JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
May 2018
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Your Monthly News and Updates
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Director's Note
By Mark Weathington, Director
What a glorious spring it has been—
and much needed after a rough winter. The cool weather has kept plants in flower much longer than normal and the Arboretum has been a riot of color. The
Gala in the Garden and Rare Plant Auction
this year looks to be our best ever with tastings of local wines, beers, and honey along with some fantastic plants. A live auction portion of the event this year will include the first ever public offering of the amazing
Mahonia shenii
as well as the much coveted variegated daphniphyllum (
Daphniphyllum
teysmannii 'Mountain Dove') from our Lath House.
Along with perhaps our
best selection of plants ever
, we'll have some trips this year to auction. Among the amazing trips is an all-inclusive trip to Panama, five nights in Portugal, and a private villa for six in Tuscany. Come prepared to bid on some great items or come for the great food and drink or just come for a visit but come on out.
See you in the garden.
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Countdown to Gala is On, Please Join Us
By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director
We hope to see you at this year's Gala in the Garden and Rare Plant Auction on Sunday, May 6. It's a wonderful way to celebrate and support the Arboretum with its closest friends, stewards, and admirers.
Sunday, May 6
2:30 PM
–
6:00 PM
JC Raulston Arboretum
The auction tents are filling and the excitement building. Starting with
Mahonia shenii
. Mark is pretty certain we were the first to have this plant in the United States. And while we've shared it with a very select group of notable plantsmen, this will be our first public offering. Don't miss your chance to own it. Excited? We certainly are! Take a peek at
other plants included in this year's auction
.
To satisfy the more spirited bidders, we've added a live auction of our most unique plants. Be prepared to bid boldly as these select treasures go under the gavel. And for those with a sense of adventure, get your travel party and your passports ready, there are four trips waiting for your bids. There is certainly something for everyone. You could be the new owner of J. C.'s favorite table or the stunning wooden archway you may have seen recently near the Lath House.
For the art collectors, "Colorful Borders" by Susan Woodson will be on the auction block. This is one of four paintings donated to the Arboretum that were inspired by the garden. We've enjoyed them in the McSwain Cennter for nearly two years and will be envious of the lucky winner. We have pottery from Ben Owen III, Jugtown, Crystal King, and Naked Creek Pottery among the other beautiful pieces donated by very talented artists.
We're looking forward to seeing all of you! And on behalf of everyone here, we thank each of you for your dedicated and enthusiastic support of this garden. It's a love we all share.
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An International Incident
By Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
International relationships between Mexico and the JC Raulston Arboretum seemed on the skids until JCRA director Mark Weathington saved the day. The consul general of Mexico in Raleigh, Remedios Gomez-Arnau, visited the Arboretum for the first time on April 22. Though generally full of praise for the JCRA and expressing thanks that it exists for the larger community, The consul general was distraught over the condition of many of the agaves of Mexican origin. Mark explained to her that this winter was much harder on the agaves than typical winters, so there was much more damage than usual. Mark also mentioned that agaves respond better to post trauma treatment after the weather warms up and rains taper off.
JCRA horticultural staff had already been planning a major renovation of the Xeric Garden to deal with plants which have spread far beyond what is needed to be adequately represented. This will also free up space for new plants in the nursery. This past winter has made this renovation even more necessary.
What is most exciting about this exchange of e-mails between Mark and Remedios is the possibility of their facilitating the acquisition of plants from Mexico for the JCRA. All of this reminded me of the wide range of exciting, garden-worthy plants of Mexican origin which can be found not just in the Xeric Garden (xeric: a dry environment) but throughout the Arboretum. Mexico is a large country of many different climates from the desert to the cool cloud forest such as the winter habitat of monarch butterflies to steamy tropics.
It's nice to know that the JC Raulston Arboretum, and gardens in general, can be a source of better relationships between different countries and cultures.
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Spring Event for Hobbyists
By Sarah Alford, Programs and Education Assistant, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Join us this May and June for our exciting line-up of workshops which focus on expanding the potential of your home garden. First up, on Saturday, May 12, join Bryce Lane for a morning workshop highlighting the potential hidden in
container gardening
. Container gardens are a fantastic tool for season extension, space conservation, and pest and disease prevention, and this class will arm you with the information necessary for success.
Register online
today.
If you've ever wondered how some gardeners seem to be able to add new plants to their garden so effortlessly, join JCRA staff for one of our hands-on propagation workshops. Propagation is the successful gardener's little secret to inexpensively growing a plant collection, and it's a secret you can be in on too! Come practice propagating different kinds of plants and learn the proper techniques and tools you'll need to propagate successfully at home. We are featuring classes on propagating both softwood and herbaceous perennials. Our softwood propagation workshops will be held two different Saturdays, for your convenience—
May 26
and
June 2—
and participants will be able to choose the plants they'd like to propagate by cuttings from the JCRA's collection of over 6,000 taxa (although a few exceptions do apply). Our
Herbaceous Perennials Propagation Class and Demonstration
will be hosted on Saturday, June 23 by Doug Ruhren, and will cover a wide variety of propagation techniques, including division, stem and leaf cuttings, and seed. Participants will be able to leave with some of the plants propagated during demonstrations. Don't miss these incredible opportunities. Register online today!
Some plants are hard to root and some don't root at all. For these plants, we propagate them by grafting. The JCRA is hosting
ginkgo
and
Japanese maple
grafting workshops this summer on Saturday, July 21 with Tim and Matt Nichols from Mr. Maple. Like all of our other propagation programs, these workshops will fill quickly so register today.
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JCRA Membership Card
—
Don't Leave Home Without It
By
Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
If your travel plans include the potential of visiting a public garden, take your JCRA membership card
—
it pays! The American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Admissions Program offers free admission and/or additional benefits at over 300+ gardens throughout North America. This reciprocal program is a JCRA membership benefit and continues to be a favorite perk.
JCRA member and volunteer Charlotte Presley recently toured the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the island of Kaua'ia in Hawaii.
Admission to the garden was $30.00 but because of the reciprocity with the JCRA she saved $60.00 for admission for two.
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Welcome, Leanne Kenealy
By Mark Weathington, Director
Help us welcome the newest member of the JC Raulston Arboretum team, Leanne Kenealy. Leanne will be working in the nursery and with former JCRA director and NC State professor, Denny Werner, Ph.D. Leanne's undergraduate and Master's degrees are from Clemson University. She worked at Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, South Carolina. running the nursery before leading research and development at Hoffman Nursery. We look forward to the skills and knowledge Leanne will be bringing to the JCRA.
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Raulston Blooms! We Did It
By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director
Here's a big shout-out to everyone who made this year's Raulston Blooms! and member preview sale happen. From the volunteers who worked tirelessly getting everything in place to the friends and families who braved the cold, rainy, Saturday to come and enjoy the festivities—Thank you all!
Saturday's attendance was drastically down from last year, but our net income for both days (Friday and Saturday) was just slightly lower! A little rain doesn't stop dedicated plant enthusiasts.
A big thank you to the following participants who adapted to a rain plan and filled the day with spirited fun and enjoyment for everyone. We couldn't do it without them.
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- Rhonda Sherman and her amazing Wake County Master Gardeners
- Suzy Spenser (Bee Display)
- NC State University Graduate Student Association (Bugs)
- Wake Audubon
- Girl Scouts
- Piedmont Chapter of NARGS
- Bayer
- Compost Now
- Dillardville Recycled Art
- Aimee Cuthrell Fine Arts
- Rimshotz Woodturning
- Mary Jo's Studio
- Artisanal Jewelry and Good by Kate Wiegand
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- That’s Nature's Way
- Flower Child Face Painting
- Buzzy Bakes
- Curry in a Hurry
- Kono Pizza
- Red Hot and Blue
And of course our invited plant vendors:
- Mr. Maple
- Pine Knot Farms with John Lonsdale of Edgewood—The Lonsdale Garden
- Superior Plants Nursery
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"Mayflowers and Other Highlights"
Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Tuesday, May 1
9:00 AM and
Tuesday, May 1
6:00 PM
Sunday, May 6
2:30 PM–6:00 PM
Tuesday, May 8
9:00 AM
"Chinese Challenges ... Or I've Been Kicked Out of Better Places than This!"
Mark Weathington, Director
Thursday, May 10
7:30 PM
Friday, May 11
10:00 AM
Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Saturday, May 12
8:30 AM
"Macro"
Susan Bailey, Susan Bailey Photography
Thursday, May 17
10:00 AM
Badge Workshop for Junior Girl Scouts
Saturday, May 19
10:00 AM
Tuesday, May 22 through Friday, June 1
Friday, May 25
10:00 AM
JCRA Staff
Saturday, May 26
9:00 AM
Open to Youths and Adults
Patrick Brandt, Piedmont Tree Climbing
Saturday, May 26
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, May 10
9:00 AM–3:00 PM
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By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
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Paeonia
'Trafford W. Bigger'
peony
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Dichelostemma ida-maia
firecracker flower
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Magnolia grandiflora
'Southern Charm'
Teddy Bear Southern magnolia
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Spiraea nipponica
'Verspi 1'
Golden Glitter variegated spirea
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Hydrangea quercifolia
'Ruby Slippers'
oakleaf hydrangea
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Lilium
'Orange Tycoon'
lily
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Calycanthus
'Aphrodite'
hybrid sweetshrub
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Allium canadense
var.
florosum
'White Flag'
meadow garlic
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YouTube Channel Update
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Four new videos was recorded in March and April 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
.
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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
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.
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