Director's Note
By Mark Weathington, Director
What a spring it's been. Fairly cool temperatures really kept the gardens looking their best through April and May. I may be biased, but I really don't think the Arboretum has ever looked better.
The newly rebuilt Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden is already attracting the attention of brides. We are happy to rent it or other garden spots for the ceremony although requests for the roses to match bridesmaid dresses cannot be accommodated. I don't think roses or any other flowers come in some of those shades anyway. Special thanks goes to the A.E. Finley Foundation for their continued support of the JCRA and for making this project a reality.
Just as all the staff is trying to recover from the non-stop activity that is spring in a public garden, we get our annual energy boost in the form of student interns. Four new horticulture interns began working out in the garden in mid-May and we already see the impact that a few extra hands can make. If you see Rachel, Taylor, Brian, and Eddie out in the garden, stop and say hello. This year we also have an education intern working mainly with our family programs. Danielle is an education major with a focus on S.T.E.M. studies. She'll be helping to develop and deliver programming for our summer camps and other youth activities.
We have some great activities this month for the whole family including the annual Bonsai Expo, propagation workshops, garden storytimes, and the summer solstice ice cream party. Check out our event calendar for all the upcoming activities and register early, many of our programs sell out well in advance.
Have a great summer!
Plant of the Month
Cladrastis platycarpa
By Mark Weathington, Director
Little Known, Rarely Grown
While the flowering tree market has long been monopolized by dogwoods, flowering cherries, and crabapples, there are other options available for discriminating gardeners. One such unusual plant is the Japanese counterpart to our native yellowwood. Cladrastis platycarpa is a medium-sized tree occurring in the mountains of Japan on the main island of Honshu and the large island of Shikoku. In some literature it has been described as a small tree but it can grow quite large in time. In landscapes, a height of 30' to 45' in 20 years would be a reasonable expectation.
It is a fine tree throughout the seasons bearing long, 8" to 14", medium-textured pinnate leaves made up of 7 to 13 alternately arranged leaflets which are each 2" to 4" long. In mid to late spring between late April and early June, panicles of white pea flowers with a yellowish blotch on the two upturned or keel petals dance in the breeze backed by the medium green foliage. The fruit are flat and winged pea pods (platycarpa means flat fruit) which are pale green and quite attractive against the darker foliage. Fall color is variable but can be brilliant gold in a good year, and the smooth, gray bark is lovely all year but especially during the winter.
The plant is similar to our native P. kentuckea but the Japanese tree is smaller in all aspects including flowers and ultimate size. The somewhat fuzzy, yellow-brown calyces which hold the flowers of the Japanese species also serve to distinguish it from the smooth green ones of our native. Other key differences are the broader leaflets and more pendulous panicles of the native yellowwood.
There are two plants growing at the JCRA. Both are close together just to the east of the live oaks by the pedestrian entrance. They have been in the garden for quite a while but were crowded between the oaks and the old Leyland cypress hedge before it was removed. The low light and tight quarters certainly kept them from growing as quickly as they would in a better spot. They are best utilized in rich soil in full sun with adequate summer moisture but are quite drought tolerant once established.
Vegetable Gardening: From Site Selection to Harvest
By Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Wednesdays, June 24–August 5, 2015 – 7:00 pm–9:00 pm and Saturday, August 8, 2015 – 9:00 am–11:00 am
Chris Glenn and I have been planning several new courses for 2015. First up is a seven-week course designed for anyone who is interested in growing their own food. From site selection to harvest, we will discuss all the important steps in planning, installing, maintaining, and harvesting a home garden, or community garden plot. Whether you are a beginner, or a seasoned gardener, we have constructed a course that will help you be more successful in your growing your own vegetables.
Syllabus
June 24 – Introduction/overview, site selection, garden design (orientation, style, etc.)
July 1 – Getting ready … soils basics and bed preparation, climate (heat and cold), and sustainability; organic vs. synthetic
July 8 – Plant selection and planting: types of veggies, timing, seeds and transplants
July 15 – Garden Maintenance I: Water, fertility, and mulching
July 22 – Garden Maintenance II: Staking, training, and weeds
July 29 – Garden Maintenance III: Pest management
August 5 – Harvesting and postharvest practices, wrap up
Field Trip
We will be visiting the Asbury United Methodist Church Community Garden which recently received the City of Raleigh Environmental Award in Urban Agriculture on Saturday, August 8. The garden started in 2011 and has donated over 6,000 pounds of vegetables to charities.
Please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 for more information about this course or to register.
Our Members Know How to Sow the Seeds
By Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator
Cultivate. Nurture. Grow.
Friends of the Arboretum know how to do it well. Our membership is growing and I think we have you to thank. Last month, we welcomed nearly as many new members as we did renewed ones. (New memberships are up 29% from same period last year.)
Just today alone, I've met two locals who are visiting for the first time with their out-of-town guests. Why? They asked a friend where to go and they replied, "The JC Raulston Arboretum. I love the Arboretum!"
Keep up the good work. Spread the word; sow the seeds; sing from the rooftops. We can use more friends like you.
Drawing in Nature—A Workshop Series with Preston Montague
By Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator
Botanical illustration is a powerful tool for understanding and communicating nature's design. Whether for scientific exploration, self-expression, or both, botanical illustration gives us an opportunity to document those moments in nature that inspire us.
Drawing in Nature I (Saturday, July 11 and 25 – 9:00 am–11:00 am) introduces participants to the basic observation and drawing techniques used by professional artists. Designed for enthusiasts with little to no artistic training, this foundation course focuses on pencil and pen to create accurate and beautiful botanical illustrations in black and white.
Drawing in Nature II (Saturday, August 15 and 29 – 9:00 am–11:00 am) introduces participants to basic tenets of color theory and techniques for applying color to spring their illustrations to life! Designed for enthusiasts with little to no artistic training, this foundation course focuses on colored pencil to create accurate and beautiful botanical illustrations.
Drawing in Nature III (Saturday, September 19 and 26 – 9:00 am–11:00 am) introduces participants to basic painting techniques using watercolors to produce rich, vibrant botanical illustrations! Designed for enthusiasts with little to no artistic training, this foundation course builds off of the color theory and colored pencil exercises learned in Drawing in Nature II.
Please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 for more information or to register.
Do You Have a Plant Wish List?
By Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator
I know I do and it is ever-growing. Inspiration is everywhere—gardens we visit, magazines, catalogs, books we read, and of course our favorite shows on PBS and HGTV! It just doesn't stop—the list keeps growing.
As I watch the spring plant selection diminish in my favorite garden centers, I come to the slow realization that I'm not going to get it all done this spring, I wonder where I'll find those few special plants I want to plant this fall. My thought, the JCRA Members-only Preorder Plant Sale!
So, I asked Mark Weathington, our director, if he'd be open to a few suggestions from our members for which plants to offer. He said, "Yes!"
If you have any suggestions, e-mail them to me at arlene_calhoun@ncsu.edu, please put "My Plant Wish List" in the subject line. I'll compile our list and get it to Mark. He can't make any guarantees which suggestions will make this year's list but he is open to hearing suggestions and is very interested in both specific requests and general ones.
Happy gardening and let "The List" begin.
Landscape Potential—A Design Course Series with Preston Montague
By Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator
Consider the performance of your home landscape. Would you describe it as a fit, functional work of art that reflects your lifestyle and encourages outdoor activity? If not, join Raleigh-based landscape designer Preston Montague at the JCRA for a design course series that will help you revise and reboot your outdoor space.
Landscape Potential (Saturday, July 11, 2015 – 1:00 pm–3:00 pm) will introduce participants to the process designers use to develop concepts, solve problems, and map the landscape. This exciting two-part course begins with an introduction to landscape design full of tips and tactics that will empower anyone to go home and begin designing immediately. Following the introduction class is a practicum in which participants individually bring in photos and maps of their property for a one-on-one consultation with me to work out any problems they may be facing or to work in tandem on a design.
Landscape Potential II (Saturday, August 15, 2015 – 1:00 pm–3:00 pm) will introduce participants to the planning and implementation strategies professionals use to design richly layered, biodiverse perennial beds that summon bees and butterflies to the garden. This two-part course includes an introduction to designing with perennials, tips and tactics for building a bountiful perennial bed, and explores the plant species that pollinators love! Following the introduction class is a practicum in which participants bring in photos and maps of their property for a one-on-one consultation with me to develop perennial bed designs around their home.
Landscape Potential III (Saturday, September 19, 2015 – 1:00 pm–3:00 pm) will introduce participants to the planning and implementation strategies design professionals use to bring songbirds to the garden with shrubs and trees. This two-part course includes an introduction to designing with shrubs and trees, tips and tactics for successful planting, and species suggestions that birds find irresistible! Following the introduction class is a practicum in which participants bring in photos and maps of their property for a one-on-one consultation with me to develop a landscape for bird lovers!
Landscape Potential IV (Saturday, October 17, 2015 – 9:00 am–11:00 am) will introduce participants to the planning and implementation strategies design professionals use to create harmony between the house and the landscape through foundation planting. This class includes an introduction to foundation planting design, tips for successful planting, and explores the best annual, perennial, shrub, and tree species for quick results! Whether starting from scratch or shaping up an established home landscape, this class will ensure you're the Jones's to keep up with!
Each of these four landscape design classes is followed with a practicum where Preston will offer personalized professional advice for developing the potential of your home landscape during a one-on-one, one-hour consultation.
Please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 for more information or to register. Practicum times are available on Saturdays and Sunday and are limited. Please register for these early to ensure availability.
Welcome New Summer Interns
By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
The JC Raulston Arboretum proudly welcomes five paid student interns this summer, Rachel Burress, Danielle Smith, Bryan Byers, Taylor Leesnitzer, and Eddie Henderson (left–right). All are NC State students and four are in the Department of Horticultural Science. Danielle Smith is majoring in elementary education and working with the JCRA Children's Program. For eleven weeks, they will be very busy propagating plants for the JCRA Annual Plant Distribution, installing new pathways, and helping maintain the Arboretum.
This summer, Danielle is looking forward to discovering new ways to use the outdoors as a learning environment for children. Bryan plans to open a nursery with a small botanic garden alongside. Working in a public garden, nursery, or eventually starting his own small farm business are Eddie's future plans. Rachel and Taylor want to find new ways to share their excitement and knowledge about plants with the public. The JCRA Student Intern Program teaches marketable experience, provides networking opportunities, and assists with career decision making.
The Student Internship Program is supported by donations to the JCRA Internship Fund and by three JCRA internship endowments—Dr. Robert E. Lyons JCRA Internship Endowment, Isabella Cannon Endowed Arboretum Internship, and Dale and Thom Henderson Internship Endowment.
If you would like to help support the JCRA Internship Program, please contact Sonia Murphy, director of development at (919) 513-063 or sonia_murphy@ncsu.edu or make an online donation today!
Hats off to All the Fantastic Dads out There
By Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator
Celebrate your father with a new hat from the Arboretum. Father's Day is just around the corner; don't forget to get him one, too. Available at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center and the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center. Our hours are listed on the JCRA's Web site. Don't forget to check out the T-shirts while you're there.
Coming Attractions
By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
Hosta 'Autumn Frost'
hybrid hosta
Lilium 'Red Alert'
hybrid lily
Albizia julibrissin 'Ishii Weeping'
weeping mimosa
Lagerstroemia indica 'Whit III'
Pink Velour® crepe myrtle
Lilium formosanum var. pricei
dwarf Formosa lily
Acca sellowiana 'NCSU Hardy'
pineapple guava
Aesculus parviflora
bottlebrush buckeye
Agapanthus 'Early Blue'
agapanthus
YouTube Channel
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
One new video was recorded in May. Look for it in our YouTube Channel or click the link below.
Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our channel.
New Camera Video Camera Needed
The JC Raulston Arboretum needs a new video camera to replace our eight-year-old and recently broken camera. If you've enjoyed watching the videos or if you'd like to support the recording of our Friends of the Arboretum Lectures, Plantsmen's Tours, and other special happenings, please make contribution to the JCRA's Special Gifts fund. To ensure we know what your donation is for, please check the "This gift is in honor or memory of someone, in support of a program or department, or for payment of my membership dues." radio button and then change the pull down menu to "support" and write "digital camera" in the text field. If the funds received for this request exceed the purchase price of the camera, we'll purchase an external microphone for improved sound capture.
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