Your November 2021 JCRA e-Update

Director's Note

By Mark Weathington, Director

November? Already? Time sure does fly when you're having fun. I'm having trouble believing we are already heading into fall but when I look around the landscape, it's pretty obvious with the camellias starting to flower and the mums in their full glory along with fruit on the hollies and beautyberries. I've had a chance to spend some time out in the garden thanks to a succession of visiting horticulturists including some of my earliest mentors from my gardener days almost 30 years ago at the Atlanta Botanic Garden. Back then, they used to return from pilgrimages to visit J. C. loaded to the gills with the coolest plants. It was nice to be able to load them up again with plants destined for Atlanta again. We haven't just been supplying plants to our esteemed guests but have also sent plants out across the country to other gardens and some specialty nurseries to try to get Arboretum plants in front of more people and to evaluate them across a range of conditions.

Another happy note to add is the promotion of two of our dedicated staff members to new positions. Kathryn Wall has been named volunteer and membership manager. She will continue to oversee the volunteer and membership programs which have both grown tremendously under her guidance as coordinator. She will also head the JCRA's diversity efforts and serve as part of my advisory team (and I need a lot of advising). Dennis Carey who joined us fairly recently as our database coordinator is now our curator. In this role, Dennis will continue to oversee our database and plant records, assist and advise me on plant nomenclatural issues, taxonomy, and plant identification. Dennis will also manage a soon to be hired nursery and research technician along with all nursery operations and plant distributions. Next time you're visiting the JCRA, make sure to say congratulations to both of them!

See you in the garden.

Year-end Wish List Is Coming

By Carly Dressen, Development Assistant

Thanks to generous donations to our previous year-end wish list, we have been able to fund several projects to improve our gardens, programming, and important infrastructure. Past projects include adding steps to the north side of the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center, installation of lighting in the Manooch Cascade, purchasing a golf cart for the Children's Program, and more.

As we reflect on improvements from previous years, the Arboretum staff have thoughtfully planned for new projects to make our gardens more sustainable and accessible for all guests. The 2021–2022 JCRA Wish List will be promoted over the next several months. You can learn more by checking your mailbox soon or by visiting the Wish List Web site at https://go.ncsu.edu/jcrawishlist.

We kindly ask that you consider supporting these new projects. We are successful only because of the enthusiasm and generosity of our dedicated community!

For more information, please contact Carly Dressen at (919) 513-1680 or cadresse@ncsu.edu or Alycia Thornton at (919) 513-7068 or alycia_thornton@ncsu.edu.

The Secret Is Getting Out

By Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

Something I hear all the time from the JCRA garden ambassador volunteers is surprise at just how many first time visitors they meet. Introducing new people to the garden and all we have to offer is fun! It's a great challenge to reach this new audience and get them excited about gardening.

Do you love JCRA as much as we do? Help us spread the word. One simple way to help is to Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Comment on our posts and share them with your friends.

Following us is also a fun way to build community and add some beauty and nature to your news feed!

If you're a member of a garden club or interest group, let them know about our events. Invite your new neighbors to visit the garden and tell them about our Gardening in the South symposium for new gardeners and folks new to the area. Our next symposium will be held on February 5, 2022.

Holiday Wreath Sale

By Skyler Burris and Sana Sheikh, Former Programs and Education Assistants, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Set the mood this holiday season with a beautiful wreath from the JC Raulston Arboretum! The annual holiday wreath workshops return in early December and our second annual wreath sale is now open. These wreaths are made right here at the Arboretum—either by you during one of the workshops or by JCRA staff and volunteers—and are perfect as a standalone decoration or as the finishing touch to match your holiday décor. Each wreath will be unique and will contain a variety of greenery from the JCRA's plant collections.

Preorders for members open today and on Monday, November 8 for the public. Pickups for wreaths are scheduled for Friday, December 3 (12:00 PM–2:00 PM) and Saturday, December 3 (10:00 AM–2:00 PM).

Want to make your own wreath? Join us on Friday, December 3 or Saturday, December 4 during one of our holiday wreath workshops (details in following article).

Don’t miss out on your chance to get your own designer wreath to make this season a special one!

Fall Educational Program Highlights

By Skyler Burris, Former Programs and Education Assistant and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

The JCRA has something to offer for everyone looking to get the most out of their fall this year. Join us for in-person and online educational programs that are sure to make your skills bloom! Spaces are limited in these programs so register today to reserve your spot. If you have questions about any of these programs, please contact us at jcraprograms@ncsu.edu.

Direct Seeding Dynamic Displays
Brie Arthur, Author, Horticulturist, and Lifelong Home Gardener
Saturday, November 6 – 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
In Person and Online

For twenty years, horticulturist Brie Arthur has been honing her skills at direct seeding flowers and vegetables to create unique, low maintenance displays. In this brand-new program, Brie will share advice on site and soil preparation, seed selection, timing, and long-term management strategies. Learn how to grow poppies, larkspur, and other cool season flowers and veggies by employing the easiest approach to growing: direct seeding! This presentation will inspire attendees to start scattering seeds and growing beauty and bounty in all the open areas of their landscapes.

The Best of Bryce II: Talks That Make Us Better Gardeners
Bryce Lane, NC State University
Mondays, November 8 through December 13 – 6:30 PM–8:30 PM
In Person and Online

By popular demand, Bryce is back giving six more of his best talks. Each class is devoted to current, relevant, and popular gardening topics. Topics include the following:

"The Joy of Gardening: The Power of Plants to Change Your Point of View"
"The Magic of Fall Color"
"Shade Tolerant Plants That add Color and Texture to the Landscape"
"All about Weeds: Identification, Prevention, and Management"
"Going Beyond the Foundation: Planting for the New Home Landscape"
"Beautiful Bushes: Super Shrubs for the Landscape"

Wine and Wreaths Workshops
Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Friday, December 3 – 7:00 PM–9:00 PM

Saturday, December 4 – 7:00 PM–9:00 PM

Relax and enjoy a stress-free wreath workshop while sipping on a glass of wine and eating hors d'oeuvres! What better way to decorate for the holidays than doing so with other people who can encourage and assist you? This activity (Friday and Saturday) is sure to energize you just in time for the holiday season.

Holiday Wreath Workshops
Tim Alderton, Research Technician, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Saturday, December 4 – 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Saturday, December 4 – 4:00 PM–6:00 PM

Wreath decorating is one of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit! Get excited for the holidays through making your own festive wreath (1:00 PM and 4:00 PM) with greenery from the JCRA.

COVID-19 Guidelines

As part of NC State University, the JC Raulston Arboretum follows all of the university's Protect the Pack Community Standards. These can be found online at https://www.ncsu.edu/coronavirus/. All visitors including program participants must follow these guidelines. All indoor visitors must wear a face covering at all times while indoors.

Giving Thanks

By Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager

It’s November and my thoughts turn to Thanksgiving. Certainly, to the holiday of Thanksgiving and the coming together of family and friends and of course, such delectables as made-from-scratch turkey stuffing and cranberry-orange-ginger relish, the two dishes that guarantee invitations. However, thoughts turn even more so to the giving of thanks, that beautiful gesture of not taking for granted all that we have to be thankful for.

Here at the JC Raulston Arboretum, I am endlessly and profoundly thankful for all of the volunteers. A figure that is now several years old is that the total number of hours that volunteers put in is the equivalent of 6, 40-hour a week positions. That’s huge! Volunteers could stay home but instead come and labor for free at the JCRA. Not only do they provide free labor they bring an uplifting positive energy that is like the wind beneath our wings.

There are parts of the Arboretum that are primarily cared for by volunteers. I am thankful for the Border Babes tending of the Mixed Border, the Valley Girls of Asian Valley, and the Perennial Border volunteers, the White Garden volunteers, the Winter Garden volunteers, and the Lath House crew. Some volunteer groups work wherever they are needed, not wedded to any one garden. The Tuesday Rovers are one such group, and though they do many tasks, they are the ones most responsible for mulching the Arboretum. Mulching is of tremendous value, going a long way in weed management and also improving the soil over the decades of mulching. Cyndy's Loppers is another group that works wherever needed, whether weeding or planting or something else.

There are also numerous individuals working on their own maintaining other parts of the garden from the rooftop to the rose garden.

And then there are the nursery volunteers who play a large role in producing plants for so many types of JCRA plant distributions, two of which are the 4,000+ plants we give away at the Annual Plant Distribution and the Plant Buggy that sells about 6,000 plants a year. It also takes a volunteer to keep that plant cart stocked.

The construction volunteers build, repair, paint, etc. almost everything needing such attention. This year, they extended the wall in the Japanese Garden by about 10' and completely rebuilt the roof and deck in this garden to name but a few projects.

There are also volunteers who do bed reviews making sure the plants that are supposed to be there are still there, and others who keep plants properly labeled, because the JCRA is a curated collection of plants.

I am less familiar with those volunteers who work not out in the garden but in many capacities inside the buildings, greeting visitors, answering phones, and no doubt, countless other tasks.

To all of you I have mentioned who volunteer on behalf of the JC Raulston Arboretum and any that I might have overlooked: A deep and heartfelt thank you today and every day! We couldn’t do it without you!

Upcoming Events, Programs, and Sales

Plant Buggy Sales
Daily at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

Plant-lover's Tour
"Fall Color and Winter Interest"
Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Tuesday, November 2 – 1:00 PM
In Person

Plant-lover's Tour
"Fall Color and Winter Interest"
Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Wednesday, November 3 – 3:00 PM
Online
Register

Fall Fantasia Fan Art Display Concludes
Wednesday, November 3 – 4:30 PM

Garden Story Walk✽
Friday, November 5 through Thursday, November 11 – All Day
In Person

Direct Seeding Dynamic Displays
Brie Arthur, Author, Horticulturist, and Lifelong Home Gardener
Saturday, November 6 – 10:00 AM
In Person and Online
Register – In-person Participants
Register – Online Participants

The Best of Bryce II: Talks That Make Us Better Gardeners
Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Mondays, November 8 through December 13 – 6:30 PM
In Person and Online
Register – In-person Participants
Register – Online Participants

Midweek with Mark
"The Commuter's Garden—Plants to Appreciate After Rush Hour"
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, November 10, – 3:00 PM
Online
Register

Deeper in the Garden at the JCRA
"Holiday Dinner Prep—Growing and Using Rosemary"
Mark Weathington, Director
Wednesday, November 17 – 3:00 PM
Online
Register

North American Rock Garden Society (Piedmont Chapter) Lecture
Cohosted by the Piedmont Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society and the JC Raulston Arboretum
"A History of Crevice Rock Gardening"
Paul Spriggs, Spriggs Gardens Landscaping Company and President of the Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine Garden Society
Saturday, November 20 – 10:00 AM
Online

Gardening 101 at the JCRA
"Herbaceous Perennials: What to Cut Down and What to Leave for Winter Interest and Wildlife"
Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Wednesday, November 24 – 3:00 PM
Online
Register

Gardening Adventures with Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
"Herba Inutillis, the Evolution of Weed Control Through History"
Thomas Packer, Wake County Extension Master Gardener Monday, November 29 – 10:00 AM
In Person and Online

✽Denotes a children's program.

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

Christopher Todd Glenn
Programs and Education Coordinator
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
(919) 513-7005
chris_glenn@ncsu.edu

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.