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JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
May 2017
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Your Monthly News and Updates
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By Mark Weathington, Director
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Our favorite time of year is here—it’s Gala in the Garden
time once again and I don’t think I’ve ever seen our staff as excited
as they are this year for the areas best garden party. Between the
signature cocktail to greet you when you arrive to the fantastic food
and of course the famed silent auction, this event is one you definitely
don’t want to miss. Online registration closes on May 3, so don’t
delay. Walk-in registrations welcome on Sunday.
The
gardens started last month a bit dry but we sure ended the month with
plenty of water—almost 8" in two days! Other than some soggy paths and
boggy beds, the Arboretum fared very well. The plants should be
well-hydrated as they hit peak growth over the next few weeks. This time
of year is amazing as the garden is transformed on a daily basis. If
you can, I’d encourage you to visit often to watch the transformation.
On a personal note, I’m very excited to announce the publication of my new book from Timber Press this month—
Gardening in the South, The Complete Homeowner’s Guide
. This
has been a labor of love, consuming most of my weekends for the better
part of a year. I’ll be having the book launch here at the Arboretum on
May 11 and I hope to see you there. If you don’t live close enough, keep
an eye out—I’ve got talks scheduled around North Carolina and
throughout the Southeast over the next year so I’ll likely be coming to a
town near you. You’ll be able to purchase the book here at the JCRA or
wherever you purchase books—encourage your local garden center or
independent bookseller to carry it if they don’t already have it.
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Plant Records Volunteers Needed
By Andrew Pais, Database and Plant Records Coordinator
To
misquote the philosopher George Berkeley, "If a tree falls in the JC
Raulston Arboretum and no one is there to record it, does it make a
sound?" This is a question that we at JCRA must address on a weekly
basis. Take for instance our recently departed friend Sequoiadendron giganteum ‘Barabits Requiem’.
Why
is it important to record this tree's death or its replacement? Imagine
you drove for hours to see this Sierra redwood sapling, and
imagine how frustrated you'd be trying to locate a plant that was listed
as present on our Web site. This challenge is why it is so critical to
keep updated records of our collections and not just recent plantings.
Please consider volunteering in the effort to keep updated records,
labels, and maps of our collections. Volunteers will get to take morning
strolls through different plant beds every week to help assess and
update what's truly out there or not. This work provides an excellent
opportunity to practice plant identification, and every week presents a
brand new set of mysteries to solve—discovering bulbs that have gone
missing over the past few winters to finding perennials, shrubs, and
trees that have been planted but never recorded or labelled!
Contact me at alpais@ncsu.edu
or (919) 513-7007 if you'd like to assist in solving some of the
Arboretum’s ongoing mysteries. The experience provides an intermediate
amount of both indoor and outdoor activity. We promise you plenty of
time in front of plants in addition to having opportunities to update
the computer database!
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Propagation Workshop
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Tim Alderton, Research Technician, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Saturday, May 27, 2017 – 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Join Tim Alderton and Chris Glenn in this hands-on workshop
and learn how to asexually propagate some of your favorite plants at
the Arboretum. Participants go home with a greater knowledge of plant
propagation and with many freshly propagated plants. Each participants
chooses which plants they want to propagate from the JCRA's collection
of over 6,000 taxa (few exceptions apply, though). Techniques discussed
can be done at home. This workshop is open to all knowledge/experience
levels. If you've ever wanted a plant from the JCRA's collection, but
couldn't find it available for sale, this is your chance to propagate it
along with many others. Our propagation workshops always fill quickly
so register today.
For those of you that have already taken one of our propagation workshops, we've scheduled a June 3 workshop just for you.
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Say Hello to Simchock Stone
By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director
Remember
the beautiful stone lanterns around the Lath House during Moonlight in
the Garden? Those one-of-a-kind beauties are the creation of Bob
Simchock of Simchock Stone. And, we are delighted to welcome Simchock Stone as a member benefit provider.
Bob
Simchock loves stone. And it doesn't take long strolling through his
stone creations to see he has an eye for finding the unique
characteristics in each stone. Simchock Stone has something for every
garden: Art pieces, birdbaths, lanterns, benches, tables, and inuksuks. I
warn you Bob's passion for stone is infectious and perhaps a little
addictive.
Simchock Stone is located at 5404 Old Hillsborough Road in Durham. Bob
and his wife, Jenny, welcome you to visit, even if you're just browsing.
They encourage you to call them at (919) 382-8773 to make sure they’re
around. But if you're in the area and don't have time to call, stop by.
Bob and Jenny love meeting new people and enjoy sharing Bob's work. You
won't meet two nicer people.
Let them know you’re a member. JCRA members will receive 10% off any stone creation.
For a glimpse of Bob's work visit his Web site. Or, if your attending Gala in the Garden
on Sunday, Mary 7, Bob donated a very beautiful granite birdbath for our silent auction.
Welcome, Bob and Jenny! I’m already looking forward to my next visit.
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Share Your Arboretum with Friends
By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director
Spring
is a wonderful time to visit the Arboretum and we have several things
on the calendar in May that are perfect occasions to introduce someone
you know to the garden.
Gala in the Garden, Sunday, May 7 is the Raleigh
garden party. It's steeped in history and adorned with nature's beauty.
The people are friendly and the food—delectable! The silent auction
tents are filling with items that are both garden savvy and garden
inspired. Invite friends and colleagues to attend—we'll be putting on
our Sunday best.
Online registration is open through May 3.
Gardening in the South's
book launch will be May 11 at our Friends of the Arboretum Lecture. In
case you haven't heard, Mark Weathington has written a book.
Gardening in the South
is comprehensive, enthusiastic, and accessible to gardeners of all
levels. It features information on site and plant selection, soil
preparation and maintenance, and basic design principles. Plant profiles
highlight the region's best perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, and
bulbs. Color photographs throughout show wonderful examples of southern
garden style. Gardening in the South
is for home gardeners in Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Spread the word, this will be a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in gardening to discover the Arboretum. We invite you to join us on Thursday, May 11 at 7:30 PM in the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center. No registration required. Details can be found on our Web site.
For those attending Gala in the Garden, advance, signed copies will be available for sale then as well.
We thank you for helping us spread the word about our beautiful arboretum and hope you'll visit often to enjoy it.
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Plantsmen's Tour
"Gala in the Garden Sneak Peek"
Mark Weathington, Director
Tuesday, May 2
9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
✽Denotes a children's program.
Many programs require advance registration. Please register early to reserve your spot.
Other Dates to Remember
Thursday, April 11
9:00 AM-3:00 PM
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By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
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Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki 'Kinme'
golden-tip Japanese yew-pine
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Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora
Sichuan deutzia
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Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'
iron cross oxalis
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Triteleia laxa 'Corrina'
Ithuriel's spear
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Ilex cornuta 'Masashi's Gold'
golden Chinese holly
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Rosa 'Jacrite' (Rio Samba™)
tea rose
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Rosa 'Meiggili' (Peach Drift®)
ground cover rose
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Heuchera 'Glitter'
coral bells
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Acer palmatum 'Hana Matoi'
variegated dissectum Japanese maple
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By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Two new videos were recorded in April and posted to our YouTube Channel. Look for them on our channel or click the graphics below.
Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our YouTube Channel.
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Your Membership Makes a Difference
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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.
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Christopher Todd Glenn
Programs and Education Coordinator
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
(919) 513-7005
You're
receiving this e-mail because you're a member of the JC Raulston
Arboretum. JCRA e-Updates are published electronically every month. If
you are a member and need to update your contact information or wish to
be removed from this mailing, please contact Kathryn Wall at (919)
513-7004 or kathryn_wall@ncsu.edu. Please do not use the links below to update your e-mail address or to unsubscribe.
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