We are saddened to recognize the recent passing of Marty Brooks, a prominent member from the ACS Northeast Region. Marty was best characterized by the phrase "He has dared to innovate, dared to be different." Marty graduated from the Delaware Valley College of Science & Agriculture in 1954. He went on to garden design and worked with unusual plants that were emerging, including ornamental conifers. Marty discovered a 1938 edition of Murray Homibrook's Dwarf and Slow Growing Conifers. He insightfully reasoned that future home sites would get smaller, and dwarf conifers would play a more important role in home landscapes.

Early in his career, Marty won several important design awards that helped build his reputation and clientele. He had a knack for finding mature specimen plants from estates and other sources. These specimens were the beginning of the Martin Brooks Rare Plant Nursery and its accompanying arboretum. In 1978, Marty quit the landscape design work and began to concentrate on his specialized nursery.

Marty's trees, frequently in the ground for a minimum of 10 years, are expertly grown without the use of herbicides or fertilizers. He felt it was essential to hand dig any tree that he sold, even though they were at least 10 to 20 feet tall. He was also widely known throughout the nursery industry as a pioneer and promoter of grafted conifers.

Marty was a recognized authority on the value of trees and was frequently consulted by people wanting valuations for insurance claims, appraisals, and donations for tax purposes. He was generous with his support and personal involvement with Delaware Valley College, including encouragement for those who are working toward a career in the nursery industry. This included educational trips to his nursery.

Marty was well respected by conifer enthusiasts and was a go-to source for specimen-sized plants, particularly among universities, arboreta, and botanical gardens. He was often seen strolling around ACS events, ala George Bums, with his trademark cigar in hand.

In 2009, Marty received the Justin C. “Chub” Harper Award of Merit for Development in the Field of Conifers.

Marty will be greatly missed and long remembered for his contributions to our community.

For more information, please visit: Martin Brooks Obituary September 30, 2025 - Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home

David and Sherry Speth have been longtime members of the ACS. David fought a hard and long battle with ALS. It is sad to say he has lost his battle with that horrible disease. David had served not only as director of the Central Region, but also as Treasurer. During that time David had been an outstanding member of the National Board of Directors. David reenacted the research committee during his time on the Board as well.

While David and Sherry have been familiar faces at Central Region Meetings, they also attended many other ACS events. They were ever-present at National Meetings as well as the pre- and post-meeting tours, Iowa’s rendezvous, Ohio’s Conifer Connection Weekend, and the Indianapolis Circle Garden Tours. David not only donated his time to these meetings and events, he also actively supported the ACS by participating in the fundraising auctions. He had additionally made other financial contributions to the ACS for specific purposes.

David had served with distinction on both the regional and national level. His contribution of both time and leadership may be difficult to quantify, but the ACS has benefited greatly from David’s efforts, and he was honored in 2020 by receiving the Marvin and Emelie Snyder Award of Merit.

For more information, please visit: https://www.wenigfh.com/obituaries/david-speth

Gerald Kral was an active and enthusiastic ACS member for at least the last 20 years. He was elected as a member of the ACS Board of Directors and served for five consecutive terms! There are not many who have served on the Board longer. With this accomplishment, Jerry joined such legends of the ACS as: Eddie Rezek (10 years), Susan Martin (9 years), Bill Thomas (6 years), and Marvin Snyder (6 years). During his service on the BOD, Jerry proposed, championed, and developed the current ACS Scholarship Program. Jerry and his able partner, Elmer Dustman, also organized two ACS National Meetings and three Regional Meetings for the Northeast Region. Unless you have organized a meeting, it is difficult to appreciate the commitment of time and personal sacrifice necessary to make everything come together smoothly. All of these meetings were well executed and well received by the attendees. Those who do it once rarely volunteer to do a repeat performance. So, FIVE meetings is quite an accomplishment!

We are deeply appreciative for all that Jerry achieved for the ACS and to further our mission. Jerry and Karen's garden in urban Rochester, NY has been a perpetual favorite and must see garden when in the area. See a virtual tour of Jerry and Karen’s garden here.

For additional information, visit: Gerald Kral Obituary - Rochester Democrat And Chronicle

I was asked if I would be willing to write something about Frank which could be used during the dedication of the dwarf conifer garden which he and Joan were donating to the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

I said I would be glad to do so. Little did the requester know, many years ago at the very first American Conifer Society (ACS) meeting which Carole and I attended, the first individuals who welcomed us were Frank and Joan Goodhart. We didn’t know a soul in the ACS at the time and it was comforting to be greeted and “shown the ropes” by a couple of conifer veterans. It is quite appropriate I should offer a few words about Frank. Of course, Joan was always the wind beneath Frank’s wings. While she never sought the limelight, Joan was always very active and supportive. I suspect she was a key to Frank’s success.

Frank is a unique individual. He is incredibly intelligent and articulate, yet remained a polite, considerate professional who was also humble. Frank always focused on the results and did not care who got the credit. He was always ready to step forward and help wherever it was needed. As a result, Frank’s contributions touched on all aspects of the ACS.

Frank has been an active ACS North East Region (NER) member and served as its President. In the NER, he helped organize numerous ACS regional meetings, National meetings and several Post Tours.

Frank is a skilled writer and authored more than a dozen articles which were published in either the previous ACS Bulletin, or the current ACS Conifer Quarterly. Several of his article were in praise of some of the ACS founders and early contributors, so it is fitting I should, in turn, be praising Frank. He had a passion for conifers, of course, but in particular he was fascinated with Sciadopitys verticillata. His articles on this particular conifer and cultivars are scholarly and informative.

He also presented several lectures during ACS meetings.

Frank was also quite active at the ACS National level, serving in all the chairs as a Board of Directors member, Vice-President, President, and Past President.

When reflecting on all Frank has done, with Joan’s support, it is probably not a surprise that Frank was presented one of the ACS’s highest awards. He earned the Marvin and Emelie Snyder Award for Dedicated Support of the ACS.

Respectfully submitted:

Dennis & Carole Groh

Link to Frank Goodhart's obituary.

Jennifer Harvey, Jeff Harvey, Jay Park (left to right)

Jeff and Jennifer joined the American Conifer Society in 2006. Since then, they have been incredible leaders and supporters of our organization. They have organized and run many regional meetings and three national meetings. They have also helped with Zoom meetings and lectures.

Jeff and Jennifer work really hard for the ACS. They do all this while having full-time jobs and running their own business. They have served as officers on both regional and national levels. Right now, Jeff is the ACS President and Jennifer is the ACS Secretary.

Even with their busy schedules, Jeff and Jennifer always support the Central Region. They attend Central Region Annual Meetings and special events like the Fall Color Event in Michigan and Bob Iiames' Labor Day Weekend Event. This level of dedication is far beyond what past national officers have done.

For all their hard work and dedication, we are proud to present Jeff and Jennifer Harvey with this year’s Distinguished Service Award. Congratulations, Jeff and Jennifer, and thank you for everything you do for the Central Region and the ACS!

About Don Howse

Don Howse's journey with plants began with a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Idaho. After teaching for several years, he moved to Oregon in 1972 and joined Northwest Nurseries, which later became the Iseli Nursery in 1975. At Iseli Nursery, Don worked closely with Jean Iseli and eventually became the Vice President of Operations.

This role gave Don a unique chance to help bring beautiful conifers to home gardeners everywhere. He also met many other conifer enthusiasts from North America and Europe, furthering his love for these special plants. Don's dedication to conifers led him to become a Charter Member of the American Conifer Society.

Don's passion didn't stop at conifers. He was involved in many plant-related organizations. He served as President of the Bonsai Society of Portland and the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. Additionally, he served on the boards of the Berry Botanic Garden and the Hoyt Arboretum Friends Foundation.

A Nursery of His Own

In 1981, with Jean Iseli’s support, Don and Lloyd Porter started Porterhowse Farms in Sandy, Oregon. This specialty nursery focused on rare and dwarf conifers and offered plants both on-site by appointment and via shipment across the United States.

Don Howse's dedication to the world of plants, his innovative propagation techniques, and his contributions to various plant societies make him a deserving recipient of the Chub Harper Award. We congratulate Don on this well-earned recognition and celebrate his ongoing contributions to the field of conifers.

Join us in congratulating Don Howse on this incredible achievement!

Jim Brackman

The Central Region of the American Conifer Society is proud to announce Dennis and Carole Groh as the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Service Award, recognizing their decades of dedication, volunteerism, and support.

Dennis and Carole Groh receiving award at the 2024 National Meeting. Photo by Dennis Nadane.

Dennis and Carole Groh's journey with the American Conifer Society began in 1997 at the society’s convention in Chicago. From that initial meeting, their passion for conifers and commitment to the community has been unwavering. They have become familiar faces at Conifer Connection weekends and both regional and national conventions, where their presence is eagerly anticipated.

The couple has been instrumental in maintaining the Harper Collection at Hidden Lake Gardens. Their annual evaluations and advisory visits have been crucial in ensuring the collection's upkeep. Their organizational efforts were particularly notable post-Covid lockdowns, where they rallied volunteers for essential de-weeding, addressing the garden's neglected state.

Dennis and Carole’s support has significantly bolstered the success of various Central Region functions. Their contributions to annual meetings, Rendezvous, and Conifer College events have been invaluable. They are known for their warm welcome to new members, generously sharing their extensive knowledge of conifers and the society’s workings, both regionally and nationally.

Former Board of Directors members who served under Dennis’s presidency have praised his leadership and counsel. "Our greatest counsel and advice came from him," they remarked, highlighting his generosity with time and historical insights into the society. Dennis’s mentorship and friendship have left a lasting impact, for which the society remains grateful.

Beyond their advisory roles, the Grohs have been pivotal in securing private funds for Special Projects, ensuring the society's growth and stability. Dennis's financial acumen provided critical advice when the society faced financial challenges, helping steer it away from collapse.

Carole’s presence at the registration desk during meetings has been a cornerstone of their service. Her friendly demeanor has welcomed countless attendees, reinforcing the strong bonds within the Central Region community.

The Central Region of the American Conifer Society is fortunate to have such dedicated members. For their relentless support and contributions, Dennis and Carole Groh are rightfully honored with this year’s Distinguished Service Award.

Congratulations to Dennis and Carole Groh!

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 2 p.m. at The Oregon Garden Pavilion in Silverton, 879 W. Main St. 

Barbara and Delbert Hupp started their nursery, Drakes Crossing Nursery, in 1967 and began their Christmas tree farm, Hupp Farms, shortly after. Barbara and Delbert worked tirelessly as wonderful partners in business and marriage. Over the years, the farms grew and continue to be family-managed today. To her death, Barbara loved spending time out on the farm. 

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Delbert. Surviving industry family members include: her daughter Kathy LeCompte, and her husband Dave, of Brooks, Oregon; her son Jan Hupp, and his wife Cindy, of Silverton, Oregon; and grandson Jason Hupp, and his wife Steffanie, of Silverton. 

Barbara spent the last few weeks of her life surrounded by many family members, farm team members, and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Drakes Crossing Volunteer Firefighter Association and the Oregon Nurseries Foundation.

Article originally shared by the Oregon Association of Nurseries.

Note from Larry Stanley, ACS Western Region Director:

In everlasting gratitude to the Hupp family and the remarkable contributors from Drakes Crossing Nursery, whose unwavering support has enriched ACS auctions with an abundance of botanical wonders. For the past four decades, their rootstock has been the steadfast foundation upon which countless grafts have flourished, spreading beauty and vitality far and wide. Today, under the dedicated stewardship of grandson Jason, the legacy continues at Western Evergreen Nursery, ensuring that their profound impact on horticulture endures. Let us honor their legacy and the generations of greenery they have nurtured.

Through the years, Frank amassed an impressive collection of dwarf conifers and other unusual companion plants.  He and his wife Joan have generously donated more than 50 plants representing 21 species to the Frelinghuysen Arboretum during the past year.  The Friends have helped with support for digging and transferring them.  Some of these are planted in the gravel garden near the small pond by the Haggerty Education Center.  The majority are located in the Pinetum, with a concentration at the southwest corner by Whippany Road.  Copper tags on the specimens include Frank’s name as donor, and new signage is planned that will provide more information about dwarf conifers and their use in gardens.

Symposium organizer Judy Snow presented Frank with a framed certificate which recognizes Frank as a “longtime member, dedicated volunteer and noted conifer expert who, along with his wife Joan, has donated a valuable collection of rare dwarf conifers to the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, where they will be enjoyed and studied by visitors for years to come.”