on Monday, May 7, 2018, in Amsterdam. The second pre-tour in Germany will be hosted by the DRG. The third pre-tour in Denmark and Sweden will be hosted by the Danish and Swedish Chapters. The post-tour in Finland will be hosted by the Finnish Chapter. Attendees are responsible to make their own way to their first hotel and to make their way home from the last hotel. All tours connect with the next tour. See the other tabs on this website to learn more about the tour options, the tour gardens, the hotels, the speakers and registration.

Convention Details: Dates, Costs, What's Included

The following is the pricing for the optional tours and Convention. Note: the tours are optional, the Convention is not. If you book adjacent tours, there are no gaps. Rooms are priced per person for double occupancy and single occupancy. Registration is offered on a first come, first served basis. Some tours are full. Others are filliing up. To avoid problems, get your reservation in early.

Payment information depending upon their itinerary will be sent each registrant.

* Those on both the German Pre-Tour 2 and the Danish-Swedish Pre-Tour 3 will receive a 70 € credit per person double and a 140 € credit single for the night of May 13. The Danish-Swedish Pre-Tour 3 starts with an overnight in Bremen on the 13th before leaving for Denmark on the morning of the 14th with a stop at Hachmann's Nursery en route. The duplication of hotel and meals shown in the chart will not actually occur, instead there will be the credit.

† Double means per person double occupancy. Single means per person single occupancy.

†† If choices are not contiguous, you must arrange your own lodging the missing nights.  If you would like
travel agent assistance arranging additional lodging or booking your flight, indicate under remarks.

• 1st Pre-Tour:  May 7 to May 12, 2018, Netherlands: starting in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and visiting Dutch Gardens including Keukenhof Gardens. It will be hosted by the Dutch Chapter of the ARS.

• 2nd Pre-Tour:  May 12 to May 14, 2018, Germany: connecting in Bremen, Germany, and visiting RHODO 2018 Rhododendron Festival in Westerstede, Germany and the famous Hobbie Rhododendron-Park on May 13. On May 14 we will visit Hachmann Nursery in Barmstedt in the morning. It will be hosted by the DRG.

• 3rd Pre-Tour:  May 13* to May 20, 2018, Denmark & Sweden: starting in Bremen and visiting public & private gardens in Denmark & Sweden. In the afternoon of May 14 we will cross the border into Denmark and visit the first of many private gardens in Denmark and South Sweden. It will be hosted by the Danish and Swedish Chapters of the ARS.
  *Note, this tour starts with an overnight in Bremen on the 13th before leaving for Denmark on the 14th with a stop at Hachmann's Nursery enroute.

• Convention:  6-day Convention in Bremen, Germany, from May 21 to 26, 2018, including 3 tour days. It will consist of tours of German gardens, programs by an international array of speakers, and the annual meetings of both the ARS and the DRG. It will be hosted by the DRG.

• Post-Tour:  May 27 to May 31, Finland: starting in Bremen, Germany, and visiting gardens in Finland. This tour includes train from Bremen to Hamburg, air from Hamburg to Helsinki, and hotels and travel in Finland. This tour ends in Helsinki on the morning of May 31. Participants must book their own travel plans from Helsinki. It will be hosted by the Finnish Chapter of the ARS.

You are responsible to be at the hotel on your tour's start date and to make your own reservations after the finish date. If choices are not contiguous, you must arrange your own lodging the missing nights.

Return to Top

JARS Articles & Itineraries

Articles published in the Journal of the ARS provide detailed information on the convention & the tours.
Itineraries have hotel contact information and daily listings & map of the gardens & hotels.

Return to Top

Maps of ARS 2018 Tours

clicks arrows in lower corners to change maps ❮ ❯

clicks arrows in lower corners to change maps

Return to Top

ARS 2018 Tours PDF and Power Point Presentations

The following PDF and PowerPoint presentations describe the Convention and the garden tours. For an overview of the tours and Convention with maps, visit the Home page. For a preview of the garden tours, visit the Gardens page. To see the Convention program speakers visit the Speakers page. Note: the pre-tours and post-tour are optional.

Denmark-Sweden Pre-Tour - Bremen - Post-Tour

Denmark-Sweden Pre-Tour Presentation (PowerPoint) (PDF)

Return to Top

Germany Pre-Tour and Bremen Convention Presentation (PowerPoint) (PDF)

Return to Top

Finland Post-Tour Presentation (PowerPoint) (PDF)

Return to Top