Plant of the Month

Styrax americanus 'Baby Blue'

By Mark Weathington, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections

The JC Raulston Arboretum has been known for our impressive Styrax or snowbell collection since J. C. introduced 'Emerald Pagoda' Japanese snowbell. A recent graduate student from the University of Delaware (Mathew Lobdell) performed a survey of snowbell collections in public gardens and the JCRA proved to have the most diverse collection in the country with 33 different taxa.

Snowbells or storax are a widespread group of flowering trees or shrubs occurring in North America through to South America, southern Europe, and southeast Asia. They are easily recognized when in flower by the pure white flowers and bright yellow stamens which occur in spring on new growth followed by silvery-gray fruits with one to three seeds. Of the approximately 130 species, about a quarter are from Asia and represent the most common species seen in Western gardens. Our native Southeastern species, S. americanus, is unfortunately often overlooked but should be more widely planted.

American snowbell makes a small tree or more commonly a multi-stemmed shrub growing to about 18' tall. Flowers appear in mid-spring with narrow, reflexed petals creating a delicate, graceful specimen. In the wild, American snowbell is found from Virginia south to Florida and east to Texas occurring mainly in damp to swampy spots. In the garden, it is easy to grow in most spots, tolerating heavy clay or sandy soils. It prefers regular summer moisture but is quite tolerant once established and may be a good candidate for rain gardens. The selection 'Baby Blue' is difficult to find in the trade but the first time we saw it at a trade show, we were hooked. Spring foliage and new growth through the season is silvery-blue. The color is especially nice lighting up a slightly shaded spot in the garden.

We are extremely happy to be able to finally offer this outstanding plant in our Member's Only Preorder Plant Sale in nice 7-gallon containers. Go to our Web site to see the full list of outstanding plants we've selected to offer you. Proceeds from this sale benefit the general operations of the JCRA. Order now through September 14, plants will be available for pickup October 2–4.

Bricks Are Back

By Anne M. Porter, Director of Development

Due to popular demand, JCRA legacy bricks are back, and what a great idea for that special birthday or anniversary, or perhaps a memorial message for a loved one or dear friend is just what you want. This is your opportunity to honor or remember a family member, friend, colleague, or even a special pet, while supporting the JC Raulston Arboretum Endowment for Excellence.

Bricks will be sold throughout the year ending December 31, and all bricks will be installed annually in the early spring. Donors will be notified once the installation is completed.

Your gift is 100% tax-deductible, and it directly supports the Endowment for Excellence, ensuring that the JCRA continues to be a renowned public, research, and teaching garden with a strong and vibrant future.

You Did It

By Anne M. Porter, Director of Development

Thanks to all of you, the Linda and Theodore "Ted" Bilderback Endowment for the JC Raulston Arboretum Children's Program has reached the endowment level of $31,500!

Thank you so very much for your amazing tribute to Ted and your vision for the future by supporting this new endowment to support the JCRA's Children's Program.

And … it's not too late to make a special gift to this new endowment! Simply visit the JCRA's Web site to make your secure gift to this or other JC Raulston Arboretum programs.

Metamorphosis

By Anne M. Porter, Director of Development

Metamorphosis: A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function; A transformation—as by magic or sorcery.

Hummm … I do sometimes wonder if our JCRA Master Plan committee is using magic or sorcery. They work week after week mysteriously around a table of drawings, pictures, and sketches, and I sometimes notice them drinking potions, (well, perhaps it’s just hot tea) and they do come up with some pretty magical plans.

But, I definitely know that this dedicated and extraordinarily talented group has created an amazing plan for the JC Raulston Arboretum, and you have all witnessed the metamorphosis of the gardens over the last few years.

Well, hold on to your gardening gloves, because the metamorphosis continues in a big way over the next few months. The Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden is under a complete transformation, and the nationally acclaimed landscape designer and long-time friend of the JCRA, Chip Callaway, is designing a new entrance along Beryl Road. You will not be disappointed by these changes.

The JC Raulston Arboretum's continued metamorphosis is only made possible by generous donors and friends. If you have an interest in meeting the Master Planners and learning more about all the opportunities for a named garden legacy gift, please call or e-mail me at anne_porter@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-3826. We'd love to share the magic!

Members-only Preorder Plant Sale

Perhaps One of the Best Kept Membership Secrets

By Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator

Hand selected each season by our very own Mark Weathington, assistant director and curator of collections, the plants in this sale tend toward unusual, new, or greatly underutilized. Mark draws on his personal Arboretum wish list to collect and compile a plant list that is exciting for him and our members alike. Often times, the plants on this list are not available to the general public and may be several years out of general availability—if ever.

The catalog is available on our Web site. This is a quick offer giving you less than two weeks to make your selections. Place your orders online by 12:00 PM on Monday, September 15.

Plants are expected to be ready for pick up the first week of October—perfect timing for your fall planting schedule.

Director Candidate Interviews

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

The Department of Horticultural Science is interviewing candidates for the director of the JC Raulston Arboretum in the coming weeks. JCRA members and others interested in the Arboretum are invited to attend the candidate seminars at the JC Raulston Arboretum.

The candidates and their seminar dates and times are as follows:

Joseph Cahill, Ph.D. and J.D.
President and CEO, Ventura Botanical Gardens
Friday, September 12 – 7:00 PM

Richard Olsen, Ph.D.
Acting Director, US National Arboretum
Tuesday, September 16 – 7:00 PM

Mark Weathington, M.S.
Assistant Director and Curator of Collections, JC Raulston Arboretum
Friday, October 3, 2014 – 7:00 PM

September Educational Programs

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

The JC Raulston Arboretum is hosting many great educational programs throughout September. These include the resumption of the Friends of the Arboretum Lecture series with Tony Avent as our guest speaker and the North American Rock Garden Society's (Piedmont Chapter) lecture series, the return of the annual Take a Child Outside Week, Pi Alpha Xi's fall plant sale, and a number of other programs.

One unique programs to make a note of is the Harvest Wreath Workshop with Erin Weston. Openings remain in this program along with all of our other programs other than the Botanical Illustration Course at this time.

Harvest Wreath Workshop
Erin Weston, Weston Farms
Saturday, September 20
9:00 AM

For more information about any of our children's programs or to register for them, please contact Elizabeth Overcash at (919) 513-7011 or elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu. For more information about our other programs or to register for them, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 or chris_glenn@ncsu.edu.

Coming Attractions

By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist

Abelmoschus manihot
sweet hibiscus

Acis autumnalis
autumn snowflake

Allium 'Pink Feathers'
ornamental onion

Arum pictum
autumn flowering arum

Aster tartaricus
Tartarian aster

Salvia leucantha 'Midnight'
Mexican bush sage

Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'
lime-calyx Mexican sage

Sedum 'Matrona'
common orpine

YouTube Channel

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

No new videos were recorded in August, however, nearly forty videos of our lectures, tours, and other subjects are included in our YouTube Channel.

Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our channel.