JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
May 2020
Your Monthly News and Updates
Director's Note

By Mark Weathington, Director

Welcome to the second e-Update of our social distancing time. We hope this will be our last but only time will tell. Almost everyone across the country has really responded well and we hope to see that trend continue as long as necessary. As for the JCRA, we are committed to keeping our most important asset safe—that being the JCRA team, both paid staff and volunteers.

The cancellation of Raulston Blooms!, one of our biggest public events, certainly was disappointing to all staff as was the university’s decision to cancel all summer camps for the entire summer. I anticipate most face to face programs over the summer will be cancelled at least through June but we won't do anything until we feel it safe to do so.

All of the staff have taken on the challenge of working remotely. Chris and Elizabeth have embraced the opportunities of remote education and have moved some existing programs seamlessly online. A new vegetable and foodscaping class will be the next addition to our online roster. Elizabeth has begun recording storytime and associated activities for some of our youngest budding gardeners and is exploring ways to bring the JCRA to the classroom at the request of teachers who had to cancel field trips. Doug and Tim are working very limited hours in the garden to ensure the collections stay alive during our closure and that we will be ready to open the gates back up when appropriate and everyone has chipped in to make an online plant sale a reality this spring.

The success of the JCRA has never been about the plants, it has always been about the people. The volunteers who dedicate thousands of hours each year to further our goals, the members who support our mission, and the public who are the reason we all do this. Most importantly our success has come from the world class staff who are so dedicated to the JCRA.

Difficult times make us a stronger organization, but our supporters make what we do a labor of love. While virtual programming will enable us to grow our reach moving forward, it is the visceral experience of the garden which transforms lives, creates memories, and instills a passion for plants and the natural world. We look forward to putting the public back in the public garden and I thank you for supporting us during this difficult time.

See you in the garden (soon I hope).
Plant Sale! Yes , Plant Sale!

By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director

We are thrilled to announce we have figured out a way to get a few plants safely from our garden to yours.

The sale is only open to members and is preorder—no plants for sale onsite. Repeat after me, no plants will be for sale on site. All plants will be preorder only.

On Friday, May 1 at 10:00 AM, a link to the plant sale order form will be e-mailed to all members.

Now, before heading straight to the plant list, I am asking that you read the following important details necessary so our very limited staff can execute this sale safely and efficiently.

This system is not perfect. We ask for patience with our process and appreciate your understanding.

Important Information

  • Orders are placed using online order form. An online plant list is available. Selections at time of purchase are subject to availability. Your invoice will only include those plants available at time of purchase.
  • A link to the order form will be emailed to all members on Friday, May 1 at 10:00 AM. Please do not share this link. The sale is available to current JCRA members only. Please encourage anyone you know who is interested to become a member.
  • Shopping begins at 10:00 AM on Friday, May 1 and ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 10.
  • You will immediately receive a confirmation that your order has been placed. In a few days, you will receive an invoice via e-mail. It will include all plants available at your purchase time.
  • You will select a pickup time during the online checkout process. We have limited the number of days and times to adhere to social distancing guidelines. For everyone's safety, we ask that if you are feeling ill or are symptomatic that you please send someone else to pick up your plants.
  • Payments will be made by check or credit card during your scheduled pickup time (no cash payments). Checks are the preferred method of payment to limit interaction, expedite pickup, and eliminate added credit card processing fees. Make checks payable to the NC Agricultural Foundation. Please bring your own pens.
  • Please arrive during your pickup time only. Stop at payment table, stay in your vehicle, we will come to you. You will be directed to your plants for you to load.
  • There will be no onsite sales. This is a preorder plant sale only. We cannot ship plants. The plants are available for pickups only.

More questions are answered in our Frequently Asked Questions available in the plant sale's catalog (link below).

Funds raised during this sale are more important than ever; they benefit the daily operations of the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Have fun and enjoy this unique plant sale.
Volunteer Week

By Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
 
We celebrated our amazing Arboretum volunteers during April’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week with two Zoom meetings that featured tours of the garden. It was wonderful to get a peek “behind the gates” and see all the plants in bloom. Better yet, it was comforting to see familiar faces and hear Tim, Doug and Arlene as they showed us all around. Our JCRA staff got in on the fun with this special message above.
Online Education at the JCRA

By Emily Bonner, Development Assistant

At the JC Raulston Arboretum, providing our supporters with effective, unique, and engaging educational opportunities has always been one of our top priorities. Even though we can't currently offer these opportunities in person, we are still deeply committed to providing our community with plenty of resources and materials to continue your horticultural education. 

The Arboretum education staff is hard at work developing learning-at-home resources for the JCRA's youngest gardeners to continue learning throughout the summer, including online videos and home activity boxes. There are also many opportunities for our fully-grown horticulturists to learn something new as well. We're continuing to upload some fantastic lectures — including a few classic talks by J. C. himself – to the Arboretum's YouTube Channel . Mark Weathington is hosting a "Midweek with Mark" lecture series ( April 29 and May 6 ), with new installments every Wednesday at 3:00 PM on Zoom. Upcoming topics include living art and gardening in the winter. Additionally, the JCRA is offering several online classes and workshops. Bryce Lane, NC State professor emeritus, has transitioned his Outstanding Plants for the Home Landscape to an online format, which is in progress but still open for registration. In May, Brie Arthur will begin hosting a six-part intensive called The Foodscape Revolution focused on learning how to grow your own food.

We know that many in our community have continued to find focus and enjoyment in their gardens in the midst of these unusual times. As an institution, a large part of our mission involves providing opportunities for horticultural education and outreach, and we are striving to continue finding creative ways to fulfill that critical aspect of our mission. We are so grateful for the support of our community, which allows us to continue providing these valued services and sharing our passion for plants.
Midweek with Mark Continues into May

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Join us every Wednesday through May 6 at 3:00 PM for a new, live, online lecture series with Mark Weathington. The lectures are free and everyone is invited to listen in as Mark presents the following:
 
Stunning Schefflera and Elegant Edgeworthia Because the South Don't Do Dormant – May 6

There's no reason to put the garden to bed for the winter in zone 7 gardens. Winter flowers, exciting evergreens, and low humidity make the winter one of the best times to garden in the South and with the influx of fascinating new plants, we've only scratched the surface of what can be done in the "off" season.

Joining a meeting is easy. We're using Zoom to host the lectures. Visit https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/818234860 to download Zoom and to start the meeting. Follow the dialogs to install Zoom. The session should start upon the successful installation of Zoom. Use the same link to watch future presentations once Zoom is installed. You will need speakers to hear the presentations. While watching, we'll ask everyone to keep their microphones muted to prevent feedback and other unwanted background noises.

Midweek with Mark presentations are recorded and posted to our YouTube Channel .

Presentation topics are subject to change.
Membership Magazine Offer

By Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

Included with your JC Raulston Arboretum membership is a one-year subscription to your choice of Better Homes and Gardens or Martha Stewart Living magazines! It's our way of thanking our members. Sign up at https://www.publicgardensmagoffer.com/index.asp . Type in "JC Raulston Arboretum" when it asks for the member garden name. (Tip: Make sure you "uncheck" the box at the bottom of the form, unless you want a lot of e-mails from the magazine!)
Spring Alone

By Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager

One might think that without an audience the JC Raulston Arboretum would be devoid of bloom and the fresh new foliage of spring. But no, spring marches onward without you, sorry, for we deeply miss you. And what a spring it has been; one seemingly without end; though all gardeners know that summer will arrive one day like a hard punch to the face.

A floral highlight right now is the blooming of the Beschorneria septentrionalis (false red yucca). It has thrived once freed of competition from the Zelkova that drowned in the fall of 2018 as a result of the two hurricane deluges. Imagine the flower stalk of Yucca except that the flower stalk is bright red. The stalk arches up and over with pendant flowers of red and green. It's quite a sight. It would be splendid underplanted with California poppy, and if it was moist enough, some ostrich fern. This combination would consist of Beschorneria , Eschsholzia , and Matteuccia , certainly an opportunity to mention that many "Latin" names are not Latin but commemorate people. Anyhow.

There are 5' tall delphiniums in flower in the White Garden. Former JCRA employee Layne Snelling insisted we try them when Tim Alderton and I visited Campbell Road Nursery late fall last year. They were part of a large donation of plants from them.

Beyond flowers, the Arboretum is filled with plants that are spectacular with colorful new foliage. One standout is the American holly selection Ilex opaca 'Royal Flush'. It is green by summer, but all its new foliage is now lemon yellow. Pittosporum tobira 'Spring Bouquet' (photograph above) is also green in summer, but right now its new foliage is close to pure white. And of course, there are many maples with colorful spring foliage, and not just Japanese maples, Acer palmatum .

Most things in life are better if they can be shared with those you love so here's looking forward to your return to the Arboretum, when it can be done safely. Until then, be safe, stay healthy. And please support the JCRA through generous purchases from our online plant sale. The JCRA nursery is bursting with plants. And send us more rain if you can. It would save us a lot of time watering new plantings. Thanks.
The Foodscape Revolution—Practical Solutions for Growing Your Own Food in the Southeast

By Brie Arthur, Course Instructor, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Learn to grow your own food! In this six-part intensive gardening class, best selling author and professional horticulturist, Brie Arthur will share all her knowledge on growing! Over the past decade, Brie has fine-tuned her signature design technique of foodscaping, a sustainable landscape practice that embraces beauty and bounty. Aiming to change the way landscapes are designed and managed, Brie encourages everyone to "think outside of the box." Combining details from both of her books, learn how to grow your favorite food crops in your ornamental landscape ! Brie will cover all the details, including creative ways to keep the animals from eating all your plants. From soil science to practical plant combinations, this informative webinar will inspire attendees to get outside and start a foodscape!

For more information, please read the announcement (link above) or contact Chris Glenn at chris_glenn@ncsu.edu.
Upcoming Events

While many of our May events and educational programs have been canceled due to COVID-19, the JCRA does have a few educational opportunities throughout May.

Accepting Registrations for Online Participants
Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Mondays, March 30 through May 18 – 6:30 PM
Register (note class is already in progress, videos of past classes will be provided along with PDFs of the class presentations and handouts)

"Living Art—Planting for Architectural Interest"
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 – 3:00 PM
Held Online via Zoom (link in announcement)

"Plantas de México"
Mark Weathington, Director
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 – 11:00 AM
Note the Time Change
Held Online via Zoom (link in announcement)

"Stunning Schefflera and Elegant Edgeworthia Because the South Don't Do Dormant "
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – 3:00 PM
Held Online via Zoom (link in announcement)

Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Saturday, May 9, 2020 – 9:00 AM
Held Online via Zoom

"Plant Lust—A Few of My Favorite Things"
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 – 3:00 PM
Held Online Via Zoom (link in announcement)

"Going Global at the JC Raulston Arboretum"
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 – 3:00 PM
Held Online Via Zoom (link in announcement)

"Growing the JC Raulston Arboretum"
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 – 3:00 pm
Held Online Via Zoom (link in announcement)

Thursday, May 14, 2020 – 8:00 AM–5:00 PM – Greenhouses Closed
Friday, May 15, 2020 – 8:00 AM–5:00 PM – Greenhouses Closed
Saturday, May 16, 2020 – 8:0 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday, May 17, 2020 – 1:00 {M–5:00 PM
Thursday, May 21, 2020 – 8:00 AM–5:00 PM – Greenhouses Closed
Friday, May 22, 2020 – 8:00 AM–5:00 PM – Greenhouses Closed
Saturday, May 23, 2020 – 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday, May 24, 2020 – 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Note the Date Changes and New Dates

The May Propagation Workshops ( May 23 and May 30 ) are being moved to June.

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

By Nancy Doubrava, JCRA Volunteer
Rosa 'Baiypso'
Easy Elegance Calypso compact shrub rose
Digitalis thapsi 'Spanish Peaks'
Spanish foxglove
Lilium 'Red Alert'
hybrid lily
Styrax japonicus 'Evening Light'
purple leaf Japanese snowbell
Hippeastrum 'Acropolis'
garden amaryllis
Viburnum dilatatum 'Akira's Sun'
golden linden viburnum
Itea virginica 'Longspire'
Virginia sweetspire
Opuntia basilaris var. aurea
creeping beavertail prickly pear
YouTube Channel Update

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Three new Midweek with Mark videos were recorded in April and posted to our YouTube Channel . Future Midweek with Mark presentations premiere on YouTube on Mondays.
The Children's Program launched a new Virtual Garden Storytime series. These videos premiere on YouTube on Fridays.
We also recorded several Plantsmen's Tour Shorts before the Arboretum closed in March. Four videos were posted in April. New ones premiere every Tuesday.
Additionally, we have posted five excerpts from Almanac Gardener featuring J. C. Raulston. New videos featuring J. C. Rauslton premiere on Wednesdays.
We've also gone through our archives and pulled some of our favorites from 2012 and uploaded them to YouTube. New videos from the archives premiere on YouTube on Thursdays.
Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our YouTube Channel . Click on the bell icon to adjust your frequency settings from occasional notifications to all notifications and vice versa.
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.
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.