Monday, September 12, 2024
I awoke this morning to squawking sea gulls and cool air flowing through the open windows. I enjoyed my first shower and shave after two days and then headed downstairs for coffee and a Euro-style breakfast in the hotel restaurant. The conferene began at 9:00 am The meeting room (Lille Sal) is conveniently located just down the hall from my room. The conference commenced with the usual words of welcome followed by an interesting update from a Danish colleague (Claus) on the current status of the European Christmas tree market. The talks continued until 3:00 pm with morning and afternoon coffee breaks and lunch at noon. Priya and Will from the NCSU Christmas Tree Program made well-recieved presentations in the morning and afternoon, respectively. I enjoyed learning about the research progress including some work that I had started or that employed plant material that I had developed. I also enjoyed socializing with old colleagues and new acquaintances during the breaks.
Priya Presenting
Will Presenting
Following the afternoon presentation session, we emabarked on an optional visit to the nearby Johannes Larsen Museum. We walked about a half mile from the conference museum enjoying the wonderful sun and refreshingly cool air. At the museum entrance, we divided into two groups with separate guides.
Johannes Larsen (1867-1961) was a famous Danish nature artist noted for his bird paintings. He and his artist wife Alhed, moved into their house in Kerteminde in 1901. They customized and decorated it to their taste and often hosted guest artists and writers. For a couple of decades their home served as a gathering place for ‘Funish’ painters. The grounds have become a museum and we were able to walk through the studio, its rear greenhouse and the backyard as well as the uniquely styled home. Additionally, in a separate building, we took in some of Larsen’s paintings along with other works by his contemporaries.
—— Johannes Larsen Museum —–
I walked from the museum back to the conference hotel alone taking back streets to absorb the distinct vibes of the Danish lifestlye.
A Street in Kerteminde
Dinner at the hotel restaurant was at 7 pm. During our delicious meal, I enjoyed conversing with the young Ethiopian woman on my right who is working on a PhD at the U. of Copenhagen, the Oregon Christmas tree grower across the table from me who had arrived at the conference after his dream vacation in Rome, and a German colleague on my left who I’ve know for many years. After dinner, I returned to my room to catch up on U.S. news before heading to bed.