JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
February 2019
Your Monthly News and Updates
Director's Note

By Mark Weathington, Director

It may be winter, but there's still a lot going on at the Arboretum. Out on the grounds we're renovating our miniature conifer garden at the entrance to the rooftop, planting out thousands of new bulbs, and transplanting some things from the Lath H ouse to other spots in the garden. We've got some great projects coming up including new vine supports on the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center and new fencing along Beryl Road.
 
On the education front, our annual Winter Symposium is filling fast but there are some seats left as I write this. We've sold out this program the past three years and have turned away more than a few disappointed people so don't procrastinate! 
 
People haven't been procrastinating about signing up for summer camps , though. We've only had them open for two days as I write this and we've sold out two of the five weeks already. 

See you in the garden.
Winter Symposium Early Registration Closing Soon

By Haleigh Swenfurth, Programs and Education Assistant, and Sarah Alford, Former Programs and Education Assistant

The highly anticipated annual Winter Symposium is approaching quickly! We have had a great deal of positive response for this year's theme: gardening for winter interest. Our schedule is packed with talented speakers who are prominent in the public garden, landscape design, and home gardening community—Lisa Barlett, Karen Bussolini, and Rodney Eason—who will all lend their varied backgrounds and specialties to provide fresh vision for our home landscapes. We are excited about the range of topics that will be covered during the symposium, they will help you visualize how to plan and plant for diversity as you bring sustainable and natural elements into your own garden to enjoy as much in the winter as in the summer.

This year's symposium will be held on Saturday, February 16 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Seats are limited and registration is filling up quickly. Our last three symposia have filled to capacity so register today to reserve your spot. Early registration ends Sunday, February 3, so sign up soon to avoid the late registration's increased fee!
Exploring the Digital Gardens of JCRA

By Andrew Pais, Ph.D., Database and Plant Records Coordinator


The JC Raulston gardens are now available to explore digitally on our new mapping Web page!

Aided by several NC State University students as part of a master's capstone project (special thanks to Dan Wade), we are now able to share a clear depiction of locations for each of our current plantings. Users can simply search their favorite plant on our Web site's Our Plants feature, click on the link of a given collection of interest, and have the Web-based map automatically zoom-in to their selection to inform exactly where a given plant is. More interestingly, users can then interact with the map to click on other surrounding plants to learn what else is around them! We look forward to developing this Web map in the future so users can provide a list of must-see plants and get a tailored-made path to guide them on their next visit.
Eco-friendly Garden Coach Brainstorm-Garden Problem Solving with an Ecological Twist

By Karen Bussolini, Instructor, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

When you don't love your garden or it's just too much work, putting your finger on what the problem might be isn't always easy, but it's the first step toward garden happiness. Maybe it's bad pruning (or none at all because it's too scary to start), site problems, awkward spaces, erosion, shade, dry or wet soil, wrong plant for the place, too few plants or too many, lack of character or color, high maintenance.

Karen will get the discussion going by showing before and after photographs of gardens she worked on with homeowners in her capacity as an eco-friendly garden coach. It always helps to look at your garden with fresh eyes, so she will talk through her thought process when encountering a new property. Then we'll look at some "befores" for interactive brainstorming to get creative juices flowing. The session will be fun, friendly and informative—all ideas welcome.

Karen is one of our Winter Symposium's speakers and is hosting this interactive class the day before the symposium. Learn how to identify your garden's problems and how to fix them by joining Karen in this interactive and lively class on Friday, February 15 at 9:00 AM. Space is limited so register today to reserve your spot.
Got Summer Plans? Don't Forget to Include a JCRA Summer Camp

By Elizabeth Overcash, Children's Program Coordinator

Summer camp registration is underway! It was so exciting to see all the registrations coming in for camp this past Monday, the first day of registration. I enjoyed reading names of new camp families and returning camp families and seeing what camps they picked for this summer. It's going to be a great summer!
 
The excitement continued when Garden Chefs filled only an hour and forty-five minutes after registration opened on Monday! By Tuesday afternoon, Nature Detectives had also filled. With all this excitement around camps, make sure to take advantage of this two-week early registration period for Arboretum family members. Over 60% of the camp spots are already filled as I write this, so don't delay making your summer plans.
 
If you missed out on a camp that is already full, make sure to request a spot on the waitlist. More excitement is coming when public registration begins on Monday, February 11!
Send a Child to Camp

By Elizabeth Overcash, Children's Program Coordinator

Want to be part of the JCRA's summer camps but don't have a camper to send? Send a child to camp by contributing to the scholarship fund!
 
For the past three years, an amazing group of volunteers has worked to offer scholarships to children in our community. You can support their efforts by donating to the camp scholarship fund. 
 
Scholarships help two campers attend our Garden Chefs camp where they learn how to tend their own vegetable garden and cook up delicious recipes with fresh produce. Scholarships are also available for campers in the popular Nature Detectives camp and the middle school Cultivating Science camp. Scholarships include a family membership for each camper's family to enjoy during the coming year. Scholarships range from $310 to $375. Any contribution for partial or full scholarship is greatly appreciated. Donations can be made by contacting Kathy Field at kathy_field@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-0264.
Learning with Frank Hyman

By Sarah Alford, Former Programs and Education Assistant, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Are You an Adventurous Eater?

If you've ever wondered what other plants beyond the standard fruits and vegetables are edible in your garden, be sure to join us on Saturday, February 23 from 9:00 AM–10:30 AM for Frank Hyman's engaging lecture on unconventional edible plants—and weeds, too—that can be found right in your own backyard. Some plants to be discussed include: wintergreen, trout lily, Mayapple, pawpaw, partridge berry, and more! Whether you consider yourself an adventurous eater or not, Frank is a delightful speaker (past students have said he is funny enough to write for SNL), so if you are interested in attending, sign up soon!

Not Tonight Deer

Many of our gardens are overrun with deer, and one of the most common questions on our Plantsmen's Tour is "Will deer eat that plant?" In this informative, Saturday, February 23 program, Frank will discuss how we can garden without worrying about deer eating our prized plants. He'll discuss the types of plants that deer don't generally eat, fencing to keep deer out, and effective repellents. He'll share stories and photographs from several gardens he's created that are free of deer damage. Frank's deer class begins at 1:00 PM and ends at 2:30 PM. Register for both of Frank's programs and spend the day at the JCRA learning from an experienced horticulture professional.
Winter—No Down Time

By Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager

The question is often asked. "So, what do you do all winter?” This after the questioner learns that I work as a gardener. I believe that what's implied is that surely there is nothing a person could do in the garden during the winter months. Perhaps it is the case that in winter, things are not as pressing as the rest of the year, but the truth is that there is no end of things to fill up all available daylight hours. In addition, winter is the best time for certain tasks.

Winter is the best time to transplant established trees and shrubs. Deciduous plants are leafless now, so they do not have to support foliage as they re-establish. The cool weather of winter is less taxing on transplanted evergreens than the heat of summer. I am aware that some believe that magnolias must not be transplanted until after winter, but I am not sure if there is any hard science behind this belief.

Tim Alderton and I recently transplanted a weeping form of the Siebold maple, Acer sieboldianum 'Seki-no-kegon'. It had gotten too wide for its previous location along the walkway through the weeping trees. We dug a root ball about as wide as the tree's spread and removed nearly all the soil so we could move it. Sorry Dad, I did not sculpt the beautiful, drum-shaped root ball of dirt as you taught me. I've come to believe that preserving as much of the root system is far more important. Its new home is atop the cascade wall under the weeping Chinese zelkova, Zelkova sinensis 'Green Cascade'. The zelkova finally lost its lowest limb that rested on the top of wall so something else was needed in the spot.

There are many other trees and shrubs in the Arboretum that await transplanting to better locations, whether it be because they have gotten too large for their current location or the growing conditions have changed, which usually means that what was once a sunny location is now a shady one. Hopefully we will get many of these transplanted this winter.

Throughout the winter we will continue to plant container-grown plants from the nursery, provided they are plants that will tolerate the coldest weather winter might bring us. It is not, however, the time of year to plant plants of questionable winter-hardiness. Such plants need to be well established before going through their first winter. For example, evergreen magnolias from warmer parts of China are going to spend this winter in one of our greenhouses kept above freezing and then be planted this spring.

Nursery space is always limited so getting plants out of the nursery and into the ground frees up room in the nursery.

Winter is an excellent time to prune, whether it is the renewal pruning of flowering shrubs, the pruning young trees occasionally need to guide them into the most structurally sound growth habit, or "cloud pruning" of certain specimens in the Japanese Garden. Perhaps you were told to renewal-prune shrubs right after they bloom. My Mom did. But it's so much easier to see all of the stems when they are leafless and if you do it correctly it's an insignificant number of flower buds that will be lost. Plus the recommendation to prune after bloom pushes it into such a busy time of the year. There will be once again a class on renewal pruning on Saturday, March 9.

There are of course the, perhaps more mundane, garden tasks of edging beds and mulching and other tidying up. These are dealt with year round, including winter. The big snow of early December flattened many herbaceous perennials that would normally have been left for winter interest and wildlife support so this year, much of it has already been cut down.

So winter is not a down time here at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Horticulture staff and our wonderful volunteers are out there working whenever the weather allows us.
Membership Benefits You Don't Want to Miss

By Kathryn Wall, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator

We are so appreciative of the companies providing discounts and special benefits for JCRA Members. Here are a few new updates for 2019:

  • Homewood Nursery & Garden Center: 10% off trees, shrubs, and perennials.
  • Lynn Van Dokkum: Free 5"×7" and 10% off all ordered photograph products.
  • Historic Tree Care (previously Better Tree Care): Free diagnosis and consultation based on images sent to historictreecare@gmail.com. JCRA members get 2nd hour of pruning free, and half price off on installation of 10' cherrybark oaks.
  • North Carolina Botanical Garden: JCRA members receive free or discounted rates on many educational programs. (Contact NCBG for details.)

See all benefits and discounts on our Web site.

Can't find your membership card? E-mail me at kbwall@ncsu.edu for a replacement card. (Take a photograph of your card and you'll always have it on your phone.)

Eight new gardens have been added to the American Horticultural Association's Reciprocal Admissions Program for 2019. Have travel plans? See if there’s a member garden you could explore (send us photographs!).
Endowment for Excellence Fund

By Alycia Thornton, Director of Development, and Lisa Meares, Development Program Associate

When J. C. Raulston made the first plantings at the North Carolina State University Research Farm Unit 4 (which would later become the Horticultural Field Laboratory), he had a clear vision of the important work he wanted the Arboretum to accomplish. In the years since, it is only through the support from our passionate horticultural community that we can continue striving to realize J. C.'s vision.

The Endowment for Excellence is one of the ways we have been able to continue this effort. Endowment gifts provide long-term investments that offer stability outside of any potential fluctuations in our economy. The JCRA Endowment for Excellence is a flexible fund that provides consistent support for all of the garden's major initiatives and necessities.

This endowment is dedicated to four major efforts: garden development, plant collections, educational program, and technical support. Garden development includes the renovation, maintenance, and construction of specialty gardens. The plant collections portion supports research into new plants, propagation and distribution of plant germplasm, and the identification of new varieties through international travels. The endowment’s support of educational programs helps us teach students of all ages how to analyze and interact with plants while developing their appreciation for the environment. Finally, the endowment also provides the JCRA with technical support, which helps the garden recruit key experts to help navigate garden maintenance, research initiatives, industry partnerships, and Arboretum expansion. 

Ultimately, the JCRA Endowment for Excellence is a vital means of securing the stability and growth of the JCRA's critical missions of research, conservation, and outreach. Please consider supporting the Arboretum by giving to the Endowment for Excellence. To learn more about what this fund supports and how you can contribute, please our their Web site .

NC State Cultural Experience Series Explores NC State's Vet School

By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director

As members of the JC Raulston Arboretum, you are invited to attend the Yappy Hour and Cat Canapes Social, part of the NC State University Cultural Passport Series.

We hope you will join us at the College of Veterinary Medicine for a Yappy Hour and Cat Canapes social event. Enjoy drinks, heavy hors d'oeuvre and tours of the Randall B. Terry, Jr., Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center.
As you explore the hospital, discover why the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the top places in the country to have your pet treated by veterinary specialists. Meet some of their amazing faculty and learn more about how their research is pushing the boundaries of innovation in not only animal medicine, but human medicine as well.

Thursday, March 14
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
College of Veterinary Medicine Main Lobby
$30.00 per Ticket
$45.00 for Two Tickets
Space is Limited

Upcoming Events

Sponsored by Leaf & Limb
Ted Bilderback, Barbara Fair, and William Fonteno, NC State University
Saturday, February 2 – 8:30 AM
Register - limited spaces remain
 
Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Mondays, February 4 through March 25 - 6:30 PM
Register - limit spaces remain
 
"Evergreen Ferns"
Mark Weathington, Director
Tuesday, February 5 – 1:00 PM
 
Garden Colors
Friday, February 8 – 10:30 AM
 
The Tactile World of Textiles
Saturday, February 9 – 9:00 AM
 
Cohosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Piedmont Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society
"Botany and Horticulture of Yunann, China"
Cyndy Cromwell and Nancy Doubrava, Piedmont Chapter Members and JCRA Volunteers
Saturday, February 9 – 10:00 AM
 
"A Sabbatical Adventure: Where 'Hort' meets 'Culture'"
Brian Jackson, Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Tuesday, February 12 – 7:30 PM
 
Garden Problem Solving with an Ecological Twist
Karen Bussolini, Garden Photographer, Writer, and Speaker and Eco-friendly Garden Coach
Friday, February 15 – 9:00 AM

"The Winter Garden"
Saturday, February 16 – 8:00 AM
Register - limited spaces remain
 
Friday, February 22 – 10:30 AM
 
Frank Hyman, Cottage Garden Landscaping
Saturday, February 23 – 9:00 AM
 
Frank Hyman, Cottage Garden Landscaping
Saturday, February 23 – 1:00 PM
 
Sunday, February 24 – 2:30 PM

"Home Turf: Establishing and Maintaining a Lawn in North Carolinas"
Cynthia Sollod, Wake County Extension Master Gardener
Monday, February 25 – 10:00 AM

✽Denotes a children's program.

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

Save the Dates

Monday, February 11 – 9:00 AM

Thursday, February 14 – 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

A Garden Festival for All Ages
Saturday, April 6 – 10:00 AM –4:00 PM
 
Sunday, May 5
Coming Attractions
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Chaenomeles 'Orange Storm'
Double Take flowering quince
Galanthus elwesii
snow drop
Prunus mume 'Tojibai'
white Japanese flowering apricot
Crocus etruscus 'Zwanenburg'
Tuscan crocus
Spiraea thunbergii 'Fujino Pink'
apple-blossom Thunberg spirea
Cyclamen coum
baby cyclamen
Camellia japonica 'Professor Sargent'
Japanese camellia
Helleborus ×ballardiae 'Coseh 810'
Merlin hellebore
YouTube Channel Update

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Three new videos were recorded in January 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 .
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 kbwall@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7004.
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 kbwall@ncsu.edu. Please do not use the links below to update your e-mail address or to unsubscribe.