Holden Forests & Gardens - Fall 2023

FALL 2023, V7/4

Forests & Gardens is the member magazine for Holden Forests & Gardens, which includes the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland and the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland.

MISSION: Holden Forests & Gardens connects people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities

VISION: All communities transformed into vibrant places where trees, plants, and people thrive

Creative Director: Jackie Klisuric

Editor & Vice President of Public Relations & Marketing:

Margaret Thresher

Photography: Bob Aber, Ian Adams, Dale McDonald, Lisa Dejong, Adam Farraj, Malcolm Henoch, Ethan Johnson, Jackie Klisuric, Ferole Parmelee, Bob Perkoski, Stuart Pearl, Karen Roth, Eric Seitz and Vizmeg Landscape

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tom Anderson, Chairman

Ruth M. Stafford, Secretary

Constance Norweb

Abbey

Victoria U. Broer

Barbara Brown, PhD

Tera N. Coleman

Jonathan Dick

Paul E. DiCorleto, PhD

Michael Dingeldein, MD

Lavita W. Ewing

Kate Faust

Rob Galloway

Lynn-Ann Gries

Sally Gries

Stephen J. Knerly, Jr.

Joseph J. Mahovlic

Michael C. Marino

Roy D. Minoff

Cynthia Moore-Hardy

Ellen W. Jones Nordell

Katie Outcalt

Gary W. Poth

Robin Schachat

Lynn Shiverick

Charles Walton

Joy K. Ward, PhD

DEPARTMENTS

©Holden Forests & Gardens

Forests & Gardens (ISSN 2474-6371) is a class and events magazine published quarterly by Holden Forests & Gardens, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5172. Periodicals postage paid at Mentor, Ohio and additional offices.

Postmaster:

Please send address changes to Forests & Gardens Magazine

Holden Forests & Gardens

9500 Sperry Road

Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5172

On the Cover: Holden Forests & Gardens interns Aisha Zungu, Bailey Byrne, Tre’Mionika Wilkes and Katie Overman attend a sunset hike on the Kalberer Emergent Tower at the Holden Arboretum. Story on page 10.

Fall beauty in the Waterfall garden at Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Filled with Gratitude

I am deeply grateful to be your new President & CEO at Holden Forests & Gardens! The opportunity to work with the wonderful staff team and board of directors, dedicated volunteers and members, generous donors and sponsors and our tireless community partners excites me tremendously.

I arrive at Holden Forests & Gardens with two decades of experience as a public garden professional and a deep love of plants, trees and people. For the past 14 years, I led the team at Bloedel Reserve, an internationally renowned public garden and forest preserve located west of Seattle on Bainbridge Island. The Reserve aims to enrich peoples’ lives through its mission pillars of horticulture & design, conservation & stewardship, creativity and well-being.

Prior to my time at Bloedel, I spent time at Longwood Gardens establishing the Center for Public Horticulture as an officially recognized research, education and professional training institute at the University of Delaware. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to travel to and work with many botanical gardens and arboreta around the country and world. It’s within this context that I can say the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden are among the very best. There is no place quite like our combined organization with an arboretum in a rural setting and a garden in an urban one, along with groundbreaking research that’s conducted at the Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science. We have unique opportunities to meaningfully connect people to nature that no other organization has. What we have is extraordinary, and there is no other place I’d rather be.

The accolades the staff have received lately for outstanding contributions to the organization are too numerous to list, but I’d like to highlight a few. I recently attended the American Public Gardens Association’s (APGA) annual conference and was thrilled to witness the Holden Forests & Gardens’ Community

Forestry team winning the Program Excellence Award for Working Woods Learning Forest. The current issue of APGA’s Public Garden magazine features the People for Trees initiative, which is on track to meet its goal to empower the community to plant 15,000 new trees by the end of 2025.

Our curation team received HF&G’s first-ever grant award from the highly competitive Institute of Museum and Library Services to help map and share our collections data publicly, and our Science and Conservation team continued to conduct critical research into the resilience of plants and ecosystems, resulting in several important grants (including one from the National Science Foundation) and numerous publications detailing key findings. How thrilling it is to be able to lead a team working to create beautiful places for enjoyment while becoming recognized leaders in caring for the natural assets we cherish and rely upon. It’s clear to me that Holden Forests & Gardens is well-positioned to occupy the environmental leadership space in Northeast Ohio and beyond.

I look forward to experiencing my very first Northeast Ohio autumn and seeing many of you when you visit our beautiful grounds with family and friends. We have a full schedule of events and classes for you. And mark your calendars! We just announced a new winter show that will open Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Cleveland Botanical Garden: Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 3 and the show will run through Sunday, Dec. 31. The Garden team has been planning the show for nearly two years and it’s going to be something truly special for all of us to enjoy.

Now it’s time for nature’s big fall show!

See you soon,

ED MOYDELL

In the Spotlight

PHOTO GALLERY

Holden Forests & Gardens member Karen Roth shares some of her favorite moments of beauty. @rightontrailhiker on Instagram

Autumn Adventure Seekers — Scaling New Heights

By Kristen Hampshire and Beth Kelly

Just in time for fall leaf peeping, the South Stairway that connects the Holden Arboretum’s Woodland Trail and the Molly Offutt Boardwalk will reopen after being designed and rebuilt to offer a safer and more pleasing hiking experience. The rebuilt South Stairway will once again allow guests to traverse the sloped terrain in this area, and a beautiful new observation deck located mid-staircase will provide hikers a great place to rest and take in the sights of the surrounding forest. The deck will also serve as a leafy classroom for children visiting the Arboretum with school field trips.

The design and materials align with the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower. Hikers will be walking on the same grating that’s used on both structures, that provides traction in wet weather and allows rain and snow to fall through. The stair risers are also shorter than the old staircase, with the goal of a

more comfortable climb and less fatigue for the intrepid folks who scale this stair.

Along with the South Stairway reopening, “guests will again have access to the Woodland Trail, with a glimpse of the Pierson Creek Watershed and eastern hemlocks,” says Sharon Graper, director of education. At the bottom, Pierson Creek awaits guests who descend the stairs and traverse the Molly Offutt Boardwalk. Graper adds, “The journey down this stairway is special because you feel like you are entering another world. Pierson Creek flows into the East Branch of the Chagrin River, meandering its way around logs and over stones. Who doesn’t love a typically shallow creek teeming with frogs, minnows, and crayfish? The flood plain is a unique habitat filled with ferns, witch hazel and various birch trees. If you want to escape the more frequently visited areas of the Arboretum, all you need to do is tackle the

New staircase with an observation deck along Woodland Trail will open in fall for foliage viewing.

stairs to find a bit more solitude — a beautiful place to view leaves with lots of birds.”

At the time of writing, this South Stairway is slated for completion in early October but is still under construction, so if you want to visit to hike it, please check holdenfg.org or call the Arboretum guest services team beforehand to make sure it is open.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Guests and members familiar with the Arboretum’s outlying trails around Pierson Creek will know that the South Staircase isn’t the only construction happening in that area. Three staircases within this trail system have been closed since 2020 due to age and structural concerns. The South Stairway and nearby North Stairway have been under construction this season after years of planning. A third staircase, at the northmost point of the Pierson Creek Trail, is slated for demolition due to erosion making the area unsafe.

Holden Forests & Gardens has been working closely with the design and engineering team from OHM Advisors to redesign both the South Stairway and an additional stairway on the north end of Old Valley Trail. After this North Stairway is completed by springtime, hikers will once again be able to enjoy trails that have been inaccessible this season. Crews from Vizmeg Landscape Inc. are responsible for construction, which began in May. Both companies have worked closely with Holden Forests & Gardens staff to preserve as many of our valuable trees and plants as possible around both work sites — after all, the goal of this project is to highlight the surrounding forest and foliage!

This important trail work is part of Holden Forests & Gardens’ ongoing trail maintenance and upgrade program, and the Holden team looks forward to sharing updates with guests and members as additional projects are planned and realized.

MAKE

THE MOST OF TRAIL TIME

Graper recommends, “Climbing down to explore the creek is worth it, even if you get your feet wet! You’ll gain the perspective of looking up from the valley floor.”

Here are some additional trail time pointers:

•Plan Your Visit. Check out the Arboretum’s Plan Your Visit page at holdenfg.org or visit the front desk to make sure the South Stairway, or other areas you want to hike, are open.

•Map It Out. Pick up a printed visitor guide with trail maps from the gatehouse when you arrive, or view the map online before you go. Decide your route in advance.

•Pack These Essentials. Remember insect repellent, sun protection, and water, even when fall temperatures are cooler. These supplies are also available in the Treehouse Store inside Corning Visitor Center if you forget anything. And for creek exploration, it’s a good idea to tote along extra socks or water shoes so you can explore without feeling soggy.

Experience Frost

Cleveland Botanical Garden unveils a brand-new, immersive winter wonderland experience.

By Kristen Hampshire

Get ready, Northeast Ohio’s newest winter show is opening this November at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, and it’s going to be spectacular. Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience will completely transform the indoor and outdoor garden spaces, creating an ethereal wonderland of twinkle lights, towering ice arches, a tunnel of flowers, and seasonal soundscapes that will be a festive and completely immersive escape for the holiday season. Frost will open to the public on Saturday, November 18th, and run though Sunday, December 31st.

“The team at the garden has been developing this big new winter show for more than two years,” says Ryan Sandy, exhibitions manager. “We want to offer the community and surrounding areas something completely different that will amaze and delight and be a real feast for the eyes.

From family time to a date night, there will be something for everyone.”

Frost will incorporate some classic favorites like the gingerbread house competition and evergreen trees decorated by local garden clubs. The new experience combines a fresh menu of displays and Frost Zones, education and activities, and events from musical performances to ticketed highlights like Breakfast with Santa.

“Walking throughout some of the outdoor gardens at night, you’ll be surrounded by colorful displays, and our Glass Houses will be decorated with a storm of lights,” Sandy says, adding that education sessions are geared toward children and adults. The younger set can learn about the lake effect and winter traditions. The young at heart might pop in on

a session that will teach you how to make your own mulling spices. “In the evenings, we will have some activities that are food and beverage focused,” he says.

At Frost, conservatories and outdoor gardens will be reshaped to dazzle with winter magic, day and night. Special nighttime hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m.

Sandy adds, “It’s a place you can come to celebrate the winter season in a decked-out environment with lots to do and see.”

Frost Zones — More to Explore

Enter the Blizzard Ballroom, a winter storm of lights and sounds, before moving to the Frost Portal, which is a tunnel of illuminated flowers that leads to the Realm of the Winter Spirit space, an enchanting world glistening with ice.

Frost invites you to explore a dozen different themes throughout the Cleveland Botanical Garden. The Orientation Theatre will transform into the Gingerbread Jamboree, while the Costa Rica Biome becomes Jingle Jungle. The Terrace is a tundra, and outdoor spaces offer a Solstice Stroll among lights and festive displays. The Garden Room is Lake Effect Lodge, and Icicle Alleys connect the wonderland experience.

“Each room has a different look and feel, and you are completely surrounded by elements that will transport you,” Sandy describes. “Also, there are so many photo opportunities for kids, adults and families.”

Winter Bustle — Activities for All

The solstice sensation offers an ambush of activity — much to see and do. Kids can test out an icicle xylophone, weave through a maze of frozen arches, roast marshmallows, listen to stories and play a smorgasbord of interactive games, along with learning about the winter season through interpretive signage throughout the displays.

The six-week experience will include a full calendar of solstice season educational activities and events. Special nighttime hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m. These late nights will have live performances from The Cleveland Institute of Music, Listen CLE and local musicians reflecting the holiday spirit. Ticketed events include Breakfast with Santa and the annual Krampusnacht with the Ohio Krampus Society, which raises money for kids by sharing Alpine folk traditions.

The Krampus is a horned, hairy beast, based on ancient Germanic legends, who scares away bad spirits in hopes of a mild winter. Depending on what you believe, the Krampus is also Saint Nicholas’ “bad Santa” that punishes kids who misbehave. The Krampusnacht is a jolly travel back in time with society members donning hand-carved wooden masks, ready for photo ops.

“Visitors will escape any winter doldrums and ignite a sense of wonder and joy for the icy solstice season,” Sandy says. “It will be a unique and visually stunning show that will showcase the beauty of winter with a focus on our plants and stunning lighting.”

Tickets on Sale: Oct. 3rd at holdenfg.org

CareerGreenPathways

Holden’s hands-on internship program exposes high school and college students to a world of opportunity in sustainable and ecological professions.

By Kristen Hampshire

Research interns Mia Compton-Engle and Julian Brown spent their summer exploring changes in forest vegetation associated with forest management practices.

During a dynamic two-hour program on August 4, Holden Forests & Gardens interns shared culminating projects at the Symposium for Ecological Research (SEARCH), showcasing their studies and observations on topics that touch the natural world. The capstone event closed their 12-week placement in four departments: Conservation & Community Forestry, Research, Horticulture & Collections, and Education.

“We’ve been hosting the SEARCH symposium every year since 2016, but this year we had by far the largest number of Holden interns presenting their work and quite possibly the best turnout from our members,” says David Burke, Ph. D, vice president for science and conservation. “It was very exciting to see all the great work of our interns, and how many of our members turned out to talk to our interns and support their projects.”

This summer’s 17 interns included college students and two returning participants, who were exposed to career options in the green and nonprofit fields, along with networking and leadership development.

“There is an integral connection the internship program provides to inspiring and cultivating future environmental advocates, which is a key facet of our work,” says Margaret Thresher, vice president of public relations and marketing.

At Holden Forests & Gardens, paving ecological and environmental career pathways is a strategic focus. The internship program dates back to 1977. Today, this rich tradition continues with a vision of transformation and growth. The Holden Forests & Gardens Internship Program allows participants in the cohort to explore and grow in their areas of study while gaining exposure to a variety of career options.

A Place to Grow

As one of the largest public gardens in the country with more than 300,000 annual visitors and over 21,000 member households, Holden Forests & Gardens is uniquely positioned to help cultivate careers that make a positive environmental impact.

During the internship program, students gain a focused and in-depth dive into the department where they are placed — and a holistic perspective of concepts like urban greening and

Green Corps intern Sophia Vasiloff explored how microbes impact plant responses to climate change.

Green Corps intern Dominic Kelle measures a tree seedling to understand how land management can be used to bolster biodiversity on the landscape.

Green Corps intern Alyssa Rhee used the statistics software R to analyze the data on bacterial and fungal communities in soil and how they change across seasons.

Community Forestry interns Allison Riley and Aisha Zungu worked on a range of projects. Here they identify species of native trees and shrubs in a restoration planting and assess their health and mortality rates.

forestry initiatives, and environmental research. Within Holden’s research department, interns are paired with staff scientists, with whom they work to conduct critical research exploring plant and environmental health and resilience. “Interns get to work side by side with Holden researchers on experiments built around Holden’s natural areas and collections. We work together to address important scientific questions that matter to ecosystem health and resilience in northeastern Ohio and beyond” says Katie Stuble, chair of the research department.

This exposure is combined with an important career exploration component. “Our goal is for high school and college student interns to meet, network and learn from each other and to show students possible next steps in their career trajectories,” says Nicole Fedders, human resources manager.

Green Corps high school interns can progress to the college internship experience if they so choose. High school participants range in age from freshmen to seniors. By combining the high school and college participants in a cohort for leadership and professional development, the students learn and grow together.

Green Corps was established more than 25 years ago to share green jobs opportunities with local high schoolers while helping them to explore sustainable practices and the benefits of plants. The experiential learning program inspires through hands-on, plant-based opportunities.

Together, the programs create a vital pathway for living and working to make a difference, which is a valued aspect of employment young people seek. “Holden has a longstanding tradition as a destination to learn, explore and grow,” says Cherise Kent, who oversees the Green Corps interns. “The Internship Program speaks to our work and pride in connecting people with the wonder and immense value of trees and plants — and the careers that help sustain our environment.”

Learn More

Explore the learning and career possibilities through Holden Forests & Gardens Internship Program. Visit holdenfg.org/career-and-internships

Reseach intern Mikaela Lancy measures a leaf of Jack-in-thepulpit to assess how soil inoculation affects restoration of forest herbs.

2023 Interns

Julian Brown

Environmental Science | Spanish | Economics

University of Rochester

Bailey Byrne

Horticulture | Pest Management Minor

West Virginia Univeristy

Mia Compton-Engle

Enivronmental Studies | Geography | Creative Writing Minor

Dartmouth College

Dylann Conley

Environmental Studies | Chemistry

Reed College

Anna Corso

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Allegheny College

Adam Farraj

Applied Science in Plant Science & Landscape Technology

Cuyahoga Community College

Gavin Hawk

Plant Sciences

Penn State Univeristy

Eric Jung

Landscape Architecture

Cornell University

Mikaela Lancy

Environmental Studies

Kenyon College

Valerie McCauley

Botany | Environmental Science

Miami University, OH

Tre’Mionika “Mion” Wilkes

Botany & Sustainability

Excelsior University

Katie Overman

Agriculture

New Mexico State

Allison Riley

Environmental Science & Sustainability

Allegheny College

Karalyn Rutkowski

Environmental Studies & Sustainability

Allegheny College

Lindsey Urban

Environmental Science | Biology Minor

Denison University

Hannah Wiese

Environmental Studies

Cleveland State

Aisha Zungu

Environmental Science and Forestry |

Forest Health

SUNY College

The Gift of Giving

Corporate sponsors grow their impact.

Corporate sponsorship provides critical support of Holden Forests & Gardens’ work in horticulture, collections, conservation, research, community forestry and education. Sponsoring our exhibits and events connects corporations with over 20,000 member households and 310,000 visitors at the Holden Arboretum campus on the east side and the Cleveland Botanical Garden campus in University Circle. Their partnership enables us to care for our extensive collections, which feature over 20,000 plants and plant groupings. These collections connect people to the wonder, beauty and value of nature.

Corporate partners like Key Private Bank and Fleet Response, Oak Sponsors of our Twilight at the Holden Arboretum event, have allowed us to provide both formal and informal environmental education programming to children, teens and adults in Northeast Ohio and beyond. Bartlett Tree Experts, supporter of our People for Trees campaign, has helped us make astounding progress toward our goal to plant 15,000 trees in Northeast Ohio by 2025. So far, 11,918 trees have been planted, pledged and given away. Giant Eagle supports our work in pollinator education and health.

All of our corporate sponsors enjoy custom partnership benefits that empower them to be stewards of our environment and our community.

Contact Samantha Lengel at 216-721-1600, ext. 125, or slengel@holdenfg.org to learn more and to develop a custom partnership opportunity to meet your needs.

Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors

(August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023)

Alair Homes – Hudson

Alair Homes – Solon

Giant Eagle

Gillmore Security

Gries Financial Partners

Lubrizol

Park Ohio

Remarkable Lake County

Ashton Technology Solutions

Clearstead

CM Wealth Advisors

The Davey Tree Expert Company

ErieBank

LNE Group

Market Wagon

National Charter Bus

Cleveland

Oswald Companies

Rockport Wealth Advisors

Service Storage International

Sherwin-Williams

Holden Forests & Gardens Twilight benefit at the Holden Arboretum.

Through Their Eyes

Photographers share what they think is beautiful about Holden Forests & Gardens.

This fall brings the return of the Volunteer Visions Photography Exhibit to the Eppig Gallery at Cleveland Botanical Garden, running August 25 to October 29. The exhibit highlights the artistry of five Holden Forests & Gardens volunteers as they explore and celebrate the unique gardens on our campuses. Guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite photos, which will be made into postcards and available for purchase in our retail spaces. Proceeds from postcard sales will go toward Holden Forests & Gardens’ People for Trees initiative.

“My inspiration for the photos is to share HF&G in a variety of seasons. In all my travels, I have never found another place of natural beauty that yields so many beautiful wonders as HF&G. Despite countless visits, I always find something new and exciting to capture. We are so privileged to have such a place in our community.”

—Joseph Aber, volunteer photographer

The Glowing Columns by Stuart Pearl

Singing in the Rain by Joseph Aber

Those Crazy Hazy Lazy Days of Summer by Ferole Parmelee

In Bloom by Vivian Henoch

Blooms Orchestrated by Malcolm Henoch

Fall in Love with the Natural World

Students are exposed to the wonder of the outdoors through the Growing Students in Science program.

For nearly 20 years, thousands of Northeast Ohio students and hundreds of teachers have been connecting with the plants and trees of Holden Arboretum growing a love of science while in the great outdoors.

The Growing Students in Science program invites students beginning in the second grade to consider the Holden Arboretum as their outdoor classroom. Over the years, students have had up to 12 visits, including seasonal educational field trips, Holden instructor visits to their science classroom, and many programs and hikes. Teachers participate, too, with various hands-on teaching lessons and additional activities. All programs align with Ohio’s science content standards.

“It's our hope that youth will come away with a deep appreciation of the natural world and that they will carry it with them throughout their lives,” says Education Manager Beck Thompson. “Whether they choose science as a career is not the point. First, we want them to grow their love of plants, trees and wildlife.

Students go on river walks and hikes through woodlands and meadows all while learning about fish and snakes, how to identify trees, the importance of pollinators and more.”

Thompson has taught countless youth over the years and has witnessed many lightbulbs going off in young minds. “One of my favorite memories was of a boy who had spent three consecutive years with the program. When he first arrived, he was afraid to go into a forest for the first time. When he was leaving years later, he told me that he wanted to live here.”

Each year new school districts are asked to consider participation and all districts are welcome. Costs associated with the program cover field trips, classroom visits, materials and teacher professional development kits. Some funds are available to help subsidize interested districts that are in financial difficulty.

If you are interested in participating in the Growing Students in Science program, please contact Beck Thompson at bthompson@holdenfg.org.

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

By Beck Thompson, Education Manager at Holden Arboretum

Wild Turkeys are year-round Ohio residents, occupying primarily open mature oak-hickory forests. Since they are not territorial, they can walk up to four to five square miles during the year except during the nesting season, when their range is much smaller. They can run and fly but rarely fly except when threatened or roosting at night in a tree.

Wild Turkeys are not picky eaters. They forage on the ground eating primarily fruit, seeds and nuts, including acorns, beach nuts and grass seeds. Occasionally they will supplement their plant diet with invertebrates, including ticks, snails, beetles and insects. To digest their food, wild turkeys, like most birds, will ingest grit to help break down and digest food.

Breeding behavior of wild turkeys in the spring are triggered primarily by increasing day length and hormonal response. Groups of wild turkeys congregate in lawns and fields to start the breeding season. Courting males puff out their iridescent feathers, fan their tails and drag their wings on the ground to attract females. This behavior is commonly referred to as strutting. Males breed with multiple females and take no part in nesting. After mating, males form a separate flock leaving females to raise the young poults.

MEET THE STAFF

BIRD FACTS

SIZE: 36-45 inches

WINGSPAN: 49.2-56.7 inches

DESCRIPTION: Dark with glimmering bronze-green iridescence; wings barred black and white. Rusty or white-tipped tail feathers. No feathers on head and neck. Head skin color red to blue to gray.

RANGE: Year-round residents of southern Maine to northern Florida, west to eastern Texas and north to North Dakota.

VOICE CALL: Gobble, Cluck and loud “Pert.”

BEST LOCATION TO VIEW: Arboretum: Forest Edge along Sperry Road and Strong Acres; Bole Woods and Working Woods

Wild Turkeys nest on the ground at the bases of trees or under shrubby cover. Females scratch shallow depressions in the soil around 12 inches wide. They line the depression with dead leaves or nearby vegetation. Females incubate the 6 to 14 pale yellowish, reddish, pinkish spotted eggs for 28 days. Young poults are well-developed as hatchlings. Young poults grow rapidly and can fly into trees to roost at two weeks old. Females and young poults combine to form large protection flocks. Family groups stay together until winter.

Wild Turkeys have many predators, including coyotes, raccoons, great horned owls and people. Despite predation, wild turkeys regained and expanded their territory after declines from overhunting and habitat loss. North American Breeding Survey estimates the global breeding population of 6.9 million. Reintroduction and regulated hunting seasons have allowed wild turkeys to thrive in 49 states.

Beck Thompson is the Education Manager at Holden Forests & Gardens and has dedicated her career (1999 – present) to school-aged children and life-long learners. Her enthusiasm for the natural world has kindled a sense of exploration, discovery and a deeper appreciation for the environment. Her passion for bird watching drove her to become a self-taught local bird expert. She has served as President on local boards, including Blackbrook Audubon Society and Cleveland Regional Council of Science Teachers.

Strong History

The Polish larch – Larix decidua var. polonica — have

a striking presence at Holden Arboretum.

By Ethan Johnson, Plant Records Curator

Polish larch is a handsome tree. It is native to the Tatra Mountains and the adjacent plains at elevations as low as 200 meters. Our first of this fabulous variety of tree germinated in June 1956 after being received as seed from Rogów Arboretum, Poland. Former director and board member Eliot Paine tells us that in the 1960’s there were more trees in the Firman Nursery than the crew could plant. At the time Lew Lipp, who was horticulturist, nursery manager, plant propagator and horticulture therapist, dug this tree and others and loaded them on his trunk diameter and planted them in rows at Baldwin Acres. Now, over 60 years later this magnificent tree is 80 feet tall, 34 inches and 46 feet wide. When visiting it in July, birds flew into its branches, and I made my way to its trunk by following a narrow trail made by deer that bed beneath its thick lower limbs.

Since that tree is not in an accessible area, the Tall Conifer Grove north of Kirtland-Chardon Road on the former Krause property was chosen for a planting of Polish larch. About a quarter-mile southwest along the trail from the small member parking lot that winds through fragrant spruce, fir and pine are 10 Polish larch spaced roughly 30 feet apart. Former Plant Collections

MEET THE STAFF

Curator Charles Tubesing obtained wild collected seed from southern Poland via the Index Seminum of Sweden’s Alvare Arboretum of Stånga in 2006. Seven were planted on September 5, 2012. In 2017, Charles grafted scions from the Rogów Arboretum tree on Dunkeld larch rootstock and two were planted October 21 2019, the last planted November 9 2021. The trees planted in 2012 now average 38’ tall, 9.6” DBH, 19’ wide.

The young trees were undamaged in Dec. 2020 from ice and a heavy snow storm, but the mature tree in Baldwin Acres lost several branches perhaps since it retained many cones from current and previous years. In 2020 the young trees in the Conifer Grove only had a smattering of cones.

At Holden Arboretum fresh new foliage breaks bud in mid-April. The display of yellow fall foliage from early to mid-November at the end of the growing season is remarkably attractive. This year, for the first time, a good crop of cones has been produced on the 17-year-old trees in the Conifer Grove. I look forward to collecting some for distribution and making note of any songbirds that may be feeding on the seed.

Ethan Johnson is the Plant Records Curator. He learned to keep records while working for the Arnold Arboretum (1985-89) and Holden Arboretum (1981-82, 1989-present) while volunteering for the International Dendrological Research Institute, Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Plant Selection Committee and the American Conifer Society. He was the point person when the American Association of Museums accredited Holden Arboretum as the sixth public garden in the U.S. as a museum, has labeled and inventoried Holden Arboretum’s plant collection and has been keeping plant records at Cleveland Botanical Garden since 2015.

Larix decidua var polonica in the conifer collection at the Holden Arboretum.

Larix decidua var polonica cones.

Larix decidua var polonica in Upper Baldwin area of the Holden Arboretum.

Mark Your Calendar

Don’t miss these programs & events that explore the wonders of autumn!

ROSE SHOW

Friday, September 15th, Noon – 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 16th, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday, September 17th, Noon – 4 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

Included in price of admission

Adult

GARDENING TO SAVE THE WORLD

September 23 | 10 a.m. – noon

Cleveland Botanical Garden

$25 per member, $40 per nonmember

Adult, teens 15 years & older

RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE

September 30 | 10:30 a.m. – noon

Cleveland Botanical Garden

$10 per member, $20 per nonmember

Adult

BOTANICAL PAINTING & DRAWING

October 3-31 | Tuesdays, 2 – 4:30 p.m.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

$110 per member, $150 per nonmember

Adult

FALL FORAY WITH THE OHIO MUSHROOM SOCIETY

October 7 | 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

$35 per member, $45 per nonmember

Adult

Terrain: Up to 2 miles, natural surface, some hills, slow pace

HERB FAIR

October 14 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Included in price of admission

Adult

FALL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP WITH IAN ADAMS

October 21 | 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

$75 per member, $115 per nonmember

Adult

Includes virtual photo critique on 10/28 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Terrain: Up to 2 miles, some paved, some natural surface

WILDCRAFTING CORDAGE

October 22 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

$35 per member, $50 per nonmember

Adult

BOO BASH

October 22 | Noon – 5 p.m.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

$28 nonmember adult, $28 nonmember child, $8 member adult, $12 member child, $2 3 and under Adults & children

ARTISANS AT THE ARBORETUM

November 4 and 5 |9 a.m.

Holden Arboretum

Included in price of admission

Adults & children

PICS OR IT DIDN’T HAPPEN: PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGH THE LENS OF CONSERVATION

November 9 | 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Virtual $10 per member, $15 per nonmember

Adult

CRAFTING WITH CONES

November 18 | 10 a.m. – noon

Holden Arboretum

$40 per nonmember, $55 per nonmember

Adult

EVERGREEN HAPPY HOUR

December 5 | 6 – 8 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

$45 per member, $60 per nonmember

Adult, 21+

WINTER GREENS

WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP

December 7 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., 3 - 4 p.m., 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., 6 – 7 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

$55 per member, $70 per nonmember

Adult

FROST BOTANICAL WREATH WORKSHOP

December 8 | 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

$40 per member, $55 per nonmember

Adult

photo by Ian Adams

Join us for a hike!

Our hike guides lead unforgettable adventures at the Holden Arboretum. With several dates offered this fall, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to lace up your boots and explore!

WINE & CHEESE NIGHT HIKE

Holden Arboretum

$30 per member, $45 per nonmember

Adult, 21+

Terrain: Up to 2 miles, natural surface, some hills, low visibility

DATES OFFERED:

September 29 | 8 – 11 p.m.

October 27 | 8 – 11 p.m.

CORE NATURAL AREAS HIKE

September 28 | 2 – 4 p.m.

Holden Arboretum

$15 per member, $30 per nonmember

Adult

Terrain: up to 1.5 miles, some paved, mostly natural surface

MAGNIFICENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Holden Arboretum

$10 per member, $20 per nonmember

Adult

Terrain: 2 miles, rugged, narrow, muddy, rocks, some standing water

DATES OFFERED:

September 24 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

October 14 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

November 19 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

December 16 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

STEBBINS GULCH: A HIKE THROUGH GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

Holden Arboretum

$10 per member, $20 per nonmember

Adult

Terrain: 2 miles, rugged, narrow, steep hills, slippery rocks, fallen logs, standing water

DATES OFFERED:

October 8 | 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

November 11 | 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Food Trucks Games Crafts

JOIN US!

October 7-8

Wagon rides throughout the picturesque grounds

October 14-15

Costumes with our four-legged friends

October 21-22

Pumpkin Carving with lead carver

Mike Pickett

October 28-29

Flannels and Flights invites you to cozy up with a sampling of fall beers

October Weekends at the Arboretum: Pumpkins & Potions

Each weekend in October the Arboretum celebrates Fall’s changing colors of the leaves. No weekend is the same and once you miss the show it is gone — much like this year’s weekend celebrations at the Arboretum. Each weekend will feature a new concept that will go along with this year’s theme: Pumpkins and Potions.

Visitors to the Arboretum can expect wagon rides on Oct. 7-8, which give a seasonal look at the colorful explosion of leaves. On October 14-15, costumes will be encouraged and celebrated for our 4-legged friends. As the Arboretum is dog friendly, it is a wonderful time of year to dress up your pup and head out for a walk. October 21-22, our third weekend, will feature Mike Pickett, owner and lead carver of Illuminated Carves. He will showcase his amazing pumpkin carving talents. And it wouldn’t be fall if you weren’t wearing a flannel. Our last fall weekend will be flannels and flights. The weekend of October 28-29 we encourage everyone to don their favorite stripes and look forward to flights of fall beers and wine. (Alcohol sales are only on Saturdays).

Along with the artistically decorated Hedge Collection — which has been a staple for years — the grounds will feature seasonal vignettes at key locations on the campus. Greensward Tent Lawn will continue to be a main gathering hub of activity, hosting the Spellbound Stage, Graveyard Games and of course a dedicated photo op. Little goblins and ghouls can enjoy creating a craft in the Autumn Art Studio. As their walk continues, they will discover an Apothecary filled with potions and charms, once known as Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods.

Through each of the fall weekends in October visitors can expect to enjoy a variety of food trucks (The Dawg Bowl, Rabbit Food, Kountry Krunchins, Eat at the Bus Stop and Off the Griddle) and performances ranging from spooky story time to the slithering instrumental sounds of the Cleveland Wind Trio to palm and tarot card readers to the acoustic guitars melodies of Thomas Evanchuck and Ed Purcell. Make plans to enjoy fall at the Arboretum, and visit holdenfg.org for more information and to pre-purchase your tickets!

Fall Fun

Each year the Cleveland Botanical Garden turn into a spooky space filled with haunted habitats and frightening fauna. On Sunday Oct. 22 from Noon to 5 p.m. be prepared for a celebration of scarecrows and skeletons at the annual Boo Bash event. Little wizards and witches will meander their

way from the seasonally decorated Terrace to the Hershey Childrens Garden gathering treats along the way. Ghoulish games and alarming activities will await them on White Oak Walk. These tiny devils can plan to dance their hearts out to the always fun DJing sounds of Kris Koch.

The annual Rose Show takes place inside the Corning Visitor Center at Holden Arboretum on September 15, 16 and 17.

Join us for everyone’s favorite Herb Fair held at the Cleveland Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 14.

Artisans at the Arboretum takes place Nov. 4 and 5 at Holden Arboretum on the main grounds. More than 20 vendors will be onsite along with music and food trucks. Make plans to purchase gifts for upcoming holidays!

Visit holdenfg.org to purchase tickets for Boo Bash and find more information on all our fall programs at both campuses!

9500 Sperry Road

Kirtland, Ohio 44094

holdenfg.org

Forests & Gardens is the member magazine for Holden Forests & Gardens, which includes the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland and the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland.

MISSION: Holden Forests & Gardens connects people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities

VISION: All communities transformed into vibrant places where trees, plants, and people thrive ©Holden Forests & Gardens

“Holden Forests & Gardens” and the related logo is a trademark owned by The Holden Arboretum.

9550 SPERRY ROAD, KIRTLAND, OHIO 44094

HOLDENFG.ORG

440.946.4400

HOURS

TUESDAY - SUNDAY: 9AM - 5PM

MONDAY: CLOSED TO NON-MEMBERS

For updates, visit holdenfg.org

11030 EAST BLVD, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44106

HOLDENFG.ORG

216.721.1600

HOURS

TUESDAY- SATURDAY: 10AM - 5PM

SUNDAY: NOON - 5PM

MONDAY: CLOSED

For updates, visit holdenfg.org

@cbgarden @holdenarb @cbgarden @holdenarboretum @clegarden @holden_arb Newsletter holdenfg.org