Quietly Winter by Micheline Hull Dolan

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

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

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

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 the year round 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 bes

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.