Evergreen Oaks

By Mark Weathington, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections

As summer really starts sizzling, getting out in the garden seems to get more and more difficult and shade becomes a precious commodity. A few well placed trees can make all the difference in the world when strategically placed to block the harsh afternoon sun from a deck or just situated to allow some gardening without the harsh glare beating down. Among the best of shade trees are oaks, the genus Quercus.

Oaks have been an important component of the collections of the JCRA since its inception. The first plant installed by J. C. Raulston when establishing the Arboretum was the columnar English oak, Quercus robur f. fastigiata, a farewell gift from his colleagues at Texas A&M University. In recent years, evergreen and semi-evergreen species have gradually been accumulated through wild collections and from cultivated material to add to the existing specimens that predated the Arboretum. Many of these oaks are poorly understood and rarely grown but may be suitable for wider use throughout the southern United States.

The genus Quercus is comprised of 400−600 species in the beech or Fagaceae family with new species and naturally occurring hybrids being described with some regularity. The genus ranges across North America south through Central America to Columbia, Europe, North Africa, and Asia where it crosses into the southern hemisphere. The center of diversity is in southern Mexico where the genus is undergoing active speciation. Where species overlap throughout their native ranges or in cultivation there can be considerable hybridization. These factors make the taxonomy of the oaks difficult at best.

Two Gifts in One!

Support the Jcra Children’s Program Through a Tribute Gift to Honor Ted Bilderback

By Anne M. Porter, Director of Development

You are not too late to support the new endowment that honors former JCRA Director Ted Bilderback, who retired at the end of June. Thanks to the challenge gifts made by the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association (NCNLA) and Johnston County Nursery Marketing Association (JoCo), the new endowment is almost fully funded to the $25,000 endowment level.

Won’t you help grow the next generation into good and thoughtful stewards of our green world by investing in the Linda and Theodore "Ted" Bilderback Endowment for the JC Raulston Arboretum Children’s Program? Your gift to this endowment honors Ted's distinguished career, plus it provides support into perpetuity for the JCRA Children's Program. Now that's a legacy worth investing in! So come on—let's go for $30,000 by August 13.

Porter Pavilion—A Legacy Investment

By Anne M. Porter, Director of Development

Porter Pavilion. It has a nice ring, don’t you think? Well, that’s exactly how I'd invest my $250,000—by sponsoring and putting my family name on the newly proposed JC Raulston Arboretum Pavilion that will be located across from the new (coming in 2015) Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden. Unfortunately, I don't have $250,000 waiting to invest, but perhaps you do!

Just think how thrilling it would be to have your family name or your company's name on this wonderful new structure at the JC Raulston Arboretum. This legacy investment includes $150,000 for the Pavilion construction and $100,000 for the creation of a named endowment that will support the Pavilion and surrounding gardens into perpetuity.

The new Pavilion will be a major asset to the already lovely gardens by providing additional revenue through new rental opportunities and a great new event space for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

If you are interested in more details or if you know of someone who might be looking for just this kind of legacy investment, please contact Anne Porter at (919) 513-3826 or anne_porter@ncsu.edu.

Income You Can Always Count On

By Anne M. Porter, Director of Development

One way to ensure that you never run out of income is to establish a gift annuity. In exchange for a transfer of cash or securities, the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc. agrees to pay a fixed sum of money to you (or to you and another person) for life.

Charitable gift annuities are a wonderful way to provide for yourself and loved ones while also supporting the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Want to learn more? Just contact De Teague in the CALS Gift Planning Office, for a free, no obligation consultation— de_teague@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-2950.

Volunteers Help Our Gardens Grow

By Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator

Volunteers are crucial in the success of the JCRA. Spread the word. If you or someone you know has the time and would like to spend it in a beautiful garden with folks of like-interests, let me know. We have many opportunities throughout the year, but our current focus involves expanding our labeling and measuring teams and children's programs.

Plant Labelers Needed

We are one of the best labeled gardens. And, as a research garden, things are continually changing, and there is always room to improve. If you are available Tuesday mornings, can commit to a two-four hour window, can read a map, and have some plant knowledge and familiarity with botanical nomenclature, contact me. We need you. This is a great way to get a more intimate view of most all the gardens plus you get an insider's view of all the new plants!

Children's Programs

From summer camps to garden story time, our programs are expanding. Cultivating the young minds in our community is a priority and we would love your help. We have volunteer opportunities on weekdays and weekends.

Contact me at arlene_calhoun@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7004 if you'd like to become one of our plant labelers or if you enjoy working with children and would like to be involved with a variety of creative, fun, science-based programs that help children experience the gardens and explore the interaction between people and plants.

Members Help Our Gardens Grow, Too

By Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator

October is just around the corner and we all know what that means—Annual Plant Distribution. Starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday, October 4 in only a matter of minutes, over 2,500 plants will find their way into our member's hands. Don't believe me, just watch (2010 and 2011 giveaways).

Avoid the renewal lines that Saturday morning. Check your membership card, make sure your membership has not lapsed. Contact me at arlene_calhoun@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7004 if it's time to renew. Check-in will begin at 7:30 AM, you want to be in place early. The event starts promptly at 9:00 AM and is open to curent members only. Join us early, coffee and donuts will be available for a donation.

We appreciate the many ways you find to support the Arboretum. Please spread the word and let folks know we're here. We continue to be one of the best kept secrets. Let me hear from you.

Coming Attractions

By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist

Lycoris ×haywardii
electric surprise-lily

Lagerstroemia 'Gamad V' (Dazzle® Me Pink)
compact crepe myrtle

Musella lasiocarpa
Chinese yellow banana

Crinum 'Summer Nocturne'
crinum lily

Zephyranthes 'Lily Pies'
rain-lily

Rhodophiala bifida var. spathacea
pink oxblood-lily

Emmenopterys henryi
Chinese emmenopterys

Lilium formosanum
Formosa lily

YouTube Channel

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

No new videos were recorded in July, but Ted's May FOA Lecture was posted in our YouTube Channel since the last e-Update.

Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our channel.