JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
April 2018
Your Monthly News and Updates
Director's Note

By Mark Weathington, Director

Spring is finally here and boy did it take its time. This has been a fun spring for me since I’m in a new house and only began planting last fall. Like most everyone else's landscape, both my garden and the Arboretum took a bit of a beating this winter, and we'll have plenty of space for some new things. Raulston Blooms! will have plenty of plants to fill in all the holes left by a very cold winter.
 
Despite the chilly weather, we've been quite busy especially with school tours. Many hundreds of children have been visiting and participating in the educational opportunities we offer. For some, the hubbub of 80 3rd graders in the garden can be a bit overwhelming but it is all worth it if we can get a few budding horticulturists excited about the plants around them.

See you in the garden.
Raulston Blooms! — More Plants than Ever

By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director

Saturday, April 7
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
 
The JC Raulston Arboretum plant sale selection alone has over doubled from last year. We're hoping our plant availability list will be completed on Monday, April 2.
 
Add to that the selections offered by Mr. Maple, Pine Knot Farms with John Lonsdale of Edgewood — The Lonsdale Garden, Superior Plants Nursery, the plants offered by the Piedmont Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society, and those from the Field to Cottage Nursery at the Wake Audubon tent and you're sure to find a treasure or two to add to your garden.
 
Grab your family and friends and come celebrate spring at the Arboretum . This garden festival has something for everyone. Perennial favorites return— 18th Annual Birdhouse Competition , garden talks, artists, family fun, bees, bugs, and, of course, Howling Cow ice cream.

Gardening Talk Schedule

10:30 AM – Mark Weathington, "Gardening in the South"
1:00 PM – Bryce Lane, "Great Plants for Your Spring Home Landscape"

For the complete lineup, visit the Raulston Blooms! announcement on the JCRA's Web site.

Remember, you have until Wednesday, April 4, to place your preorder with Mr. Maple . Just enter JCRAPICKUP (all capital letters) as the discount code to waive your shipping fee for plants to be picked up at the JC Raulston Arboretum Plant Sale on Friday, April 6 (Members-only Preview Sale), between 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM or Saturday, April 7 during Raulston Blooms!, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Please be sure to tell everyone you can about his wonderful spring fund-raiser. The more, the merrier.
Six Insider Hacks for Your Best Member-only Preview Plant Sale

By Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

Members Shop Early – 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Friday, April 6

  1. Check the plant availability list often. We keep adding new plants and more information daily up until the sale starts at 4:00 PM on Friday.
  2. Preorder from Mr. Maple and get free shipping for your orders placed on their Web site on or before Wednesday, April 4. Just enter JCRAPICKUP (all capital letters) as the discount code.
  3. Save time by bringing your JCRA membership card with you. Snap a photograph of it on your smartphone and you'll have it always. We will have a list if you can't find it—and we'll make a note to send you a replacement. You save 10% on all JCRA plants.
  4. Bring your own rolling cart or wagon, but once again we will have some plant shuttlers available with rolling carts to help you get purchases out to the brick circle loading area.
  5. Arrive early and enjoy the garden with a special treat from Buzzy Bakes. They’ll be ready to serve around 2:00 PM. Cupcakes, cookies, and mini whoopie pies. Cold brew iced and hot coffee, lattes, and strawberry lemonade. An added treat while you wait to shop.
  6. Out of fairness to all JCRA members, shoppers will not be able to enter the sale site until 4:00 PM. Please honor this request. There will not be any perusing the plants on sale or setting aside plants you want to buy until 4:00 PM.
  7. Can't make it on Friday? The plant sale will continue on Saturday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, at Raulston Blooms! Members get in free.
Spring Event for Hobbyists

By Sarah Alford, Programs and Education Assistant
 
This month, we're offering three fun events that focus on exploring the garden from new angles. On Saturday, April 14, Mary Doherty will offer a hands-on workshop titled Exploring iPhone Photography in the garden. iPhone enthusiasts will enjoy exploring new techniques to capture the garden's springtime glory as well as learning how to process those photographs with a photograph editing app. Registration is open online .

For those of you who prefer a more active experience, join Patrick Brandt of Piedmont Tree Climbing on Saturday, April 28 for a chance to scale one of the JCRA's majestic oak trees ! This event is open to youth and adults and because no previous experience is necessary it's a great opportunity to get a group together and learn a new skill! Patrick will provide gear and lead participants through an informative lecture on how to climb safely before guiding the new climbers up into the treetops! Join us and register today ! We're offering a second day of tree climbs on Saturday, May 26 as well.

Also on Saturday, April 28, Pam Chance will facilitate a day of self-care , highlighting horticulture therapy’s use of plants in order to benefit well-being. Participants in this workshop will learn about the myriad of ways gardening can have a positive impact on our mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual selves through a talk on the history of horticulture therapy and a variety of individualized activities that center around creative ways to use gardening as self-care. All participants will leave feeling refreshed and full of new creative energy to apply to their gardens. Make sure to schedule time for yourself and register online today !
Tea Olive, Cold Hardier than You Might Think

By Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager

This winter has shown that cultivars of Osmanthus fragrans vary in their cold hardiness. A few are now nearly leafless, most others unfazed by single digits. A recommendation to stick very tender cuttings had me out in the Arboretum visiting each plant.

For four decades, I considered Osmanthus fragrans , the tea olive, to be a zone eight plant which we gardeners struggled to grow in zone 7. A struggle deemed worthy for there could hardly be a finer perfume than that of its flowers. A fragrance made all that much sweeter for it came in late summer with the promise of the fairer weather of autumn. It did not matter if a cold winter had ravaged the plant for even a few flowers could perfume a whole garden, a few more, a whole neighborhood.

It seems as if the Osmanthus fragrans grown by generations of gardeners is much less cold hardy than more recently introduced cultivars. It is possible, perhaps even likely, that all of it was one clone. ‘Fudingzhu’ is the cultivar in the Arboretum most like this old one, and it is now nearly leafless. The following cultivars had no damage: 'Apricot Echo', 'Apricot Gold' (photograph above), 'Beni Kin Mokusei', 'Butter Yello'’, 'Da Hong Zhu Sha Gui', 'Live Oak Gold', 'New Red', 'Orange Supreme', 'Thunbergii', and ‘Zao Hong Don Gui’ and O. fragrans f. aurantiacus . The downside of being cold hardy is that some of these plants are now about 15' tall and wide or more. Anyone up to breeding a dwarf tea olive? There are about five additional cultivars in the JCRA nursery waiting to go in the ground and test.

According to The Flora of China , this species occurs in Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces, nearly 1,000 miles from north to south, a range I imagine from about a moderate temperate climate like Raleigh to subtropical, so this species might vary in cold hardiness in the wild. Its common name derives from the use of its flowers to perfume tea and that it is in the olive family, the Oleaceae, along with lilac, forsythia, privet, and others.
Classes to Improve Your Gardening Know-how

By Sarah Alford, Programs and Education Assistant 

While our hobby classes will offer a relaxing way to interact with the garden this month, we also are offering several classes to stretch your mental muscles! DNA Barcoding of plants may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but as Andrew Pais (our database and plant records coordinator) will share on Tuesday, April 10, this method is in use at the JCRA and is extremely helpful in verifying the identity of plants. Traditional methods for identifying plants make use of the visible similarities and differences between plants, but DNA barcoding focuses on what is invisible to the naked eye and uses DNA sequencing technology to describe the evolutionary history of these plants. The intricacies of this method open exciting doors for the identification of previously unknown plants, and we'd love to have you come out and learn more!

Implementing a fresh design for your garden can end in a major headache if not planned for properly! Join artist, educator, and landscape designer Preston Montague on Saturday, April 28 for a class on improving curb appeal through foundation plantings . In this fourth class in the Landscape Potential series, Preston will introduce the strategies professional landscapers use when planning and implementing new designs as well as tips for successful planting of recommended species. The other Landscape Potential classes are not prerequisites for this program. As part of registration , you can also choose to sign up for a practicum session with Preston. These one-on-ones provide the perfect opportunity to get a professional's advice on the specific challenges your home landscape faces! Space is limited, so sign up today.
Nancy Doubrava

By Mark Weathington, Director
 
A major part of the mission of the JCRA is to educate and engage the public about plants. Few people have had such a major impact on this part of the mission over the past 18 years as Nancy Doubrava. Nancy began her association with J. C. Raulston, Ph.D., as one of his graduate students studying roadside ornamental plantings. Some years later in 2000, Nancy returned to the JCRA as a interpretive specialist and soon after began the monumental task of labeling the collection. 
 
Over the years, Nancy has helped make the Arboretum one of the best-labeled gardens in the country. She was also responsible for the educational signage around the garden, seasonal tour pamphlets, special event posters, and way-finding. Her work was often one of the few ways we reached and engaged the casual visitor and was certainly critical to communicating to our active visitors.
 
Nancy retired in March leaving a high standard for everyone who will follow in her footsteps. All of the JCRA family — staff, volunteers, and members thank her for her hard work and hope to see her often around the Arboretum.
Save the Date

By Lisa Meares, University Program Associate, Advancement

Please join us for Gala in the Garden and Rare Plant Auction on Sunday, May 6 from 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM. The highlight of the event will be a live auction during which a selection of very rare, very special plants will go under the gavel. Other collectible plants and garden items will be offered during a silent auction. Enjoy a wonderful afternoon at the JC Raulston Arboretum with wine, craft beer, and light hors d'oeuvres.
Support the JCRA Internship Program

By Lisa Meares, University Program Associate, Advancement

The JC Raulston Arboretum depends on community support from people like you. Help us grow the young men and women who are driving the future of horticulture and North Carolina's Green Industry by supporting the JCRA's Summer Internship Program. Your gift provides the critical, hands-on learning opportunities so important for developing the next generation of industry leaders and helps grow our internationally known teaching and research garden.
This Competition Is for the Birds ...

By Sara Alford, Programs and Education Assistant

... literally. Show off your creativity at our 18th Annual Birdhouse Competition on Saturday, April 7th during Raulston Blooms!. Join other art enthusiasts in this classic celebration of spring returning to the garden. The competition is open to all ages and admission is free. Adult participants can enter their birdhouses in the Serious or Flight of Fancy categories, or both! Houses in the Serious category are working birdhouses, focusing on function and form, while those in the Flight of Fancy category are open to imaginative interpretation and judged on their aesthetics. Youth participants (ages 4 to 16) enter categories based on their ages. And for those of you who'd rather sit back and relax, pack up the whole brood to take a gander at these lovely creations and vote for the Visitors Choice Award winning birdhouse at one cent a vote. Register online to be a competitor today!
Upcoming Events
Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Mondays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
6:30 PM
Continued from March

"Raulston Blooms! Sneak Peek"
Mark Weathington, Director
Tuesday, April 3
1:00 PM

Part of Raulston Blooms!
Friday, April 6
10:00 AM-6:00 PM - Entries Accepted

Members-only Preview Sale
Friday, April 6
4:00 PM-7:00 PM

A Garden Festival for All Ages (includes the
Saturday, April 7
9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Andrew Pais, Ph.D.
Tuesday, April 10
10:00 AM

"A Crack Epidemic ... Keeping Crevice-loving Plants High and Dry Using Recycled Concrete"
Tony Avent, Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Thursday, April 12
7:30 PM

Saturday, April 14
9:00 AM

Mary Doherty, Mary Doherty Photography
Saturday, April 14
9:00 AM

Wednesday, April 18
8:30 AM

"Backgrounds"
Susan Bailey, Susan Bailey Photography
Thursday, April 19
10:00 AM

Cohosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Piedmont Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society
"All the Presidents' Gardens"
Marta McDowell
Saturday, April 21
10:00 AM

Badge Workshop for Junior Girl Scouts
Sunday, April 22
2:00 PM

"Community Gardens: Why They Are Valuable to Our Communities?"
Rich Woynicz, Wake County Extension Master Gardener, and Ruthie Wofford, Communications and Outreach Coordinator at Capital Area Food Network
Monday, April 23
10:00 AM

Pamela Chance, Horticulture Therapist
Saturday, April 28
9:00 AM

Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator
Saturday, April 28 (one-on-one practicums with Preston available after class and on Sunday)
9:00 AM

Open to Youths and Adults
Patrick Brandt, Piedmont Tree Climbing
Saturday, April 28 (eight tree climbs available throughout the day)
10:00 AM-6:30 PM

✽Denotes a children's program.

Many programs require advance registration. Please register early to reserve your spot.

Other Dates to Remember

Thursday, April 12
9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Sunday, May 6
2:30 PM–6:00 PM
Coming Attractions
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Scilla peruviana
Portuguese squill
Aesculus ×carnea 'Rosea'
red horse chestnut
Paeonia 'Pink Hawaiian Coral'
hybrid peony
Amsonia elliptica
Asian bluestar
Lonicera sempervirens (early blooming)
trumpet honeysuckle
Cornus florida 'Pluribracteata'
double flowering dogwood
Magnolia virginiana var. australis 'Green Shadow'
evergreen sweet bay magnolia
Agave victoriae-reginae
Queen Victoria agave
Viburnum plicatum 'Mary Milton'
pink Japanese snowball viburnum
YouTube Channel Update

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
One new video was recorded in March and posted to our YouTube Channel . Look for it 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 .
Christopher Todd Glenn
Programs and Education Coordinator
Sarah Alford
Programs and Education Assistant
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 kbwall@ncsu.edu . Please do not use the links below to update your e-mail address or to unsubscribe.