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JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update - July 2015
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Director's Note
Mark Weathington, Director
June was a travel month for me visiting gardens and nurseries in the United Kingdom followed by the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) annual meeting in Minneapolis. Between the two, I managed to miss the worst of the June heat and I'm not complaining. At the APGA conference, I was part of a panel to discuss membership challenges at gardens where there is no gate fee. We talked about our mission-driven members who share our passion for spreading plants and information to as wide an audience as possible. Everyone agrees that those members are the easiest to keep on board. Other members are more benefit driven. The free and reduced fees for lectures, workshops, and symposia or the many discounts at area garden centers, restaurants, and other places make membership at the JCRA a bargain - not to mention the discounts at our plant sale and the big October giveaway! While the panelists agreed that the challenges are real, we have all tried various methods to reach new audiences and retain the members we have. I'm proud to say the JCRA's retention rates are among the best around. I think we can confidently state that our mission-driven members see that we are doing good work and our benefit-conscious ones understand that they are getting a bargain from membership. An audience member posited that small gardens with no admission fees will all plateau at around 1,000-1,500 members. I'm not sure how he came up with those numbers but I'm certain he is wrong. We now have over 1,300 member households and have been growing steadily with record or near record levels every month. Our biggest challenge is letting people know about the benefits of membership. That's where you come in. If you are already a member, encourage your friends and neighbors to come for a visit and consider joining us. If you've never made the leap to join yourself, now is the time. A strong membership allows us to not only fulfill our mission to diversify the American landscape and train the next generation of gardeners, but also to provide even more benefits to all our supporters. Stay cool this summer!
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Botanical Illustration Courses
By Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Botanical illustration is a powerful tool for understanding and communicating nature's design. Whether for scientific exploration, self-expression, or both, botanical illustration gives us an opportunity to document those moments in nature that inspire us. In three separate courses this summer, Preston introduces participants to basic observation and drawing techniques; the basic tenets of color theory and techniques for applying color to spring illustrations to life; and to basic painting techniques using watercolors to produce rich, vibrant botanical illustrations. Drawing in Nature I: Botanical Illustration with Pencil and PenSaturday, July 11, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Saturday, July 25, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Drawing in Nature II: Botanical Illustration with Colored PencilSaturday, August 15, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Saturday, August 29, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Drawing in Nature III: Botanical Illustration with WatercolorSaturday, September 19, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Saturday, September 26, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM For more information about these courses, please visit the links above. Registration is available online via links in each course announcement. For more information, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 or chris_glenn@ncsu.edu.
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Landscape Design Classes and Practicums
By Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator, and Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Consider the performance of your home landscape. Would you describe it as a fit, functional work of art that reflects your lifestyle and encourages outdoor activity? If not, join Raleigh-based landscape designer Preston Montague at the JC Raulston Arboretum for a design course series that will help you revise and reboot your outdoor space. In this four part offering, Preston will introduce participants to the planning and implementation strategies design professionals use to:
- create harmony between the house and the landscape through foundation planting to develop concepts, solve problems, and map the landscape;
- design richly layered, bio-diverse perennial beds that summon bees and butterflies to the garden;
- bring songbirds to the garden with shrubs and trees;
- and to create harmony between the house and the landscape through foundation planting/
Landscape Potential I: Approaches to Design Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 1:00 PM-3:00 PM- Class Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Practicums (almost full) Landscape Potential II: Perennial Bed Design for Pollinators Saturday, August 15, 2015 - 1:00 PM-3:00 PM- Class Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Practicums
Landscape Potential III: Designing for Songbirds with Shrubs and TreesSaturday, September 19, 2015 - 1:00 PM-3:00 PM- Class Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Practicums Landscape Potential IV: Improving Curb Appeal Through Foundation PlantingSaturday, October 17, 2015 - 9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Class Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Practicums Practicums Participants wishing to take the practicum portion of these programs need to select the class and practicum option when registering online. To ensure availability of your preferred time, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7004 or chris_glenn@ncsu.edu prior to registering. For more information about these courses, please visit the links above. Registration is available online via links in each course announcement. For more information, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 or chris_glenn@ncsu.edu.
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Concrete Garden Art Workshops
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane's ever popular hyptertufa trough workshop returns on July 25. Hypertufa is a lightweight concrete mix that's used to create planting troughs with excellent drainage. Participants in this workshop mix the ingredients, build a container, and learn how to release their finished trough from its mold. Hypertufa Trough WorkshopSaturday, July 25, 2015 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Later on the same day, participants will learn how to mix concrete and shape the material using leaves and fern fronts to imprint into the concrete and to shape it into a birdbath. Cast Concrete Leaf Birdbath Workshop Saturday, July 25, 2015 - 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Participants in these workshops work on their own creations that go home with them on the same day. Please note these workshops are held indoors in Amelia's private home. Her address and driving instructions to her north Raleigh home will be provided to participants prior to the workshop. For more information about these workshops, please visit the links above. Registration is available online via links in each workshop announcement. For more information, please contact Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005 or chris_glenn@ncsu.edu.
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Juried Print Competition
Friday, August 21, 2015 - 9:00 AM-6:00 PM - Entries Accepted Saturday, August 22, 2015 - 7:00 PM-8:30 PM - Opening Reception Calling all photographers! Do you have an eye for beauty? Would you like to share your work with other people who would appreciate it? If so, the Juried Print Competition is for you. Adults and youth can submit original photographic prints of garden or plant related subjects. Distinguished judges will determine the winning images and cash awards will be presented. The winning prints along with the judges' favorites will be displayed at the Arboretum during the month of September for the public to see. Don't delay! Start capturing your favorite images today. Maybe yours will become "Best in Show." Complete competition details are available on the JCRA's Web site and in the event's brochure. While registering online opens soon, participants may register using the form in the brochure. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Glenn at chris_glenn@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7005.
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Upcoming Events
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Arboretum Guided Tour
Sunday, July 5
2:00 PM
Plantsmen's Tour
"Interns' Top Picks"
Summer 2015 Interns
Tuesday, July 7
9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
Garden Storytime✽
"Butterflies"
Friday, July 10
10:30 AM
Drawing in Nature I: Botanical Illustration with Pencil and Pen
Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator
Saturday, July 11
9:00 AM
Landscape Potential I: Approaches to Design
Preston Montague, Landscape Designer and Botanical Illustrator
Saturday, July 11 and 25
1:00 PM
Arboretum Guided Tour
Sunday, July 12
2:00 PM
Summer Garden Camp✽
"Nature Detectives"
Monday-Friday, July 13-17
9:00 AM
Arboretum Guided Tour
Sunday, July 19
2:00 PM
Summer Garden Camp✽
Project PLANTS Summer Camp
Collaboration between the JC Raulston Arboretum, NC Cooperative Extension's 4-H Grow For It Program, and the Department of Horticultural Science and Generously Supported by a Student Science Enrichment Program Grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Monday-Friday, July 20-24
8:30 AM
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Garden Storytime✽
"Sunflowers"
Friday, July 24
10:30 AM
Hypertufa Trough Workshop
Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane, Lasting Impressions and JCRA Volunteers
Saturday, July 25
9:00 AM
Orchid Growers Day
Hosted by the Triangle Orchid Society in Cooperation with the JC Raulston Arboretum
Saturday, July 25
9:30 AM
Cast Concrete Leaf Birdbath Workshop
Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane, JCRA Volunteers
Saturday, July 25
1:00 PM
Arboretum Guided Tour
Sunday, July 26
2:00 PM
Summer Garden Camp✽
"Garden Chefs"
Monday-Friday, July 27-31
9:00 AM
✽Denotes a children's program.
Many programs require advance registration. Please register early to reserve your spot.
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Coming Attractions
By Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
 Crinumcrinum  Cynara cardunculus 'Porto Spineless' spinless globe artichoke  Lagerstroemia indica 'Red Filli' miniature crepe myrtle  Eucomis 'Reuben' hybrid pineapple lily  Mucuna cyclocarpapurple jade vine  Lilium 'Scheherazade' oriental-trumpet lily  Dahlia
dahlia  Hemerocallis 'South Seas' daylily
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YouTube Channel Update
By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
One new video was recorded in June. Look for it in our YouTube Channel or click the link below. Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our channel. New Camera Video Camera Needed The JC Raulston Arboretum needs a new video camera to replace our eight-year-old and recently broken camera. If you've enjoyed watching the videos or if you'd like to support the recording of our Friends of the Arboretum Lectures, Plantsmen's Tours, and other special happenings, please make a contribution to the JCRA's Special Gifts fund. To ensure we know what your donation is for, please check the "This gift is in honor or memory of someone, in support of a program or department, or for payment of my membership dues" radio button and then change the pull down menu to "support" and write "digital camera" in the text field. If the funds received for this request exceed the purchase price of the camera, we'll purchase an external microphone for improved sound capture. 
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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 Arlene Calhoun, Volunteer and Membership Coordinator.
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