NATIVE SEE The magazine of Adkins Arboretum
d
FALL 2014
NEW PULL-OUT POSTER OF PROGRAMS & EVENTS
CONTENTS Letter from the Director. . . . . . . . . . 4 Volunteer Opportunities . . . . . . . . . 5 The Campaign to Build a Green Legacy Update . . . . . . . . 6–7 From the Bookshelves. . . . . . . . . . . 8 Arboretum Book Club Celebrates Ten Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Magic in the Meadow. . . . . . . 10–11 Volunteer of the Year. . . . . . . . . . . .12 Targeted Goat Grazing. . . . . . 12–13 The Will to Give: How Giving Changes the Giver . . . . . . . . . . 14–15 Art Exhibits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16–17 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18–22 Maryland Native Plant Society News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Membership Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
SAVING NATURE in the Anthropocene By Sylvan Kaufman
The last few years I have spent the fall on the Eastern Shore and the spring and summer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In both states, it is impossible not to observe the effects of a changing climate. In Maryland, last winter’s extreme temperatures killed my ten-year-old rosemary plant and knocked the fifteen-foot-tall fig tree back to its roots. My parents watched the tidal waters of Oxford creep out of the roadside ditches and flood the street numerous times while the boatyard put in expensive floating docks to handle storm surges. In New Mexico, scale insects and bark beetles slowly kill the pinyon pines in the backyard because the last four years of drought have left them extremely stressed. Some nearby areas have lost all their pine trees and have gone from pinyon-juniper woodlands to juniper savannahs. Last summer, I watched smoke boiling over the mountains from massive forest fires that cost millions of dollars to control so that lives, homes, businesses, and water supplies would not be lost. We could easily lose heart that the landscapes, favorite plants, and lifestyle we love will survive over the next twenty to one hundred years. We have entered the Anthropocene, the geologic epoch defined by humans and their activities. Geologists have not yet officially adopted the term “Anthropocene,” but it is a useful way of thinking about time scales and human impacts. Officially, we are in the Holocene epoch, covering the last 11,500 years since our current landscapes and soils evolved as the glaciers retreated. Humans evolved a mere 200,000 years ago. Our species invented agriculture 8,000 to 12,000 years ago, and there was no stopping our spread once we had a steady, concentrated food supply. 2
One group of researchers estimates that humans have directly altered 83 percent of the Earth’s surface in some way (Sanderson et al., 2002. Bioscience v. 52). We have built cities and roads, turned forests and grasslands into vast agricultural fields, tree plantations, and rangelands, dammed rivers, killed large predators and grazing animals, and mined the ground. Humans have also directly and indirectly changed the composition of the atmosphere, acidified the ocean, polluted soils and waterways, introduced invasive species both accidentally and deliberately, and caused the extinction of thousands of species. Our noticeable effect on the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide levels began about 150 years ago with the onset of the industrial revolution. All animals change their environment to some degree. Burrowing animals turn over soil and bury seeds, beavers create wetlands, plants can change the nutrient levels of the soils they grow in over time, and oysters filter the water they live in. Humans may be uniquely capable of understanding how their own species is altering the environment and then changing their behavior to improve their environment. Most organisms have two choices when faced with an altered environment: stay and deal with the changes, or move. Many animals and plants that stay have “phenotypic plasticity,” the ability to survive under different environmental conditions. The coyotes, house finches, and red maples of this world have the physiological and behavioral flexibility to survive under a wide range of environmental conditions. Other species have no choice but to move to a more suitable environment, at least in the short term. In order to move to a new environment, an individual has to be able to reach the new place safely. People can help by maintaining corridors of habitat for species to move through and by creating habitat islands for flying birds and insects. Some researchers have proposed the idea of assisted migration, or deliberate movement of species to a new place. In some cases this may work well, particularly when a species is not being moved very far and most of the other species it typically associates with are present. It may not work so well if species are moved so far that the species they encounter are completely novel. The introduced species could become invasive, or could fail to survive if its host food, pollinators, seed dispersers, or nesting sites are unavailable.
Whether you stay put or move, in the long term a species’ ability to evolve new adaptations to an altered environment will likely determine its survival. How quickly species can adapt depends on their generation time, the diversity of their genomes, numbers of offspring, and luck. Compare these examples. Black swallowtail butterfly—Papilio polyxenes has two generations per year, and a single female may lay 200–400 eggs. The second generation overwinters in place, and the adults do not migrate. The species evolved a gene that allows them to feed on plants containing furanocoumarins, chemicals that deter many other insect species from feeding on them. Plants in the Apiaceae (carrot) and Rutaceae (citrus) families often contain furanocoumarins, and black swallowtails feed exclusively on plants in these families. Black swallowtails can be found from southern Canada to Northern Mexico, and there are several regional subspecies. Because of the large range of this species, fast generation time, and wide host plant range, climate change is unlikely to affect them much. White oak tree—Quercus alba grows throughout the eastern United States, covering a wide range of climates from Georgia to southern Maine. Trees seldom produce acorns before they are 50 years old unless they are grown in the open. But when they do reproduce, a single tree can produce thousands of acorns. Genetic diversity within and among white oak populations is relatively high. Given its wide range and high levels of genetic diversity, white oak could adapt to climate change, but if change occurs too rapidly some populations could easily be lost 3
given the long generation time of the trees. Only about three generations of oaks have had a chance to grow and reproduce since the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide levels began increasing rapidly. White oaks also suffer from deer overpopulations and loss of habitat, resulting in lower survival probabilities for seedlings and extinction of local populations. Polar bear—Polar bears evolved from brown bears 4–5 million years ago. They adapted to living in the Arctic, feeding principally on seals, and sea ice is critical to their hunting success. Polar bear mothers seldom have their first offspring before they are 8–10 years old. They breed only about once every three years, and generally have two cubs per litter. Polar bear populations have relatively low genetic diversity. Unfortunately, the future for these large, long-lived animals looks pretty grim. They have no place to move to, and their low genetic diversity and long generation time will make adaptation extremely unlikely. Although some are known to feed at garbage dumps and on domestic dogs, these alternative food sources do not provide the fat that a seal does. In the Anthropocene, humans will decide which species and natural communities they will work to save, and which ones will cease to exist. There will be some wildly successful species that we have to work to control, and there will be species whose conservation will depend on careful tending. In my view, protecting and restoring existing habitat provides the most secure and cost-effective means of conserving species. The more natural areas we can protect, the more we will gain in cleaner air and water, reduced erosion, pollination services for crop plants, and healthier human populations. And for me, a walk in the woods makes my day brighter and makes me feel like the rest of our global problems might not be so insurmountable after all. Sylvan Kaufman is the co-author of Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species and the principle of Sylvan Green Earth Consulting. She will be a keynote speaker for the fourth annual Tent Symposium on Sunday, September 28. See pages 20 and 21 for details.
Adkins Arboretum is operated by the not-for-profit Adkins Arboretum, Ltd. under a 50-year lease from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Adkins Arboretum, a 400-acre native garden and preserve, fosters the adoption of land stewardship practices for a healthier and more beautiful world.
Native Seed is published three times a year and is distributed free to members. To become a member, visit adkinsarboretum.org. 12610 Eveland Road, P.O. Box 100 Ridgely, MD 21660 410-634-2847, 410-634-2878 (fax) info@adkinsarboretum.org adkinsarboretum.org
Resilience
HOURS Visitor’s Center: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday; noon–4 p.m. Sunday Grounds are open daily. ADMISSION $5 for adults $2 for students ages 6–18 free to children 5 and under Admission is free for members. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Officers Sydney Doehler, President Will Cook, Vice President Henry Brandt, Treasurer Blair Carmean, Secretary Members Katherine Allen Vicki Arion Patricia Bowell Carol Jelich Michael Jensen Mary Jo Kubeluis Barbara McClinton Kelly Phipps Nancy Jane Reed Alan Visintainer April Walter Trustees Emeriti Kathleen Carmean Peter Stifel STAFF Ellie Altman, Executive Director Robyn Affron, Visitor Services Coordinator Joanne Murphy, Program Assistant Diana Beall, Visitor Services Assistant Joanne Healey, Nursery Manager Jenny Houghton, Youth Program Coordinator Leah Reynolds, Director of Giving Michelle Smith, Bookkeeper
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Resilience. Thinking of climate change and the Chesapeake Bay conjures up black-and-white photographs that tell the story of the slow threat of rising tides and the homes of generations of Marylanders on islands that have now succumbed to the Bay. In those photographs, I see grit, determination, and resilience. It is a cherished combination of human attributes—standing up and resisting the tide’s advance with the agility and creativity of a dancer or a wise master of an ancient martial art, knowing when to step back from their partner’s or adversary’s advance. Fast forward to 2014. Recently, as I was shopping at a local garden center, a customer stopped me to ask, “Is it annuals that come back annually?” I was standing among the early summer color of many annuals and perennials with a rusty old child’s red wagon serving as my shopping cart. “Oh, I see how confusing this is,” I said. “No, it is perennials that come back every year.” Quickly we found a way to keep this straight and remember next spring when gardeners are eager to shop for plants after winter has done its damage and reduced beloved hydrangeas to tiny sprouts—“annuals you have to buy annually.” As I headed to the checkout counter with my mix of annuals and perennials, I stopped to talk to the Center’s long-time plant buyer, and we commiserated on the challenge for customers to keep straight the difference between annuals and perennials. “Does it need to be this hard?” I pondered. “The horticulture industry is making changes and moving away from using the words ‘annuals’ and ‘perennials,’” she said. In the future, plant labels will include the USDA hardiness zone, so customers will need to know the zone in which they live. When they purchase a plant, its labeled hardiness zone will confirm how tender it might be in winter, how miserable it might be in summer, and how happy it might be year after year. Brilliant! What I recognize behind this trend is a subtle indicator of how we are adapting to climate change. No longer will we talk about annuals versus perennials. Instead we will talk in terms of “adaptation,” “hardiness,” and my preferred term for addressing climate change: “resilience.” When you shop for plants, ask for resilient plants. A knowledgeable horticulturist will steer you away from nonnative Leyland cypresses and Bradford pears, and instead steer you toward a native willow oak, sycamore, or loblolly pine, because they are resilient. While more food labels are including their source (Mexican strawberries, Chilean grapes), it is time for ornamental plant labels to include the native habitats of plants. If a label reads “wet old woods of the Eastern Shore” or “high desert of the Southwest,” you will make good decisions about what will grow in your front yard. You will have the information you need to be resilient and stand up to the tide until it is time to step back. Please join the Arboretum community for a broader consideration of the meaning of resilience at the annual Tent Symposium on Sunday, September 28. See pages 20 and 21 for full details. My best,
Ginna Tiernan, Adult Program Coordinator Allison Yates, Facilities Maintenance Coordinator Jodie Littleton, Newsletter Editor Joanne Shipley, Graphic Designer Photos by Ann Rohlfing Illustrations by Barbara Bryan
AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
4
T
Teachinterpret enjoy!
plant
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Arboretum’s volunteers are a committed, energetic, and talented group involved in all aspects of the Arboretum—from maintenance to program development, from propagation to fundraising. They generously donate their skills, knowledge, and experience and are essential to the Arboretum’s smooth operation. As a young not-for-profit organization with a small staff, the Arboretum could not offer its current programs, events, and activities without volunteers. Their contributions make an important and significant difference.
MARYLAND MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM BEGINS IN OCTOBER This fall, the Arboretum will offer the Maryland Master Naturalist Program for the Coastal Plain. This program for the Eastern Shore engages citizens as stewards of Maryland’s natural resources and ecosystems through science-based education and volunteer service in their communities. First offered in 2011, Maryland Master Naturalist training also serves as the Arboretum docent training program. The program meets monthly from October to July.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Ginna Tiernan, Adult Program Coordinator, at 410-634-2847, ext. 27 or gtiernan@adkinsarboretum.org.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Are you interested in sharing your love of nature with visitors? The Arboretum is seeking volunteers to help with the Visitor’s Center front desk. Introduce visitors to all the Arboretum has to offer! Contact Robyn Affron, Visitor Services Coordinator, at raffron@adkinsarboretum.org.
Participants will learn about Maryland’s natural history, flora and fauna, principles of ecology, human interaction with the landscape, the science of science, and teaching and interpretation. Following completion of the program, trainees must complete 40 hours of volunteer work for the host. For more information about this unique opportunity, contact Ginna Tiernan, Adult Program Coordinator, at 410-634-2847, ext. 27 or gtiernan@adkinsarboretum.org. To submit an application for the Maryland Master Naturalist program, visit http://extension.umd.edu/ masternaturalist.
5
T H E
C A M P A I G N
Update
T O
B U I L D
Adkins Takes Big Step with New Facility
The Arboretum’s Campaign to Build a Green Legacy will fund the renovation and expansion of the Visitor’s Center. At a May 22 event, the project architect, Andrew Herdeg, a partner in the San Antonio architecture firm Lake|Flato, unveiled the new plans to a crowd of members and supporters.
by Kathy Bosin
Reprinted with permission from the Chestertown Spy It took me about 30 seconds to remember why I love the Adkins Arboretum. As I walked across the new entry bridge, I stopped twice for large bullfrogs, once when a large deer splashed through the marsh, and another three times to listen to the “plonks, poinks” and “BRAAPS” of other native frogs. So much life is down below that bridge! I was half tempted to go grab my boots and climb down in there.
At this presentation, Honorary Campaign Chair Peter Stifel talked about his commitment to the project and plans to put a shovel in the ground in fall 2015. $3 million is needed to complete the project. These funds will come from a combination of state, federal, and private sources. The centerpiece of the new facilities is the Marion Price Art Gallery that will be dedicated solely to the display of nature-inspired art. The Arboretum’s current multipurpose room will be renovated to serve as a classroom and resource center. To learn more about the campaign, visit adkinsarboretum.org.
But I was there to tell the story of their campaign, not to frolic with marsh creatures. Delmarva’s treasured living museum, the Adkins Arboretum, kickstarted their capital campaign last week with a goal to raise a final $3,000,000 to complete their facility upgrade. As the only outdoor center on Delmarva to highlight our region’s unique ecosystem, the organization intends to raise 60% of the construction costs needed before putting a shovel in the ground in the fall of 2015. Led by Peter Stifel’s $1 million gift, over 50 organizations and foundations have joined hundreds of other donors in raising $4,500,000 so far.
The Caroline Pavilion AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
6
A
G R E E N
L E G A C Y
The Van Dyke Classroerom and Resource Cent
The Marion Price Art Gallery
The opportunity is great. With only one tiny multi-purpose room to serve as a gallery, classroom, seminar and conference room, the organization has managed to serve thousands of children and adults each year with opportunities to experience Delmarva’s unique natural heritage. New infrastructure including a gallery, an open air classroom and a new multi-purpose pavilion will increase student participation in outdoor education by 500%. And that’s critical, in a time of heightened emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM) in our region’s school districts. The new space will allow the Arboretum’s extensive collection of books and publications to come out of a storage facility on Kent Island and be placed in the public eye—accessible to visitors and scholars. An outdoor classroom and open pavilion with seating for 200 will extend the organization’s ability to provide multiple offerings at one time. From musical performances to lectures, the new space will inspire with broad views, open access and handsome natural materials. The new gallery will allow for more art, more accessible to all.
newly revised plans for gallery space, walkway, classroom and gardens, Herdeg said that the re-design keeps all the functionality while addressing the new economy. His designs are inspired by nature and showcase the special place that is Adkins Arboretum. The new facility will enable this organization to continue to nurture the environmental, cultural and social health of the region, connecting us all with wild Delmarva. From conservation landscaping seminars to nature walks, community lectures, art and native plant education, Adkins Arboretum has proven to be a Mid-Atlantic treasure. This is a cause to support.
Architect Andrew Herdeg of Lake|Flato Architects presented his architectural designs on Thursday to a crowd of some 3 dozen supporters gathered in the small classroom that is the Arboretum’s entire public space at present. Describing the 7
w , h c r u h C s s e n d i l a o h H e From the ns in them o i t a n i Bookshelves m e o m n e o c e ed b d a h y e Th . e n i o u g b e r r i e we Th . d e r a e p p a s i d e v f o o t m d sor a h s t s i t p a B e Th n . i d S . o t M fG e Th . s n a i l a p o c e s i h p t E y l n he O . g n i d l i u b d l o t s t ’ t n s i e w apt y d o b o n t s o m l a d n a ut, By Arboretum Librarian and Maryland Master Naturalist Carol Jelich
The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Landscape by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy. Timber Press, 2014.
When I heard last year that Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy were working on a new book, I looked forward to it with great anticipation. Darke, the skilled nature photographer and storyteller, and Tallamy, the author of the seminal work Bringing Nature Home? Couldn’t wait! Well, it’s here, and it’s worth the wait. Darke and Tallamy led a walk at the Arboretum this spring, and I was disappointed that I could not attend. However, reading the book is like taking a walk in nature in the Mid-Atlantic with these two talented men who have a great deal to share. This book includes five chapters and is roughly divided into thirds. The first four chapters comprise one-third of the book and address the ecological basis for landscape design: structure (layers), community/critters, ecological function of gardens, and a special chapter on the art of observation.
Chapter 1 begins the conversation with a discussion of layers evident in natural areas. Canopy trees, understory trees, shrub, herbaceous, and ground layers are described both in narrative and with many superb color photographs. One photograph illustrates a story I learned and have shared as an Arboretum naturalist but had never seen—an ant transporting a bloodroot seed with the eliaosome that attracted it. This chapter ends with a look at two conceptual layers added to the literal, physical layers in the landscape. The cultural layer, how people use the landscape, is a necessary consideration, as is the temporal layer. What happens over time is an important consideration in the living landscape—the mature growth of plants as well as the spread of invasive non-native plants take place in the temporal layer. Chapter 2, by Dr. Tallamy, covers interactions of plants and animals that make up ecosystems. He documents the
AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
8
important interactions between insects and plants that support other life forms in the garden, including people. This chapter addresses the critical role of residential landscapes in preserving these systems. Chapter 3 further makes the case that although it is important for gardens to provide services such as shade, shelter, and beauty for people, they must go beyond to become functioning ecosystems. Beautiful gardens have long been the goal; however, living landscapes add ecological function. Both are possible, and integrating both in your
10
garden will sustain not only songbirds but humans as well. It’s not just important, but ethical. Chapter 4 is a fun chapter on how to observe and appreciate the interactions that occur in a living landscape. Ideas for training the eye are included, along with fascinating stories of things to look out for, such as chickadees caching seeds, or the red-spotted purple butterfly larva building a stick of frass and attaching it to a cherry leaf, then crawling out onto the stick to escape marauding ants.
Arboretum Book Club Celebrates Ten Years
Chapter 5 is the second third of the book. The concepts presented in the first four chapters are applied, using the layers as an organizing structure. One sentence in this chapter seemed to me to form the core of the book: “Plants will always be at the heart of gardening, but instead of beginning with a set of objects, we can start with a set of goals to ensure the landscapes we live in are beautifully layered, biologically diverse, and broadly functional.” Many ideas are offered. I especially appreciated the discussion of how to create the herbaceous layer; this clicked for me in a way it had not before.
In 2004, several Arboretum staff and volunteers met to form a book club. That year, the members selected three books for discussion: Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire, selected essays from Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, and Susan Orlean’s Orchid Thief. Ten years and nearly 100 books later, the book club is going strong. To see the 2014 meeting schedule and the entire list of books read, visit adkinsarboretum.org and click on Programs|Events and then Book Club.
Arboretum members may participate, either by attending meetings or by receiving e-mail updates. Contact Carol Jelich at cjelich@adkinsarboretum.org to join or to suggest a book for the club to read that is not yet listed on the website.
The final third of the book is a detailed plant list that includes the many plants shown and discussed throughout the book. The plants are listed by U.S. region, beginning with the MidAtlantic. Each plant is keyed to indicate ecological function as well as aesthetic landscape function.
In celebration of this anniversary, here are some of the club’s favorite books over the years, with the year each was read and discussed:
The Living Landscape is very well organized. Some of its content is co-written, while some, including essays on various topics, is written by the individual authors. Helpfully, pages written by Darke are colored gold, and those written by Tallamy are blue.
Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell (2014) The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan (2004)
I would recommend this book to everyone gardening in our region. We are fortunate that the authors live in the MidAtlantic (Darke in Pennsylvania and Tallamy in Delaware), and so most of the plants discussed, and plants and habitats photographed, are native to the region. The authors make note throughout the book of size, scale, and how plants would work both in large and small garden settings. For example, in a discussion of woody plants, small understory trees are suggested to function as canopy trees on smaller residential lots. Photos of plants used in both formal and informal gardens offer many ideas for the reader.
*Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy (2008)
As Rick Darke writes in his preface:
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold (2004, 2009)
The Brother Gardeners by Andrea Wulf (2010) *The Forest Unseen by David George Haskell (2013)
Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf (2011) Gathering Moss by Robin Wald Kimmerer (2008) *Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv (2006)
Rosalie Edge, Hawk of Mercy by Dyana Furmansky (2010) *Teaching the Trees by Joan Maloof (2007)
“A well-made garden should be full of life, human and otherwise, providing infinite, daily opportunities to experience that glorious multiplicity of things and living processes.”
There’s a Hair in My Dirt by Gary Larson (2007) What the Robin Knows by Jon Young (2013) The Wild Trees by Richard Preston (2009)
In his preface, Doug Tallamy notes: “We can simultaneously appreciate how landscapes look and how their interconnected parts create the vital ecosystem services that sustain us all.” Their book definitely provides “the inspiration and strategies for making and maintaining truly living landscapes—gardens that are full of life and truly vital to both human needs and the needs of local and regional wildlife communities.”
*Discussion participants agreed that these are important books for everyone to read.
9
EVENT TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE Individual event tickets $150 ($75 tax deductible) Tables of ten by reservation Raffle tickets $100 (not tax deductible) BUY TICKETS Online: magicinthemeadow.org Phone or e-mail: Leah Reynolds at 410-634-2847, ext 33, lreynolds@adkinsarboretum.org
Thanks to our Corporate Partners CURATOR
/
AMBASSADOR
/
SPONSOR Accounting Strategies Group Joanne Shipley Graphic Design Lake|Flato Architects Morgan Stanley Smith Barney PNC Bank FRIEND Avon-Dixon Insurance Agency Babikow Greenhouses Clear Ridge Nurseries Delmarva Business Network Davis, Bowen & Friedel
Saturday, September 27 6–9 p.m. Stroll to the meadow with a refreshing cocktail in hand Bask in the glow of the autumn sunset and twilight Savor delicious food by Magnolia Caterers Relax to music by The Unified Jazz Ensemble Browse the auction and enter to win an exciting new raffle 10
BESTof LIVE ! her ot ne no ke li A raffle
ONE LUCKY WINNER gets to choose the Live Auction item of his or her choice. Each raffle ticket costs $100 and gives you the chance to win ANY ONE of the Live Auction items offered. Only 100 tickets will be sold! Go to magicinthemeadow.org to buy tickets and to see the other valuable Live Auction items you could win for only $100. The raffle drawing will take place at the event prior to the Live Auction. You DO NOT have to be present to win.
Sampling of Magic in the Meadow Live Auction Items gardens, chocolateries, and farms. Provence is arguably the most irresistible region in France. Its beauty spans the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps to the delta plains of the Camargue, and boasts Europe’s greatest canyon, the Gorges du Verdon.
Tuscany Culinary Escape for Two Gourmets and wine buffs descend on one of Italy’s best-kept secrets in northwest Tuscany to enjoy the abundant local specialties of the Garfagnana Valley. Walk, hike, and bike in the picturesque countryside and work up an appetite between sumptuous meals! Included in this package are luxury lodgings for 7 nights, including 2 at the Ponte Sisto in Rome, 5 at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa in Lucca, breakfast, spa treatment, private cooking class with lunch, wine cellar and olive oil mill tour and tasting, $1,000 toward a 7-day car rental, and round-trip coach class airfare from the 48 contiguous U.S. states to Rome, Italy.
Hilton Head Vacation for Eight You and your family will have a fabulous 1-week vacation in beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. There’s plenty of room to relax and play in the spacious and modern villa located in the heart of South Forest Beach. This 4-bedroom, 3-bath townhome is close to the pool and a short walk to 12 miles of pristine beaches. Ride bicycles to Coligny Plaza, the “downtown” of Hilton Head, and Forest Beach, where you’ll find restaurants, movies, and shopping! Generously donated by Vicki and Mitch Arion. Copper Mountain Vacation for Six Spend 5 fabulous nights at Copper Mountain in Colorado. While best known for its skiing and snowboarding, this resort area is beautiful year-round. Enjoy breathtaking views, easy to challenging hiking and biking trails, restaurants, chairlift rides, zip-line, and horseback riding. The 2-bedroom, 3-bath condo sleeps 6-8 and is located on the 6th floor overlooking the magnificent 10 Mile Range. Copper Mountain is 90 minutes from Denver International Airport, halfway between Breckenridge and Vail for an easy day or evening trip. Generously donated by Caroll and Alan Visintainer.
Vancouver and Victoria Vacation for Two This premier vacation includes a total of 7 nights lodging, breakfast, and round-trip airfare from within the 48 contiguous U.S. states to Vancouver, Canada. Your choice of hotels. Whether you are looking to experience British traditions graced with afternoon tea, venture ocean waters for the thrill of whale watching, or browse through Victoria’s quaint shops and streets, The Fairmont Express is an excellent choice, or consider The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, one of Canada’s great railway hotels. Opened in 1939 and restored in the 1990s, this elegant yet relaxed hotel has been host to Queen Elizabeth and her father, King George VI. Provence Gardens and Vineyards Vacation for Two You won’t want to miss this trip of a lifetime to experience Provence’s sunshine, food, wine, and Mediterranean charm. This lush package includes round-trip airfare, 5 nights at a four-star hotel in the beautiful cities of Avignon or St. Remy, and daily breakfast. Your personal driver will take you on an unforgettable guided tour of private wineries,
Trustees’ Choice Wine Collection What fun you’ll have tasting each of the wines in this generous collection donated by the Arboretum’s Board of Trustees. More than two cases of their favorites include vintages from California, Washington State, Italy, and more. The full list of wines can be seen at magicinthemeadow.org.
11
Photo by Toria Avigliano
Doug Smith Volunteer of the Year When Doug Smith retired in 1997, after more than 30 years as a pathologist and nearly 20 years as a senior medical officer, he vowed that he would never serve on a board, join a committee, or give orders again. That resolution is the Arboretum’s great gain. Since 2010, Doug has worked faithfully with Maintenance Coordinator Allison Yates, demonstrating week after week that no request is beneath his attention and no task is beyond his scope. For his boundless energy and unwavering dedication, Doug was named the Arboretum’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year. After moving to the Eastern Shore, Doug volunteered with several nonprofits before discovering the Arboretum. He walked the woodland paths while his wife took a wreathmaking class and decided to pick up debris along the way. “I walked every path during that three-hour class,” he says, “and I came back with three little pieces of debris.” That walk and a cup of coffee at the Visitor’s Center were all it took for Doug to join forces with Allison. “I’m beyond tickled that Doug—or ‘Super Doug,’ as he’s called by anyone who has ever worked with him—was chosen as Volunteer of the Year,” says Yates. “He’s a master carpenter and a whiz at problem solving. There’s nothing he can’t do and there’s no project he won’t tackle. His handiwork is everywhere you look on the Arboretum AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
grounds. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him, and there’s no way I can adequately thank him.” Doug has fixed everything from the Visitor’s Center pergola to a malfunctioning men’s room, in addition to trimming trees, monitoring the Arboretum’s 24 bluebird nesting boxes, and helping Allison keep the paths and gardens clear of debris. When rainstorms flooded the Arboretum’s streams, creating a dangerous sinkhole in the path at the foot of a bridge, Doug brought pontoons to the site, built a raft, and floated under the bridge so he could construct a bulkhead. “I’m happy to do whatever needs doing at the Arboretum,” says Doug, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. “I so love working with my hands. I’m a physician, and I fully understand that the best avenue to a long life is to not stop keeping busy. You’ve got to walk, to use your arms and legs, or you’ll just dry up.” “Doug is a workhorse who could shame most people half his age by the sheer amount of physical work he can accomplish in a day,” says Arboretum Executive Director Ellie Altman. “I shake my head and wonder how the Arboretum staff could be so lucky as to work alongside him.” “I feel most comfortable donating whatever capabilities I have,” says Doug. “I feel that I am of use at the Arboretum, and I feel that I am appreciated. I’ll keep at it until I can’t do it anymore. I honestly have loved every bit of my time here.” 12
Targeted
Now Serving All-You-CanSpending their days lounging about in nature and chowing down to their hearts’ content is the life of a goat at Adkins Arboretum. This decadent lifestyle is called “targeted goat grazing.” It is respectable work, and the pay is room and board and plenty of friendly visitors. In 2011 the Arboretum began its Targeted Goat Grazing program with the adoption of its first goat, Lily, from, Eco-Goats, a company that “leases” goats to property owners to use in the removal of unwanted vegetation. Under Eco-Goats forester Brian Knox’s tutelage, the Arboretum’s Facilities Coordinator, Allison Yates, began to build the herd. With two new goats purchased in late summer 2013, the herd reached six. Now in its fourth year, the program has been funded annually by the Shared Earth Foundation. The first few years were dedicated to achieving a steep learning curve about goat nutrition, disease, illnesses, habits, and temperament, and now Yates has mastered goat herding.
ADDITIONAL CONTROL METHODS
At Adkins Arboretum, goats are used to clear overgrown areas so that staff can access the sites for other treatments. Woody vines are clipped away from trees, and a brush mower cuts brush left standing after the goats have gone. Invasive tree species such as white mulberry (Morus alba) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) are killed and removed. Herbicide can be applied directly to cut stems and to resprouts of undesirable plants with less chance of harming surrounding desirable plants.
Goat Grazing
Photo by Leah Reynolds
-Eat Poison Ivy, Thorny Shrubs, and Vines Truth be known, the goats, Lily, Sunshine, Pearl, Puffer Fish, Rosie, and Tiarella, are the Arboretum’s pampered pets, and Lily, the first born, is the Arboretum’s mascot. But unlike most pets, they do serious work and earn their care, food, and shelter.
Using goats to repeatedly graze an area will kill most woody plants without using herbicides, mowing, or hand pulling. Goats can also clear brush quickly to provide access to pursue other treatment methods, such as cutting vines, mowing brush, or applying herbicide to resprouts of undesirable plants.
A goat is genetically wired to eat, eat, and eat. Some of their favorite treats are the Arboretum’s most aggressive and detested nonnative invasive plants: oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), and Chinese bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata). These species have readily invaded forest edges and can grow so densely that tree saplings are girdled and bent by vines and native shrubs and tree seedlings are overgrown and shaded out. Accessing these impenetrable thickets to cut vines and mow briars becomes impossible.
Goats will eat almost any plants within reach, so desirable plants and tree saplings need to be protected within an area where goats are grazing. An area with many desirable plants may not be a good place to use targeted grazing. Goats like to be in groups of three or more. The Arboretum uses a solar battery-operated electrified fence to keep these nimble animals where we want them grazing. The Arboretum goats graze often in small groups of three goats and can clear 1,500 square feet in a matter of three weeks. That easily translates into clearing three acres in a growing season with the Arboretum’s small herd.
MANAGING GOATS
13
Replanting will begin once an area has been cleared of weeds and invasive plants after several cycles of regrowth and grazing to sufficiently suppress this growth so that desirable native trees and shrubs can be planted. Replanting with native tree saplings and shrubs that are well suited to the site will establish a healthy forest that is better able to resist invasion by undesirable plants. Next time you visit the Arboretum, please ask the front desk to give you directions to where the goats are grazing so you can visit them and encourage them as they do their good work of munching, munching, and more munching.
Photo by Leah Reynolds
The Will to Give: How Giving Changes the Giver By Will Cook, Arboretum Trustee and Volunteer
I remember the day forty years ago when it all started. I was driving on East Capitol Street by the Library of Congress, near the very end of my daily commute, when the song intruded on the radio. It was by a group called America, and the lyrics went as follows:
“In the desert, you can remember your name, ’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.”
A native of Baltimore, Will Cook and his wife, Barbara, retired to the Eastern Shore—first to Easton and then to a property on Edge Creek Cove in Royal Oak where they are converting much of the lawn to native woodland. He became aware of the Arboretum on a visit to the Native Plant Nursery and spent several years volunteering alongside Nursery Manager Joanne Healey. Disappointed by the lack of signage for woodland trees, Cook set about creating a native tree brochure with help from Arboretum staff and docents. A year in the making, the guide to native trees on the Arboretum grounds maps the locations of 44 species along with photographs and descriptions to aid in their identification. The guide is available free to visitors at the front desk. In 2013, Cook eagerly accepted an invitation to join the Board of Trustees. As the Board’s vice president, chair of the Development Committee, and a member of the Finance Committee, Will has been instrumental in ensuring the Arboretum’s financial sustainability. When asked why he chooses to support the Arboretum, Cook cites the natural setting, outstanding staff, and, “of course, the contributions that the Arboretum makes to raise the public’s awareness of our natural environment and how they can become effective stewards.”
AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
14
I recall immediately switching off the radio and thinking about how accepting we are of the mediocrity of popular culture. This is no big deal in itself, but what if the problem is more insidious than that: what if most of our thoughts and opinions are based on what we have been told by parents and teachers and pundits, and not on our own open awareness of the world around us? And, in particular, the Natural World, to which we are exposed to a sadly diminishing degree?
• The
only knowledge we can have of God is what we can determine by witnessing His handiwork, either by direct observation or through the scientific process. We have lost the reverence for Nature that was typical of indigenous societies, perhaps because the few remaining remnants of unspoiled nature are so difficult to find. There is a valid role for mankind in the manipulation and exploitation of Nature, for example in agriculture, forestry, or ocean harvesting, but we risk reaching a tipping point beyond which the biodiversity of wilderness areas cannot be maintained. It may be impossible for us to reverse the continuing destruction of the environment, but we must aim to slow it down wherever possible, for the benefit of our fellow creatures and for the physical and spiritual health of future generations.
As an experiment, I decided to remove as many cultural influences from my life as possible. Television was easy to give up—I had never really spent much time on it anyway. Likewise, I quickly found I had little time for most forms of popular entertainment, such as professional sports, movies, and works of fiction. My work with COMSAT Laboratories at the time meshed nicely with my mission. As a newly minted engineer, I worked in relative solitude and, under the guidance of a few brilliant satellite engineers and mathematicians, I became absorbed in the creation of a computer model of the international satellite communications system. This experience instilled in me a profound awe of the physical world, and the exquisite beauty of the mathematics that describes it. So when I arrived at work in the morning and a colleague would ask, “Hey, what did you think of that game yesterday?” I could confidently reply, “Uh, what game?”
It has been said that no one can be unhappy if he devotes his life to others. I believe the same can be said of those who preserve and protect Nature. The people I admire most are those who have cheerfully accepted their stewardship responsibility and are devoting themselves to the task.
Native Landscape Design Center at Adkins Arboretum
In the years since, I have tried to raise my consciousness through a smattering of reading in science, history, and philosophy, but mostly through my own personal observations and meditations on the Natural World. In the process, I have treated every person’s opinions with skepticism because they are invariably (even when “correct”) based on incomplete and erroneous information, and I have tried to form as few opinions of my own as possible. In the process, however, I have gained a healthy respect for the following principles: • All
of our thoughts and actions should be guided by the Categorical Imperative, as described (in admittedly cryptic terms) by Immanuel Kant. Some people equate this concept with the Golden Rule, but to me it is less species-dependent and applies to our reverence for the entire Natural Word, and an acknowledgement of our responsibility toward it.
Conserve the native landscape Encourage biodiversity Protect the health of water, soils and air
individual experiences the world at a specific level of consciousness, and we should continually seek to reach a higher level in order to achieve our full human potential. At the lowest level of consciousness we are concerned with our own physical needs and those of our immediate family. At the next level we adopt the Old Testament admonition to love our neighbor as ourselves. But according to Jesus’s teachings, it is not enough to love our neighbor—we must also love our enemies. And it is more difficult yet to love strangers who are separated by distance and culture, or those who belong to future generations. The highest level of consciousness is when we regard not just humans, but all of Nature, as something of value beyond our own exploitation, and are able to treat every creature as a valued part of God’s creation.
Photo by Ann Rohlfing
• Each
15
Work in conjunction with a landscape designer to create a beautiful, affordable native landscape that benefits wildlife and the environment.
adkinsarboretum.org 410-634-2847 ext. 0 info@adkinsarboretum.org
15
Art E Clockwise from top left: “The 365 Calendar Drawings: October 24, 2007,” Andrea Way, ink and acrylic on paper, 7” x 5” “Beachbush Ferro,” Christine Neill, watercolor and archival digital print on paper, 30” x 22” “The Order of Nature,” Fran Skiles, mixed media/collage, 40” x 30” “Gaudi’s Feathers,” Lew Fifield, archival digital photograph on paper, 11” x 17” AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
16
The Arboretum sponsors art exhibitions throughout the year, including an annual competition and outdoor environmental art. Please call the Arboretum at 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours. The seventh biennial Outdoor Sculpture Invitational— Artists in Dialogue with the Landscape continues through September 30. Inspired by sites in the Arboretum’s forest and meadow, seven artists from the Mid-Atlantic region have created art in close collaboration with the landscape. Their work ranges from nature-based poetry to swinging benches and from swirling sculptures made from hundreds of twigs to plastic water bottles repurposed as meadow flowers.
Exhibits Fran Skiles’s abstract collaged landscapes are born of the light, vegetation, and moist soil she finds in the natural environments of West Virginia and South Florida where she lives. In Earth Matters, on view through September 26, she intuitively layers photography, paint, ink, pencil, embroidery, paper, and fabric, creating work brimming with energy and nuance as brilliant colors sing out against earth tones. For the past 30 years, Andrea Way, an artist based in Washington, DC, and Princeton Harbor, CA, has created staggeringly intricate drawings that call to mind maps or star charts. Closely resembling patterns found in nature, her works slowly evolve as she follows codes interconnecting layer after layer of drawn and painted marks. In 2007, she took a year off from this labor-intensive work to make one small drawing per day for the entire year. Exploring a different theme each month, The 365 Calendar Drawings will be on view September 30 through November 28. There will be a reception Saturday, October 11 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Baltimore artists Christine Neill and Lew Fifield, a married couple who both teach at Maryland Institute College of Art, join forces to present Natural Pairings, on view December 2 through January 30. Neill is well known for her lush mixed-media paintings and prints exploring the intricacies and ephemerality of the natural world, while Fifield uses digital photography and multi-dimensional paper layers to capture the patterns of nature in richly nuanced images that evoke memory and faraway landscapes. This show offers a unique opportunity to see how two artists working in close proximity influence one another as they interpret the natural world. There will be a reception Saturday, December 6 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Visitors enjoying “Clear Forest” by Julia Bloom, part of the Outdoor Sculpture Invitational Detail of “Flowers in the Field,” Elizabeth McCue, recycled plastic water bottles
17
Events LIVING IN THE TREES—SPEAKING TO THE TIMES
An Ongoing Conversation in Music and Art at Adkins Arboretum Saturday, September 6, 5:30–8 p.m. Fee: $25 members/$30 non-members
Featuring a performance by Jeff Davis & Café Bossa and a walk led by artists Howard and Mary McCoy of the biennial Outdoor Sculpture Invitational, Artists in Dialogue with Landscape When art is made outside in nature, it is constantly changing. Throughout the summer, the site-specific works created for the seventh biennial Outdoor Sculpture Invitational—Artists in Dialogue with Landscape have been part of Adkins Arboretum’s landscape. Meadow grasses have grown into the curves of Marcia Wolfson Ray’s marsh elder stick sculpture “Serpentine,” turning it into a living green artwork. The cloths on which Jay Fuhrman’s nature poems are printed have mellowed like aging prayer flags and become translucent. Join co-curators Howard and Mary McCoy for a twilight walk to several of the sculptures to see how they have evolved and settled into the landscape over the summer months.
Jeff Davis & Café Bossa will set the tone with an evening of classic bossas in their Americanized instrumentation, alongside original material to support the latest release, Cosmos. The trio of Jeff Davis (guitar and vocals), Jay Heath (saxophone), and Ray Anthony (percussion) will be joined by guest vocalist Jodie Littleton, lead singer of the Chestertown-based group Dovetail. Active in the local music scene since his arrival on the Eastern Shore in 1990, Davis has performed most recently with jazz pianist Joe Holt and vocalist Beth McDonald in the group Classic Avenue. He has supported many local and regional musicians as a bassist and has released two independent CDs of original compositions. His latest release, Cosmos, is an ep of Latin and bossa-esque tunes. Heath, a professional tenor saxophonist, has toured Europe with legendary R&B and soul singer Percy Sledge and has recorded and performed extensively throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He and his wife, Denise, are owners of Middletown Music, a full line music store and education center in Middletown, DE. Anthony, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, comes from the lineage of jazz guitarist Harry Leahey. He has toured nationally, recorded with numerous artists, and teaches percussion professionally. The evening includes a light dinner of antipasti, salad, and dessert. A cash wine and beer bar will be available. Advance registration is requested. AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
18
Luminance is presented by Adkins Arboretum in concert with Sandbox at Washington College and in partnership with the TKF Foundation. Sandbox, the Washington College Program for Creativity in the Environment, explores our aesthetic relation to the natural world, today and historically, and examines the social and ecological issues at its core by engaging students and faculty in the arts and natural sciences in collaborative projects, exhibits, performances, and experiments.
MAGIC IN THE MEADOW
Saturday, September 27, 6–9 p.m. See pages 10–11 for full details.
SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM DAY
Saturday, September 27
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, DC. Doors of museums and cultural institutions worldwide will be open free of charge. Enjoy free Arboretum admission along with a self-guided walk or audio tour, and shop the Native Plant Nursery for the region’s largest selection of ornamental natives for fall planting.
HOLIDAY WREATH SALE
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Ring in the season with local greenery for a beautiful Eastern Shore holiday! Shop for handmade evergreen wreaths crafted from the bounty of the Arboretum’s forest and gardens, along with fresh-cut greens and stunning holiday centerpieces. Wreaths may be ordered in advance at adkinsplants.com from November 1 to 21. To donate greens or to volunteer to create wreaths, contact Joanne Healey at 410-634-2847, ext. 32 or jhealey@adkinsarboretum.org.
LUMINANCE—AN EVENING OF ART VIDEOS FROM THE COLLECTION OF TOM AND KITTY STONER
Tuesday, October 14, 5 p.m.
CANDLELIT CAROLING CELEBRATION
Decker Auditorium, Washington College Free and open to the public
Saturday, December 13, 6–9 p.m.
Tom and Kitty Stoner are passionate about the arts and take annual pilgrimages to deepen their understanding of the artists whose works comprise their collection. They are currently collecting video art with a focus on nature and spirit. This ties directly to the mission of their private foundation, TKF, and its aspirations to provide a deeper human experience by inspiring and supporting the creation of public greenspace that offers a temporary sanctuary, encourages reflection, provides solace, and engenders peace and well-being. Tom and Kitty live in Annapolis, where Tom is a trustee for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. He also serves on the board of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC.
Ring in the holiday season with an evening of light, music, hors d’oeuvres, and greenery. In the gallery, enjoy savories, sweets, a wine bar, and live musical performances. Arboretum docents will lead candlelit walks along the Blockston Branch, stopping along the way to sing carols and sip hot cider by a roaring bonfire. A Delmarva Stargazer will be on hand to uncover the beauty of the winter sky. Top off the evening with a winter hayride around the meadows with a stop at the Funshine Garden for hot chocolate, cookies, and tree decorating.
Fee: $20 members/$25 non-members for adults, $6 for children 18 and under. Children 2 and under are free. Advance registration is requested.
Mermaids, Sigalit Landeau
19
FOURTH ANNUAL
Nature Lessons: Looking Toward a Resilient Future Sunday, September 28, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Fee: $45 members/$55 non-members
Forests strangled by invasive vines, severe storms and frequent floods, massive wildfires in the West, loss of pollinators—it’s easy to be discouraged by the changes we see in our environment. While change is inevitable, there exists the potential to adapt to a changing environment and develop innovations that will allow us to thrive. This symposium explores the science behind resilience—in plants and animals, in our climate, and in our communities. Immerse yourself in a full day at Adkins Arboretum for the fourth annual fall symposium. Tour the Native Plant Nursery, view the seventh biennial Outdoor Sculpture Invitational and Burn Time, an outdoor art installation by Howard and Mary McCoy, and explore the Arboretum’s rich and diverse plant communities on a walk with a docent naturalist. Enjoy lunch, followed by insightful and inspiring presentations by Dr. Sylvan Kaufman, Holly H. Shimizu, and Larissa Johnson, moderated by renowned photographer Dave Harp and environmental studies professor and legendary nature writer Tom Horton. SYLVAN KAUFMAN consults, writes, and teaches about ecology, botany, and restoration topics through her business, Sylvan Green Earth Consulting. Co-author of Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species,
ufman van Ka
SyAld K I N S A R B O R E T U M . O R G
Holly
first published in 2007, she teaches as an adjunct professor for George Washington University’s Sustainable Landscapes Program and participates on the Maryland Invasive Species Council and Maryland Invasive Plant Advisory Committee. She has worked as a researcher on invasive plant and climate change projects at Harvard University and as the curator and land manager of Adkins Arboretum. Sylvan works and gardens in Maryland and New Mexico. HOLLY H. SHIMIZU is a nationally recognized horticulturist with a rich background in plants and gardens. She served as director of the United States Botanic Garden for 14 years, during which time the Botanic Garden experienced a renaissance that included renovation of the Conservatory, completion of the National Garden, and countless inspiring and innovative projects. Holly has worked in gardens
mizu H. Shi
20
around the world and is often recognized as a host of the popular television show Victory Garden. She has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Thomas Roland Medal for outstanding contributions to horticultural education from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. She has written for many publications and is dedicated to heightening an awareness and love of plants through her work. LARISSA JOHNSON has dedicated her life to working with and for communities: helping people create sustainable, walkable, bikeable, healthy neighborhoods that cultivate hale and hearty children and invigorate the communities’ livelihood. She currently serves as Coordinator of Climate Change Outreach and Communication for Maryland Department of the Environment. As a leader within the climate movement in Maryland, she is working to cultivate meaningful relationships that will benefit Marylanders from the mountains to the coast and across political and socioeconomic subgroups. DAVE HARP and TOM HORTON have collaborated on numerous projects, including three books of Harp’s photographs featuring essays by Horton in addition to Swanfall, Horton’s book for children. A lifelong Marylander, Harp operates a corporate and editorial photography business
Johnson a s s i r a L
orton and H m o T arp Dave H
in Cambridge, MD. He served as photographer for the Baltimore Sun Magazine for nearly a decade and has innumerable magazine credits to his name. He was awarded the Andrew White Medal by Loyola College for his Chesapeake Bay photography in 2004 and was appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley to the Maryland State Arts Council.
P RO G R A M S C H E D U L E
Horton, one of the most respected nature writers in the U.S., is a professor of practice in environmental studies at Salisbury University. He has received the John Burroughs Award for the best book of nature writing, as well as the David Brower award from the Sierra Club. He is the author of eight books about Chesapeake Bay and covered the environment for the Baltimore Sun for 35 years. He recently paddled his kayak 550 miles around the Delmarva Peninsula and co-teaches a summer kayaking/camping course, “Exploring Delmarva: A Water’s Eye View.”
Noon–12:30 p.m.
Lunch
12:30–12:45 p.m.
Welcome Ellie Altman, Executive Director, Adkins Arboretum Dave Harp and Tom Horton
12:45–1:30 p.m.
he Resilient Environment – Dr. Sylvan Kaufman T Resilience in ecological terms refers to the ability of natural systems to recover from disturbances. This ability to recover depends on many factors, from the genetic and species diversity within a system to the frequency and intensities of the disturbances. Biodiversity matters in establishing resilient ecosystems, from the backyard to the biomes we live in. Climate change forces us to reassess traditional approaches to conservation and restoration and find new, more flexible approaches that can adapt to rapid changes.
1:30–1:45 p.m.
Dave Harp and Tom Horton
1:45–2 p.m.
Climate Change Maryland – Larissa Johnson In partnership with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, Maryland Department of the Environment has devised a statewide education and outreach campaign to improve participation in key greenhouse gas reduction strategies and support renewal of Maryland’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This presentation will highlight the accomplishments of Maryland’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act Plan.
2–2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15–2:30 p.m.
Dave Harp and Tom Horton
HOWARD AND MARY McCOY are collaborative artists who live on a working farm near Centreville, MD. Much of their work is created directly in the landscape and is based on archetypal motifs concerned with the earth and how people have approached their own relationship with the earth through the centuries. Burn Time, an installation created specifically for the Tent Symposium, is inspired by the spare, phantom shapes of branches and logs reduced to shimmering black charcoal in the Arboretum’s burn piles. With numerous wildfires attributed to climate change in the news, the burnt wood is the perfect symbol to use in creating a temporary outdoor sculpture about climate change. The McCoys have exhibited their work throughout the U.S. and in Wales, Ireland, and New Zealand.
10 a.m.–noon Native Plant Nursery open Gift Shop open Guided walks by Arboretum docent naturalists Outdoor Sculpture Invitational, Artists in Dialogue with Landscape Burn Time by Howard and Mary McCoy
2:30–3:30 p.m. The Impact of Climate Change on Gardening – Holly H. Shimizu Climate change is real, and it is happening. How will we change our choices as gardeners in the way we use water, in our perceptions of what makes a beautiful garden, and in our acceptance of what is put before us? Opportunities for gardeners to play an important role in plant conservation as well as contribute to the health of our natural environment are enormous and can provide exciting ideas to create spaces of intense beauty that work with nature. 3:30–4 p.m. Panel discussion 4–5 p.m.
d Mary n a d r a w Ho McCoy
Reception (cash bar)
21
Native Plant Nursery FALL OPEN HOUSE September 12–14
This September, the Arboretum’s Native Plant Nursery opens its doors for a Fall Open House. No longer simply a plant sale, the event offers the opportunity to tour the Nursery, learn about propagation and rain barrels, and visit the Nursery’s native gardens, all in addition to purchasing plants for the fall garden. Friday, September 12 is an open house day for members. New members are welcome! Members will receive a 10% discount on plants, and members at the Contributor ($100) level and above receive a 20% discount. The Nursery will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Nursery will be awash with color from ferns and grasses, fall-flowering asters and goldenrods, and a large selection of native trees and shrubs. Planting for pollinators supports populations of birds, bees, and butterflies, and a special selection of perennial plants for pollinators will be for sale, including mountain mint, gayfeather, beebalm, and butterfly weed. Shrubs like viburnum, diervilla (bush honeysuckle), clethra, and high tide bush support native bees and butterflies from early spring through fall.
Public open house days are Saturday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, September 14 from noon to 4 p.m. All are welcome. Proceeds from plants sold at the Fall Open House benefit the Arboretum’s education programs.
Fall is the best season for planting. Trees and shrubs planted in fall have a chance to set roots before the heat and stress of summer. The Arboretum participates in the Marylanders Plant Trees program, an initiative by the State of Maryland to encourage residents to plant native trees. The program offers a $25 coupon toward purchase of native trees that retail for $50 or more. AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
22
N
News EASTERN SHORE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NEWS
A GREENER BACK TO SCHOOL
Participants should meet in Parking Lot 1 (free parking) at 10 a.m. on the Delaware State University campus, 1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover. Lunch is on our own at Chipotle across the street.
Last year, 1,500 students participated in Adkins Arboretum’s hands-on, experiential environmental education programs. Beginning this fall, the Arboretum youth programs will be aligned with Maryland’s recently adopted Next Generation Science standards. In addition to science-based programming for students in grades pre-K through 12, the Arboretum offers a multi-disciplinary “Nature’s Story in the Underground Railroad” program, as well as a “Native Plants, Native Peoples” program, both of which explore the interrelationship between nature and history. To learn more about the Arboretum’s youth education opportunities, visit adkinsarboretum.org, and click on Programs|Events and then Youth Programs.
The trip is free. Register at adkinsarboretum.org or by calling 410.634.2847, ext. 0.
Interested in helping with the Arboretum’s youth education programs?
On Saturday, October 11, the Maryland Native Plant Society Eastern Shore Chapter will visit the Claude E. Phillips Herbarium. With about 150,000 specimens of flowering plants, gymnosperms, ferns, mosses, algae, and lichens, the Phillips Herbarium ranks 87th out of 525 herbaria in the United States, with some specimens dating back as far as 1799.
Contact Youth Program Coordinator Jenny Houghton at jhoughton@adkinsarboretum.org or 410-634-2847, ext.21.
The MNPS Eastern Shore Chapter will meet at the Arboretum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21 to view photos from the Snow Hill field trip and for a short presentation and discussion on climate change. Refreshments will be served. For more information about this informal meeting or the Phillips Herbarium field trip, contact Robyn Affron, Eastern Shore Chapter chair, at raffron@adkinsarboretum.org.
B Individual $50 B Household $75 By becoming a member of the Arboretum, B Grandparent $75 you are making a significant contribution to B Contributor $100 the conservation of the natural heritage of the Chesapeake Bay. For your convenience, you B Supporter $250 may join online at adkinsarboretum.org. B Sustainer $500 B Leon Andrus Society $1000+ B Garden Club or Nonprofit Organization $100 B Business Ms. Jennifer Vaccaro$500 MEMBERSHIP FORM
NAME SPOUSE NAME
Ms. Debbie Veystrk and Mr. Chuck $ Membership dues Engstrom Ms. Beverly Whitbeck Additional contribution $ Mr. Harold B. White TotalWilczenski enclosed $ Ms. Cheryl
ADDRESS CITY
STATE ZIP
PHONE
I would like to pay by credit card:
Account #
Make checks payable to Adkins Arboretum and mail to: Advancement Department, P.O. Box 100, Ridgely, MD 21660 Adkins Arboretum is a nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Printed on recycled paper.
Exp. date Signature
23
/
CCC
Non Profit Org US Postage PAID Mail Movers
PO Box 100 Ridgely, MD 21660
the gift shop at
If you’re searching for a unique and special gift, you’re sure to find it in the Arboretum Gift Shop. Welcome fall with new designs and colors of Winding River reversible jackets and Arboretum T-shirts featuring the work of artist Karen Klinedinst. New selections of cards featuring fall and winter designs by wildlife artist Charley Harper are also in stock, as are organic cold crop seeds for fall planting and nature-themed ornaments for holiday decorating. Shop for exclusive pottery pieces by local artist Jean Higgins and for stunning jewelry handcrafted by Sue Stockman. In addition to the book Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell, the shop now stocks A Beatrix Potter Treasury: The Original and Authorized Editions. Also look for Beatrix Potter’s Nursery Rhyme Book, The Beatrix Potter Journal, and The Complete Tales.
Remember, all Gift Shop purchases are 20% off on Soup ’n Walk program days! Check the calendar insert for dates. AdKINSARBORETUM.ORG
24