When? 2-5 November 2023
Where? Southern Louisiana - New Iberia, Avery Island, Jefferson Island
The 2023 ABS National Conference was held in and around New Iberia, deep in the Cajun country of southwest Louisiana. Much of our time was spent on nearby Avery Island, where E.A. McIlhenny pioneered the introduction of more than 60 species of bamboo, at that time unknown in the United States; and Jefferson Island, where Mike Richard has introduced dozens of tropical Bambusas.
The full schedule is posted at the registration site.
Here is a brief preview of some of the conference presenters.
Sunday, November 5th, of the ABS 2023 Conference will be spent at Rip Van Winkle Gardens at Jefferson Island.
Our host, Michael Richard, first came to work at Rip Van Winkle Gardens he was 19 years old. Throughout the years the garden has evolved from an English style garden to an eclectic collection including many different bamboos. Michael Richard is a wealth of information and I encourage you to read this article about how he got to become the owner of Rip Van Winkle Gardens and how it has grown.
Michael Richard and Vinc Math have been communicating on what type of bamboo structure will be built during the Bamboo Workshop which will be led by Vinc Math. The bamboo workshop is included in the conference registration fee and will give you an opportunity to learn many tricks about bamboo construction.
The Emergence of Bamboo
The American Bamboo Society was formed in 1979 and is the standard bearer of this increasingly important plant in North America. Today, the ABS has members living throughout the U.S. and in many other countries and since 1980, has successfully introduced many new species of bamboo to the United States.
American Bamboo Society
Bamboo Magazine
The official quarterly magazine of the ABS. All types of bamboo-related material can be found in BAMBOO; how-to articles on growing and propagation, reports of newly discovered species, book reports, event announcements, articles by bamboo artists and musicians, travelogues, and letters to the editor. Please join us, receive BAMBOO Magazine, and support the work of the ABS.
The ABS has members throughout the world! Membership in the American Bamboo Society and one ABS chapter is for 12 months and includes a subscription to the quarterly Bamboo Magazine and annual Journal.