Voices from the Arboretum

The Art of Volunteering

2012-01-26T22:43:00.002-05:00

For more than a decade, visitors have marveled at the artcreated in the Arboretum forest by Howard and Mary McCoy. Composed primarily ofelements found naturally in the landscape, and drawing attention to theinextricable connection between nature and art, the artists’ work is in harmonywith the Arboretum’s conservation mission.

Few may know, though, of thishusband-and-wife team’s work behind the scenes. From coordinating invitationalshows to hanging countless exhibits to arranging the annual Art Competition,they are the very lifeblood of the Arboretum’s thriving arts program.

Introduced to the Arboretum byMarion Price, the late artist and gallery owner who initiated the Arboretum’sart program, Mary and Howard exhibited their first Arboretum show in 1999. Theybrought the idea of outdoor art to the Arboretum, creating installations in theforest and meadows and curating an every-other-year outdoor sculptureinvitational that draws artists from around the country. The McCoys also serveon (and Mary chairs) the Arboretum Art Committee, the panel that selectsartists for future exhibits.

“Talented artists in their own right, Howard and Mary havebeen involved in curating the Arboretum’s art exhibits for more than a decadeand have been involved in attracting more than 100 of our region’s mostcreative artists to exhibit at the Arboretum,” says Executive Director EllieAltman. “They are a constant at the Arboretum. Without them, the art programwould not exist.”

As the Arboretum values Howard andMary’s involvement in the art program, so do the artists benefit from theopportunity to work and create at the Arboretum. “We get to work outside andhave the freedom to do what we want,” says Mary. “We can go out into the woodsand experiment. Over the years we have gotten to know the forest and manyindividual trees. The Arboretum gives us the chance not only to bring art topeople but to interact with other artists who exhibit at the Arboretum. We’vemade some wonderful friendships that way.”

“Working in the woods has been agolden opportunity for us,” says Howard. He tells of his interest in theevolution and deterioration of subject matter and how that interest led himfrom working with industrial materials to working in and of nature. “One of thethings that fascinates us is how nature reclaims our sculptures. You see thecycles of nature, and we like how the sculptures change as nature changes.”

This natural progression is one of the reasons the McCoys created their mostrecent sculpture installation (SecondSitings, June–September 2011) entirely with materials found at theArboretum. “Creating with materials on the site and of the site makes peoplestop and consider what is natural and what is art,” says Mary.

“One thing that we really enjoy iswhen people tell us the thing they found interesting about an area where we doa sculpture at the Arboretum,” adds Howard. “It gives them the opportunity topay closer attention to what’s going on in that area around the sculpture. Thatresonates for us, to have that response. It’s really quite wonderful.”

And so are the McCoys. Their creativity, their vision, and their kind andgentle nature make them assets to the Arboretum community. This lovely couplehas truly mastered the art of volunteering.

Howard and Mary McCoy live near Centreville in ahouse designed in the 1930s by Mary’s grandmother on the banks of the ChesterRiver. They will be honored at the Arboretum’s annual Volunteer Recognition Brunch on January 21.

Winter Wonderings and Wanderings

2012-01-25T19:14:00.000-05:00

What is there to look at inthe winter at Adkins Arboretum? I hear that a lot, but I love winter interest inthe garden and at the Arboretum, and maybe we just have to look a little harderto find that winter beauty.

The majestic structure of the deciduous treesallows a clear view of songbirds and even a few raptors. You may find splashesof color from berry-producing shrubs in the woodland. In winter, there is avisibility of the wetland only seen at this time of year.

This morning, I hadthe most beautiful surprise as I walked on the bridge. To my surprise, a graceful great blue heron flew under me and through the wetland. A little snow dustingon the trails would be the only additional component to a walk in the woods ona winter’s day.

by Robyn Affron
Master Gardener, Certified Professional Horticulturist, and Arboretum Receptionist

What Crossed my Desk Today

2012-01-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

This very rainy and cool Monday kept me at my desk all day except to jump up occasionally to be sure I could still touch my toes. Mondays seem to bring a flurry across my desk—mostly my cyber desk, messages that fall out of cyberspace and land in my Inbox. Here are two of today’s cyber news that merit sharing:

1. In 2010, Congress directed the Council on Environmental Quality and the Interior Department to prepare a strategy for addressing climate change impacts on fish, wildlife and plants. The draft plan is now available and is open for public comment until March 5, 2012: http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov.

2. Not to be missed—the Annapolis Horticulture Society is promoting a special two-day garden excursion to the Shenandoah Valley, April 14-15 at a great price. The tour includes attending a one-day conference, Tomorrow’s Landscapes, at Shenandoah University (www.tomorrowslandscapes.com). Contact the Annapolis Horticulture Society for details and to register: http://www.annapolishorticulture.org/events.html.

By Ellie Altman

Executive Director

Photo taken on a rainy day at Adkins Arboretum by Charles Riter, Easton, Maryland’s Tidewater Camera Club

Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow...

2012-01-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

The word "mighty" is nearly always used to describe the oak tree, and with good reason. It's a dignified tree with a long romantic, economic, and ecological history—all arising from that little acorn. Selecting the white oak (Quercus alba) as the Arboretum's 2012 Native Tree of the Year was a natural choice, as it is already revered as the official state tree of Maryland. Reaching up to 100 feet high and thriving in a wide range of soils, the white oak is a symbol of strength and longevity.

You can read all about the mighty Quercus alba by clicking here, but here are a few facts to tide you over:

Maryland's Eastern Shore boasts the largest stand of white oaks.
White oak acorns feed many animals, and the genus supports hundreds of butterfly and moth species (thus feeding a huge bird population).
Ships, furniture, and baskets have a long history of being made from oak.
Native Americans processed the acorns of white oak to make a flour for eating.
You can purchase your own white oak at the Adkins Arboretum Native Plant Nursery!

by Joanne Healey
Adkins Arboretum Nursery Manager

Foxy Lady

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

The benefits are great for those of us willing to leave the comforts of home and hot chocolate on a snowy day. Beyond the enjoyment of sledding and snowball fights, there’s always the potential to gain a rare glimpse into the habits of the wild creatures living among us--through their tracks.

A few years ago, my daughter and I ventured to the Arboretum after an unusually heavy January snowstorm, wading through knee-deep snow to follow a trail of fox tracks. As we walked, a story unraveled before us of a lone fox stopping at the wetland for a drink, tangling with a rabbit, ducking under a log, and finally returning to its den in the middle of Nancy’s Meadow. Though I’ve taught many lessons about animal tracks, it wasn’t until that wintry afternoon that I really earned my “track detective” badge.

The den we discovered belonged to a red fox, Vulpes vulpes. Red foxes are relatively small members of the canine family, averaging only eleven to thirteen pounds. They enjoy a varied diet, dining on frogs, snakes, mice, berries, rabbits, fruit, birds, eggs, and beetles, to name a few. The fox’s reputation for cleverness might rise from its habit of storing excess food under leaves, in snow, or in the ground. Foxes generally have separate dens for shelter, breeding, and resting. They live in family groups, with an average litter size of four to six kits.

This year’s snowfall has been minimal to non-existent. But as temperatures drop later in the week, I’ll be dusting off my track detective badge just in case.

by Jenny Houghton,Youth Program Coordinator
Drawing by Barbara Bryan

Soup 'n Walk, Saturday, November 12

2011-11-14T22:45:00.000-05:00

By Julianna Pax, Arboretum docent

The day started out a little blustery. but by 11 a.m. the sun came out and we had temps in the 50s. Our theme was the changing colors and nuts and berries in the woods. Mary Jo took one group on the Blockston Branch trail and I took a second group on a little longer trek (but still one hour) through the parking lot and out the Birch Allee trail. We admired the possumhaw viburnum’s blue berries and red leaves by the Visitor's Center. The bridge gave us a chance to see the juniper berries and white cedar and swamp alder cones and the seed pods on the buttonbush.

Further on the trail, we passed a lovely red oak by the wetland, and in the parking lot there were four more colorful oaks – a white oak (our state tree and tree of the year at Adkins Arboretum for 2012), a pin oak, a willow oak, and a water oak. The red colors in some of the leaves appear in the fall due to the formation of scar tissue and the trapping of the sugar in the leaf, which then combines with a compound to form the red/purple anthocyanins. By the trail we next saw the deep purple leaves of the sweet gum with a nest just at our eye level. The nest was small and empty now and reminded us of the shelter and food that birds need.

Many dogwood trees still had their almost salmon-colored leaves this year. Where the sunlight passed through the canopy, it lit up the colors on the leaves. The red-colored anthocyanins in the leaves may act as a sunscreen for the delicate leaves. Tulip tree, paw paw, beech, and hickory leaves were sporting different shades of gold in the sunlight. We observed the fleeting green in the leaves near their center veins and were reminded that as the chlorophyll disappears, the yellow color that was there all the time is now visible. Both the green chlorophyll and the yellow/orange carotenes gather the sunlight and transform it into food for the plants and ultimately feed animals too. We passed the green cranefly orchid leaves with red underneath and went by some bright red leaves of low bush blueberries and saw red berries on some of the hearts a bursting. A few winged sumac still had red shiny leaves in the sunlight. Golden yellow leaves were everywhere we looked. Some leaves had already gone to the brown color of tannins, which is an end product of all this color and shows up in the coppery-colored water downstream.

Back at the Visitor’s Center, we joined the others for a colorfully decorated room with dogwood, beech, and holly leaves. Nuts and acorns were strewn on the table alongside, the printed recipes. We enjoyed our colorful foods, including sweet potatoes and carrots, in the soup and salad and fruit and nuts in the bread, salad, and dessert. Many told me that they were going to use the recipes at home and enjoyed the nutrition facts. There were 27 guests, and some were remembering that our next walk is in February, and wouldn’t it be nice if it snowed like it did a few years ago!

Many volunteers and staff make this a special event at Adkins, and I would like to thank all of you. Today we had Nancy B., Mickey B., Shirley B., Norma J. E., Mary J. K., Lynn L., Michele W., Zaida W., with Shelley at the desk. Lynn and Mary J. brought the desserts. Allison, Robyn, and Ginna did their part earlier, and to everyone else that I forgot, thanks.

Soup 'n Walk, Saturday, October 15

2011-10-19T09:02:00.006-04:00

by Arboretum Docent Julianna Pax

It was a perfect fall day with clear skies and a little wind as our group headed out for a meadow walk. We were mostly concerned with the plants of the meadow, but strayed right away to the beautiful tupelo tree and the possumhaw viburnums near the Visitor's Center. It was hard to pass up such a vivid display as we discussed the red colors in these two plants. Attention was also paid to the forest edge as we scoured the ground for mushrooms, another topic of the day. We were not able to find any. Perhaps some were hiding under all the leaves that are starting to fall.

Many of those leaves had already turned their lovely colors of purple, red and orange, but the majority of the forest had not reached its peak of glorious color. Maybe in another week or two.

The tall grasses of the meadow - big bluestem, switchgrass, and Indian grass - were especially noted. Upon close inspection, we observed the difference in each flower head, which helps in the identification of the specific grasses. The dried pods of some of the common milkweed were still hanging on, and a few of the milkweed bugs could be seen feasting on the seeds. We even found one with a new batch of tiny milkweed bugs. There were a few new shoots of milkweed scattered along the meadows edge, and several were just full of yellow aphids, which really seem to love any and all of the milkweeds. I’m sure the ladybugs we saw earlier on the path will be heading in their direction. I was a little disappointed that just about all of the goldenrod was finished blooming, but they have left behind many seed heads that the birds will love.

Unfortunately, the meadow and the meadow edge are scattered with several types of invasive species, so we pointed out the aggressive Oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, and the Tree of Heaven, just to name a few. But it was too pretty a day to dwell on the negative!

As we made our way around the far end of the South Meadow, part of the group stopped to say hello to a snake that was waiting to cross or may have been basking in the warm sunshine. He wanted no part of us and headed into the underbrush. Farther around the path, we were looking at the leaves of a pretty flowering dogwood and discovered a small assassin bug slowly maneuvering around the branches, perhaps looking for a snack.

The South Meadow is just loaded with pearly everlasting this year. Seems to be more than usual. It is such a pretty little plant with white flowers that just pop out here and there all through the meadow. We discussed how well it dries for decorating wreaths and such, but noted that it has a very strong scent when brought indoors!

The Virginia creeper vine is just spectacular now with its red, red leaves and is innocently climbing up and over many plants on the forest edge. And as vile as poison ivy is to some, one cannot deny the beauty of those leaves this time of year!

We picked up the pace of our walk as it neared 12:00. I was sure everyone had worked up an appetite and was ready to head in for a delicious lunch.

Most folks in the group were repeat visitors, but three or four were there for the first time and seemed to enjoy themselves. We were quick to invite them back. Thanks Julianna and Shirley for being my back-up. It was a very enjoyable day!

The next Soup 'n Walk (the last of the year) is Saturday, November 12. Register today!

The Arboretum's Summer Campout

2011-08-08T01:48:00.014-04:00

Five families braved temperatures in the mid-nineties to participate in the Arboretum’s Summer Campout, held July 30-31. Families dined under the shade of an oak tree, enjoying food hot off the grill alongside cool slices of watermelon. While adults set up their tents in an open meadow, Children’s Program Coordinator and campout organizer Jenny Houghton explored the wetland with young campers, ranging in age from two to ten. Children returned from the wetland to make Mason jar firefly-catchers before setting off with their parents on a woodland night hike.

As darkness fell along the Blockston Branch, Jenny’s intrepid husband, Gabe, built a roaring bonfire in a woodland clearing. Children balanced on tree stumps and searched for the perfect marshmallow roasting stick. Despite waves of heat coming off the bonfire, everyone gathered round to assemble gooey, delicious s’mores.

Saturday evening closed with a cosmic show put on by the Delmarva Stargazers, who set up three enormous telescopes in the campout field. Campers were treated to close-up views of Saturn, globular clouds, the Milky Way, and other wonders of the night sky.

After a somewhat restful and surprisingly cool night (punctuated by owl cries and the howls of neighboring beagles), campers woke to find assorted breakfast treats and some much-needed coffee laid out under the trees. Nationally known ornithologist Andy Sprenger led a bird walk introducing campers to birdsong identification. Andy was thrilled to spot a Mississippi Kite on the walk; these birds are rarely seen as far north as Maryland. Campers were thrilled at close-up scopes of a hummingbird and an indigo bunting.

As campers packed up their tents, 9-year-old Nick Obert admitted to Jenny, “I had low expectations of this camp-out, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.” High praise, indeed.

Come out to welcome the Arboretum's new baby goat!

2011-06-16T15:01:00.005-04:00

An amazing thing happened last week. One of the visiting goats browsing invasive plants at the forest edge gave birth to triplets! All three were named lifetime members, and the Arboretum has adopted one of the kids. Once she has grown a bit, the baby (shown here with Facilities Maintenance Coordinator Allison Yates) will live at the Arboretum full time, the first goat in the Arboretum's own herd of grazers. Stop by the nursery to see this adorable newborn!

Keep checking back to read about the (still unnamed) baby's adventures.

May 21 Soup 'n Walk Notes by Julianna Pax

2011-05-26T01:00:00.002-04:00

Mary Jo and I led our group along with two other volunteers, so we were well covered fore and aft. The guests were about equally split among those familiar with the Arboretum, those who’d visited only a few times, and a few who were there for the first time. We hiked Blockston Branch over to Ridge Walk and back via the South Meadow. We talked about structural things while we looked for interesting plants – how small creeks help protect the Bay by providing opportunities to trap silt and nutrients; why some plants prefer the rich but risky lowlands and others prefer the drier, challenging uplands.

Along the way, we spotted some little pawpaw fruits on the same stem with a tiny withered flower (about 10 feet up, right at the start of Blockston Branch trail near the first bridge). Helpfully, a zebra swallowtail chose that moment to flit past. Lots of poplar tulips scattered on the ground for our inspection. We contrasted the false with true Solomon’s seal. Just about the time we found our first mayapple fruit, we also almost stepped on a resplendent box turtle that was being pestered by a little cloud of mosquitoes. Guests enjoyed using my pocket magnifier to admire the plentiful spaceship flowers on healthy (non-mite-y) heart's-a-bursting. Lots of birds were enjoying the drier, sunnier weather: bluebird, oven bird, pileated woodpecker, and red-eyed vireo, just to name a few.

The cranefly orchid leaves are almost gone, but there were just enough for us to admire the vibrant purple underleaf. The cat brier shoots are getting old enough that they’re a bit too tough to nibble on (a positive attribute of this annoying plant that was covered in last Sunday’s foraging class), but we talked about their green stem strategy for photosynthesis after the canopy dies back later in the year. Jack-in-the-pulpit flowers are withering, but we did see some brave specimens along the way. Iridescent damsel flies stopped us dead in our tracks a couple of times as their ruby and sapphire wings caught shafts of sun filtering down from the canopy.

Everyone was hungry by the time we blinked into the sunny meadow, so we were encouraged by the prospect of a delicious meal waiting for us. And we were not disappointed – yum!

Thanks, Margan, for your very entertaining educational notes. I feel like we went on your walk also. My thanks also for the lovely weather, which was in the 70s. Our group did the Upland Trail to the Creekside Trail, Tuckahoe, and then returned on Blockston Branch. Our theme was to check out the view at creekside, and what a view it was. The mountain laurel are blooming prolifically this year. Since I started doing the tours in 2003, these are the most blooms that I have seen. If you get a chance, come out and visit. The mountain laurel are along the higher ground of the Tuckahoe and Creekside trails. They bloom most heavily where the sun shines through the tree canopy in the morning. It seems that everywhere the sun shone on these bushes we could find blossoms this year.

Along the meadow there were many milkweed plants this year, and their buds are just about to open. Our visitors seemed to know that this is the host plant for the monarch butterfly. At the start of the Upland Trail, the pawpaw patch will show some of the pawpaw fruits if you look high enough and have good eyesight. Keep checking, as they will grow and ripen around Labor Day if they stay on the trees. Also watch for the zebra swallowtail butterflies, which lay eggs on the leaves that feed the larvae later. All along the Upland Trail we saw a lot of red-striped green-leafed rattlesnake weed with tall yellow blooms and a few spent blooms of pink lady slipper followed by some pussytoes, a few late bluets or quaker ladies in the moss patch, and Solomon’s seal blooms here and there. The false Solomon's seal is just getting started, and both will have berries later: blue-black berries on the former, red on the latter. The heart’s-a-bursting bushes were also covered with blooms. Last year there were very few.

The rattlesnake fern is showing by the Christmas fern patch, and we are looking forward to the fern walk next month. Many other ferns are making the Blockston Branch seem even more cool and refreshing. Water is flowing since we had quite a bit of rain this spring. Maybe that is why the blooms have been great. A turtle showed by some mayapples, which delighted all in the group. The tulip tree blossoms with their orange and yellow color are found along the trails blown down by the wind. They were also on the tables for part of the decorations carefully cleaned by Michele. The dogwood at the entrance to the woods is covered with green berries. What a treat for us and the birds this fall.

About half the guests went on the two-hour and half on the one-hour walk for a total of 16 guests. They were most enthusiastic, and some who had come for the first time were inspired to come again. Thanks to Mickey, Michele, Norma Jean, Mary Jo, Jennifer, and Margan, the beautifully decorated room and smells of food beckoned to us as we returned. The scallop vegetable soup and roasted beet and carrot salad were delicious, and Norma Jean and Mary Jo made the tasty cookies. Thanks also to the staff and volunteers at the front desk who help with signups and supplies, etc. Everyone does such a great job welcoming the guests and helping in so many ways to make this event fun for all.

Thanks,
Julianna

Soup 'n Walk, April 23, 2011

2011-04-27T00:48:00.004-04:00

Report by Julianna Pax

It started out today in the 60s with rain in the forecast, and as I drove in the rain to Adkins I thought we might need our backup program, but by 10 a.m. it was just a drizzle. As we started walking the rain stopped and the overcast clouds just made the colors of the flowers stand out. We were searching for the fleeting pink and yellow ephemerals and found them in abundance.

Our Tuckahoe Trail to the Creekside Path brought us past sassafras trees at the entrance to the woods. We saw lots of dogwood and some pinxterbloom azaleas along the way. The mayapples and pink ladyslippers were starting to bloom. Many spring beauty were still in bloom, although they were shy about opening up on this cloudy day. We did see two or three bloodroot leaves but no blossoms or seeds. The older beech trees still have blossoms.

On the Creekside Path and Upland Trail were many more mayapples and some Solomon’s seal just barely starting to show blooms. On the Upland Trail, we found lots of bluets, pussytoes, more ladyslippers, and rattlesnake weed just starting to bloom. The pawpaw patch had a good supply of blooms, some green and some already turning purple.

Next we continued on the Blockston Branch trail and found yellow golden groundsel, Virginia bluebells, jack-in-the pulpits, and some lovely bellwort in several thin patches. In the flood plain we noticed the netted chain fern and maybe some Turk's xap lilies coming up where we had not seen them before. There were also some cinnamon fern and lady fern along this trail. All in all, we thought the day in the woods presented us with quite a variety of ephemerals, shrubs, and tree blooms. The dogwood with their white blooms were all around us, often at a distance, so the effect was quite lacy and most cheerful. Someone mentioned that they had often walked the trails but noticed so much more when a guide was pointing out things.

In the dining room there were more native blossoms in the vases, and the tables were set and the buffet invited us, thanks to Mickey, Nancy, Michele, Pat, Lynn, and others. Mary Jo led the one-hour walk, and I led the two-hour walk. We were ably assisted by Zaida, Shirley, and Norma Jean. There were 28 guests present and two who did not come due to the rain. The projector was set up with a virtual tour, but everyone elected to go for the walks. Many commented on what a wonderful time they had. Some were new to the area and were excited to know that this wonderful place existed. Pat said there were two new members signed up. Most of the rest were already members. Thanks to everyone who helps to make this a success.

Nature as Muse

2011-04-27T00:45:00.001-04:00

Alas Dear Muse

'tis only you and I

to stroll the leaf lined paths

as eagles circle high.

You whisper on the gentle breeze

your laughter with the crows

you sing along the brooks and streams

Come, come walk and dream.

Thank you Muse for time to roam

the Adkins paths and trails

Thank you Muse for choosing

the Arboretum as your home.

Michele

Soup 'n Walk, March 19, 2011

2011-03-21T15:35:00.003-04:00

Friday it was in the 80s and today it was in the low 60s, just a lovely sunny day for a walk in the woods. For the two-hour walk, we took Tuckahoe Trail and the Creekside Walk. There were 12 guests on the two-hour walk and 14 guests on the one-hour walk, a nice-size group for both walks. The 1one-hour group went along Blockston Branch and were delighted to spot the buds of a Virginia bluebell just about ready the bloom. Al and Mary Jo led this group.

Our theme today was searching for pink and purple blooms, and we found these colors as well as some yellow buds on the sassafras and spicebush. The beech and sweetgum tips were swelling and will show blooms and leaves soon. Heading to the Tuckahoe Trail, we passed the pinxterbloom azalea with pink buds and some barely visible pink buds on the blueberry. Going farther, we passed partridge berry leaves with red berries peeking through the oak leaves in many places. We saw a few leaves of wintergreen, with its white stripe, and many cranefly orchid leaves with their maroon color on the back. A patch by the spicebush bridge has a few stalks that were probably blooms left from last year. Many were interested in its bloom time in the middle of summer. I suggested they consult a website to see what the blooms look like. The spicebushes were lovely at this spot, and several buds had opened, showing the delicate lacy blooms. Many skunk cabbages were showing their green leaves along this stream.

At the next bridge, we were able to spot several purple skunk cabbage blooms among all the green leaves (late bloomers?). We were not successful in finding any bloodroot or spring beauty along this trail. We did pass many mountain laurel bushes with buds, and it looks like we are in for a good year of blooms from these and the azalea, shadbush, and dogwood.

Continuing back on the Creekside Walk, one lucky guest spotted the first spring beauty and the cameras came out again. In a few more feet we found about a dozen more blooms. We were so excited and one guest commented about how much fun it was to spot these solitary blooms in the woods at Adkins. These spring beauties were in a patch by the mound formed by a tree that had gone over years ago and left the rich soil which acts like a plant nursery. It is across from a 3 trunked tulip tree. Further along I pointed out the best vantage point for spotting a fringe tree in April using another downed tree as the arrow. Someone asked about the small trees along the trail. We then felt the soft leaf tips that look and feel like a cat’s paw. These are paw paw trees.

The large beech tree at the turn in the trail gave us a breathtaking view of Tuckahoe Creek, which is over its banks at the moment from recent rains. This older beech tree has leaf buds ready to open, and we are looking forward to seeing some of the blooms next month.

We returned to the lunch meeting room, which now has lovely reusable green tablecloths donated by Pat B (thank you). Mickey and others had obtained the cloths, and we will rotate the laundry and be green and not need the others. Buds were in the vases, and pink and purple napkins and placements made the room a colorful place to visit and have our delicious lunch. Many in attendance are returning guests, but the walks still bring in a few new people who often become new members. We talked about all the wonderful purple nutrients in the recipes and why they are so good for us. The new Soup 'n Walk cookbooks are now out, so guests can buy them and promote even more healthy eating and sharing.

Thanks to all our volunteers for this Soup 'n Walk: Pat B., Mickey B., Michele W., Mary J. K., Al M., Shirley B., and Zaida W., who also helped and brought the cherry pies. Thanks to the staff: Cathy E., Ginna T., Lynda T., Allison Y., and all the rest who helped to make this a successful event.

Thanks again,

Julianna

Soup & Walk Report, February 19, 2011

2011-02-21T12:59:00.003-05:00

Our theme today was searching for the green and we saw it everywhere when we looked carefully. This year was very different from the snow we had last year. Many remembered our tromp through the snow. We had gusting winds today and temperatures in the 50’s compared to the 30’s the previous 2 years. The sounds of the wind in the trees made some think of a plane flying overhead and we commented that people who have experienced hurricanes or tornados hear a sound like a locomotive. When the gusts died down we could hear bird sounds and flowing water along the creek.
Before we entered the relative calm of the woods we looked at the statuesque tulip tree against the blue sky and caught the sunlight bouncing off the seed pods at the top of the tree. Later in the woods, we took a look at another and even though it was swaying in the breeze we could see the seed pods again. The trunk close up has those curious circular patterns up and down the braided bark of the tree.
At the first bridge we visited with the skunk cabbage blossoms poking through the leaves. These wonderful harbingers of spring are a lovely striped purple. The leaves just showing will be more evident next month and guests have described the leaves as looking very tropical. These plants have long tap roots with 3 years growth so they can survive being stepped on. They, along with the netted chain fern, are a sign of healthy wetlands. They also help clean up the Chesapeake Bay by anchoring the soil on this floodplain of the Blockston Branch.
The water was flowing nicely in the winding creek with many patches of soft green moss along the banks. The bright green color shows the effects of the sunlight which can reach these plants during the winter when the upper canopy is devoid of leaves. One observant guest did spot a remaining holly berry on a tree. The holly leaves and sweet bay magnolia leaves were another source of green in the woods. We did see the green stems of patches of green brier with thorns and strawberry bush with some red tips showing. One guest mentioned that this was the first time she noticed these lovely tips that had not been eaten by the deer.
Two of our orchids are visible now as green leaves on the upland train. The cranefly orchid has green above and purple underneath and the rattlesnake plantain orchid has a white striped fuzzy leaf. This latter one near the pine trees still had a leaf stalk showing. We took the Birch Alle` trail to see a little more of the woods. Moss along the upland trail and the birch trail were of several different varieties and shades of green and bluegreen. River birch with the peeling trunks ruffled by the wind were visible among the green pines.
The new bluebird house volunteer Doug Smith pointed out one of the 25 houses that he was monitoring and asked for more help when he is on vacation. He gave a nice background for this opportunity for another volunteer effort.
Our walk was topped off by a lovely luncheon enjoyed by our 28 paid guests which included 2 young children. One of our puppet squirrels visited, welcomed the children and the group and talked a little about the need for this habitat which provides her with acorns to feed her family and friends. In our beautifully decorated meeting room, we enjoyed a very hearty chili, green salad, bread with green spread and spicy date nut bars. Mickey had used many greens from the woods to decorate and with the help of all our volunteers made this a delightful occasion for our guests. Pat B at front desk, Michelle W, and Mary J K who both also made the dessert, Nancy B Shirley B, Zaida W, and all the staff who helped before the event taking reservations and Allison for setting up the room.
Many guests were profuse in the thanks that we have this event regularly at the arboretum. I am grateful that this allows me to promote the arboretum, as well as cooking and eating healthy which go along with the new 2010 guidelines. Thanks to all, Julianna

Nature as Muse Report, February 5

2011-02-13T11:53:00.001-05:00

Oh it was a dark and dreary day! There were only no-shows for the scheduled walk. However there was a couple at Adkins who were dropping off some art to be judged; having driven down from Baltimore they were going to go for a walk. So I kept with the planned theme and we took the walk together.

There was a steady drizzle with no wind, so we were treated to jewels of water, collected at every dip along every branch reflecting what little light there was. In the subdued light we were able to pick out some egg clusters on the marsh grass and imagine just what butterflies we will be seeing this spring. The dog wood blossoms stood out as advertisements to come and see what beauty there is to be in the near future.

Along the Meadow Walk, in contrast to the many greys upon grey, were the black raspberry stems with grey on blue and the blackberry with the red stems; both of them proudly showing there small claws just daring entry. One tree still held the yellow and red berries of the bitter sweet which were showing off in the subdued light. The mulberry tree was standing there all rough and snarly looking like some menace against the cloudy background.

We noticed the Blockston Branch winding its way down to the Tuckahoe; clear as a bell, tempting us to taste a sip. Trees suffering from old age or high wind leaned on their neighbors waiting to come to rest on the ground. On the ground under the Virginia and Loblolly pines were some mosses who looked like they themselves were aspiring to be pine trees; each of these showing off different hues of green in the subdued light.

I was glad that we took the time to see the sights that get special respect in the subdued light.
Al

Adkins Arboretum Book Club - Poetry Reading

2011-01-04T12:18:00.000-05:00

paper snow

as in nature
no two are alike.

you snip neat triangles,
careful diamonds,
the leavings littering the floor
like new year’s confetti.

my scissors move
in swirls and curves,
feathers of white
drifting beneath the table.

the children sleep.
there are gifts to be wrapped,
mugs washed,
a dog waiting by the door.

still we linger,
and the peace builds
like falling snow.

below freezing

winter is
my lonely soul.

winter is
not knowing you
the way i do
in summer.

winter is
too many layers.

winter is
our words
unraveling towards
the white horizon,
a frozen cloud.

solstice notes

my solstice wind chimes
jewel the winter nights
with a wild sparkling
of notes.

before the freeze
i climbed
the twisted oak
to string them
from a gnarled branch.

in icy tempest
their music soothes
the wint’ring birds.

enchanted, i will sleep
in tuneful dreaming
until spring’s soft winds
invite a witch’s dance
beneath the stars.

whiteout

after all this time of clouds
the snow is falling,
so quickly covering
the places where we walked.

the river
iced over
is a blur of white.

how suddenly the familiar
becomes strange—

i will not even try
to make my way
through silent paths
to where we used to live.

s.a.d.

o bright god,
without you
winter disappoints.

in summer
i preferred shadow,
covered up
and wore dark glasses.

now
i drink you in,
shameless.

sometimes
i stand by the window
just to feel
your touch on my face.

at day’s end
i follow you
through the streets
and plead
“come back, come back.”

fortunate trees
on whose highest branches
you linger.

if you must leave,
leave with pastel longing,
but tomorrow
blind me
with your brilliance.

j. l. houghton

November Soup & Walk

2010-11-30T14:27:00.002-05:00

What a beautiful fall day for our last soup ’n walk of the year! The day was sunny and temperature was in the 60s. There were 24 guests out of 28 who had signed up. Only a few had not been here before, and we always enjoy telling new and old friends about our Adkins Arboretum. Our theme was looking for the nuts, berries, and seeds that feed the wildlife.
We split into two groups. Nancy B. started hers at the regular entrance to the woods and I took the other half and looked out at the wetland’s variety of seeds and cones. We took a closer look at the red cedar and noted the blue berries on the female tree by the bridge and then headed to the other woods entrance by the sassafras trees. There are lots of red sumac berries at this entrance. We went past many Oriental bittersweet vines loaded with their yellow capsules over orange berries. Two of us had been to Sylvan’s talk on invasives, so we talked about keeping these seeds from spreading by using them indoors, if you must use them, and packaging them for disposal in black plastic so they will be buried in a landfill and no longer available for the birds to spread. Weed warriors are needed for our volunteer program.
Sassafras trees have berries only on the female trees, and we went by the female tree at the edge of the woods. These edge trees such as the sassafras and sweet gum have lovely color in the leaves that are still left on the trees. The sweet gum balls left on the trees are quite showy and are even showier as winter comes and the leaves drop. There are also quite a few tall tulip trees still showing yellow color at the skyline, and one can imagine lots of seed pods at the treetops.
The dogwood trees had been stripped of any berries much earlier and in the past week had lost their leaves. We still saw berries on the female holly trees along the way. Along this trail there were quite a bit of red leaves still showing on the blueberry and deerberry bushes, but the berries, if any, had been eaten much earlier. Maybe because of the hot summer and dry weather, many of the berries have been eaten already or were not produced this year.
Acorns were quite plentiful this year from both the white oak and the red and black oak families. White oak acorns take only one year to grow to maturity and have less tannic acid. Mature red oak acorns are often stored/planted by the squirrels for later use. Going past the pine forest, we could spot lots of pine cones for squirrels and birds, and when the pines ended at the birch allee we started to see lots of hickory and oak trees. Some of the golden pawpaw leaves were still on the trees. Not only is the fruit used by the critters, but the leaves are needed by the zebra swallowtail butterfly larva.
We joined Nancy’s group just before the Visitor’s Center, and the entire group hurried back to enjoy our soup, salad, bread, and dessert, which were made with some fruits, berries, nuts, and other fall vegetables that help us live well. So we enjoyed refreshing our minds and spirits in the woods and our bodies at the luncheon. Mickey B., Pat B., Michele W., and Lynn L. had everything ready for us. Other volunteers who helped were Janet H., Norma J. E., Shirley B., Nancy B., and Zaida W. with setup, cleanup, and help with the tours. Lynn L. and I brought the amaranth date nut bread. Ann R. was taking pictures. It felt wonderful to have everyone together to share the entire experience.
Thanks to all the staff that helped, as well as all the volunteers.

Soup & Walk on October 16

2010-10-26T11:07:00.005-04:00

Photo by Melissa L. Andreycheck

Searching for fall colors was our theme today. Nature was very cooperative. The air was crisp with just enough wind and sunny in the mid 60’s. When we started out there were 28 guests. As we walked along the trail past the edge of the woods we saw lots of color. There were all different shades of red from black cherry, sassafras, dogwood, and the tops of the devil’s walking stick and stems of the pokeberry.

The red color develops in the leaves when the green chlorophyll disappears after the leaf scar develops and this stops water from getting into the leaf and sugars from leaving. This sugar, in some leaves combines with a phytochemical and becomes an anthocyanin. The shade of red depends on genes and the acidity of the soil. One of the dogwood leaves was lying across another dogwood leaf and I showed the part that was covered and still had the green color. One of the theories for the red color is that it helps protect the plant from the harmful rays of too much sunlight. Indeed it seems that much of the red color in the woods was where we could see the sunlight touching the leaves.

At the bridge someone asked what a leaf scar was. This prompted a discussion on the fact that trees do lose their leaves and other plants die to the ground when there is no longer the ability to turn sunlight into energy for the plant. The shorter daylight hours starts this process. It is also influenced by moisture and many leaves dropped early this year due to the drought. I picked up a tulip tree leaf and showed where the leaf scar was at the end of the petiole. Many ephemerals die back when the tree canopy keeps sunlight from reaching them.

Further along on Blockston Branch trail we saw some red strawberry bush (heart’s a bursting) berries left on the bush. This bush had protection from some branches of the ironwood tree and the deer had not touched it. The deer’s sensitive nose does not like the twiggy branches of the ironwood tree. On the ground we spotted a clump of red berries from a jack in the pulpit.

A golden yellow stand of pawpaws further on the trail was awash in sunlight and since the green chlorophyll had disappeared the yellow color which was there all along is now apparent. The yellow pigment captures and converts sunlight similar to chlorophyll and is a silent partner not visible until now.

We took the trail past the downed tree clump and observed the huge opening in the canopy. At this spot in the trail there is a large group of beech drops that are now in brown seed and were a lovely rose purple earlier. A teacher guest asked about this parasitic fungus on beech tree roots and said she brings this information back to her fifth graders. Newcomb’s Wildflower guide is a good manual for identification info. We need more in the gift shop because we could not find any later.

Further along, we saw some more red color in some very tall tupelo trees that again had sunlight glinting off their red leaves. At the exit we observed some very red shining leaves of the winged sumac with its crop of red berries.

We came back to a delicious colorful lunch and a lovely dining room with lovely bouquets made by Mickey B. She had seeds of hearts a bursting available at each table and many took them home for planting. The sumac, winterberries, chokeberries, and groundsel bush were part of her attractive arrangements.

Lynda said it so nicely. Our Soup & Walk is unique and special. We have such a dedicated group of volunteers who make this an event to remember. Many of our guests keep returning but we had some new ones as well. The guests ranged from North Carolina, Washington DC, north of Baltimore, Easton and from Delaware. Our volunteers were Pat B, Mickey B, Norma E, Lynn L, Michele W, Zaida W, Shirley B and Julianna P.

This whole process starts with a newsletter with menus developed for the monthly walking tour attractions. Reservations are taken and followed up by our friendly staff. Caterer and volunteers are notified. Tables, chairs and other equipment are put in place. Emails and phone calls are used for notifying and last minute changes. Baking desserts and breads takes place and collecting material for flower arrangements. Once the day arrives, it is very organized. Pat at the front desk, Mickey and others decorating the tables, setting out the name tags, guides taking a prewalk. Finally starting the tour begins, while others make sure the soup is hot and all the food arranged in lovely fashion on white covered tables. The five round tables with their white tablecloths and a centerpiece and the smell of food are so inviting as we return from our tour. We eat a delicious lunch and I get to talk about the menu and its connection to our walk and nutrition. Finally the clean up in our tiny kitchen where Lynn and Michele have developed quite a system. Others clear tables bring things to where ever they are needed and the extra food goes home. A small bonus for all the loyal helpers. Thank you all. It takes everyone to make this work.

T in the Trees Journaling Report Oct 2, 2010

2010-10-06T14:17:00.002-04:00

Another very successful T in the Trees adventure! Our Theme had to be “Flowing Water” because this was very evident as we walked along Blockston Branch after the 6 inches or more of rain in the past 3 days. It was breezy and cool in the 60’s. Many times we stopped to marvel at the sight and sound of this precious water. The color was very coppery, evidence of water flowing through fallen and decaying leaves. Mention was made of the tannic acid color and that this chemical can carry minerals further along the banks and bottomlands, depositing them and enriching the soil in the process. At one bridge we could see the stream dividing and reforming in a ribbonlike pattern with ripples along the way.

We also crushed some leaves and smelled them. Some pearly or white everlasting in the meadow, and some paw paw leaves in the woods. We speculated on how insects or plants might use these chemicals. The zebra swallowtail butterfly needs the paw paw leaves to complete their life cycle. Someone also mentioned the monarch butterfly and milkweed and we talked about the spice bush butterfly which needs the spice bush or the sassafras tree.

Another idea came to me and we tested it. What if you were taking a blind or sight impaired person through the woods. Besides the sound of the water and the smell of the leaves, we felt the bark of the tulip tree and its interesting braiding pattern. Then we moved our hands down to the lichen areas and the mossy areas and felt the difference. Other bark such as the musclewood tree was another opportunity for a touching experience. Of course we talked about what the poison ivy vine looks like first.

One person had questions about the layers in the forest that someone remembered Ellie talking about. The downed tree gave us another chance to see what happens to this canopy over time. We could see streams of water at the bottom of the hill traversing the front side of this huge clump of downed trees. Someone said that it was so nice to have a guide point out many of these features and I thanked her. We docents do feel a growing need to help the public enjoy and understand more about nature.

Back at the visitors center we camped out in Ellie’s office (Thank you) and enjoyed our Tea and cookies. The five visitors enjoyed writing in the last of the wonderful journals. (Pat B will make more.) They shared ideas but did not read from their journals. They appreciated the special journals but suggested that a cheap notepad to write on while in the woods would be nice. (I will look into this). Copies of Teaching the Trees and Newcomb’s Wildflower guide and other items were purchased. Thanks to Lynn L and Michele W for coming up with this great idea to draw more people to our special arboretum. (We need better visibility on our Wed Page for this monthly event.)
I had a great time with these visitors from Easton and Cambridge. We had 2 staff on our walk for a total of seven. Julianna

2010-09-20T11:56:00.002-04:00

Soup & Walk Sep 18, 2010

This was a perfect fall day with lots of sunshine, temps in the 80’s and cool nights. The tent was set up for the Magic in the Meadow which only added magic to our walk around the meadow. Nancy Beatty, our very knowledgeable docent, led the walk. We had 20 guests and 3 more volunteers on the walk. It was a large group but with the amplifier we were all able to hear Nancy’s explanations.

The theme was “See the sunny meadows with the golden brown and purple grasses and the many yellow and white flowers. We took the long loop going left from the visitor’s center and passing the children’s’ garden and the nursery on our walk and returning at the other end of the South meadow back to the visitors center. Opportunities to volunteer and the volunteer luncheon next Tues was talked about. Some said they would come.

The meadow sported some beautiful Indian grass, switch grass, big bluestem, purple top, little bluestem, purple love grass, and foxtail. All were interested in the differences in the grasses. Mention was made of some interest in using switch grass as a fuel source. Among the flowers we saw were the white pearly everlasting, yellow perennial sunflowers, yellow sundrops, and lots of different kinds of yellow goldenrod. The goldenrod was the most showy and the most prominent. The milkweed pods were in evidence as well as some busy milkweed bugs worthy of a camera shot.

Nancy was able to point out some of the invasives that we have to deal with such as the oriental bittersweet, bull and Canadian thistle. Ragweed, mares tail, and lespedeza are also nuisances.

The sumac has wonderful red berries which supplied vitamin C to the early colonists and their leaves have fed the lemurs at the Baltimore zoo. The winged or shiny sumac was very shiny in the sun and some had the red leaves of autumn. Speaking of red, many guests were impressed by the pokeweed and its lovely red stems. Nancy mentioned that she liked it and another in the group said she did too. It was carefully noted that you need a large area for this rather aggressive native plant. Some sassafras berries were showing but the showiest berries were the devil’s walking stick. Wild grapes looked luscious on the vines.

After an hour’s walk we entered the visitor’s center for a tasty lunch in a wonderfully decorated room by Mickey B. The menu had lots of grains even an ancient grain bread. We gave away samples of amaranth and quinoa to each table for someone to take home and bake some bread. There were also some hearts-a-burstin berries to take home and plant that came from my bush. The kale in the soup was a reminder that kale is a wonderful fall garden crop that can be planted now. Lastly the butternut pie baked by Shirley B and Zaida W was a big hit and a wonderful way to get kids to eat their vegetables. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and many plan to come again. One guest from Colorado said she could not but would buy the cookbook to try more of this kind of cooking.

The rest of the volunteers not mentioned above were Norma E, and Janet H, who along with the others helped with the setup and cleanup. This is a wonderful event and I enjoyed it immensely. It is only possible through the hard work of staff and volunteers and it is great to have this chance to show off our Adkins Arboretum.
Thanks everyone, Julianna

Bird Count

2010-09-20T11:56:00.001-04:00

Bill and I spent the morning at Adkins Arboretum, helping Danny Poet with
> the Caroline County bird count. The number per species count for the
> warblers is down from last week but a good showing and great looks at all.
>
> Black Vulture 1
> Turkey Vulture 8
> N Harrier 1
> Cooper's Hawk 1
> Red-shouldered Hawk 1
> Mourning Dove 3
> Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
> Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
> Red-bellied Woodpecker 9
> Downy Woodpecker 1
> Hairy Woodpecker 1
> N Flicker 5
> Pileated Woodpecker 2
> E Wood-Pewee 5
> E Phoebe 3
> Great Crested Flycatcher 1
> White-eyed Vireo 2
> Red-eyed Vireo 6
> Blue Jay 13
> Am Crow 8
> Carolina Chickadee 24 (that's a lot!)
> Tufted Titmouse 10
> Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
> White-breasted Nuthatch 1
> Carolina Wren 3
> E Bluebird 2
> Gray Catbird 4
> N Mockingbird 2
> Cedar Waxwing 1
> Tennessee Warbler 2
> N Parula 7
> Chestnut-sided Warbler 5
> Magnolia Warbler 4
> Black-throated Green Warbler 1
> Blackpoll Warbler 1
> Black-and-white Warbler 5
> Am Redstart 2
> Connecticut Warbler 2
> Common Yellowthroat 7
> Scarlet Tanager 3
> Chipping Sparrow 3
> Field Sparrow 18
> N Cardinal 14
> Blue Grosbeak 9
> Indigo Bunting 4
> House Finch 4
> Am Goldfinch 6
>
> Karen Harris

July 3rd Guided Walk

2010-07-06T08:29:00.000-04:00

Hello all, and Happy Fourth -

We took a group of eight folks out yesterday, including a 3 year-old and an infant in a baby carriage. Never too young to start learning, yes? We co-led the walk, and while our plan called for something different initially, we decided to change it a bit when the 3-year old turned up. Michele had the idea of doing a treasure hunt for sculptures (there's the grandmother effect!) so we started out across the main bridge, came back around across the members' bridge, then in front of the visitor center and into the woods to the Blockston Branch trail with the motivation to a) find the sculpture, and b) try to figure out what the artist was expressing in the particular work of art.

Since Michele had gone on the McCoys' tour of the sculptures, and then been through a second time, she could offer many details about the artists' perceptions, the challenges of installation, and also help people speculate about how natural conditions could change the sculptures over time.

We can truly say that everyone was fascinated with the search. The Arboretum seemed dry in places - very green in others. Definitely a time with few flowers in the woods except the lovely Summersweet - not yet in full bloom.

Pat Bowell, as always, was so welcoming to the visitors, made everyone feel at home, and even made coffee for the weary Arb. volunteers!! Thank you, Pat.

Hope everyone out there is having a good holiday weekend.
See you later.
Michele/Lynn

Soup and Walk -- June 19, 2010

2010-06-27T11:47:00.002-04:00

Soup and Walk, June 19, 2010

Saturday was a hot day but the Soup and walk was planned to be in the cooler forest and stress ferns. How much cooler could we choose to be?
I got there early and docents were already setting up for our visitors. We were expecting a large group from Methodist Manor House from Seaford, DE plus others. That group arrived a little early and had plenty of time to check out the bookstore and the shop. Visiting with them I found some folks had been here before but most had not, also among the group were several retired teachers, a minister, and a nurse. Of course since I came from DE we had to compare notes on who knew who.
We gathered on the patio and walked to the entrance to the forest. One of the visitors asked about the history of the arboretum so we talked about Leon Andress and his desire to keep place from being flooded for a lake and saved for the trees.
At the first bridge we talked about the outstanding group of ferns, and we talked about what caused such a lush area. It had what ferns need to grow and flourish –water and shade Julie had picked a lady fern frond and a New York fern and we pointed out the things to look for to identify them.
Though it was a fern walk, folks asked about the paw – paw, I pointed out the fruit and mentioned that this is the farthest north it grows in the wild. Everyone seemed impressed with the huge leaves. One of the visitors broke out in the Picking Paw Paws song.
At the next bridge we talked about naming the parts of the fern, it was a fun exercise to see how many remembered the after I first pointed out the parts, the rachis, the rhizome, the pinna, pinule, spores and frond is made of the blade and stipe. I made a fiddlehead from a pipe cleaner to demonstrate one because there weren’t any in sight.
The cinnamon fern does not have the fertile frond right now but it is tall and impressive, after making note of the beads on the back of the frond and pointed out the wooly tufts at the base of the frond used by ground nesting birds to line their nests, which led to a discussion of uses of ferns in the environment.
Everyone was interested in the tall bracken fern with its three triangular shaped fronds and that it is found worldwide. We discussed the dangers that creatures including humans take when they eat ferns.
We checked out the netted chain fern and tried to compare one to the sensitive fern. It was getting warm even in the forest and most everyone seemed to be managing except one lady she had a portable fan and seemed warm but she said she was fine and wanted to continue on.
I knew the last three ferns were all together further up the trail so we did not stop for the ebony spleen wort. Up the trail past the downed log is a wonderful area of Christmas fern, a rattle snake fern and the ebony spleenwort. Wort an unusual word, means used as medicine so I explained the doctrine of signatures. I explained the rattlesnake fern is in the adder’s tongue family and looked carefully at that fern. One visitor disagreed about naming it rattlesnake and said it looked like a ballet dancer, we all could see that comparison too. The last fern was the Christmas fern they all loved the pinna shaped like a stocking, We discussed how many ferns have the spores on the back of the blade and pointed out the the fertile fronds on the Christmas fern and the ebony spleenwort.
As we walked out of the forest the visitor that was having trouble with the heat was having to stop more often and for longer so Shirley and Zaida went on with the rest of the group and Zaida went down to the nursery for the golf cart and brought it back to us. It was a welcome sight, because that lady needed to have a rest, air conditioning and some water even though she kept protesting she was ok. Michelle met her with a cool glass of water and we went into lunch. After lunch she said she was feeling better. I really am glad Zaida went after the golf cart. It was a relief to see her coming like the Lone Ranger to save the day. It is my opinion the golf cart should be up at the visitor’s center to be available in case it is needed when we are leading walks. All docents should know where the cart key is kept and how to drive it also.
Bev

Paintings by Elissa O'Loughlin on View at Adkins Arboretum

2010-03-30T22:55:00.001-04:00

Elissa O’Loughlin is in love with color. When she paints a blue sky, there are countless shades of blue, and when she paints daffodils, their leaves are a multitude of greens, yellow, grays and earthy pinks. Her paintings are on view at Adkins Arboretum’s Visitor’s Center through May 28. A reception to meet the artist will be held on Saturday, April 24 from 3 to 5 p.m.

O’Loughlin paints small, exquisite landscapes and plant studies in gouache, an opaque watercolor medium especially suited to subtle color effects.

The show’s title, Notes & Essays—Eastern Shore Paintings, comes from the varied approaches evident in O’Loughlin’s paintings. Some, such as “Nor’easter #1” with its ominous sky swept with quick brushstrokes, are the “notes,” simply and swiftly painted to capture a fleeting moment. The “essays” are more detailed scenes portraying specific places.

In “Scarlet Clover at Moore’s Farm,” huge clouds billow in a deep blue sky above a house and barns. The buildings shelter against the deep greens of summer trees, where sunbeams highlight a row of cedars edging a sliver of red—a field of brilliant crimson clover.

O’Loughlin earned a BFA from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, where she studied with the well-known landscape painter and teacher Ranulph Bye, but she put painting largely on hold to work in conservation. She has been a paper conservator since 1986 and has worked for Baltimore’s Walters Art Museum for the past decade.

Having daily contact with the works in the Walters collection has kept her mindful of the nuances of color that make the paintings of the Old Masters so rich and vibrant. Through her work as a conservator, she learned to make her own paints by grinding raw pigments.

“Mixing colors has always thrilled me,” she said. “And I’ve taught this in adult education classes at the Walters. The class is called ‘Make your Own Watercolors.’”

Most artists take the simple route, purchasing the standard colors available from paint manufacturers, but O’Loughlin finds commercially available paints too limiting.

“You’re trapping yourself in someone else’s color sense,” she explained. “Instead of looking like my art was all painted with one brand, I start with my own colors. It’s not what you get in a paint box. Now I have five different ultramarines and seven whites.”

Multiple shades of blue, from milky pale hues through cerulean, cobalt and Prussian, mingle with delicate light grays, pale pinks and near lavenders in the sky behind the rolling storm clouds in “Cloud Study #1.”

This is a show that’s full of the low-lying landscape and strong weather so characteristic of the Eastern Shore. Many of O’Loughlin’s scenes are painted close to her home in Galestown.

“I go out and drive, and I see paintings,” she said. “‘Nor’easter’ was really during the nor’easter we had last fall. I just sat in the car and watched it.”

O’Loughlin does her best to remember the particular colors she sees during storms and bursts of sunlight so that she can capture them in the studio. These moments of drama and subtlety are what bring her paintings alive.

“I enjoy the challenge of painting the Eastern Shore,” she explained. “And there’s a great plein-air tradition here that I’d like to think I’m part of.”

After the Storm...

2010-03-11T13:49:00.010-05:00

In February 2010 the Eastern Shore was blanketed by snow following two blizzards. Along with the over 3 feet of snow, the area also experienced wind gusts of over 40 mph causing trees along the Arboretum's paths to be damaged. Arboretum employee Robert Jenner along with volunteer Doug Smith worked hard to clear the paths for visitors.

Photos by Ann Rohlfing

Nature and the Underground Railroad

2010-03-10T14:32:00.010-05:00

On February 28 a group consisting of staff, volunteers, visitors (members and first time visitors) and board members gathered for an Underground Railroad themed guided walk led by historian Tony Cohen.

Many slaves did not have the luxury of owning shoes, which meant traveling by foot with nothing to protect their feet. When autumn approaches sweetgum balls begin to litter the forest floor. Comprised of numerous capsules, with a pair of spikes to each capsule, the sweetgum ball isn't as "sweet" as its name would imply.

Abolitionist Harriet Tubman used sweetgum balls, the fruit of the sweetgum tree (Liquidamber styraciflua) as a way to verify that slaves were ready to endure the natural obstacles that escaping would be certain to bring. Tubman would test runaway slaves by having them walk over sweetgum balls with their bare feet. Those that successfully walked over the sweetgum balls were deemed ready to continue on the Underground Railroad.

When arriving at a crossing, such as a bridge, slaves had to cross one by one while making as little noise as possible.

Escaping on the Underground Railroad required planning. If slaves were traveling through the woods plans were made to hid food along their route. Often time food was hidden in the cavities of trees similar to that of this Tulip Poplar located Blockston Branch Walk

Words from Our Visitors

2010-03-10T13:43:00.002-05:00

"Wonderful Place!"-Chris and Laura, Rockville, Maryland

"Invigorating!"-Dana and Brian, Belcamp, Maryland

"Beautiful Day...great gift shop!"-Sharon and Mike, Centreville, Maryland

"Absolutely delightful!"-Mary and Goodwin, Chicago, Illinois

"The Arboretum in the blanket of snowfall is beautiful!"-Doris, Queenstown, Maryland

"Can't wait to come back in the Spring."-Bob, Stevensville, Maryland

"It's beautiful, even during the Winter! We'll be back."-Janet and Jarrell, Glen Burnie, Maryland

February Soup & Walk by Julianna Pax

2010-03-09T15:27:00.002-05:00

This was certainly a memorable walk in the woods. We had just survived record back to back snowfalls during the previous week and there was still at least a foot of snow on the ground in most places. Enough had melted that a crust of ice covered much of it and the temperature was a mild high 30’s when we started out. Everyone seemed in good physical shape for a 1 mile walk that I told them it would feel like 5 miles. The bridges especially were places where it was nice to step in previous footprints. The snow gave a lovely crunching sound as we walked along and this contrasted nicely with the silence as we walked on shredded bark where the snow had completely melted. Blockston Branch entertained us with flowing water and waterfall sounds during this silence.

At the first bridge we did see quite a few skunk cabbage sprouts and we look forward to the next few weeks when the blooms may be evident. The theme for the walk was searching for the green and with the snow cover it was a little more daunting. The holly trees had green leaves but with the storms many branches had broken and we marveled at the ability of trees to heal themselves and even put up a new leader for top growth. Many young saplings along the trail had their heads turned over and were trapped in the frozen snow like a croquet hoop. It will be interesting to see how well the plant hormones in these branches will allow them to return to their upright position.

Green was also spotted on the green stems of the hearts a bursting and greenbriar. The hearts a bursting were well browsed by the deer and may have more blooms and berries than usual this spring to compensate for this pruning.

Searching for the green moss, we were able to spot some very near the water’s edge and also on a large white oak at the turn in the path. This oak had much greenery as the sun was able to find it easily with the leaves absent from the canopy. Many young beech trees and ironwood still had their pale tan leaves and these were lovely as we looked around. Maybe these overwintering leaves help protect the newly emerging buds from browsing deer, squirrel and other four legged critters.

More greenery was to be found on the upland trail with red cedar and loblolly and Virginia pines. Sometimes our feet would go through the snow and sometime it even supported a step. We stopped often to look around and catch our breath. Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience and we marveled at the challenge that this snow presented and the people who have come often remarked that this walk was different.

We carefully made our way back to some wonderful hot spicy soup, green salad, dill rye bread with spinach spread and chocolate dessert. There was plenty of food and many went back for a second bowl of soup etc. For the nutrition talk we learned about the green in foods often masks other colors and therefore are some of the healthier vegetables. Mickey B had done a great job decorating the dining area with all our helpers. Mary Jo K and Nancy B helped lead the walks by leading the second half of the group. We were ably assisted in all this with Zaida W, Pat B, Michelle W, and Jenny H at the front desk. Desserts were made by Mary Jo and Nancy. There were 19 paid guests and several were new to S & W. Many were very enthusiastic with their praise for the event and have already signed up for more.

Thanks to all who helped including Robert J, Cathy E, Ginna T, and any others who took reservations etc. Julianna

Adkins Arboretum 2010 Art Competition Exhibit on view through March 26—Discovering the Native Landscapes of Maryland's Eastern Shore

2010-02-25T11:54:00.006-05:00

An invigorating mix of traditional landscapes and inventive ways of looking at the Eastern Shore is on view through March 26 in the 2010 Art Competition at Adkins Arboretum. The public is invited to a reception to meet the artists Sat., Feb. 27 from 3 to 5 p.m.

From the windswept, grassy sand dune in an oil painting by M. Joyce Zeigler to the sweeping vista of Don Hilderbrandt’s watercolor “Blackwater Refuge,” these artists celebrate the beauty of Delmarva’s familiar landscapes.

But this show also offers some real surprises. Dried grass and seedpods from black-eyed Susans form the bristles in “Natural Brooms: A Family Project” by Jason and Deanna Jacobs, and Marla McLean’s mixed media “Raindrops on Asphalt and Feathers on Sparrows” are painted and collaged onto vinyl record albums.

This year’s competition was juried by Carla Massoni, director of the Carla Massoni Gallery in Chestertown. She chose 23 works by 18 artists from a pool of 163 entries from the mid-Atlantic region. Massoni will speak about her choices at the Feb. 27 reception and present the annual Leon Andrus Awards, named for the founder of Adkins Arboretum.

Mindful of the show’s theme, Discovering the Native Landscapes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Massoni awarded first prize to Tom Bulat for his toned black and white photographs.

“First prize had to go to these,” she said, pointing to Bulat’s two finely crafted photos of quintessential Delmarva landscapes. In “Sun Worshipper,” every needle on a pine tree at the edge of a marshy cove seems to bristle with light and liveliness. In “Happy Hour,” a luminous cloud-filled sky towers over a broad, flat field where geese land, and a distant copse of trees shelters an old farmhouse and barn.

Massoni awarded second prize to Martha Spak’s collection of tiny paintings, “The Blue Crab Series.” Each of its 20 panels is a brilliantly colored vignette in which mischievous crabs swim like dancers in their watery environments.

In addition to the Leon Andrus Awards, Massoni chose two artists, Adam Auel and Frances Borchardt, to receive Juror’s Awards.

She was particularly interested in Auel’s sensitive treatment of space and texture in his two color photographs. Noting the soft, lush quality of the vivid green marsh in “Chincoteague Waterway,” she said, “For a photo, this is so painterly!”

Borchardt’s “West River Sunrise” caught Massoni’s eye because it’s so unusual. The artist inserted rows of rolled-up photographs of a sunrise into the compartments of a printer’s type box, making a kind of “sampling” of the bands of color created by apricot, pink and blue light reflected below the shoreline trees.

“I love what she did,” Massoni said. “She’s given us something new to think about. It asks me to look at it differently and think about the macro and the micro.”

She went on to comment, “One of the pleasures of jurying a show like this is in discussing the work and thinking about it and re-looking at it.”

This show is part of Adkins Arboretum’s ongoing exhibition series of work on natural themes by regional artists, supported in part by the Caroline County Council of Arts. It is on view through March 26 at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center located at 12610 Eveland Road near Tuckahoe State Park in Ridgely. Contact the Arboretum at 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.

“Sun Worshipper” and “Happy Hour,” toned black and white photographs by Tom Bulat, earned first prize in Adkins Arboretum’s annual Art Competition, Discovering the Native Landscape of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The show is on view through March 26.

Winter at the Arboretum

2010-02-22T10:57:00.009-05:00

Photos by Richard & Ann Rohlfing

Kathy Carmean Named Adkins Arboretum Volunteer of the Year

2010-01-22T10:45:00.001-05:00

In 1997, Ridgely resident Kathy Carmean was asked to serve on the board of trustees for a local organization she knew little about, and to which she had never paid a visit. Fortunately, she agreed. From gardening to events planning, from volunteering for programs to serving an unprecedented term as an Arboretum trustee, she has worked tirelessly for more than a decade as one of Adkins Arboretum’s premier ambassadors. In November, the Arboretum named Carmean its Volunteer of the Year for 2009.

As an Arboretum trustee—she is now the Arboretum’s first Trustee Emeritus—Carmean witnessed and helped bring about a marked transformation in an organization that would bear little resemblance to the Arboretum as it is known today. “The growth is amazing to me,” she says, recalling her introduction to a state-operated facility that offered minimal education or outreach programs. During her 12-year tenure, the Arboretum achieved nonprofit status; gained a 50-year lease from the state; developed an education curriculum and a thriving volunteer program; and launched a capital campaign to secure the Arboretum’s future and bolster its role as a community asset.

Carmean was involved every step of the way, from joining a Master Gardener training program to serving on countless Board committees, from attending meetings on the Arboretum’s behalf to volunteering for “tons” of programs. “That’s my love,” she says. “It’s my way of giving back. It’s something that interests me. I get a good feeling when I work with kids and adults. I love nature and I love promoting the Arboretum. It is a wonderful venue.”

“No one appreciates the contributions and potential of Adkins Arboretum for Caroline County as Kathy does,” says Executive Director Ellie Altman. “She has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Arboretum for more than a decade. I personally will always be indebted to her, not only for her friendship and support, but also for her bold vision for the Arboretum’s future.”

Likewise, Carmean extols the Arboretum’s leadership and broad array of programs and events. “I like to see things planned and accomplished,” she says. “The Arboretum is a quality, well-organized organization. Every program, every event is carried out well and gets better every year. I especially applaud the efforts to get children outdoors. Without the Arboretum, a lot of people wouldn’t have a place to bring their kids and expose them to nature. I think they do a wonderful job.”

Carmean will be honored at a volunteer luncheon on Jan. 28.

"Beautiful things inside and out."

2010-01-04T14:42:00.004-05:00

Photograph by Ann Rohlfing

Quietly Winter by Micheline Hull Dolan

2009-12-23T11:02:00.009-05:00

Winter sneaked in;

I was caught unaware.

One day I awoke

And the leaves weren't there.

The pumpkins, bright orange,

Had long since been pies,

And the clear azure hue

Was gone from the skies.

That cool nippy chill

Became suddenly cold,

And the breeze, oh so gentle

Was a wind, downright bold.

For Winter had tiptoed,

Nodded her head,

And an blanket of white

Put autumn to bed.

Happy Holidays from Adkins Arboretum!!!

Festival of Trees

2009-12-23T10:38:00.004-05:00

This year Adkins Arboretum participated by the 24th Annual Festival of Trees. The overall theme of this year's festival was "Joy to the World". The theme of the tree decorated by the Arboretum was "What A Wonderful World."

November Soup & Walk by Julianna Pax, volunteer

2009-11-23T10:17:00.001-05:00

We were gifted with beautiful sunny weather today in the low 60’s. Mary Jo introduced the group to Adkins Arboretum and I shared the theme for today. We were going to look at the woods and meadows as an animal hunting for food would. Any kind from one that crawls on the ground to one that can climb trees or some that can fly to the treetops. Earlier I had heard much turkey gobbling so some of the fliers might stick to lower levels since the turkeys are a bit heavy.

Mary Jo left with half the group and my group walked to the wetlands first and took a look at the viburnum berries by the visitor center. The cypress cones were visible as well as juniper (red cedar) berries colored a beautiful blue on a female tree near the bridge. We then headed toward the woods and took note of the seeds available on the big bluestem, Indian grass and little bluestem. I told the story of the ice fishermen who like the goldenrod galls that house a little worm that they can use for bait.

In the woods we found some hickory leaves but not nuts and oaks leaves from both the white and red oak family. We did see a few acorns but many more acorn caps. Ann R had found some hickory nuts with and without husks last week. She gave them to me and I was able to show them along with some black walnuts, pecans and hicans after the luncheon.

Walking from the upland trail with the hickory and oak trees to the pine forest, we considered the type of food that the pine cones provided. Owls can nest in the pine trees and from this cover can readily find food in the oak and hickory area because their acorn and nuts draw mice, squirrels and other small critters. I had read recently in Joan Maloof’s book “Teaching the Trees” that the mast year for acorns and nuts promotes lots of mice and squirrels and this generates more owls and that owls can eat the bagworms that plague some areas. Very interesting, this communal effect.

Later on the trail the big fallen tree was quite interesting and it had several pools of water around the trunk. We speculated on how this singular event of a large fallen tree might give us much to watch and think about in the future months with the canopy opened up and the root ball sticking way up in the air. What kind of wild flowers might this promote? Or what kind of food for wildlife? The beech tree close by had many beech drops still showing and we talked about the community that this tree might support.

Finally we arrived for the soup luncheon which was delicious and all 31 guests and 7 volunteers enjoyed the sixteen bean soup, orange walnut salad, anadama bread and apple cranberry crisp dessert. There was interest in the oak identification book for the eastern US that I brought and some are going to see if they can find a copy. In the meantime I offered to copy the foldout pages that showed many white oak and red oak leaves and have them available at the Feb soup & walk. I also mentioned our new Sat program Tea in the Trees which Lynn L and Michele W are starting on the first Sat of the month starting in Feb.

My super volunteers are Mickey B, Pat B, Zaida W, Shirley B. Also, Norma Jean E and Mary Jo K who also brought dessert. Cathy, Buck and Paul also helped with the setup. Many thanks to all of you. We could not do this wonderful event without all your help. Many guests said they thoroughly enjoyed our soup & walks and plan to come again and again. Some are already signed up for Feb Mar and April. Thanks again. Julianna P

Arboretum Walk by Irene Aspell, volunteer

2009-11-23T09:40:00.001-05:00

My usual route takes me around the south meadow as a gentle warm-up before traversing any hills or entering the cooler woods. I put a little speed into this lap since the walking is easy and unless some creature is disturbed by my tread it’s a very peaceful few minutes. The smell of the outdoors always rises up to meet me, not that I am stirring any debris since I am careful to walk on the path. The meadow itself has a scent that differs with the season, today in the light rain it looks past it’s summer prime but the many stems and leaves still breathe their essence into the world. I try not to miss this subtle perfume.

When crossing the first bridge that travels into the woods, I walk on the golden maple leaves strewn across the boards. The surface was the tiniest bit slippery so I probably studied the leaves more acutely than usual since they had potential hazards about them. What I saw was a luscious covering on the most mundane of crossings. This time the bridge was not just a crossing to get to the other side or to lean over and study the water underneath but the transit was an occasion in itself. The leaves seem painted onto the surface by the touch of the rain’s brush.

My favorite path veers off to the left and follows the wandering water down a slight slope near the muscular tulip trees that loan their leaf’s visage to the arboretum’s hats and other goods. The path underfoot here is cushioned by wood chips applied by the staff. I can only assume the reason for doing this is to make it easier for a walker or jogger with a touch of age-related gait. As a former runner I appreciate this touch and on a good day can feel accomplished if I manage a little jog along this pathway enjoying the forgiving surface and the newfound spring in my gait.

This route crosses many small bridges that zigzag through the woods and that is where the next sight stopped my progress. After the late summer’s dry spell it’s a good omen that water is being added to the stream. Even with the rain falling, there still isn’t much flow to the small stream but it has helped sink some of the nearby leaves to the sandy bottom. Still afloat are many others that both hide and reveal the sunken trove of leaves below. These leaves will eventually leak their tannin into the stream and turn it a well-brewed tea color. The resident frogs who normally float or sink in this spot have already burrowed into the banks ready for the weather that is coming and I will miss them till they reappear in the warm spring.

The woods and fields loaded with their season’s scent can be suggestive of summer or fall or any season or moment in time. Summer with it’s roses and viburnum has an entirely different vocabulary of smells. You just need to be there and be open to whatever nature has in store for that day.

Fall Family Festival by Jenny Houghton, Teacher

2009-11-17T13:46:00.004-05:00

The 2009 Fall Family Festival, held on Saturday, November 7th, was a huge success thanks to enthusiastic staff and volunteers, a great bunch of visitors, and beautiful fall weather. The event included storytelling by John Grega, live music, and a puppet show. Book illustrator Kim Harrell signed copies of "While a Tree Grew: The Story of Maryland's Wye Oak," and Native American educator John Fishback (accompanied by his dog Cinders) brought history to life with demonstrations on arrow making.

In the craft tent, children enjoyed creating pinecone turkeys, bean mosaics, tree cookie necklaces, and paint 'n plant pansy pumpkins. A new addition to the festival, the Touch 'n Feel tent, entertained little ones with a wetlands pool, a grain bin, an animal track sand box, a worm barrel, and a nature table.

Festival goers also enjoyed lunchtime treats and a hay maze. Pony rides were popular, along with face painting and dried flower arranging. As one visitor shared, "We've been coming to the festival for three years now; there's something for everyone!"

Haunted Haride by Kate Greer, volunteer

2009-10-27T15:15:00.004-04:00

Saturday night was a bear, weatherwise, as you well know, and I was soaked and chilled to the bone for my drive home but was warmed by remembering all the eager faces and smiles as people came to pay up for the hayrides. They were out there to have fun regardless of the weather and it was such a wonerful family thing. So even though our numbers didn't even approach those of Friday nights, it was a great event anyway.

While I kept to my task and didn't take off on one of the rides, I was impressed with just how much preparation had gone into the event. And that's without even seeing what went on in the woods.
Paul and his crew of volunteers were just outstanding and kept things upbeat until the final drenching got underway, at which time there was no other choice but to pull the plug. Everytime, I get involved in an Arboretum event, whether it's an Arbor Day rum, a plant sale, a greens sale or a hayride, I am always awed by what's achieved. That you are able to do so much with so few people is greatly to your credit.

October 17 Soup & Walk by Julianna Pax, volunteer

2009-10-18T11:29:00.004-04:00

It poured all day Thursday, Friday and all last night. The temperature stayed in the forties. But the rain angels smiled on us and gave us a window of opportunity from 11 to 12 almost rain free and wind free!! We were looking for fall color and the color on a cloudy day is simply remarkable. We walked to the woods and admired the red colors along the edges from the black cherry, sweet gum, sassafras and dogwood. The shades varied from bright red to orange to a deep maroon. Once we entered the woods we found an abundance of yellow pawpaw leaves and summersweet along the trail. There were lots of yellow leaves from our tulip trees strewn on the path like a welcome mat.

We discussed the reasons for the disappearance of the green chlorophyll in the leaves. A scar tissue forms between the petiole and the stem which prevents water from reaching the leaf and as the raw materials are no longer available the plant does not waste energy making more new chlorophyll. The yellow and brown pigments were in the leaf all along but were masked by the green color and are now visible.

Another wonderful event takes place also. As the scar tissue forms, the sugar is not able to leave the leaf and combines with another compound in the leaf which then becomes the red color. This only happens if there is sugar present, enough sunlight reaching the leaves, and the leaf has the gene that makes this compound called anthocyanidin. So most of the red color is seen in only certain trees or shrubs along the edges of the path and in the woods where the upper canopy is more open.

Along the path we were delighted to see the many berries and capsules of the strawberry bush or hearts-a-bursting. The purple capsules and red berries were a curious combination. We paused to look at the flowing creek by the next bridge, talked about the riparian buffer and marveled over the red berries of the winterberry, also very attractive on this cloudy day.

The fallen tree next to the trail was another opportunity to talk about the changes that this may have on next spring’s wildflowers and the possibility of a path down to the uprooted part of the tree roots. This might be interesting to view monthly for changes. Fungi gave us another opportunity to talk about recycling.

As we left the woods, there was a wonderful view of orange sassafras leaves, maroon and yellow sweetgum, bright red sumac leaves and berries and a golden yellow tulip tree. It was starting to rain again and we hustled back for some soup, salad, bread, and dessert and even some hot refreshments.

There were 22 guests out of the 30 signed up. They did not call to say they were not coming. Mickey and Pat did a great job decorating our banquet room with colorful leaves, tablecloths and had all the food out and ready for us. Lynn helped with the setup and Margie, Norma J, Zaida and I did the tour. Lynn and Margie brought the delicious lemon apple tart bars. Thanks to all the volunteers and to Cathy, Buck and Paul for getting things ready. It could not be done without all this help. A new couple from Wilmington were very excited about their first visit here. They liked the nutrition part also and left with a copy of the cookbook and plans to come back.

Scott and Tyler Arboretums Trip 9-23-09 by Jim Spicher

2009-10-14T11:09:00.005-04:00

Driving to Adkins in the thick fog, still air and high humidity was an experience not soon forgotten. Eighteen people and two leaders got off to head north to Swarthmore (which means Black Swamp) College for the tour of Scott Arboretum. The big bus had to get thru many small streets. We got on with walking around the college and enjoyed the rose garden and many beautiful trees.

The motto of college is Non Dicere, Sed Facere which means ‘don’t talk but act’. Swarthmore College was started by Quakers in 1864 with one large building. The Quakers feel if you know about God’s creation (trees and such) you will better understand our maker.

Then we were on the road to Tyler Arboretum which I had walked through many times but never had the tour guide to explain the history. William Penn sold this land Quakers. We ate lunch in air conditioned addition to the 1806 barn. Viewed trees planted by two brothers during the time of 1806-1830. The Cedar of Lebanon was most impressive with its large size. We toured the tree houses for youth to learn about nature. We left at 4pm for the ride home.

A very enjoyable day it was.

PALIMPSEST, WORKS BY CHESTERTOWN ARTISTS MARILEE SCHUMANN AND FAITH WILSON, ON VIEW AT ADKINS ARBORETUM

2009-10-12T10:32:00.004-04:00

Some art is meant to be precious and put on a pedestal, but Chestertown artists Marilee Schumann and Faith Wilson like their art to be part of life. Sit on it, walk on it, make it from wood retrieved from an old shed or leaves lying on the forest path—the two artists see art as an important part of life and act accordingly.

On view at Adkins Arboretum through November 27, their joint show, entitled Palimpsest, includes Schumann’s chairs made from salvaged wood and Wilson’s floor cloths patterned with images stenciled from leaves gathered in the Arboretum’s forest. Although they hang on the wall in this show, these paintings are sturdy enough to place on the floor and use as rugs.

In this elegant show of artworks sharing an autumn palette of red-browns and weathered grays, the art is user-friendly and full of allusions to nature, time and the cycles of life. The public is invited to a reception Sat., Oct. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m., as well as an informal gathering with the artists on Sun., Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.

Both artists, who are sisters, have been fixtures in the Chestertown art scene for many years. Schumann teaches ceramics at Washington College. The two directed Radcliffe Mill Gallery and the Museum of Liminal Art in Chestertown, and both exhibit their work frequently.

Explaining the show’s title, Schumann said, “A palimpsest is a document whose texts have been erased and written over. This wood has had earlier uses, which still show in the traces of tools and hardware, of weather and time, in color and surface, where people and plants and insects have made their marks.”

Schumann, who refuses to cut live wood to make her sculptures, salvaged fallen branches and boards from buildings that had been torn down. All of her sculptures in this show double as functional chairs, complete with rusted hardware and holes drilled by carpenter bees. The back of “Twisted Chair” angles up with the curve of a branch still covered with bark, while “Gee’s Chair,” with one board painted bright blue, was inspired by the acclaimed Gee’s Bend Quilt Collective.

Schumann said, “My chairs are made from a patchwork of reassembled discarded materials, where the marks of time and use, and the wearing of nature and decay tell a story while the material continues to serve.”

Wilson gets irritated when people, thinking that art is always too precious to be touched, refuse to walk on her floor cloths. She paints them with many layers of acrylic, waterborne latex, and polyurethane medium to ensure that they are durable.

“These pieces are meant to be underfoot,” she emphasized. “It’s not just because I want to make utilitarian objects, but to point out that instead of always looking ahead, away from ourselves, how often do we take a moment to look down at where we’re standing? Where we are now. Be in the moment, and be a part of it.”

In her floor cloth titled “Oak Leaves,” rectangles of color appear like windows or veils amid a scattering of oak leaves. Some are solid and colorful, like newly fallen leaves, but others are pale, barely noticeable silhouettes, recalling the frail, ghostlike remains of decaying leaves from past seasons.

Wilson said, “You see the layers of leaves, like time that has passed. They’ve left imprints of themselves on each other. In the stillness, we don’t just hear the sounds of the forest, we hear our own breathing and the beating of our hearts.”

This show is part of Adkins Arboretum’s ongoing exhibition series of work on natural themes by regional artists, funded in part by Caroline County Council of Arts. It is on view through November 27 at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center located at 12610 Eveland Road near Tuckahoe State Park in Ridgely. Contact the Arboretum at 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.

"Gingko," a floor cloth by Chestertown artist Faith Wilson, is part of Palimpsest, an exhibit showcasing works by Wilson and her sister, Marilee Schumann, on view through Nov. 27 at Adkins Arboretum.

"Chair," sculpted from recycled wood by Chestertown artist Marilee Schumann, is part of Palimpsest, an exhibit showcasing works by Schumann and her sister, Faith Wilson, on view through Nov. 27 at Adkins Arboretum.

The Funshine Garden by Jenny Houghton, Teacher

2009-10-06T11:13:00.002-04:00

The Funshine Garden is entering fall with a riot of bright colors. Zinnias wave in the rainbow bed, and the magenta flowers of a hibiscus attract hummingbirds and insects in the pollinator bed. Native honeysuckle flourishes on the teepee; duck inside to find heavy bird nest gourds peeping through the foliage.

The sunflower house and Three Sisters bed are past their prime, but birds and mice will still enjoy the seeds spilled from dried flowers and split melons. While harvest time is over for many of the Funshine Garden plants, cranberries will soon ripen in a corner barrel. In the sensory herb bed, lavender, mint, and sage plants have made huge leaps in growth since last year.

The garden has been cared for by the Arboretum's interns and campers over the summer. A group of girl scouts from Denton, along with Arboretum teacher Jenny Houghton, will work in the garden until next summer. The scouts have chosen the Funshine Garden as the focus of their yearly community service project.

September 26th Guided Walk by Bob Stanley

2009-10-01T09:23:00.005-04:00

It’s no mystery; when you bring a beautiful early fall day together with the power of the press and the allure of a walk in the woods, they will come.

It was no surprise to me, as I walked into the Arboretum’s welcoming center and saw a crowd spread throughout the center, viewing the gallery, browsing the books, eying the gift shop and admiring the plants on sale. I’m used to that.

What did surprise me, as I started to introduce myself as the docent who would be guiding the 11:00 walk, was that they all paid attention. What further amazed me was, as I started the walk the building emptied, all 25 adults and children followed. OK, I am used to emptying a building when I talk, but not having a friendly crowd follow me.

As we walked beside the south meadow, the opportunities arose to debunk the golden rod’s bad rap for ragweed’s causing hay fever and the milkweed’s role in supporting the monarch butterfly migration.

At the transition into the forest, I presented the arboretum’s history and unique role it has to play as a public/private partnership in the development of an appreciation and caring for Delmarva’s native plants.

As this was a large crowd, I found myself walking backward. There are several reasons for doing this; one is I very rarely turn my back on a large group. Another reason is to make sure I don’t leave someone behind. Walking this way also gave me the opportunity to enlist the help of several people in managing the walk. I asked for help in seeing that I didn’t trip or walk off the path. Others I enlisted to help keep me on time.

We stopped at the first bridge and talked about the stream’s water flow, color and how we use nature’s forms to help stop erosion. I pointed out the limbs in the stream which slowed the water flow allowing the heavier material to drop out and how placing angled timber across the trail will do the same.

As we walked among ferns, mosses, mushrooms, poison ivy, oaks, beeches, birch, pines, dogwood, devil’s walking sticks, hearts-a-bursting, ash, tulip trees and hickory, we contrasted and compared leaf structure, limbs and trunks noting how they adapt to the forces around them.

We took note of the structure of the changing habitats, the openness and intimacy of the wood and water. We explored the fallen oak, its root plate and discussed how the fallen tree would change and create a new space.

We looked into cavities, geo-cashing and tulip tree well, finding treasures which left their impressions.

As we finished the tour, we discussed what it was we liked about the walk and what we would change. Some of the topics were:

- Is it possible to just walk the trail unguided?

- Are the trails accessible to people with disabilities?

- We discussed how well this walk fit topics that home schooled

children were exploring?

- Discussed opportunities and a needs for volunteer participation?

The feedback was that the walk was enjoyable, informative, fun and that people planned to come again.

It felt good!

Magic in the Meadow by Ellie Altman, Executive Director

2009-09-29T14:43:00.004-04:00

More than 200 Arboretum supporters braved the threat of rain to attend the 2^nd annual Magic in the Meadow, Adkins Arboretum’s annual fall fundraising gala. Though the weather prevented any stargazing, the crowd was wooed by the silky voice of Chestertown lawyer Dan Saunders, singing the best of the 50s. Scrumptious delicacies prepared by Brian Schmidt of Garden and Garnishes kept the bidders nourished through the bidding of a silent and live auction. Thank you to auctioneer Cal Gray for keeping the bidding going all for a good cause, the children and adults that Adkins Arboretum serves each year through its education and recreational programs focused on promoting land stewardship and the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Visithttp://magicinthemeadow2009.shutterfly.com/ to view a photo gallery of the event.

Fall Native Plant Sale by Sue Wyndham, Land Stewardship Coordinator

2009-09-28T11:28:00.006-04:00

Due to rain the fall plant sale, held on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12, was not well attended. The rainy weather on the Members-Only sale day reduced the anticipated crowd of 250–300 to just over 100 shoppers, including 43 members who came to pick up their pre-sale orders. Thankfully, sunnier weather on Saturday attracted over 200 happy customers – much to the delight of the volunteers and staff who wanted nothing more than to see all the plants on display find new and good homes.

Volunteers Billie Gibson and Irene Aspell once again used their creative talents to design a display featuring native plants that attract pollinators and support wildlife. Additionally, Irene lent her creative hand in decorating rain barrels which were also for sale. Staff member Damika Baker also exercised her imaginative and artistic talents in rain-barrel décor. She painted two barrels with a bumblebee motif—one was requested by a customer, and everyone loved it so much she painted another. They both sold!

If you missed your chance to shop this year, the Arboretum’s spring sale, scheduled for May, will be here in no time at all. Very soon, it will be time to garden again!

September Soup & Walk by Julianna Pax

2009-09-26T11:49:00.005-04:00

Today was just a wonderful day for a walk in both meadows. Eight of us also did Nancy’s (North) meadow after lunch. The sun was shining, breezes blew now and then and temperature was in the eighty’s. Perfect fall weather for our 27 guests and 5 volunteers.

Starting toward the woods we glimpsed a few Maryland asters and saw lots of pearly everlasting throughout the meadow. There was a deep yellow rudbeckia and more yellow camphor and masses of yellow goldenrod of various types. The Indian grasses were sticking there tall heads among the big bluestem and the purple top. Some still had yellow bloom showing. Yellow seemed to be the predominant flower color, one of the guests commented.

Beverly told us a bit about the pleasant smelling white pearly everlasting and passed around a sample to sniff. She mentioned that it does well in dried arrangements. She added that the hollow stems of the mares tail (a very aggressive native but pretty in the fall) had been used as a drinking straw before our modern straws came about. She also wisely mentioned that many think they are allergic to the goldenrod. She explained that the goldenrod often grows near ragweed and that ragweed pollen is windblown but goldenrod is insect pollinated and therefore ragweed is the culprit.

The layers of the meadow were quite visible as we turned the corner and continued on the mowed strip through the meadow. The top layer of mostly big bluestem and Indian grass act as shade and windbreak for the middle layer of flowers and the ground hugging layer of clumping plants and grasses. Most of the meadow is underground as roots. Bev mentioned that the third layer is helpful to wildlife like rabbits who can tunnel through and also forage on the lovely greens. We also saw low growing patches of purple love grass and also peeking through were a few lonely plants of sundrops (evening primrose). Rounding the next corner was a breathtaking view of sumac with maroon berries bordered in the back with trees and in the front with masses of goldenrod. The sumac berries when they first turn red make a wonderful pink tea or lemonade that is high in vitamin C. This as well as rose hips would have provided C to colonists and Indians before the era of grocery stores and citrus supplies.

Returning to the visitor’s center we found sights of the meadow in the vases, compliments of Buck and Paul and smells from the soup emanating from the soup pots. We enjoyed our meal and Herby my rabbit puppet made a brief appearance and welcomed the guests and gave his appreciation for the treats in the meadow for him and his family. There were 3 children in the group and they were smiling and enjoying the fun. Since we were in the meadow today, after going over the recipes, I talked about vitamin D which we also get from walks in the sunny meadow.

Later Ann R and 6 others and I went to Nancy’s meadow which is very different and has mostly short grasses in contrast with the many tall warm season grasses in the South meadow. We saw lots and lots of sumac, goldenrod, poke weed and some pearly everlasting. I mentioned the lemurs in the Baltimore Zoo which enjoy sumac leaves. This walk is slightly uphill and there are marvelous views with nice sweeping vistas of color where the goldenrod, pearly everlasting and broomsedge have spread. A fox has been known to have a den in the middle and deer tracks were visible on the trail. Blue bird boxes were seen in both meadows.

Thanks to all (esp Pat B Bev G Norma J and Zaida W) who made this wonderful program possible. Several guests were new to the arboretum and the Oct Soup & Walk is already overbooked. SOS, if anyone saved 2006 copies of my reports please let me know. Carol J Margan G and my sent mail helped restore 2007-2009.

Thanks, Julianna

ADKINS ARBORETUM OFFERS FREE ADMISSION ON MUSEUM DAY

2009-09-14T16:31:00.002-04:00

Adkins Arboretum will waive admission fees on Sat., Sept. 26 in recognition of Smithsonian magazine’s fifth annual Museum Day. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Museum Day reflects the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums in Washington, D.C. Doors of museums and cultural institutions nationwide will be open free of charge.

The public is invited on Museum Day to explore the Arboretum’s 400 acres of native woodlands, wetlands, gardens and meadows along four miles of maintained paths; join a guided walk at 11 a.m.; and view the artwork of Marcia Wolfson Ray. Visitors can also enjoy an audio tour that provides lessons about the Arboretum’s plant communities and ecology. A variety of native perennials, trees, shrubs and grasses will be available for fall planting. Arboretum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tails and Trails Dog Walk to be held at Adkins Arboretum

2009-08-24T10:03:00.004-04:00

Celebrate dog ownership and help raise money for homeless animals at the inaugural Tails and Trails Dog Walk, Sat., Oct. 3 at Adkins Arboretum. The event will feature local vendors; refreshments; search and rescue and agility/rally course demonstrations; a ½-mile strut; and one- and two-mile walks for dog walkers. Proceeds benefit the animals served by the Caroline County Humane Society (CCHS).

Walkers raising $30 will receive a Tails and Trails dog bandanna; those raising $60 or more will receive the bandanna and a Tails and Trails T-shirt. Participants raising more than $100 for CCHS will receive a bandanna, a T-shirt, and a Tails and Trails ball cap. Special prizes will be presented for top pledges, and raffle prizes will be awarded.

Participants may obtain pledge sheets by calling 410-820-1600 or by e-mailing kiwini1@yahoo.com. Pledge sheets and pledge money must be turned in the day of the event in order for walkers to be eligible for prizes. All donations are tax deductible.

The Tails and Trails Dog Walk will be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pets are welcome, but walkers do not need a dog to participate. Vendor spaces are available and volunteers are needed. For more information, call Caroline County Humane Society at 410-820-1600.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. Open year round, the Arboretum offers educational programs for all ages about nature and gardening. Through its Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, the Arboretum will build a new LEED-certified Arboretum Center and entranceway to broaden educational offerings and research initiatives promoting best practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

From left, Caroline County Animal Control Officer Diana Greenwood; Caroline County Humane Society (CCHS) board members Connie Cook and Joanne Shipley; CCHS Executive Director Steve Vaughn; and Adkins Arboretum Executive Director Ellie Altman make plans for the inaugural Tails and Trails Dog Walk, scheduled for Oct. 3 at the Arboretum. Proceeds benefit the animals served by CCHS. Call 410-820-1600 for information.

“Botantical Dreams,” Art by Marcia Wolfson Ray

2009-08-11T15:08:00.004-04:00

Weeds are beautiful. That’s the unspoken understanding behind both Marcia Wolfson Ray’s sculptures and Adkins Arboretum, a preserve dedicated to promoting the appreciation and conservation of Delmarva’s native plants.

On view at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center through September 26, “Botanical Dreams” features the Baltimore artist’s exuberant organic sculptures inspired by the patterns and rhythms she observes in nature. The public is invited to a reception Sat., Aug. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. to meet the artist.

Like garden plants climbing trellises, Ray’s bundles of dried plants are supported by three-dimensional grids made from the stalks of sturdy plants, such as Joe-pye weed and corn. Bristling sheaves chock-full of dried pods, spiny stalks, pieces of bark and tiny flowers unfold in energetic starbursts and zigzags, fans and spirals, expertly crafted into surprisingly simple, concise shapes.

Ray gathers plants from vacant lots and churchyards in Baltimore and from country roads, fields and marshes near her land in Dorchester County. She doesn’t necessarily even know the names of the plants she uses, only that their stalks and seedpods fascinate her.

“I collect stuff and let it sit for a while and see what it does,” Ray explained. “Some things petrify, some of them deteriorate, and some of them get a little stronger.”

If it seems impractical to make sculpture from such fragile plants, it’s true that occasionally small twigs do break off, but although they look ephemeral, these sculptures are sturdier than you would think. Ray preserves her stalks and seedpods with a protective coating of clear glue or acrylic medium and painstakingly ties them in with string knotted at each junction of the gridded framework. This is meticulous work, each sculpture taking several weeks to complete.

“It’s rather labor-intensive, this stuff,” she admitted. “I sit outside all day working.”

Ray is a master at creating rhythmic patterns of color and texture. She chooses plants with colors that are rich and subtle, ranging from golden straw to the deep brown of sensitive fern seedpods that she found at the Arboretum. Her myriad textures include delicate clouds of tiny dried flowers, crisscrossed patterns of tall grasses, and hibiscus stems seemingly floating in parallel lines.

Even fragrance finds its way into this exhibit, with a sweet scent emanating from “Vanishing Point,” her newest piece, a three-sided column made with a corn-stalk framework holding a tall bundle of weeds studded with tiny seeds.

Ray began as a painter, but when she was awarded a fellowship to earn her Master of Fine Arts degree at Maryland Institute of Art in 1995, she found herself drawn to sculpture.

“I was doing watercolors then and adding to the surface, things like sand and gauze. Then I made a spiral of twigs that I got from a tree company,” she said. “I think I was always 3-D. It was the natural thing.”

The recipient of several awards, including a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council in 2001, Ray exhibits frequently in the mid-Atlantic area. But the Arboretum, with its meadows and forest full of the plants she loves to gather, is an especially appropriate venue for her work.

“I’m so pleased to be showing here,” she said. “It’s a perfect fit.”

This show is part of Adkins Arboretum’s ongoing exhibition series of work on natural themes by regional artists, sponsored in part by Caroline County Council of Arts. It is on view through September 26 at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center, located at 12610 Eveland Road near Tuckahoe State Park in Ridgely. Contact the Arboretum at 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.

“Incline” by Marcia Wolfson Ray is among the artist’s works on view at Adkins Arboretum through Sept. 26.

Blockston Branch Walk

2009-08-08T14:53:00.002-04:00

This photograph of the Blockston Branch Walk was captured by photographer Ann Rohlfing during a rainstorm on the Sunday, August 2. Ann has been documenting nature at the Arboretum for a number of years. Her work graces the pages of the Arboretum’s newsletter Native Seed. In addition, she created the orientation video at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center.

Southwestern Plants and Landscape Tour-by Sylvan Kaufman, Science Advisor

2009-08-06T09:26:00.008-04:00

Every once and a while it’s good to get away from a familiar place and explore a new one. Adkins Arboretum sponsored its first five day tour to see the landscapes of New Mexico, at least those within a couple hours drive of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The plants and scenery of New Mexico are about as different as you can get from the Eastern Shore’s. The culture is very different too! Eleven intrepid adventurers arrived at the Albuquerque airport during a southwestern heat wave, but it did not stop them from wanting to see and do everything possible.

We saw the Rio Grande the first day and learned about the Cottonwood gallery forests along the river, the cryptobiotic soil crusts, and desert plant adaptations at the botanic garden. At the welcome dinner the waiter brought out samples of red and green chile sauces for everyone to try – leading to an ongoing question at every restaurant about which one was spicier. The next day did bring some familiar plants to light. We visited an unusual (for New Mexico!) wetland and were welcomed by the familiar site of blue vervain (Verbena hastata) in bloom, a common species in the Arboretum’s wetland (see wetland photo). This wetland is managed by the Santa Fe Botanic Garden, a small organization that not only gave us a guided tour of the wetland, but also showed us their arroyo restoration project where their future garden will be and set up a fabulous day of touring private gardens in Santa Fe! The generosity of the garden hosts and beauty of their very individual gardens was impressive (see arroyo restoration photo and private garden photos).

No trip to NM would be complete without learning something about the native peoples of New Mexico. We went to Bandelier National Monument and had a great tour focusing on the people that lived there and how they built their pueblo (see group photo). One interesting point – the term “Anasazi” is now out of favor. It was a term the Navajo used to refer to the Pueblo people and meant “ancient enemy”. We unloaded our box lunches at another private garden that overlooked the Rio Grande Valley from atop a high cliff before heading off for a tour of Seeds of Change, a retail seed company some of you may be familiar with.

On the last day we headed up to the Pecos Wilderness, around 8500 feet. Here fields of wildflowers bloomed and we took a leisurely plant/bird/butterfly watching stroll along a mountain stream (see aspen photo). We got back in time for everyone to do last minute shopping before our farewell dinner on the patio at SantaCafe, one of Santa Fe’s best restaurants.

In the evenings there were free concerts on the Plaza in Santa Fe and we also happened to be there during a classic car show. Several of us visited the new history museum downtown to learn more about the Spanish settlement of NM and some went to the Georgia O’Keefe museum. Everyone made new friends on the trip and I heard lots of people say they’d be back to NM to visit again. If you’re reading this and were on the tour – add your favorite story!

Adkins Arboretum Hosts Summer Interns

2009-07-29T10:42:00.003-04:00

A shared interest in horticulture led this year’s interns to Adkins Arboretum’s wetland, woodland and meadows. For Elizabeth (Liz) Barton and Mikaela Boley, a summer at the Arboretum is the perfect opportunity to make connections between native plants, land use and conservation.

A University of Delaware senior, Barton is studying landscape horticulture with minors in wildlife conservation and French. Boley is a rising senior at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and is studying environmental horticulture with a focus on landscape design.

Barton and Boley began work in June and quickly jumped into nearly all aspects of the Arboretum’s operation, from learning about visitor services to maintaining the grounds, assisting with programs and learning about the day-to-day workings of a nonprofit organization. In addition, each is working on an individual internship project.

Barton has created a new format for signs used at the Arboretum’s semiannual plant sales, and also is conducting research for the initiative to implement green practices at the Arboretum’s native plant nursery. Boley is focusing on wetland conservation, maintenance of woody plants and invasive plant removal, and is learning to design gardens. In addition, the interns collaborate on cataloguing and locating via GPS all plant identification signs on the grounds.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Barton hopes to enter a graduate school program in public horticulture. She ultimately plans to work in ornamental plant research and development on a public garden level. Boley plans to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture. She hopes to mainstream sustainable landscapes in both residential and urban settings.

t practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Mikaela Boley (left) and Liz Barton are Adkins Arboretum’s 2009 summer interns.

First Stop for the Bay Symposium by Carol Jelich

2009-07-09T14:27:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, June 13, the Shore Land Stewardship Council, an initiative of the Arboretum, sponsored the “First Stop for the Bay” symposium at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. The Symposium introduced Critical Area property owners in Talbot, Caroline,

Kent

and Queen Anne’s counties to best landscaping practices, as well as provided tips for working with local planning departments toward a healthier Chesapeake Bay. Over eighty people were in attendance.

Morning speakers included Mary Owens of the Critical Area Commission who informed the audience about the Critical Area and how it is regulated; David Nemazie of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science who presented the science behind the Critical Area regulations; and Martin Sokolich, Talbot County Long Range Planner, who discuss how county planning departments can work with landowners to help protect the Chesapeake Bay. A panel of county staff from Caroline and Talbot counties formed a panel to answer individual questions, and attendees were eager to speak with them. During a mid-day break, attendees visited with Master Gardeners from Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties who hosted display tables that promoted Bay-Wise practices.

Each participant received a copy of the Shore Land Stewardship Council’s new book, The Green Book for the Bay: An Illustrated Guidebook for Critical Area Property Owners Living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

In the afternoon, participants selected from four workshops -- building a living shoreline, presented by Environmental Concern; building a rain garden, presented by Environmental Concern; touring a Bay-Wise public garden, presented by Master Gardeners; and touring a Bay-Wise private garden, presented by Master Gardeners. There also was a reception and a native plant sale at the end of the day at Environmental Concern where Master Gardeners were on hand to answer questions about the rain garden and Bay-Wise certified garden on site.

Symposium sponsors include Adkins Arboretum, Shore Land Stewardship Council, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Critical Area Commission, Environmental Concern, and University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners of Talbot and Queen Anne’s. Funding for the symposium was provided by Town Creek Foundation.

It was a long day, but a worthwhile one, as participants left with Green Books in hand, ready to start their Bay-Wise landscaping.

Howard and Mary McCoy Exhibit Branches at Adkins Arboretum

2009-06-11T12:49:00.005-04:00

Once again, there is art in the forest at Adkins Arboretum. Branches, eleven sculptures by Centreville

artists Howard and Mary McCoy, can be found along the woodland paths through Sept. 15. Their work is also on exhibit in the Arboretum Visitor’s Center through July 31. A public reception on Sat., June 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. will include a sculpture walk through the forest with the artists.

While the Arboretum’s main mission is to promote the appreciation and conservation of the region’s native plants, this 400-acre preserve is also the Eastern Shore’s mecca for environmental art. Where else can cedar branches “dancing” in a circle in a grassy clearing or a maple bough wrapped in plaid flannel be found?

“Art can be really serious when it’s about beauty or environmental issues,” said Mary McCoy. “But art should be fun, too.”

For the tenth summer since 1999, artists have created art in the Arboretum’s landscape. On even-numbered years, a dozen or so artists from around the country are invited to create sculptures on the Arboretum grounds. On the odd-numbered years, the McCoys—who first organized the outdoor sculpture program—work together on sculptures.

Branches is a theme that takes in not only the branches of trees but also the branching paths through the Arboretum and the tributaries of the area’s many waterways, such as the Arboretum’s Blockston Branch. A branch tied with ribbons of blue cloth stands in the middle of this winding stream. Inspired by worldwide traditions of tying cloth or paper in trees for healing or good luck, this sculpture casts blue reflections in the flowing water.

The branches radiating from the trunk of a broken pine inspired another sculpture called “Spiraling.” The artists added a quirky spiral of cedar branches to the dead trunk.

“This is where a battery-powered drill really comes in handy,” said Howard McCoy. “I’d never do this to a live tree, but since this one is dead, I drilled holes in a spiral up the trunk, and we inserted cedar branches. Cedar’s good because it’s strong, and it has really animated shapes. Pine branches would have been too fragile to last all summer.”

This is the sixth time the McCoys have created sculpture at the Arboretum. They see their work as a process of collaborating with the landscape, and over the past decade, they have come to know the forest well. This year, several of their sculptures can be found along the Upland Walk and two of the smaller paths.

“We wanted to bring people down this way, as well as the main path where they usually walk,” said Mary McCoy. “For one thing, there is an amazing three-trunked river birch along here, and we really wanted to point it out.”

To do so, they collected fallen branches from the forest floor and strung them in eight-foot-tall “wings” fanning out from each trunk down to the ground.

The McCoys are intrigued by the way each species of tree grows branches in certain characteristic shapes. Their “personalities” are particularly evident in the indoor section of the show, where actual branches are incorporated into small paintings.

The type of tree gives each painting its particular character. There are the knobs and angles of silvery-barked black walnut, tiny reddish twigs of river birch, and a cluster of stems radiating from one of the ground elder or “highwater” bushes so ubiquitous along the region’s rivers.

Most spectacular of all is a trio of branches the McCoys brought from a dogwood in the Arboretum’s forest that was broken in a winter storm. They spread across one wall, their delicate, curving bud tips hung with the feathers of many different local birds.

“We had created sculptures right near this dogwood when it was still living,” said Howard McCoy. “So we thought we’d use it in a sculpture now. It’s getting so that certain trees and sites in the forest have become old friends.”

This show is part of the Arboretum’s ongoing exhibition series of work on natural themes by regional artists, sponsored in part by Caroline County Council of Arts. The indoor show is on view at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center through July 31, with the outdoor sculpture continuing through September 15. The Arboretum is located at 12610 Eveland Road, adjacent to Tuckahoe State Park near Ridgely. Call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. Open year-round, the Arboretum offers educational programs for all ages about nature and gardening. Through its Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, the Arboretum will build a new LEED-certified Arboretum Center and entranceway to broaden educational offerings and research initiatives promoting best practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

“Spiraling” is among the works of Centreville artists Howard and Mary McCoy on view at Adkins Arboretum. Titled Branches, the exhibit features an indoor component on view through July 31 and an outdoor component on view through Sept. 15.

Spring Plant Sale by Sue Wyndham, Land Stewardship Coordinator

2009-05-27T11:59:00.018-04:00

Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, marked the Arboretum’s kick-off event for its season-long sale of native plants. It was a great success, complete with beautiful sunny days, and over 700 happy shoppers.

In addition to offering horticultural books, and a wide variety of plants for native gardens and natural areas, the Arboretum also participated as a vendor for the state of Maryland’s Marylanders Plant Trees Program, a grant funded project that seeks to enhance Maryland’s canopy coverage by 50,000 native trees in 2009. The Arboretum’s selection of large native trees flew out the door, ready for their new Maryland homes.

New to the sale area this year were display gardens featuring a hedgerow, a pond garden and a children’s garden illustrating uses and value of native plants in the landscape. To help everyone water their newly planted gardens, rain barrels were available to purchase or to order, and like

the plants, will be available throughout the summer. Plant sales help support the Arboretum’s educational programs and outreach initiatives, and are an effective way to inspire enthusiasm for native plants.

Many thanks to our volunteers, members and shoppers for their support, and for making the plant sales possible and successful.

Happy Gardening!

Exhibit: Nature of Things: Transformations Within Nature Photographs by Denee Barr at Adkins Arboretum

2009-05-20T13:50:00.002-04:00

Denee Barr greets guests at her photo exhibit reception at Adkins Arboretum on Maryland's Eastern Shore on Saturday, April 18, 2009.

Guided Walk-5/2, by Bev Gemmill, volunteer

2009-05-07T10:18:00.006-04:00

Saturday was not the best day, it was cloudy and overcast, threatening rain at any minute. But it was a great tour. What made it great was the 5 interested visitors from the Simplicity Circle from Silver Springs.

Jennifer DeMooy assisted with this tour and she did a terrific job. We did spring ephemerals again. They are here for such a short time, and each week there are new plants blooming. Juliana spoke glowingly about the sassafras so I was hopeful we would still be able to admire them, but instead we saw the petite green mitten-like leaves.

Thankfully, my favorite flower, spring beauty, is still blooming. We talked about the pink pollen on the stamens and the bee lines that leads to nectar.

The lady slippers near the research plot are blooming , there were many and fully pink.

There were many questions as we described the research. Jennifer had heard the University of Maryland professor speak and she was very helpful as we answered questions. Along the Creekside trail, Mayapples are blooming everywhere though they are starting to go past and there is deer damage. Jack and the Pulpit is fully expanded and is always an interesting story to describe about its ability to change sex. The wild geranium is blooming on both sides of the path and we talked about its seed pod that shoots out the seeds. We also saw a blood root leaf without flower or seed. We suggested an ant cut the seed off and took it to its nest and fed the eliasome to its young. The paw paw were blooming everywhere; we will have a great crop this fall if all goes well. Dirr may think the bloom is lurid but we all agreed they were beautiful. The last walk I did, the golden groundsel (ragwort) was not blooming but now, it brightens up the area below the first bridge like a million candles.

Black Knot Fungus-photo submitted by Arboretum visitor, Melissa Sallade

2009-05-03T15:11:00.002-04:00

Black knot fungus attacks cherry and plum trees causing galls to form. The galls are particularly noticeable in winter and spring when trees are leafless. Since the fungus can kill smaller trees and weaken larger trees, people who grow cherry and plum trees at home should monitor their trees carefully pruning out any knots that form in winter.

April 25th Soup & Walk by Julianna Pax, Voluteer

2009-04-28T10:55:00.004-04:00

Guess what? The temperature was in the high 80’s. It felt like summer. Maybe that was why we found some surprises in the woods. As we began the 2 hour walk around the south meadow we saw the sweetgum and sassafras trees almost in full bloom. Entering the woods we were greeted by masses of spring beauties and mayapples. Some of the mayapples have buds ready to open.

It is hard to explain the panorama at various places on our walk. At one point we could see the dogwoods’ white lacey blossoms all around us in the distance. Photography cannot do it justice. We need our peripheral vision and our spirit to take it all in. At another time coming down from a slight ridge we saw the creek below just covered with large skunk cabbage leaves and delicate spring beauty blossoms. Coming closer we saw that some of the greenery included jack in the pulpits, netted chain fern and white flowering cress. Earlier as if to tease us, we first saw one early lady slipper just poking through the ground. Several hundred feet further we saw another all the way up with a blossom bud and even further along another single plant with the flower fully open but still green. Nature is extraordinary in her revelations.

More Christmas and woods fern were visible by the water especially near where we had to ford the stream. Friendly logs made it easier. The trout lilies are finished blooming but we saw some seed pods. On our return we saw some seed pods of bloodroot along the Creekside trail. We ran out of time or we would have gone further to see the pawpaw blossoms, Virginia bluebells and golden ragwort. Ah well you can’t do it all in one day even with 2 hours. Ann our photographer mentioned that they found some morel mushrooms. I would like to have seen them.

The one hour tour led by Norma J E was excellent, I am told. We each had about half the guests which I think was about 20 total. Some came just for the walk and later decided to stay for the luncheon.

Our hardworking volunteers included Suzie N, Michele W, Jennifer D, Norma E, (Lynn L, and Zaida W, also brought desserts), Pat B, and Nancy B (decorator). Jenny H was helping at the front desk. Cathy E, and Buck S, had everything out and ready. It really is quite a lot of work to do these soup & walks and I very much appreciate how everyone just pitches in and gets it done. I think these events are another tangible way to showcase our arboretum and share it with others.

Thanks, Julianna

South Meadow Burn by Sue Wyndham, Land Stewardship Coordinator

2009-04-28T09:43:00.007-04:00

After three attempts to schedule a controlled burn in the south meadow, the weather finally cooperated, and the burn took place on Tuesday, March 24. Ned Gerber, Habitat Ecologist, from Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage (www.cheswildlife.org) provided a small group of dedicated and interested observers with an explanation of meadow managem

ent, and the benefits of using fire to maintain healthy meadows.

To preserve nesting habitat and diversity of wildlife and plant species, only a portion of a meadow is either mowed or burned at one time. Half the south meadow was burned that morning with the fire being started on one end of the meadow, and slowly encouraged to move into the wind (called a backing fire) across the portion that was prepared for burning. Exit routes for wildlife were preserved, and the slowness of the burn ensured easy escape for any critters hiding in the burn area.

Burning is one of a few tools used to keep meadow environments healthy. Along with mowing and herbicide applications, burning helps control woody plant species, and reduces winter debris to create enhanced conditions for the survival of warm season grasses, and herbaceous flowering plants. Timing is critical for either mowing or burning, and in this area of the world February and March are optimal times for both. Waiting until February to perform a controlled burn or mow a portion of meadow is late enough to preserve winter cover for wildlife, and early enough to protect spring nesting habitat.

For more information about either managing an existing meadow or converting acreage into meadow, please contact Ned Gerber at www.cheswildlife.org, or Sue Wyndham, Land Stewardship Coordinator, Adkins Arboretum, at: swyndham@adkinsarboretum.org.

2009 Arbor Day Run, by Jennifer Houghton, Teacher

2009-04-22T14:12:00.004-04:00

The 2009 Arbor Day Run was a gold medal event! Beautiful weather, dedicated staff and volunteers, and over 100 participants made the day a success. The event kicked off with a Kids’ 100 Yard Dash at 8:45am and was followed by a 5K and a One-Mile Family Fun Run/Walk.

The 5K drew by far the biggest crowd, with close to 80 runners participating. Runner Noah Wood, who has attended the Arbor Day Run in the past, wowed crowds with his 17 minute 51 second finish. Michael Keene, another return runner, came in second at 19 minutes 21 seconds, and high school student Madison Ross clocked in at 20 minutes 53 seconds.

After the race, participants enjoyed refreshments provided in part by Dunkin’ Donuts and Food Lion of Centreville. An awards ceremony was held for five age categories. The event, organized by Jennifer Houghton, was sponsored by Shore Health System and Mail Movers.

April 18 the Guiden Walk, by Julianna Pax, Volunteer

2009-04-21T14:30:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful day in the high seventies with bright sunshine. Thanks to Michele Wade’s Red Hat Society, and another couple that received a year’s membership as a present from their daughter, we had about ten people on the tour. Zaida Wing was there with her camera and notebook soaking up information.

The redbud tree had lots of purple blooms for our ladies and they took a group picture in front with their purple outfits. Our sassafras trees by the south meadow are almost in full golden bloom. The sweetgum blossoms close by are ready to open. In the forest we saw spring beauty blooms everywhere. There were some mayapples with buds showing and dogwood blossoms opening just a little. Some small blueberry bushes had blossoms just opening. Michele Wade was first to spot a black snake sunning itself and we quietly walked past it.

The shadbush is about finished and we did find one bloodroot that had gone to seed on the Creekside trail and spotted some wild geranium leaves but no blooms yet. There were pawpaw blooms here and along Blockston Branch and even one zebra swallowtail butterfly showed up. We also saw a spicebush swallowtail, and heard lots of birds that Margie Steffens our birder was able to identify. Past the large beech tree on the Tuckahoe and further down the trail a second beech tree had dropped some beech blossoms on the trail. What a treat! They fascinate me. We could not have seen them high up in the tree. Many admired our fallen clump of trees with the vernal pool at the base and the many mayapple and spring beauty plants on the uprooted mound of roots and ground. We looked closely at the top of an oak tree from the fallen clump and saw the male catkins and leaves starting to appear. The top of the downed tree is visible right by the trail.

Many took pictures all along our walk. Several Turk’s Cap lily plants are now visible from the trail. I was also surprised and delighted to find some bellwort in bloom on the Blockston Branch trail. Virginia bluebells are in full bloom and the golden ragwort are starting to open along the creek. Some ferns are showing too. It is nice to feel that our guided walks have now been able to interest another group of people in the beauty of the arboretum. Some had not been here before.

There are still a few reservations available for the Soup & Walk next Saturday.

April 11th Guided Walk by Beverly Gemmill, Volunteer

2009-04-21T14:16:00.001-04:00

Saturday, Jennifer and I led a walk in the pouring rain for a visitor who had come up from Salisbury. It was interesting in the rain because everything I planned to stress was drooping or closed from the rain, even the little frogs were snuggled in the mud because it was a cold rain. We did see some unusual mushrooms - some orange jelly like ones were interesting, I'm sure Bill T. would know what they were called, and I showed the difference between the mushrooms that have gills and pores. We walked Bloxton Branch path just to enjoy the intense green of the skunk cabbage and looked for bloom from the Packera aureus but it is not showing any color yet, the virginia bluebells are blooming and it does not show any deer damage, the blue was wonderful, the shy spring beauty was hiding it's face from the cool rain. The vernal pool after the third bridge was filling and we talked about how important areas like that is for the water quality.

We walked out the south Tuckahoe trail, Thursday when I did my pre walk it was sunny and all the glorious spring ephemerals were blooming. The shadbush at the start of the trail was alive with buzzing bees and the white blossoms were so white against the blue sky. I'll bet the shad fishermen stayed home Saturday and so did the bees. The blossoms were dripping and made us look down, which made us notice the partridge berry and the green briar the rain made the green stems and tiny green leaves very green. The bright red berries are still on the plants. We collect seeds in the fall but only a few from each area so as not to hurt the plants. The visitor seemed interested about the lady slippers and the research we were doing at the arboretum. It may have been the rain but the Kalmia looked wonderful even if it was not in blossom, rain makes all colors more intense. Sadly all the spring beauty that had carpeted the woods Thursday were not blooming but the sweet shrub was and we all checked out the lovely lemon scent, after a long cold winter even the tiny yellow blossoms are able to bring joy. Up the hill from the stream we saw some bloodroot one was in seed and we talked about the relationship between the ants and the bloodroot seeds. Thursday, I walked farther and saw the trout lily in blossom but we were getting very wet and headed back to the visitors center.

Many thanks to Jennifer de Mooy for being such a good sport and putting up with the weather.

Arboretum Gift Shop Gets New Look For Spring by Irene Aspell, Volunteer

2009-03-31T16:56:00.003-04:00

Spring has come to the Adkins Arboretum and we’re ready to outfit the visitor with the latest necessities for the great outdoors. As always, there are tee-shirts, hats and warm vests for those early spring days where the temperature may rise above 60 degrees but not for long. Our aprons are handy for working in the garden and can hold a monogrammed water bottle, a colorful pair of rubberized gloves and new Felco pruners. For the beginner in the garden, there are design books and plant guides. To keep the little visitors occupied as well, the gift shop stocks challenging puzzles, kites, puppets and journals for recording their first attempts at a garden of their own.

New to the activities offered this

year at Adkins are guided bird walks along the many trails through both meadow and forest habitat. To help with identifying the many sights and sounds, there are field manuals, Fandex identity cards, animal and bird bingo and finally, battery operated Identiflyer players. For the true enthusiast, the singing alarm clock with assorted bird songs and is a must have.

For the visiting gourmand, the “Soup and Walk Cookbook” is a compendium of that program’s offerings from over the years. Just reading a recent menu would make most folks hungry and after the requisite walk, the lunch is most appreciated. Euell Gibbons had nothing on the arboretum’s creative minds when it comes to varied menus assembled from nature’s bounty.

For the reader in the group, we have available a selection of books endorsed by the arboretum’s Book Club. If you haven’t read “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson or “Sand County Almanac”

by Aldo Leopold, maybe the current selection “The Wild Trees” by Richard Preston will go home in your bag. Our many bookshelves are filled with hardcover and soft back writings informative, imaginative and memorable.

Finally, for visitors wishing to leave with a keepsake from their peaceful ramble through our grounds, the gift shop has so many choices to offer. How about an elegant coppery pin cast from a tulip tree leaf? Or maybe one of the many plant books to help solve that problem spot in Mom’s garden back home? The plush bird toys that sing their own songs when squeezed seem to be perfect for children of any age. If unable to decide on a gift for that special someone, make them remembered.” Arboretum memberships are available for both individuals and families and come with many perks not the least of which is a great reason to return and see us again.

The Arboretum in the Winter-by Sue Wyndham, Land Stewardship Coordinator

2009-03-05T14:12:00.014-05:00

As a transplant to the eastern shore, I commiserated recently with other people who have lived in colder climes about the lack of snow, wondering where winter hides in this area. Just when I thought I wouldn’t see it this year, winter showed up in all its glory during an early March storm!

The Arboretum left its gates open that day so that other snow lovers could enter, but not a soul ventured out. I had the place to myself! A rare and precious opportunity to quietly walk through the Arboretum grounds in complete solitude. I soaked up the tranquil beauty provided by the fleeting transformation of our landscape – a snowy white blanket that illuminated the landscape with reflected sunlight, shining a spotlight softly on trees bent to their capacity under the weight of 8”of winter. Snapped branches and fallen trees, coupled with usual landmarks and paths disguised by the snow, made it hard for me to recognize the Arboretum grounds that had started to feel familiar – Mother Nature was definitely at work redesigning things to suit her tastes! Or maybe it was really to keep Arboretum staff members, Buck and Paul, busy with grounds maintenance? Perhaps, but I didn’t think about that too much that day...

Instead I just wandered through seemingly new territory, and simply enjoyed the beauty of our winter landscape. I hope you did, too!

Children in the Winter Garden by Coreen Weilminster, Children's Program Coordinator

2009-03-03T12:22:00.009-05:00

As winter winds blow and snowflakes flurry past the windows, gardens can still be a wonder to children. Winter is a terrific time for exploration, learning, and creativity in the garden. As a gardener and the mother of two young girls, I look forward to those short, quiet days spent together in contemplation, awe, and speculation. If you have a garden and young children (or grandchildren), here are some ways to enjoy both, together:

A Winter Walk in the Garden—A walk in the garden in winter offers the opportunity to study seeds, berries, and other adaptations that plants use to help them overwinter. Often a walk in the winter garden provides evidence of wildlife: tracks that tell a story, holes dug into the snow and earth by paws and claws, or hulled-out acorn shells on a snowy stump. These glimpses that animals are still active in such harsh conditions evoke awe and wonder. Children can think about which animals visit the garden in winter, and for what reasons. You may have discussions about which critters we miss in the winter, like the ruby-throated hummingbird, leading to a talk about migration and speculations about where they might be during the cold months.
Birds in the Garden—Winter is the best time to feed the birds. Children enjoy making their own bird feeders. Some easy, fun bird feeders include pinecones smeared with peanut butter and rolled in birdseed; small mesh bags of beef suet; hollowed-out orange halves filled with bird seed; dried sunflower heads; small ears of corn; and bouquets of wheat and other grains.

Compost—If you don’t already have one, a compost bin is a great project for kids in the winter garden. I send my girls to the compost bin every few days with coffee grounds, eggshells, apple cores, and other compostable leavings from my kitchen. As they empty the kitchen compost bucket, they can see how the contents of the compost bin change over time. Even in winter the worms are working.

Planning—Probably one of the best garden activities for children in winter is laying the plans for the upcoming growing season. Poring over seed catalogs, making lists, and researching intriguing plants can be fun for both you and your little one. Looking at the catalogs’ colorful photos of flowers and vegetables can melt even the most cantankerous case of cabin fever and make tetchy tweens nostalgic for summer. My favorites are Seeds of Change (http://www.seedsofchange.org/), Burpee (http://www.burpee.com/), White Flower Farm http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/), and Smith & Hawkin (http://www.smithandhawkin.com/).
But with so much to drool over, how do you decide what to plant? Here is where your parental guidance comes in handy. Is your child an animal lover? Consider a wildlife habitat garden. Do your kids like to help in the kitchen? Perhaps they’ll be most interested in a vegetable or herb garden. Maybe you have a habitual flower picker (like my girls). Plan a perennial garden full of colorful, fragrant flowering plants, mixed with annuals. Or is your little one enthralled with insects? Then you need a butterfly garden!

There are many types of themed gardens for children: sensory gardens, alphabet gardens, pizza gardens, cultural heritage gardens, dye gardens, rainbow gardens, even moon gardens. Whatever garden you and your child decide to plant, make sure he or she is part of the planning process. Ask what other features the garden should have. Will it have paths, hiding spaces, trellises, statues, or sculptures? Help your child make a map of your yard or existing garden, being careful to consider how much sun the yard gets. Steering them in the right direction makes the planning process both realistic and more exciting.

I highly recommend the following books by Sharon Lovejoy for planning your garden: Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots; Trowel & Error; and Sunflower Houses: A Book for Children and Their Grown-Ups. Other books I turn to for inspiration are Dig, Plant, Grow by Felder Rushing; the Kids Can Press Jumbo Book of Gardening by Karyn Morris; and Walking the World in Wonder: A Children’s Herbal by Ellen Evert Hopman.

Lastly, take the time to read to your children about gardening. There is wonderful children’s literature on gardening. You can bet that curling up with your child on cold winter nights with a good book about gardens plants the seeds for sweet dreams. My girls especially enjoy Rosie’s Posies by Marcy Dunn Ramsey; How Groundhog’s Garden Grew by Lynne Cherry; and The Gardener by Sarah Stewart…to name a few.

Barbara Winkler writes, “Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle…a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream.” Engage your children in gardening this winter—teach them what miracle lies under winter’s cloak.

2009 Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Celebrates the Contributions of Many Volunteers by Ellie Altman, Executive Director

2009-02-09T14:14:00.005-05:00

Snowy and icy conditions on Tuesday, January 27, led us to the rescheduling the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. By 10 am on Tuesday, with quick action from Paul McMullen, Cathy Eiden, and Mary Anne Hartman and the caterer Julie Reynolds and myself, all the logistics for rescheduling to Thursday, January 29—same place, same time and same menu—were handled, as well as phone calls to all those who had RSVP. Infinite thanks to Mary Anne for sharing the task of the phone calls, which would have been daunting for one person.

Thursday arrived and the weather was clear. Between 9 and 10 a.m. staff gathered at Ruthsburg Community Center with volunteers Mary Anne Hartman, Richard McCamant and Nancy Beatty and by 11:30 a.m. the tables were set, food was hot and ready to serve, and Buck Schuyler had pinned a corsage on Volunteer of the Year Pat Bowell.

We lined up to serve ourselves, cafeteria style, a hearty, hot and delicious meal of Cajun gumbo served in bread bowls (”Boules” in French—Buck instructed us). No one was shy about going for seconds.

Cathy arranged bountiful plates of sweets for every table—a smorgasbord of cookies, brownies, bars and chocolates prepared by the staff.

Everyone pitched in to help with the program. Board Trustees Peter Stifel, Wayne Bell, Luther Tucker and Jack Fischer were present. Peter spoke early in the program and then the departing Board Trustees, Barbara Bryan, Kathy Carmean and Bobbie Brittingham were recognized for their years of service. Kathy and Bobbie both talked about their passion for the Arboretum and optimism for its future. Bobbie talked briefly about the dedication of the North Meadow as Nancy’s Meadow in memory of her mother Nancy Austin. As Bobbie leaves the Board, her sister Nancy Jane Reed is joining the Board having served before in the early years of the Board’s founding.

For me the highlight of the program was hearing the following volunteers speak off-the-cuff about their volunteer experience: Kate Greer, Irene Aspell, Richard McCamant, Tim Ward, and Sina Callaway. They were eloquent.

Here are excerpts from my script:

To prepare for this occasion we sought the highly acclaimed team of biographical researchers headed by Mr. Charles Schuyler. I would like to invite Mr. Schuyler to the lectern to bare witness to his know of Ms. Pat Bowell and then he will invite each of three members of his team to share their carefully researched and personal observations of Ms. Bowell.
Mr. Schuyler. (At this point Buck, Mary Anne Hartman, Bev Gemmill and Paul McMullen told hilarious stories about Pat, some reflecting her generosity and others that put her in compromising situations that only she could recover from with grace.)

Adkins Arboretum will not be outdone by the United States Presidential Inaugural Commission. We are also an institution of long duration that has survived much duress and today is confronting its own budget woes, scuffles and bouts of angst. But today we are putting those challenges aside to celebrate in the grandest of traditions the crowning of the Volunteer of the Year.

Those of you who know Pat as a Master Gardener may wonder how she has time to volunteer at Adkins Arboretum after all she does for the QAC MGs. And those of us who know all that she does as an AA volunteer wonder what time could be left in the day for her to be a MG in QAC. Pat does it all.

She works most every event, is a cashier extraordinaire and is a one-person act as she staff’s the visitor’s center on the weekends. She assists with the Soup ‘n Walks and serves on the Arboretum Board’s Development Committee. Any opportunity to learn more and Pat will be there for field trips, book club, monthly docent meetings . . .

She is that special volunteer who says I’m here to help – responding to my favorite quote—a President Kennedy’s call to action, “Ask not what your government [Arboretum] can do for you, but what you can do for your government [Arboretum)].”

Though the staff works hard to make their daily tasks of staffing the Arboretum visitor’s center, keeping the parking lot clean and four miles of paths cleared of fallen limbs, removing bird poop and other animal damage to signage, keeping the bathrooms clean and light bulbs replaced, recycling trash and brewing coffee, removing fingerprints on the walls and doors, vacuuming carpet, setting up and storing chairs and tables, maintaining supplies, registered people for classes, welcoming every visitor with grace and charm, creating beautiful publications, and keeping enough money in the bank to pay the bills, and renewing membership—but Pat remains behind the scenes enough to know none of this happens by divine intervention—it is Pat who says, call me anytime and I’ll be here if I can to help keep the Arboretum open everyday and staffed with a friendly face to welcome the next visitor and share their enthusiasm for the Arboretum’s conservation mission.

We thank you everyday, Pat. And today we would like to coronate you. Please take this seat for your coronation ceremony.

To assist in this ceremony are the two Princesses of Protocol, who will not be outdone by the White House’s chief of protocol. I would like to introduce the diminutive Braedyn Weilminster, Princess of Protocol, and her mighty big sister Brooke Weilminster, Princess of Protocol. (Braedyn and Brooke are Children’s Program Coordinator Coreen Weilminster’s children.)

The precious Weilminsters have been mentored by Ms. Pat at the Arboretum’s summer. Through all of her good deeds, Pat has earned their total admiration. With a crown, robe, scepter, “mink” collar, Pat was installed as the 2008 Volunteer of the Year. Pat then shared heartfelt remarks about her work and experiences at the Arboretum.

This thoughtful note was sent by Volunteer Kate Greer after the luncheon.

Ellie--Your luncheon was lovely. Everyone involved with the Arboretum is so gracious, generous, and gentle--all wonderful qualities that make such a gathering so comfortable.
. . .
Thought Pat Bowell's comments were lovely--so wonderfully from the heart. See ya Tuesday,
Kate

Arboretum Paths Keep Your Feet Dry by Buck Schuyler, Gardener

2009-02-09T13:40:00.003-05:00

As you meander along the woodland paths at Adkins Arboretum enjoying nature in all the ways possible that people can imagine, think about how comfortable the walking paths are. They are maintained by staff (Paul McMullen and I) and volunteers (Richard McCamant and Dick Holladay among others) at the Arboretum.

There are two new additions to the paths and if (when) you walk on Tuckahoe Valley South heading towards the Tuckahoe State Park you will cross two new footbridges that have recently been constructed. The first one spans a wet area where water collected after rainy weather. The second crosses a stream where a shorter bridge had existed. The bridge was extended and new decking was added to the old section.

Let the Arboretum staff know how we are doing with improvements from time to time. Your comments are always helpful.
Adkins Arboretum is constantly thinking outside the box to plan and prepare for every visitor to fully enjoy nature at its best in every season.

A Walk Where the Tracks Lead by Al Moored, Volunteer

2009-02-09T08:48:00.004-05:00

Fellow Walkers,

The snow was still falling when I arrived at Adkins Arboretum, the landscape was as freshly covered as could be and the opportunity to see what was moving had arrived.

I started into the South Meadow and the first tracks I saw were red fox, tracks that were partly snowed over, but I followed them anyway...just to see what he had been looking for. The first fresh tracks were from some field mice, but the fox had passed them by. The fox tracks soon followed along some partially snowed over rabbit tracks, both of which then led into the "briar patch" formed by the thorny little black berry stems. The fox had been deterred by the pickers, his tracks led around the patch to see where the rabbit had come out; it had not come out so he went on. I doubled back to the old rabbit tracks and high-stepped into the briar patch, moving slowly to follow those partially covered tracks and hoping to see the bunny sitting safely under the briars. After several steps the rabbit shot out ahead of me...the first of the really fresh tracks of the morning!

I went on to Quail Run where I found fresh fox tracks...he must have been just out of sight and his tracks were following along some fresh rabbit tracks...the rabbit had been in a hurry. Just off of Quail Run I came upon fresh deer tracks, two sets, one large, and one small. I back tracked to find where they had bedded down. They went across Wild Thicket Walk and South Meadow Loop into the lowlands toward Tuckahoe Creek.

The snow had stopped falling and against the bright background of the snow and the brightening clouds, a blue jay or two chastised me loudly for disturbing the peace as I started down the Upland Walk. Along it were deer and squirrel tracks. The woodpeckers could be heard tap tap tapping. A close look revealed three different species, but that is a different walk!

Along Tuckahoe Creekside Walk there were lots of signs of squirrel activity. The Tuckahoe Creek water was clear and swift, but no tracks of water animals. I went back onto the Tuckahoe Valley Trail North. Squirrel tracks all along. I doubled back and went up the North Meadow Cut onto the North Meadow Loop. I wanted to check out the fox den, so cut across the North Meadow (Nancy’s Meadow). In a stand of sumac, I scared up two white-tail deer which ran a ways then stopped to check me out, what a grand sight, those great white flags twitching. We stood looking at each other for several minutes, then they high-tailed it on into the forest. I walked past the fox den—it had been visited by a fox, but did not show any signs of being "used" as a den just yet. There were signs of rabbits at various places in the North Meadow (Nancy’s Meadow), the fox was right to be checking there.

On the way back I stopped by the wetland, above the bridge on the Blockston Branch, still hoping to see some signs of water animals. What I did find was a woodcock down by the water and also some "knees" sticking up from the marsh under a cypress tree.

The snow was beginning to melt, the walk was over and it had been another beautiful day to walk in the woods.

Reflections of My Walk by Irene Aspell, Volunteer

2009-01-30T11:45:00.003-05:00

I had just returned from my weekly walk at the arboretum. The walk actually happens a lot more often when I have less to do in the rest of my life. The average works out to about once a week for the year which seems to be a good average for me to be out walking. These visits allow me to catch sight of the ephemeral changes to the woods and fields that one doesn’t see on less frequent visits. Today held some remarkable things and I wanted to share them with others whose visits might have missed them.
My usual route takes me around the south meadow as a gentle warm-up before traversing any hills or entering the cooler woods. I put a little speed into this lap since the walking is easy and unless some creature is disturbed by my tread it’s a very peaceful few minutes. The smell of the outdoors always rises up to meet me. Not that I am stirring any debris since I am careful to walk on the path. The meadow itself has a scent that differs with the season, today in the light rain it looks past its prime but the many stems and leaves still breathe their essence into the world. I try not to miss this subtle perfume.
When crossing the first bridge that travels into the woods, I walk on a few golden maple leaves strewn on the boards. The surface was the tiniest bit slippery so I probably studied the leaves more acutely than usual since they had potential hazards about them. What I saw was an occasional covering of the most mundane of crossings. This time the bridge was not just a crossing to get to the other side or to lean over and study the water underneath but the transit was an occasion in itself. The few leaves seem painted onto the surface by the touch of the rain’s brush.
My favorite path veers off to the left and follows the wandering water down a slight slope near the muscular tulip trees that loan their leaf’s visage to the arboretum’s hats and other goods. The path underfoot here is cushioned by wood chips applied by the staff. I can only assume the reason for doing this is to make it easier for a walker or jogger with a touch of age-related gait. As a former runner I appreciate this touch and on a good day can feel accomplished if I manage a little jog along this pathway enjoying the forgiving surface and the newfound spring in my gait.
This route crosses many small bridges that zigzag through the woods and that is where the next sight stopped my progress. After the late summer’s dry spell it’s a good omen that water is being added to the current. Even with the rain falling, there still isn’t much flow to the small stream but it has helped sink some of the nearby leaves to the sandy bottom. Still afloat are many others that both hide and reveal the sunken trove of leaves below. These leaves have leaked their tannin into the stream and turned it a well-brewed tea color. The resident frogs that normally float or sink in this spot have already burrowed into the banks ready for the wintry weather that is here and I will miss them till they reappear with the warmth of spring.
A newly fallen tree has been cut away from the pathway further along past the last bridge. The few small hollies in its way have suffered a broken branch or two but will reap other rewards through the new opening in the canopy. The uprooted trunk has created a small pool which has filled with the rain and water from the close by stream. It has created an entirely new habitat which the spring will populate with insects and creatures of wet places. I look forward to meeting them.

A Sense of Wonder Sundays-Winter Solstice: The Return of the Sun by Coreen Weilminster, Children’s Program Coordinator

2008-12-24T09:54:00.015-05:00

They blew in with the wind...all 17 of them, bundled to the brim against the biting chill -- four families arriving for an afternoon at the Arboretum. A Sense of Wonder Sundays, a new program for families, enticed them out into the bitter cold. The topic of the program this day was the Winter Solstice. The group, with ages ranging from 2 to middle-aged, came to learn about how ancient rites celebrating this day have shaped our current holiday traditions.

Heralding the first day of winter, the Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. To ancient people whose lives were intimately fixed to the seasons, this day was a significant turning point: the day that marked the return of the sun. After the Winter Solstice, the days begin to lengthen, the nights to get shorter.

Among the topics of discussion: the science of the shortest day , holiday traditions such as feasting, the use of evergreens, gift giving and caroling with their beginnings rooted in the ancient celebrations for a returning sun. We discussed the traditional Christmas carol The Holly and the Ivy, significant in its origins in the celebration of the Winter Solstice, having maintained its ancient acknowledgement of the sacred plants used in celebrations and also adapting to include the traditional English and Christian rites of the Holiday season.

The group also braved the blustery bright day to hunt the Arboretum grounds for the sacred plants used in ancient rites celebrating the Winter Solstice. We hunted for evergreens, Holly, Oak, and Mistletoe. The families easily found many species within the visitor center gardens. Evergreens they found included Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera), Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Loblolly and Virginia Pines. Hollies were both evergreen and deciduous; Inkberry (Ilex Glabra), American Holly (I. Opaca), and Winterberry Holly (I. verticillata). Oak’s included Pin Oak (Quercus paulustrus) and Willow Oak (Q. phellos). We walked a bit further to the entrance of the Arboretum to find the Mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens) which grows in the branches of the River Birches which grace the entry to the grounds.

We broke for a brief lunch and resumed the program with another hike in the icy wind, this time to the Arboretum nursery to make natural ornaments for each person to take home. The ornaments, a tradition of the Arboretum, are made for the all-weather feathered ones who live here. Using pinecones, cranberries, raisins, peanut butter and birdseed, the families worked together creating “icicles,” tiny wreaths, and pinecone birdfeeders. Once we returned to the Visitor Center, the children and the parents gathered around the Arboretum’s Christmas tree at the outside entranceway, and placed similar ornaments (made earlier in the week by the Arboretum’s talented docents and volunteers) on the tree. We sang a “light” version of “Oh Christmas Tree” at the end and returned indoors for mulled cider, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.

Throughout the day, I kept thinking about the lyrics from “Over the River and Through the Woods,” specifically the line “Oh how the wind does blow. It stings the toes and bites the nose, as over the ground we go.” Despite the bitter wind, there was a warmth about this day – families sharing their time together, making memories, and creating gifts for the critters that live among them as they contemplated the significance of the holiday traditions rooted deeply in observing and celebrating the earth.

The Shortest Day

Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive,

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us - Listen!!

All the long echoes sing the same delight,

This shortest day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, fest, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.

Welcome Yule!!

A Walk of Words: Poetry in the Forest with Docent Lynn Lang

2008-12-04T16:02:00.006-05:00

“A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summer’s wave goodbye.” --Anon

So began Adkins Arboretum docent Lynn Lang’s autumnal guided walk, which took place on Saturday, November 29th. Like many of us, Lynn finds inspiration in the forest. How better to share this inspiration than with the words of poets?

Crisscrossing the winding course of the Blockston Branch, now scattered with leaves in rich hues of scarlet, gold, and chestnut, walkers enjoyed a chance to slow down and meditate on the beauty around them. The silence was broken only for stops at various Arboretum landmarks: a slice of stream spanned by a leaf-strewn bridge, a stand of Virginia pine bristling with pinecones, a golden edge of meadow.

Rather than speak of the landmarks themselves, Lynn used the words of others to paint related images for her listeners. Quoting Eric Pinder on the Upland Path, Lynn recited in her gentle voice, “She calls it ‘stick season,’ this slow disrobing of summer, leaf by leaf, till the bores of tall trees rattle and scrape.” One walker commented that such words helped her to notice isolated things, like the freefall of a single leaf to the forest floor. Another admitted that while she usually spends lots of time looking down at the ground on forest walks, on this walk she was able to “look out and around.”

The walk ended on a light tone, with Lynn sharing a haiku by B. Cybrill:

When the bold branches
Bid farewell to rainbow leaves—
Welcome wool sweaters.

Margan Glover, a fellow Arboretum docent and participant in the poetry walk, enthused later, “I was so moved…that I had to go back after we finished and enjoy further the perfect leaf that was sitting on the tiniest sliver of ice, becalmed on the black water of Blockston Branch.” A poetic tribute to an inspiring day.

Docent guided walks are offered at Adkins Arboretum on Saturdays, from April to November, and are free with admission. Walks begin at the Visitor’s Center at 11am. The walks revolve around a variety of nature themes, including spring ephemerals, edible plants, summer wetlands, woodland architecture, and autumn color. The Arboretum hopes to make Lynn’s poetry walk a regular offering.

Fall Family Festival-November 8 by Jennifer Houghton

2008-11-20T12:45:00.026-05:00

This year's Fall Family Festival, held on Saturday, November 8, was a success despite a rainy start. Children enjoyed making a variety of crafts, including 3-D butterflies, egg carton creepy crawlies, tree cookie necklaces, and plant ‘n paint pansy pumpkins.

Storyteller John Grega captivated audiences with nature tales, Native American Educator John Fishback wowed families with his hands-on Native American lore, and the band Home Town Roots blended classic folk and rock throughout the day.

Adkins Arboretum volunteer Julianna Pax, along with her granddaughter, debuted a creative wetland-themed puppet show to an appreciative audience.

The Fall Family Festival also boasted pony rides, hayrides, a corn maze, bubbles, and dried flower arranging.

The All American Grill of Centreville and Cindy Ball of Ridgely provided a variety of refreshments. Some 200 people attended this year’s event, and 18 dedicated volunteers, along with staff, helped the day go off without a hitch.

Soup & Walk-November 15, 2008 by Julianna Pax

2008-11-20T12:09:00.007-05:00

This was our last soup & walk for the year and Mother Nature cooperated with sunny weather and a south breeze by 11 AM. We had thunderstorms around 3 in the morning and the forecast was for rainstorms all day. At 9:30, it still looked like we would need an indoor program. But by 10:30 the skies cleared and the 70 degree day was absolutely lovely!!

We headed to the woods in search of winter food for the wildlife. Nuts, acorns, berries and seeds were on our list. Before we even got to the woods, we looked up at a very tall tulip tree and saw glints of gold in the sunlight from a few late leaves and some seed clusters showing against a very blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Just before entering the woods, a dogwood sported a few red berries and lots of buds for next spring. On the first bridge we saw an arrowwood viburnum still attached to some of its pinkish red leaves. Next to it was an ironwood and again looking way up, there were a few seed clusters showing. On we trudged and saw some of the red and white oak families and identified them from the leaves. The white oak acorns with less tannic acid were very scarce. I think we finally found a few. The red oak acorns and hickory nuts also were not plentiful but again we did find a few. Even the hearts a bursting which had some of the purple caps did not have berries except for one lonely berry attached to a cap. The pines yielded some Virginia pine cones but we saw no loblolly pine cones. We surmised that the birds and other wildlife did have more options for food in the meadow.

Even though the day was warm, the Turkey Chili soup, Waldorf salad, Flaxseed bread and Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce were just what we needed after the hour walk. Many went back for seconds and maybe more. I brought out some samples of oak leaves, acorns, hickory nuts, hicans (hickory crossed with a pecan), black walnuts and pecans that I had brought for display. We discussed the value of nuts, seeds and berries in our diets. Recipes were handed out and discussed. Suzie squirrel came by and thanked us for sharing the arboretum and its food.

Thanks to all the volunteers, this was a very successful soup and walk for our 26 guests. The volunteers were Mickey B, Mary Jo K, Michele W, Lynn L, Yvonne O, and Suzie N. Did I miss anybody? Mickey’s decorations were beautiful and used for the flying farmers group the next day. All of the volunteers seem to anticipate what needs to be done so there is a great deal of teamwork and camaraderie. Thank you, you make this event very special for me. Jenny was great at the front desk. Jenny mentioned that many guests had good comments as they left. Erica was the staff person who was very helpful. Heidi, Paul, Buck and Kathy all helped get the event ready. Thanks to all.

I asked the guests if they were interested in a possible 2 hour walk in March and 19 signed up! I think we will try to do 2 tours, a longer one starting at 10 AM and a shorter one starting at 11 AM. The longer one will be able to do more of the Tuckahoe Valley trail since it has great spring ephemerals.

Anyone who wants to order a green soup & walk polo shirt and/or help with the soup & walks next year, please let me know. We start in February.

Thanks, Julianna

The Arboretum in the Fall

2008-11-04T16:11:00.004-05:00

Hope House, Talbot County, Maryland by Ellie Altman, Executive Director

2008-11-04T13:50:00.011-05:00

On Saturday, November 1, the Arboretum's Leon Andrus Society held its annual fall gathering at Board President Peter Stifel's home, Hope House, on the Miles River, a stunning, clear fall day--sweater weather. Guests gathered in the circular drive until all 30+ had arrived and then took an hour ride around the perimeter of the property on a hay wagon. The event was the first "Tree Walk and Cocktails." The highlight of the tour was Peter's own 'Champion Trees,' a lob lolly pine and a scarlet oak, the former a Talbot County 'Champion,' and the latter a state 'Champion.' Upon returning to the house, the tour continued around the gardens and sheep pasture to the shores of the Miles. Our gracious host served food and cocktails on the porch of Hope House until dark fell. An afternoon spent enjoying nature's wonders gave the crowd a hearty appetite. The shrimp with Peter's mother's recipe for Ft. Henry sauce quickly disappeared.

The Arboretum was established in 1980 with the generous donation from its founding benefactor, Leon Asa 'Andy' Andrus. Born in Horsehead, New York, in 1887, Mr. Andrus led a full life, including a successful career on Wall Street, and eventually settled on the shores of the Wye River. His adventuresome spirit opened many doors. He took flying lessons with Charles Lindbergh; considered J. Ogden Armour, Andrew Mellon, and J.B. Duke his friends; presented a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on behalf of Corning Glass; purchased the Queen Anne's Record-Observer; promoted the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge; and tended five 'Champion Trees' on his Wye River farm. After his death in 1989 at the age of 101, a portion of Mr. Andrus's estate was bequeathed to establish the Andrus Endowment for Adkins Arboretum.

The Leon Andrus Society was founded to celebrate the Arboretum's first benefactor. The Society confers recognition to its members for generosity and commitment to supporting the Arboretum's annual operating fund. Membership in the Leon Andrus Society is open to all with an annual gift of $1,000 or more, and benefits, for one year, two adults. Benefits include: free admission, subscription to the Arboretum's newsletter, Native Seed, and all the benefits of a basic membership, as well as an invitation to the annual Leon Andrus Society Event and special recognition in the Arboretum's publications and other media.

To become a Leon Andrus Society member, visit http://www.adkinsarboretum.org/members.html

It is the generosity of The Leon Andrus Society that helps sustain the Arboretum's education programs. We are pleased to pay tribute to The Society members:

Ms. Lea Brooks
Mr. and Mrs. David Bryan
Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell
Mr. and Mrs. B. Vance Carmean
Ms. Jane De Briyn
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Duffey, III
Mr. and Mrs. John Fischer
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Granville
Mr. and Mrs. Alan Griffin
Mr. John Harper, III and Mrs. Karen Roth
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Hill
Mr. and Mrs. Allan Housley
Mrs. Hilda Latta
Ms. Virginia Paca
Dr. Robert Paca
Dr. Barbara Paca and Mr. Phillip Logan
Mr. and Mrs. John Root
Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Stanley
Dr. Peter Stifel
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Van Dyke
Ms. JoAnne Welsh

The event was recorded through the lens of Board Trustee Alicia Siegrist's camera.

Board President, Peter Stifel entertains from the stump of an Osage orage tree where he explains the attributes of the wood of ginkgos and Osage oranges.

A Volunteer's Story by Kate Greer

2008-10-24T14:51:00.010-04:00

The Adkins volunteer training often reinforced my recent Master Gardener training, was a huge plus but the Adkins sessions themselves had a particular importance to me. These past weeks have given me a relationship with the Arboretum that I could not have imagined yet so hoped for.

[The] response sheet didn't quite give me the room to say more than the basics. But there was so much more to be said: The magic was with the place, with your direction, and with the group that was so passionately involved.

I remember after session 2 with Nick Carter, I was so impressed with his material but also with his presentation (he spoke so wisely and in paragraphs--ya gotta love that). The following session morning, I remember mentioning that how could anything top that. [I was assured] that it wasn't a need to top it but to keep us way up there in being excited about the information coming our way. So right. Session after session, one could never even consider being absent. It was always important.

As you move forward to further training, I don't know that you will ever have a group as passionate about the subject and as enthused about sharing questions, ideas and experiences as this one was. The group dynamic matters a lot, I suspect.

But over all, my impression was that the "training" so essentially represented the place. Maybe it was because it was on site and we had regular outings into the woods and meadows, or because the Arboretum staff and experienced volunteers were there with us, or maybe because you reinforced our concerns for the environment and taught us how we can share this with others.

I am so grateful for the information, the bonding, and the direction [the] training provided.

Soup & Walk-10/18 by Julianna Pax

2008-10-23T13:47:00.007-04:00

By the time we started our walk today, it was sunny and cool. The light rain during the night had stopped. Such a beautiful autumn day with colors to match. A lovely red tupelo was visible from the back patio as we started out. Along the edge of the forest, we saw black cherry trees in shades of red along with sweet gum, sassafras, dogwood and yes, some poison ivy. One of the sweet gum trees had exotic deep purple leaves. At the entrance to the woods was a young hickory displaying green leaves changing to a golden color.

My conversation turned to the mystery of the fall colors with green chlorophyll giving way to yellow carotenes and the appearance of red colors when the genes, soil and weather are favorable. All of this comes about when the scar tissue forms at the base of the leaf and transportation of sugar out and water and minerals into the leaf stops. Our eyes are the beneficiaries of this yearly colorful natural process which just really got started in this area this weekend.

Continuing along the Blockston Branch trail, we followed the golden trail of paw paw, tulip tree, and summersweet leaves. Some guests were interested in the varieties of green fern by the second bridge. Since they were mostly still a deep green color, they contrasted nicely with the reds and yellows. Later we went past a large patch of Christmas fern which will remain green all winter. The devil’s walking stick was resplendent in shades of green gold and red at the next bridge.

We passed some winterberry hollies (red berries) and wound our way to the Overlook trail and someone noticed our American chestnut sprouts by the side of the trail. We found a strawberry bush with red berries and purple caps. Coming out of the woods we saw a pokeberry (with dark berries) right next to a lovely winged sumac in its intense red color. When the sun shines on the winged sumac, it seems to glow from within, hence its other name, the shining sumac. Its lovely red berries gave me a chance to mention that these berries were a source of vitamin C to the early settlers.

Returning along the south meadow, there was a lot of color visible at this edge of the forest. We returned to the visitor’s center and amidst the colorful leaf decorations provided by Mickey B, we enjoyed our colorful lunch. Orange sweet potato soup, roasted red beet salad, zucchini herb bread with green basil and apple pie with red cranberries were served and recipes handed out. We discussed the recipes and why we should eat our colors. Having a soup making day with friends or family was suggested.