Your July 2022 JCRA e-Update

Director's Note

By Mark Weathington, Director

When I watch the news, it seems that we are in some sort of turning point not just here in the U.S. but around the world. Frankly it can be overwhelming and a bit frightening. If it starts to be too much, I consciously or unconsciously head out to the garden – both at home and here at the Arboretum. I find that getting out around the plants even when it’s 95 degrees helps bring my tension level back down. Research has proven this to be true for almost all people even if they don’t garden themselves.

We often talk about the JCRA in terms of our plant collections, our education and outreach, and our research but for the vast majority of our visitors we are a place of peace, a place to re-charge, and a place to get away from the stresses of life. We embrace this service to the community and try to provide that peaceful experience as much as possible. Our JCRA team is always ready to engage visitors and share their passion and knowledge or leave them alone to re-charge in solitude.

We can’t solve all the world’s problems, but we do make an impact through our research and education efforts centered on the plant sciences. Perhaps just as important, we provide a space for others to retreat and re-center so they can get back to making just as big an impact in their various efforts.

See you in the garden.

Die-back Vines for Summer Color
by Mark Weathington, Director

If you’ve heard me talk about plants more than a few times, you may know about my love affair with vines. Once a shrub or tree gets big enough, I plant a vine at its base and let it go to work. Then I usually add another vine. I really don’t mind the work of keeping the vine and its living trellis in balance with each other and I’m careful about where I plant vigorous, woody vines which could quickly smother their support.

Not everyone is as confident about this technique but might like the idea of vines providing an additional season of color without taking up much space. For those people I recommend die-back vines. These are vines which, either due to their natural growth cycle or lack of stem cold hardiness, die back to the ground during our winters. The retreat underground in fall and the re-start each spring keeps these plants in check and you never need to worry about how to prune, just cut them back after frost has killed the tops.

A long-time favorite of mine is the climbing or superb lily, Gloriosa superba, one of the few scientific names that really needs no translation to be understood. This species is found throughout almost all of sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia so it is important to make sure you are getting a cold-hardy form when purchasing plants. The plant grows from an elongated, tuberous corm sending up a scrambling stem which gently twines itself through low branches and sturdy perennials. The flowers appear over a very long period in summer looking like red lilies whose yellow-edged petals have been blown backwards in a strong wind. About a dozen other species can be found in the wild but most are rarely seen in commerce.

Another die-back vine genus that has been shockingly hardy to me is Bomarea (pictured below). In early 2012 we received seed of what we have now identified as Bomarea acutifolia from the UC Berkeley Botanic Garden. We planted out a seedling in the Lath House in late summer of the same year where it has grown and flowered reliably for the past decade. The softball-sized clusters of orange flowers with gold tips are simply outstanding. Like its close relative, Alstroemeria, Bomarea grows from Mexico through Central and South America. We are also encouraged by initial successes with the pale pink Bomarea edulis and deeper pink Bomarea salsilla over the past 2 (admittedly mild) winters in Raleigh and look forward to trying even more of the estimated 123 species.

Join us for the July Evening Garden Stroll

Tuesday, July 12, 4:30-7:30 pm

Our annual trial beds are blooming and you do not want to miss this year’s show. We invite you to come take an after-hours stroll and cast your vote for this year’s favorite. The Color Trials area at the JC Raulston Arboretum is an official All-America Selections (AAS) testing site for new cultivars of bedding plants, flowers, and cool season plants in North America. See where the best of the best are tested and winners are chosen while enjoying the newest annuals and tender perennials in flower.

Learn more about our summer trials and see nearly two decades of data here.

Free guided tour at 5:00 pm. Meet at the Visitor Center.

Concrete Workshops
By Kathryn Wall, Membership & Volunteer Manager

The summer workshops continue in July with two exciting workshops presented by Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane, Lasting Impressions. Beth and Amelia are not only great horticulturists and JCRA volunteers, but they're also fantastic concrete artists. I've taken advantage of their classes to make my own hypertufa troughs, concrete leaves and unique birdbaths. I've really enjoyed the opportunity to learn and create these treasures which now grace my backyard! Here's your chance to learn how to make your own hypertufa trough and cast concrete leaf from these fantastic designers. These hands-on workshops take place off site at the Lasting Impressions creative space in North Raleigh.

Hypertufa Trough Workshop
Saturday, July 23, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Hypertufa troughs were developed in England as an alternative to old stone sinks which were used to feed and water livestock. They provide excellent drainage and can highlight those special small plants that you have! A planted trough can be a garden unto itself. Participants will mix the ingredients, build a container, and learn how to release a finished container from its mold in this hands-on workshop.

Cast Concrete Leaf Workshop
Saturday, July 23, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
This two-hour workshop will teach you everything you need to know about how to prepare your leaf, mix the concrete medium, and mold a natural leaf sculpture to hang on an inside wall or use outside in a garden.

Christmas in July
Amanda Pattillo-Lunt, Rental Coordinator

Happy Holidays to all! It’s six months until December and it is never too early to start planning your holiday events. The York Auditorium at the JCRA makes a great location for festive gatherings. The floor to ceiling windows bring the outdoors in, offering a beautiful garden view just beyond the South Terrace.

The York Auditorium can be booked as one large event space suitable for larger gatherings. Or it can be divided into smaller rooms for more intimate gatherings or family get-togethers. The small staging-kitchen is available with either full auditorium or any partial auditorium bookings that include room 109. It's great for catering or staging your own homemade treats and snacks. We would love to have you and yours join us this December!

We do have some availability remaining, but we are beginning to see weekends fill up with reservations. If you are thinking about renting for the holiday season, please check out our availability calendar and reach out about securing a date!

Availability Calendar
https://jcra.ncsu.edu/rentals/availability-calendar/index.php

Make a Reservation
https://jcra.ncsu.edu/rentals/reservations/index.php

Educational Program Highlights

The JCRA has something for everyone, especially you! Join us for in-person and online educational programs that are sure to make your skills bloom! Spaces are limited so register today to reserve your spot. If you have any questions, please contact us at jcraprograms@ncsu.edu.

Triangle Bonsai Society Expo
Hosted by the Triangle Bonsai Society in Cooperation with the JC Raulston Arboretum
July 9, 3:00 pm-8:30 pm
July 10, 10:00 am-6:00 pm

Come out to the 2022 Triangle Bonsai Society Expo and experience the great world of bonsai. View amazing trees, ask questions, and even vote for your favorite. Free. Takes place inside the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center.

Landscape Color and Professional Field Day
Presented by NC State's Department of Horticultural Science and the JC Raulston Arboretum

Thursday, July 14 – 9:00 AM

Join us for the 2022 Landscape Color and Professional Field Day for a day filled with helpful information for green industry professionals. The subject matter is across the board, giving professionals a wide variety of interesting topics they'll find useful in their daily tasks. Continuing Education Credits have been applied for.

Photography Walk
"Focus Stacking Technique: Macro Photography
with Full Depth-of-field Control"
Mary Louise Ravese, Bella Vista Photography

Saturday, July 16 – 8:30 AM

In the close-up environment of macro photography, it is not possible to get sharp shots from front to back of deep flowers like lilies due to inherent technical limitations that produce shallow depth-of-field for this situation. However, full control of depth-of-field is possible using the focus stacking photography technique. This technique involves taking multiple shots of the same subject, each focused at different points and then using software to combine the multiple images to make a single image with the combined depth-of-field of all the shots.

Hypertufa Trough Workshop
Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane, Lasting Impressions and JCRA Volunteers

Saturday, July 23 – 9:00 AM

Hypertufa troughs were developed in England as an alternative to old stone sinks which were used to feed and water livestock. They provide excellent drainage and can highlight those special small plants that you have! A planted trough can be a garden unto itself. Participants will mix the ingredients, build a container, and learn how to release a finished container from its mold.

Cast Concrete Leaf Workshop
Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane, Lasting Impressions and JCRA Volunteers

Saturday, July 23 – 1:00 PM

This two-hour workshop will teach you everything you need to know about how to prepare your leaf, mix the concrete medium, and mold a natural leaf sculpture to hang on an inside wall or use outside in a garden.

For more information about these programs, please click on the links above or write jcraprograms@ncsu.edu.

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
In Person

Plant-lover’s Tour at the JCRA
“Interns’ Top Picks”
July 5, 9:00 am-10:30 am
In person

Gardening 101 at the JCRA
"Gardening in Dry Shade"
July 6, 3:00 pm-3:30 pm
Online
Register

Triangle Bonsai Society Expo
July 9, 3:00 pm-8:30 pm
July 10, 10:00 am-6:00 pm
In person

Cultivating Science ✽
July 11-15, 8:30 am-4:00 pm
Full - Waitlist

Evening Garden Stroll
July 12, 4:30 pm-7:30 pm
Guided tour of Arboretum at 5:00 pm
In person

Midweek with Mark
“Costa Rica Travelogue”
July 13, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm
Online
Register

Landscape Color and Professional Field Day
July 14, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
In person
Register

Open Garden Day at Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Friday, July 15, 2022 – 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday, July 16, 2022 – 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Sunday, July 17, 2022 – 1:00 pm–5:00 pm
Friday, July 22, 2022 – 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday, July 23, 2022 – 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Sunday, July 24, 2022 – 1:00 pm–5:00 pm
In person at Juniper Level Botanic Garden

Photography Walk
"Focus Stacking Technique: Macro
Photography with Full Depth-of-Field Control"
July 16, 8:30am-12:30pm
In person
Register

Bearded Iris Sale
Hosted by the Eastern North Carolina Iris Society in Cooperation with the JC Raulston Arboretum
Saturday, July 16, 2022 – 9:00 am–3:00 pm
In person

Artists in the Garden ✽
July 18-22, 9:00 am-3:30 pm
Full-Waitlist

Deeper in the Garden
"Early Highlights of the Summer Color Trials"
July 20, 3:00pm-3:45pm
Online
Register

Hypertufa Trough Workshop
July 23, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
In person at off-site location
Register

Cast Concrete Leaf Workshop
July 23, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
In person
Register

Garden Critters ✽
July 25-29, 9:00 am-12:30 pm
Full-Waitlist

Got Shade? Plant Selection, Including Some Unusual Perennials, and a Few Challenges You May Face in Shade Gardening
July 25, 10:00 am-11:30 am
In-person and Online
Register

Plant-lover’s Tour at the JCRA
“Interns’ Top Picks”
July 27, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm
Online
Register

Save the Date
Intro to Gardening in the South
August 27, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Sponsored by Leaf & Limb
In person and Online

✽Denotes a children's program.

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