These are a couple of pictures of the Fruit Propagation Fair getting set up last weekend:
Murky
I wish Ace of Spades was still with Us. We used to trade scions every Spring.
Tony
Agreed. I brought scions grown from one he gave me to this years exchange.
He came all the way from New York a few years ago.
I know. We had gone in together on a fruit tree purchase. He was going to ship me my trees. I didn’t hear back from him, and couldn’t reach him, which was so unlike him. That’s when I heard on GW he had passed away, suddenly. So very sad. A very generous and nice fellow.
Ace gave me extras he got on his scionwood trips, several of my favorite varieties I have thanks to him.
Murky, I wish we had something like that fair here, it looks like paradise to this fruit propagator!
Scott
Awesome!
I tried to learn grafting on my own, with limited success. Two years ago I took the HOS grafting class, which greatly improved my confidence and ability. Most of my grafting since then has been successful, fun, and no lacerations 
.
Like I said, awesome!
Scott,
You’ll have to come out one of these years. I think we weren’t able to get Botner’s scions this year yet still had 100s of apples, pears and grapes with fewer stone fruit and figs, kiwi and such. In a few years I expect those will be replaced by scions from the Temperate Orchard Conservancy.
We always have a great selection of pear, and choice quince, from the germplasm repository in Corvallis
Bear_with_me, I was probably volunteering at the HOS grafting class you took. I’m glad it helped, those get a great turnout.
Bear with me,
Murky and I were teaching that class. So we’ve met, by accident of course. I’ll have to more specifically introduce myself next time.
The first time I went to the scion exchange/fruit propagation fair, I couldn’t believe it. It was like a dream. A kid in a candy store. An adult in a fruit store? I still feel that way.
John S
PDX OR
I thought your photo was familiar. All I can say is it was a fantastic class, I loved it and it made a big difference to me. I thought about going this year again, just as an excuse to spend time with the experts.
John, see comment to Murky. It was the most fun I’ve had in ages. I’ve practiced a lot since then, and branched out to other methods. I fantasize about when I retire, getting more involved. Still 11 months and 4 days away.
Scott, I share your wish: The Mid-Atlantic needs more fruit tastings and scion exchanges. I would volunteer my time and try to make something happen, but am currently swamped with work and family obligations.
Not that anyone’s counting until retirement, myself included.
Come next year for free and help teach the newbies. It will make you a better grafter, and it’s fun. You get to hang out with the fruit people (not the fruity people, that’s something different) 
JOhn S
PDX OR
11 months 3 days and 12 hours.
John, I would really enjoy that. It would be a lot of fun.
yeah…but who’s counting?
Murky…that looks awesome. Like Matt said, I wish there was something like that in the mid-atlantic. I would be thrilled to just mill around a bit.
How does the whole thing work? Do individuals bring wood and sell it or what?
Where is this BTW and Murky…where do you live?
It’s a whopping $6 ($4 for members and free if you join at the door), for 6 hours of scion browsing. You’re entitled to 1 each of over 800 varieties of scions and cuttings.
There is also a free (get what you pay for) advice table. Rootstocks are for sale and a team of grafters are on hand for real time bench-grafting for a modest fee. Mason bees and supplies books, nylon footies and surround, and fruit trees, vines, canes, and bushes are for sale in small numbers by the Home Orchard Society.
One Green World was on site selling plants and handing out catalogs as well as an orchard tool and supplies vendor.
Individuals are welcome to bring scions to check in for sharing but are under absolutely no obligation to do so.
This year’s event: http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/events/fruit-propagation-fair-2/
The legendary Nick Botner can’t break the habit: is nick botner going to start collecting pears now? | Flickr
Murky, your event looks amazing. So jealous.
Matt, of course you are all welcome to make the trip! Or perhaps come for the All About Fruit Show in October where there will be a similar number of varieties to taste, plus cider making, speakers, more vendors and activities. Its a Saturday and Sunday.
Link to last years event: http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/events/all-about-fruit-show/
And some pictures on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.555475677846898.1073741826.193275744066895&type=1
Appleseed, I forgot to reply that I live in Camas, WA which is about a 25 minute drive to the Portland, Oregon Airport.
The Fruit Propagation Fair and The All About Fruit show are held in Canby, OR at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. Its about a 35 minute drive from PDX (of course the exact opposite direction as my house!).
Thanks murky…I looked up Camas…,looks like a nice place to live. I’ve been in all but a handful of US states and Washington is one I’ve never made it to.
Small world…I grew up in Camas and visit my family a couple times a year. Was just recently up there and the weather was just amazing for an early March. Will be up there for my usual 4th of July festivities. Beautiful country up there and will always be my home no matter where I live. My mother is just about to retire from the Camas mill. She has worked there for over 40 years.
Bummer that I didn’t know about this until now…I have been missing out!
Jennifer