|
JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update - February 2017
|
|
Director's NoteBy Mark Weathington, Director
If you're anything like me, you're starting to get spring fever. These scattered days with temperatures in the 60s only make the drop back into the freeze zone all the more disappointing. Luckily, even on the coldest day, I can walk out of my office and drift along on the scent of Prunus mume (Japanese flowering apricot), Daphne odora (winter daphne), and Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet). If you haven't come out and experienced the JC Raulston Arboretum in winter, you are missing a true multi-sensory experience.
The other thing that always excites me at this time of year is our annual Winter Symposium. This year, we have a trio of garden divas to educate and entertain us. The term "diva" is derived from the Italian for goddess and has come to be used to describe a woman of outstanding talent (traditionally in opera, but also recognized in other performing arts). It is reserved only for those at the very top of their craft. We certainly think Stephanie Cohen, Pam Beck, and Carol Reese fit the bill. Between the three of them, there is a mountain of books, awards, popular press articles, and gardening know-how.
I hope to see you out in the garden following your nose or joining us for an outstanding symposium on February 18.
|
Introduction to Insect Identification: The Good, the Bad, and the Buggy
By John Meyer, Department of Entomology, NC State, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
John Meyer, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, Department of Entomology, NC State UniversityTuesdays, March 14 through April 11, 2017 - 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
What's on the leaf of your azalea? Are you curious about those grubs in your compost bin? Is there a striped caterpillar eating your parsley? Learning to recognize and identify the insects in your garden can be a daunting task - there are over a million described species and at least that many undescribed ones! This course will help you sort out all that diversity. It will focus on the major orders and families of garden insects, show you how to recognize members of the common groups, and help you distinguish between the good bugs and the bad bugs. Knowing what it is opens the door to a whole world of information about what it does and what to do about it. As an old Chinese proverb says, "The beginning of knowledge is getting things by their right name." Course Schedule
March 14 - Orderly Insects -- Basic systematics, morphology, and development March 21 - The Hemimetabola - Orthoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera March 28 - Pollination Central - Diptera and Hymenoptera April 4 - Beetlemania - Coleoptera by the boatload April 11 - Lepidoptera - Butterflies and moths, oh my! About John Meyer, Ph.D.John Meyer grew up in Denver, Colorado, where, to his mother's dismay, he spent much of his childhood catching bugs in the vacant lot near his home. His youthful fascination with the world of insects led him to a B.S. in biology from the University of Illinois and an M.S. and Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell University. He joined the faculty of NC State University in 1978 where he has taught both undergraduate and graduate entomology courses for the past 35+ years. He is an Alumni Association Distinguished Undergraduate Professor and has received Outstanding Teaching awards from the College of Agriculture and the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. He received the 2008-2009 Gertrude M. Cox Award for excellence in teaching with technology and was named Wake County Envirothon Mentor of the year in 2011. For more information about our Introduction to Insect Identification course with John Meyer or to register, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005.
|
Renewal Pruning Class and Demonstration
By Douglas Ruhren, Ironwood Gardens and JCRA Volunteer, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Douglas Ruhren, Ironwood Gardens and JCRA Volunteer
Saturday, March 25, 2017 - 9:00 AM-11:30 AM Want to maximize the production of flowers and fruits from your shrubs? Renewal pruning is the way to do it. This simple technique works with the natural cycle of replacing old stems with new. This class will start with classroom explanations of the nature of shrubs, the reason for and the techniques of renewal pruning, the tools of the trade as well as demonstrations of this technique. This will be followed by actual demonstration of the technique on shrubs in the arboretum with some hands-on experience for class participants. For more information about our Renewal Pruning Class and Demonstration with Douglas Ruhren or to register, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005.
|
Save the Date - Raulston Blooms!
By Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer CoordinatorSaturday, April 1, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Celebrate Spring with a fun festival! Learn from top notch gardening experts Bryce Lane, Brie Arthur, and Will Hooker. Shop for your garden at our annual plant sale. JCRA members get a 10% discount on plants and can attend our exclusive members-only preview sale on Friday, March 31. Come for the day and enjoy gourmet treats from local food trucks, and NC State's own Howling Cow Ice Cream. The whole family will enjoy our 17th Annual Birdhouse Competition, and area nature groups. There's something fun for all ages and, of course, 10.5 acres of beautiful garden to explore.
|
Summer Camp Registration Is Underway
By Elizabeth Overcash, Children's Program Coordinator
The recent warm weather has all of us thinking about the summer, and the registrations for summer camp are flying in with the opening of registration! Two of our summer camps are already full, and the others are filling up quick. What's all the excitement about? Six weeks of camp that are full of exploring the gardens, cooking with vegetables, getting muddy, and finding critters in the mulch. This year, we have all new mysteries for our popular Nature Detective camp and even added a second session for more detectives! Garden Critters, June 19-23 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Nature Detectives, June 26-30 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Garden Explorers, July 10-14 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Artists in the Garden, July 17-21 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (waitlist started) Garden Chefs, July 31-August 4 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (waitlist started)
Nature Detectives, August 8-11 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
|
Upcoming Events
Gardening Basics-Using Science to Grow Better Plants Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University Mondays, February 6, 13, 20, and 27 (and four more weeks in March) 12:00 AMFull - wait list started
Plantsmen's Tour "Behind the Scenes: JCRA Nursery and Horticulture Field Lab" Lizzi Lathers, Research Technician Tuesday, February 7 1:00 PM
Friends of the Arboretum Lecture "Bald is Beautiful: Working and Creating a Beautiful Winter Landscape" Greg Paige, Arboretum Curator, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories & Arboretum Thursday, February 9 7:30 PM
✽Denotes a children's program.
Many programs require advance registration. Please register early to reserve your spot.
Dates to Remember
Mulch Sale
Thursday, February 9
9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25 8:00 AM-5:00 P Sunday, February 26 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
|
Coming Attractions
By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
 Prunus × blireanaBlireana plum  Crocus tommasinianus 'Roseus' Tommasini's crocus  Helleborus × hybridusLenten rose  Galanthus plicatus subsp. byzantinusTurkish snowdrop  Viburnum grandiflorumwinter viburnum
Hamamelis mollis 'Goldcrest'
Chinese witchhazel
Cyclamen coum
baby cyclamen
Prunus mume 'Omoi-no-mama'
Japanese flowering apricot
|
YouTube Channel Update
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Two new videos were recorded in January and were recently posted to our YouTube Channel. Look for them on our channel or click the graphic below. Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our YouTube Channel.  
|
Your Membership Makes a Difference
Please Join or Renew Today!The JC Raulston Arboretum is free to the public, but it is not free to operate. Memberships keep the gates open and the gardens in top shape. Membership gifts are the primary support for the Arboretum's daily operations and vital for its success. Thank you for your support and advocacy of the JC Raulston Arboretum through the membership program. It's fast and easy to become a Friend of the Arboretum, and there are many great benefits for you and your family. Join or renew now using our secure Web site, or contact Kathryn Wall, membership and volunteer coordinator, at (919) 513-7004 or kbwall@ncsu.edu.
|
The JC Raulston Arboretum's fund-raising efforts, including the winter symposium, operate under the auspices of the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization. Proceeds benefit the JC Raulston Arboretum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
