OK I've signed the contract with the hotel and you may call them and use the code SEMPERVIVUM to get the special group rate. There are both singles and double rooms. Both are GORGEOUS. This includes a generous breakfast buffet each morning.

I am still negotiating the meal with Robert's Crossing. Am trying to get a couple things that we have come to enjoy in the Shed on the buffet list. This will be a flat fee for all of this including tips and taxes.

Kevin

Wahoo, time to make your reservations at the new hotel. What fun this year is going to be.

Hold off registering a day. I got us a $20 discount on the room but I don't see that on the contract.

Just contacted the hotel and will resolve this pronto.

Kevin

Kevin, is the secret discount code case- and/or decibel-sensitive?

OK just talked to the hotel. PLEASE CALL and announce you are in the SEMPERVIVUM group. I have added Thursday night to the covered days so that those coming in early will get the cheaper rates too.

They did verify that we are getting $20 off each night and a free deluxe breakfast each day. I know most of you enjoy this and they have a great chef.

We will have Friday dinner there too. The chef does mostly local farm to table items so the menu changes with the season. Because of this, he will make a special selection for us and these menu options will be circulated to everyone in the group. We will make our choices ahead of time as there will be ~30 of us there for dinner that night. They want to try and get all 30 of us served at once, which is no small order. The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully. You can check it out on the Independence Hotel website.

Kevin

Please let me know if you have any issues with the hotel by treemailing me. I want this all to go well. The rooms for the special rate are limited so please book early.

Kevin

Okay, all of you get booking. Don't want to miss out on such a great deal.
Kevin, thank you so much for taking care of the hotel and Friday evening dinner.

Just booked the room. They wanted to know if the gentleman that reserved the rooms was also paying for the guests rooms.
Patty and I are set but we are coming in on the 24. Should arrive at Lynn's buy 9 or 10.

And the fun has begun. Way to go Julia and Patty.

Just wanting to make sure I received the special rate. How much is the room for a double queen?

Booking my room as I type...………………………...

Booked!

The excitement builds.

JungleShadows said:OK just talked to the hotel. PLEASE CALL and announce you are in the SEMPERVIVUM group. I have added Thursday night to the covered days so that those coming in early will get the cheaper rates too. Kevin

Do you know if we stay longer than that, would we still get the discount? Just wondering - I would be coming clear from Ohio so would be staying longer and making it a vacation.

Good question Christie.
@JungleShadows

Unfortunately just Thursday-Sunday.

April begins the "high tourist season" in Oregon. However, there are lots of great hotels in Salem though. Salem is a great place to stay as it is an hour from the coast, an hour from the mountains and an hour and a half to the high dessert. Also much less traffic than Portland, although the Japanese, Chinese and rose gardens there are certainly high on my list of must-sees. Just don't go there at rush hour!

Kevin

Christie the gardens in Portland are beautiful, and usually crowded. I think in late April, the azaleas and rhodies will be blooming so that draws more people too, but worth the visit! Seeing 30 foot tall rhodies is wonderful!

I always follow these clinic threads with curiosity. The plant part doesn't appeal to me so much (semps are fine, just not at the top of any list I might have) but I would sure love to meet up with garden folks in person. Always such a pleasure. Maybe I can work it into a road trip of some sort, I love the coast highway.

Deb, come on and join us. We would love to have you. And we look at much more than semps.

Deb, it's about much more than semps. And the people are interesting and bright and kind. At least those whom I've met.

I think you'd enjoy it.