LEAVES
A PUBLICATION OF THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM
Summer 2015
Summer 2015
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leaves Summer 2015
Cait Anastis, editor editor@holdenarb.org Jackie Klisuric, art director
administration Clement W. Hamilton President and CEO Natalie Ronayne Executive Vice President Jim Ansberry Director of Finance David Burke Research Department Chairman Roger Gettig Director of Horticulture and Conservation Brian Parsons Director of Planning and Special Projects Marie Monago Vice President of Advancement
contents
Paul C. Spector Director of Education and Public Programs Nancy Spelman Director of Human Resources and Safety JACKIE KLISURIC
features
departments
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7 Bird Bio 10 Plant Profile 12 Plant This, Not That 14 Ask Greg 15 Research News/Highlights
Restoring the Monarch’s Reign No Deer Allowed Partnerships
Tom and Mary Anderson
Volunteering
Holden School Guides
Eastern Kingbird
Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire) Coronilla varia (crown vetch)
board of directors Paul R. Abbey, Chairman Victoria Broer, Vice Chairperson William Conway, Vice Chairman Jonathan E. Dick, Vice Chairman Robert R. Galloway, Secretary Sarah L. Gries, Vice Chairman Peter S. Hellman, Vice Chairman Stephen J. Knerly, Vice Chairman Joseph J. Mahovlic, Vice Chairman C. W. Eliot Paine, Vice Chairman Constance Norweb Abbey Thomas D. Anderson Anne Barnes Barbara Brown Christopher A. Cullis Paul E. DiCorleto Ruth Eppig Lydia Harrington
directors emeriti
Ralph W. Abelt Jeanette Grasselli Brown Miriam N. Gale Henry R. Hatch Arlene M. Holden
Ellen W. Jones Nordell Michael Marino Cynthia Moore-Hardy Robin D. Schachat Lynn C. Shiverick K.K. Sullivan Timothy L. Swanson Michael T. Victor
T. Dixon Long Henry L. Meyer III William J. O’Neill Jr. John Sherwin Jr. Penelope Theis
honorary directors
On the Cover: Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) in the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr Butterfly Garden.
Mary Groves Alison C. Jones
Thomas W. Seabright
Volume 13, Number 3 ©The Holden Arboretum Leaves (ISSN 0518-2662) is a class and events magazine published quarterly by The Holden Arboretum for $10 per year for members (included in membership fee) and $55 per year for nonmembers
Leaves
Periodicals postage paid at Mentor, Ohio
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JACKIE KLISURIC
Postmaster: Please send address changes to Leaves: The Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5172
from the president For the past several years, we have planned, raised money for, executed and – most importantly – enjoyed all the projects that have comprised phase one of Holden’s “New Leaf” core area master plan. This year you are seeing the completion of three more projects in that set – restoring Corning Lake to ecological and esthetic health, surrounding our core 230 acres with a deer exclosure to protect our scientifically curated woody plant collections and building the Murch Canopy Walk, including the Kalberer Tower – leaving only planting the rhododendron gardens’ “June Room” to wrap up in 2016. (Please note that the canopy walk openings will take place a little later than previously advertised – around Labor Day; more time for anticipation!) I hope you are finding that our changes are improving your experience at Holden, as well as deepening your engagement with our “living museum of woody plants” – from the renovated Corning Library to the Norweb Tree Allée to the Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden. Thanks to our improved maps and orientation signs, we now see far fewer guests wandering in a geographic haze. And hasn’t it been nice to no longer bemoan rusty orange coating our plants and signs during dry summers, now that our irrigation water comes from a less iron-rich source? In addition, many non-New Leaf projects – such as the Working Woods classroom, the improved landscape in front of the Corning Visitor Center, Meditation Point, more diverse Lantern Court gardens, and the renovated Reinberger Classroom, which is now in progress – also are transforming Holden’s landscape and guest experience. Now that our family encompasses the Cleveland Botanical Garden, our possibilities for community service and impact are limited only by our imaginations. Which reminds me – I hope you are enjoying all the new opportunities your membership gives you, including this year’s Branch Out exhibit, which will be well worth your visit – as is the Botanical Garden every day. Greater Cleveland is enjoying a renaissance in its cultural institutions, highlighted by the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland Institute of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I hope you are as proud as I, that Holden is very much part of that exciting narrative of rejuvenated cultural institutions contributing to an ever more vital Northeast Ohio. The rest of the country is discovering Greater Cleveland, leaving the burning river a distant memory. Thank you for your support and partnership – and worry not, resting on our laurels is not in the cards!
Summer 2015
Clement W. Hamilton, PhD President and CEO JACKIE KLISURIC
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Restoring the
Monarch’s Reign by Lori Gogolin, horticulturist
The monarch butterfly’s graceful flight and orange and black coloring is a familiar sign of summer. Unfortunately, the butterfly has been in decline for the past 20 years and soon may be placed on the endangered species list. In February, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a report that since 1990, about 970 million monarchs have vanished. The deforestation of the monarch’s overwintering grounds, changes in weather and habitat loss are the main reasons for the butterfly’s decline. The Eastern North American monarch migrates thousands of miles each year to the Sierra Madre Mountains in central Mexico. These mountains are special because they have the perfect microclimate for the monarchs to overwinter. The native Abies religiosa (Oyamel fir) trees provide cover and roosting sites for monarchs to cluster together to keep warm. The cool temperatures and humidity from the clouds allow the monarch to slow their metabolism and save energy and area streams provide a water source. Although there has been work done to protect these microclimates legal and illegal logging of the Oyamel fir still takes place. This logging encroaches on protected sites and destroys the microclimate. The Western North American monarch migrates to the Pacific coast of California. This area has a similar microclimate to central Mexico. Monarchs overwinter on Pinus radiata (Monterey pine), Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey cypress), and Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus). The reason for the decline in the western species is believed to be due to drought. However, habitat loss from housing and commercial development has also had a significant impact on populations.
If the monarch is listed, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) will help to protect and restore its populations. The ESA will make it illegal to intentionally kill the monarch or change its habitat without a permit. It also will help to protect areas of critical habitat. Federal scientists will develop a plan for recovery and set guidelines to restore populations in the future. It will also make federal funding available to states and conservation groups to protect habitats. Earlier this year, the Fish and Wildlife Service pledged $2 million in funding to restore and enhance more than 200,000 acres of habitat for monarchs, many along the I-35 corridor between Minnesota and Texas. The funding will also support more than 750 schoolyard habitats and pollinator gardens. Some things you can do to help the monarch are to plant native Asclepias sp. (milkweed) species in your yard. Reduce your use of pesticides. Eat organic foods when possible. It is unfortunate that the monarch is in the position that it may be placed on the endangered species list. However, in doing so it might get people to understand the importance of this beautiful insect.
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Recent weather has also had a great impact on monarch populations. Record cold and storms in their overwintering grounds have caused monarchs to freeze. The cold late springs have decreased the number of generations produced each year. The drought in Texas dramatically reduced the amount of nectar plants for monarchs to refuel while migrating through the state.
The third and most detrimental threat for monarchs is habit loss. Monarchs use Asclepias sp. (milkweed) exclusively as their host plant. That is, monarchs search out the plant and use it for their entire life cycle. The use of herbicides and the use of herbicide resistant corn has contributed significantly to the monarch’s habitat loss. Instead of farmers having to spot spray weeds, they can broadcast spray their fields without killing their crops. In turn all “weeds” are killed, including Asclepias sp. (milkweed) and native nectar plants. This gives the monarch no where to lay their eggs, nothing for a caterpillar to eat and no nectar sources for the adult. Roadside spraying and mowing is also a problem. Road departments are spraying and mowing to keep weeds down, but they are also killing Asclepias sp. (milkweed) and native nectar plants.
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PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY BRIAN PARSONS
Planting the Right Milkweed There are a number of different species of milkweed, but not all of them will help the monarch butterfly. Researchers at the University of Georgia have found that planting the wrong kind of milkweed can leave the insects open to an increased risk of disease. Their findings show that concerned gardeners who planted Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed) may have encouraged the butterflies to remain in the southern United States rather than moving on to their overwintering sites in Mexico.
Monarchs are attracted by the tropical milkweed, but unlike native milkweeds, it does not die back in the fall and can, in the south, produce foliage and flowers year-round. The monarchs that stay with the plants are more likely to become infected with a protozoan parasite. There are several native species available to plant in Northeast Ohio, including: Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) – most soils, but it will spread, so give it space Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) – good for wet sites Asclepias tuberosa (butterflyweed) – dry soils Asclepias sullivantii (Sullivant’s milkweed) –good for most soils Asclepias hirtella (tall green milkweed) – dry soils Asclepias verticillata (whorled milkweed) –dry soils Seeds for these species are available through several outlets, including: Ohio Prairie Nursery (ohioprairienursery.com) Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, Minn. (prairiemoon.com) Prairie Nursery, Westfield, Wis. (prairienursery.com) Summer 2015
Sow seeds after the danger of frost has passed. Seed packets will give specific planting instructions depending on species. Once established these native plants will thrive on their own.
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No Deer Allowed by Cait Anastis, editor
Once, Lilium canadense (Canada lilies) bloomed in abundance each June in the meadows surrounding Corning Lake. The lilies, with their bright orange blossoms, were a favorite of the white-tailed deer, and as the deer population grew, over browsing has caused the lilies to all but disappear. The impact deer can have on native wildflowers, and the damage they can do to trees and shrubs, can have long-term effects. This presents a serious problem at an arboretum, which is a living museum with the plants forming its collections. The Holden Arboretum’s horticulturists employ a number of different methods to protect the collections and gardens. Each year, young trees are surrounded by wire fencing and areas of the gardens are sprayed with a repellent designed to make the plants taste bad to hungry deer. Individually fencing off plants and employing repellents each year is time consuming and expensive. This year, a more dramatic solution will be put in place, as the Arboretum fences in 233.5 acres encompassing its core gardens and collections. Construction of the new eight-foot high deer fence is expected to start in early June and be completed by mid-August. More than 16,700 feet of fencing will be needed to enclose the space, which will include the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden, the Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden, the Display Garden, the Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden, the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden, Corning Lake, Hourglass Pond, Heath Pond, Blueberry Pond, Foster Pond and the arborvitae collection. The deer fencing was one of the projects selected for phase one of the Arboretum’s master plan improvements, which also included the construction of the new Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden and the new R. Henry Norweb Jr. Tree Allée; restoration of Corning Lake; and the construction of the Judith and Maynard Murch IV Canopy Walk and Kalberer Family Emergent Tower. There are two reasons deer fencing was selected for the initial phase of the New Leaf plan, said Clem Hamilton, president and CEO. “First, it replaces the many feet of temporary fence we erect every winter to protect tender and particularly deer-vulnerable collections plants,” he said. “Second, we will no longer have to take deervulnerability into account when we plant in our core area, so that our collections will support our ‘stories’ as effectively as possible.” Because the acreage that will be protected lies on either side of Sperry Road, two road crossings have been planned to allow traffic to continue to use the street while keeping deer out. Construction crews will be installing two 34 x 20 foot vaults, each four feet deep and topped with commercial bridge grating to allow cars access. The gaps in the bridge grating are too big and the material too rough for deer to walk across, said Brian Parsons, director of planning and special projects, and the width of the pits is 20 feet, a distance that will deter deer from making the jump. Each crossing on Sperry Road will take approximately two weeks to complete and require traffic to be detoured. The deer grate will be installed to the south of Corning Lake between June 15 and June 30. Construction on the second crossing, near the intersection of Mitchells Mill Road, will be installed between July 1 and 15. There will be gates next to each road crossing, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to avoid the traffic grates. There also will be a number of access points along the fence line, allowing visitors to move in and out of the core area. “The number of gates and the locations of the gates is still being discussed,” Parsons said. “The main fence will have somewhere between 12 and 14 person/equipment gates that will allow people to pass through the fence.” The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife will be assisting the Arboretum staff to ensure all white tail deer are driven out of the protected area prior to the final section of the fence being installed. Because there is a possibility that a deer will find its way into the core, “there will be three one-way gates and 22 deer jump outs that are one way exits for deer,” Parsons said.
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In addition to sparing existing and future plantings from deer damage, the fencing may allow some of the plants that have been over browsed, such as the Canada lilies, to return, said Roger Gettig, director of horticulture and conservation.
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“Some things may be seen again that haven’t been seen in a while,” he said.
Eastern Kingbird
bird facts
by Rebecca Thompson, Growing Students in Science program coordinator
Both sexes have gray upper parts and white under parts, with a square, white-tipped tail; head is slightly darker than wings and back
(Tyrannus tyrannus)
Description
Size 7.5–9.1 inches; Wingspan: 13–15 inches
Voice Males vocalize more than females. Both give a variety of high-pitched, quick electric chatters.
Range Most of North America throughout much of southern and central Canada
Best location to view at Holden Corning Lake and Heath, Hourglass and Blueberry ponds
MIKE DOUGHERTY
Common and noticeable in the summer, eastern kingbirds are often seen perched on tree branches or fence posts in fields or along forest edges where water is present. They are the most widespread kingbird in North America. In the winter they travel to South America where they blend within flocks of mixed species at the edge of rivers and lakes in the forest canopy. During the summer eastern kingbirds eat primarily flying insects including beetles, wasps, bees, winged ants, flies and leafhoppers. They perch in trees, shrubs and on fence posts, waiting for insects to fly by to catch and swallow in midair before returning back to their perch. If they grab large prey, including grasshoppers, lizards and frogs, they will take it back to the perch and beat into submission before swallowing it whole. As the summer progresses, eastern kingbirds supplement their insect diet with fruit, including mulberries, serviceberries, cherries, blackberries and elderberries. During fall migration and at their wintering grounds in western Amazonia, fruit makes up most of their diet.
Females usually lay three to four white to pinkish-white eggs with brown, lavender, gray or brown blotches. Incubation is mostly or entirely by females for 12 to 13 days. Both parents bring small and large insects for nestlings to consume. Young leave the nest in 12 to 13 days and fly at 16 to 18 days. Both males and females feed their young for about 30 days after the young have left the nest. Generally, a pair raises only one set of young during a nesting season because of the long period of care given to the fledglings. Eastern kingbird populations are relatively stable due to their large breeding range. In 2012, Partners in Flight estimated eastern kingbird breeding population at 27 million, with 84 percent breeding in the United States and 16 percent in Canada. However populations in some areas appear to be decreasing as a result of habitat loss/degradation and pesticide use
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Eastern kingbirds maintain a breeding territory that they defend relentlessly against all other kingbirds and predators. They nest in open habitats with scattered trees, mostly over water. Females select and build the nest site. However males will sometimes influence the females’ decision by perching at a potential nest site before the females start the nest. Nesting trees can include willows, hawthorns, apples, elms, mulberries, Osage-oranges and spruces. Males may even reuse a site for multiple years, even with a new female.
Nests are constructed by the females in one to two weeks. Nests can be up to 7 inches across and 6 inches deep, made of small twigs, coarse roots, dry weed stems and strips of bark. The inside of the nest is only 2-3 inches across and an inch or two deep with softer lining of fine rootlets, catkins, cottonwood fluffs, cattail downs and horsehairs. Males keep an eye on their females while they are building the nest to potentially fend off predators or other kingbirds. When defending their nests, eastern kingbirds will show their crown of yellow, orange or red feathers, which are usually concealed. They will also stretch their beak wide for intimidation to reveal a red throat. If all else fails they will dive bomb an intruder.
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Tom and Mary Anderson Bring New Perspectives to Woodland Twilight
partnerships
by Cait Anastis, editor Like many members of The Holden Arboretum, Tom Anderson’s first visit was as a student on a school field trip. He later returned to the Arboretum as a parent, with his wife Mary to explore the grounds, with their two sons.
“We tried some new things last year with the after party, and we’re going to continue that with some tweaks,” he said. “You don’t want to disrupt the event for the long standing attendees that come knowing what it’s going to be like.”
Now, they bring their grandchildren for visits, wandering along the same trails through the gardens and natural areas that they explored with their sons in the past. In many ways, they share the same experiences as many of the Arboretum’s members.
Last year, the party moved into the gardens after dinner, where colored lights turned the Display Garden into a magical setting for guests and allowed the celebration to continue well after dark.
But the Andersons have not limited their involvement to occasional family outings. Tom Anderson, a senior vice president and regional private bank executive at FirstMerit , serves on the Arboretum’s board of directors, as well as the board’s advancement committee and corporate relationships committee, both of which support the organization’s fundraising efforts. Playing an active role in the organization is important to him.
“I loved the outdoor lighting and how dramatic it was,” Mary Anderson said. “I think it showed off a side of Holden that you don’t get to see, because once it’s dark, you’re not out here. This year, there will be a live band, with dancing, and we are having ice cream. The bar will be open and it will continue to be a party.” The goal is to produce a successful event to support the Arboretum’s mission and programs. “We’re hoping for 500 plus people and for everyone to have a wonderful time, and renew their energy and commitment to the Arboretum,” he said. Having dedicated volunteers and board members to help forward the organization’s mission and assist with both friend and fundraising is very important, said Malou Monago, vice president of advancement for the Arboretum and Botanical Garden. From being on hand to greet guests at the event, to bringing an artistic touch to the decorations, the Andersons are adding their personal touch to Woodland Twilight. “They are very good at friendraising and they are always looking for opportunities to highlight the organization and share our story,” Monago said. “They lend their time, talents and treasure to everything they do and Woodland Twilight is a perfect event for volunteers to help showcase the Arboretum. We’re so happy when people can enjoy Holden on a beautiful summer evening, and it’s even better when we can raise money to help further the mission.”
“I believe that if you are going to serve on a board, you ought to be involved and not just a placeholder, to do what you can to improve an organization,” he said, “and it’s very easy to be involved with Holden, and now with Holden/Cleveland Botanical Garden. It’s an organization that pulls you in, in a good way.” He is not alone in his efforts to support the Arboretum and Botanical Garden. His wife Mary is equally supportive and together the couple is chairing the Arboretum’s Woodland Twilight benefit for the second year. The Andersons are using the experience they gained as chairs of the benefit committee in 2014 to add some new dimensions to the event, while maintaining the traditions that have been a draw for guests for the past 30 years.
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“We’re hoping to focus the program in such a way that it will be shorter and more focused, giving people a chance to enjoy what Holden is all about,” Mary Anderson said. “We are not doing a live auction this year, so that will be different, and we will rely on people’s bidding at the silent auction. We’re also doing some big ticket raffle items.”
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The challenge is to continue to enhance Woodland Twilight without walking away from the traditional components for the event that attract people as well, Tom Anderson said.
For the Andersons, the benefit is both an opportunity to show their support for a place that they enjoy and to share that enjoyment with others. Since joining the board in 2013, Tom Anderson has seen many capital projects completed including the new Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden and the R. Henry Norweb Jr. Tree Allée, as well as the start of work on the restoration of Corning Lake and the construction of the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower. These new features are a continuation of all the great activity going on at the Arboretum, and a way for it to continue to attract new visitors to the property. “It creates some additional enthusiasm around Holden,” he said. “It will lead other people to come here for the first time and fall in love with the place.” And the Andersons definitely seem to have fallen in love with the Arboretum. “We love the outdoors and I think it’s a great place to come. It’s such a peaceful place. I’ve come here by myself with the dog and just walk,” Mary Anderson said. “It’s a good place to just forget about everything else and be at peace with things, to kind of chill out. I think everybody needs that, just to disconnect a little bit. I find its someplace that I can just forget everything else and enjoy the bluebird that’s flitting across. It’s kind of simple, but it’s true.”
Holden School Guides:
volunteering
Living Life with Wonder by Robin Ott, volunteer coordinator
One way that The Holden Arboretum fulfills its mission to engage children with plants is through its school-based field trip program. Every year, approximately 15,000 students visit the Arboretum. Their experiences here are tied directly to the curriculum, but aren’t the typical museum tour – all of the programs feature activity based explorations of one of the Arboretum’s natural areas. Students are not lectured to, but are engaged in hands-on investigations and discussions where they are encouraged to question and discover. Last year, 350 of these programs were presented by volunteer school guides. Each of these individuals brings a unique perspective and reason for deciding to become a guide. For school guide Carolyn Rice, it was to be able to retire but continue her vocation of inspiring the next generations. “I wanted to still have kids in my life and make a difference,” she said. “I wanted kids to love nature and care about the Earth and see its magnificence.” Although many guides are retired teachers such as Rice, that’s not the only profession represented – the ranks also include a doctor, an engineer, a graphic designer and a former computer programmer. Greg Ondrake, the programmer, recently became a school guide and wasn’t even planning to sign up when he first started as a Holden volunteer. Thinking back on it, he remembers, his “original intention for volunteering at Holden was to get more exercise by working in the horticultural department – digging, lifting, pruning, etc. [After my new volunteer interview] it was [the volunteer coordinator] who suggested I meet with Sharon Graper [Manager of Academic Services and staff supervisor for the School Guide program]. The rest is history.” Although Ondrake’s first thought was volunteering in the gardens, Holden staff knew he would get plenty of exercise guiding. There is extensive walking involved and all school guides to have to be physically capable of walking and standing for up to two hours. If someone is interested in staying active, this position fits the bill. No matter what their background, through the outdoor classroom training, a one day program, offered in the early spring and fall, and shadowing of veteran school guides, all school guides learn the curriculum and build confidence in their ability to teach and engage. It’s this opportunity to watch that engagement happen that Ondrake loves. “It is definitely the excitement in the faces of the students and their teachers, parents and helpers that keep me coming back,” he said. “If something you do clicks in their minds, it is so rewarding.” Fellow school guide Yvette Slusarski agrees that being a part of the “connection” is something special. She shared that once she “had a group on the way into the [Holden] Butterfly Garden. I stopped at the gate to show them the beautiful designs on it and one little girl flung her arms open wide and shouted, “This is the most beautiful garden I have ever seen!” Each time I walk through those gates, I can hear the little girl and her most amazing discovery!” Graper believes another reason that volunteers find this role especially fulfilling is that the volunteers have a lot of responsibility and input into the program.
New Guide Training: Tuesday, Sept. 15 - 9am - 3pm Want to live life with a sense of wonder? School guides lead students through Holden’s ponds, forests and fields and teach them about our natural world using hands-on activities. Training includes one full-day training session and shadowing of current guides as desired. Must be available on weekday morning and afternoons, be able to walk up to two hours and be comfortable working outside in a variety of conditions. New Holden volunteers will also need to complete general volunteer orientation and meet with staff. Individuals interested in the Holden School Guide program can apply now, and learn more about other volunteer positions at holdenarb.org or by calling the volunteer office at 440.602.8003.
supportive of one another. Even though the programs that have been created have set criteria, all the guides are able to contribute their own unique style when they implement the programs. After we have completed programs and we are cleaning up and putting away supplies, we are able to discuss freely what went well and what could have been done differently next time as well as share those unique unexpected moments.” What makes a great school guide? All parties agree – it requires a love and wonder of nature, a strong interest in working with youth, compassion, and, sometimes most importantly, the ability to be flexible. Ondrake says that one of the biggest challenges “is learning to adapt to the different groups, different seasons and different weather conditions.” Rice also notes the need to understand that students have very different experiences with the outdoors. “Sometimes kids are not used to being in such a natural setting and are fearful of walking in the woods,” she said, “Many times we are able to get through to a child who may be disruptive [because of this anxiety]. It feels so good to connect.”
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“They can be creative and have a role in developing the programming if they choose,” she said. “They can grow and develop and learn and share with each other along the way.” Slusarski also relates. “There is this wonderful camaraderie among the school guides,” she said. “Everyone is very helpful and there is much we all learn from each other. Everyone I have volunteered with is very
Holden School Guides
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Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ (Virginia sweetspire) by Ethan Johnson, plant records curator Belonging to the family Iteaceae, the genus Itea contains 29 species, 28 of which are native to Asia and Africa. Itea virginica grows naturally only in wetlands from New Jersey, west to Missouri and south to Texas and Florida. Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ was cultivated at the Henry Foundation in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania and was named by Judy Zuk of the nearby Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. Collected in 1954 in Georgia by Mary G. Henry, who selected it for its superior floral display and outstanding fall foliage, Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ was first introduced to the trade in 1985 by Woodlanders, a mail order native plant nursery in South Carolina. Most Virginia sweetspire of southern provenance have not proven winter hardy in Northeast Ohio. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ is hardy to -20°F and has remained unscathed by most Northeast Ohio winters. At The Holden Arboretum, mass plantings of Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ may be seen on the west side of the Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden and by Lantern Court’s parking lot. It has also been planted on an experimental basis in one of the bio-retention basins by the Corning Visitor Center parking lot.
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The white flowers of ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia sweetspire emit a lovely, yet fairly light, fragrance for two to three weeks in June, sometimes lasting into early July. Famous horticulturist, Michael Dirr, noted that when this plant is grown in full sun in moist rich soil, its flowers are “slightly short of spectacular,” and when planted in large groupings “the effect is staggeringly beautiful.” The fall foliage is another significant ornamental attribute. At the Arboretum, it has started as early as September displaying shades of red with purple highlights. The peak fall foliage occurs throughout most of October, and in early November the red,
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orange, and yellow shades of the inner leaves that are latest to fall are still showy. In years such as 2001 and 2007, when winter was late in coming, a few colorful leaves even hung on through Thanksgiving. Don’t expect this plant to leaf out early in spring. This characteristic is common to a number of other southern wetland species such as Taxodium distichum (bald-cypress), and Quercus lyrata (overcup oak). Leafing out late serves to avoid most late killing frosts. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ also has handsome foliage that is less susceptible to leaf spot than the average Itea virginica. Another selection, ‘Little Henry’, was made by Richard Feist of Burlington at Kentucky’s Hummingbird Nursery. ‘Little Henry’, discovered as a branch sport of Itea virginica ‘Meadowlark’, was granted a plant patent in 1999, and introduced to the trade by Spring Meadow Nursery of Grand Rapids, Michigan as one of its Proven Winners®. This clone is more compact than ‘Henry’s Garnet’ and a little shorter, by about a foot. A mass planting may be found on the west side of the Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden where it was 3’ tall in September 2013 after being planted in April. Another grouping of ‘Little Henry’ was planted in the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden west of Sherwin Pond this past September. A word of caution about new plant introductions. New does not always mean better. Come by and judge ‘Little Henry’ for yourself if you are considering buying this plant for your own garden. It is located adjacent to ‘Henry’s Garnet’ in the Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden for comparison. Dirr has reported disease (leaf spot) and insect (flea beetle) problems with ‘Little Henry’ in USDA Zone 7.
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ received the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal in 1988, and it has performed admirably for more than 20 years at the Arboretum. In 1993 I purchased Itea virginica from The Holden Arboretum Plant Sale. It was sited in my garden in Eastlake on an old compost pile and grew 7’ tall next to a patch of bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), which served as a screen to a neighbor’s yard. After 22 years the single plant from a one gallon container has spread eight feet by underground stems (stolons). Itea virginica performs best in full sun to part shade, and although it can grow in full shade, its density, flowering and fall foliage will all be diminished. It does well in a wide range of soil types, especially if mulched and kept moist during drought. It transplants readily and has no serious disease or insect pests. Although Virginia sweetspire is listed in the literature as salt tolerant, a large mass planted in 1964 between the first two parking bays in the Corning Visitor Center parking lot had to be removed in 2008 due to salt damage. It also cannot abide high pH soils. Itea virginica and its cultivars all spread by stolons and form a thicket in time. In the landscape it is useful for naturalizing along watercourses and in seasonally wet heavy soil. It is useful in a border, as a screen, hedge, and also as a foundation planting. Flower buds form on old growth, so prune immediately after flowering removing the oldest (5-7 yr.) stems to ensure maximum floral display. Good woody companion plants for moist soils include Betula nigra (river birch), Clethra alnifolia (summersweet), Ilex verticillata (winterberry), and Leucothoe axillaris (coast leucothoe). ITEA VIRGINICA FALL COLOR BY LEE WRIGHT
plant facts Light Full sun to part shade
Mature size 4-5’(7’) tall with an equal or greater spread
Source Local garden centers
Soil type Wet clay to moist loam, acid pH
Best location USDA Zones 5b-10
Summer 2015
LEONORA ENKING
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plant this not that
by Eva Rodriguez, education intern
Thousands of plants have been introduced to the United States from other parts of the world. Some have come here accidentally in seed stock, while others were brought here intentionally for horticultural use. A small number of these introduced plants have gotten a little too comfortable in their new environment. Because they have no native predators and produce a lot of fruit and seed that are efficiently dispersed, they are invading natural areas. The aggressiveness of these invasive plants affects natural areas and wildlife by decreasing biodiversity, competing with native and rare plants and eliminating wildlife habitat and food sources. Plant This, Not That features native alternatives to a commonly used landscape plant that has become invasive. The alternatives were chosen because their characteristics – form, flowers, fruit or fall color – are similar to that of the invasive and fulfill the same landscaping need. Plants that are native to Ohio are recommended when possible as native species are generally welladapted to local climates and provide additional resources for wildlife. However, there are many non-native plants on the market that are also non-invasive and possess great ornamental value.
The Invasive
Coronilla varia (crown vetch)
Leaves
We all love the look of summer blooming flowers amidst the beautiful Ohio greenery, but Coronilla varia (crown vetch) is much more than a pretty flower, and not in a good way. C. varia is an herbaceous perennial legume in the family Fabaceae. It has small, dark green compound leaves, with up to 15 leaflets. It has a strong, multi-branched root system and can spread readily by underground stems called rhizomes. C. varia has appealing pink flowers that bloom on long stalks. This plant produces seed pods, as most legumes do, that form crown-shaped clusters. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, C. varia seeds prolifically. Charles Tubesing, Holden’s plant collections curator, said “this plant’s seeds are long-lived, creating a preserved seed bank within the soil and making C. varia extremely difficult to eradicate.” The combination of prolific, long-lived seeds and aggressive underground rhizome activity makes C. varia a difficult plant to keep from wildly spreading.
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Crown vetch,
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
C. varia was introduced to North America in the 1950s from the Mediterranean region. It was introduced as an erosion control measure and proved to work well in stabilizing road banks in rocky, dry soils, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, since its introduction, it has become a nuisance in nearly every U.S. state, including Hawaii. C. varia can become something of a vicious weed, able to grow in the most nutrient-poor soil conditions. Many legumes employ a process called nitrogen fixation in which their roots are colonized by helpful bacteria that remove nitrogen from the air and transform it into a form that the plant can use, which helps the plants grow. Therefore, C. varia is able to utilize this important nutrient in poor soil conditions, which is wonderful for the plant but detrimental to the native plant community that surrounds it. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that this could disrupt the native community’s nitrogen cycle, such as those that are dependent on infertile soils. In addition, as C. varia thrives and quickly spreads, it has the ability to climb over and reduce necessary sunlight to native ground cover plants. Despite its dainty beauty and undoubted utility, C. varia is more of a pest than an asset to your property. Roadside crown vetch infestation, James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
The Alternatives
Fragrant sumac berries,
Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ (fragrant sumac) Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ is a great groundcover alternative to Coronilla varia. This cultivated variety of fragrant sumac is a low-growing woody shrub that can grow to up to two feet tall. R. aromatica, like many of its sumac relatives, is stunningly Fragrant sumac fall foliage. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org beautiful; it’s recognized by its glossy trilobed dark green leaves and wonderful autumn foliage that exhibits fiery red-orange colors. At first glance, its foliage looks very similar to poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, but upon closer examination, you’ll find they are completely different starting with the fact that they have different growing habits; T. radicans is a woody vine and R. aromatica is a woody shrub. However, they do happen to belong to the same plant family, which would account for the similarities in foliage shape and fall color. R. aromatica is dioecious, meaning that individual plants bear either male or female flowers. Both male and female flowers bloom in March and April. The yellow flowers and catkins (male flowers) form in inflorescences, or bunches of many flowers, at the ends of the branches. In late summer, fuzzy red fruits are produced and are persistent on the branch until early winter. These long-lasting berries are an important winter food source for birds and small mammals. R. aromatica is a hardy, drought tolerant plant, easily adapting to dry and poor soil conditions. “This could explain why its range covers the entire eastern United States. R. aromatica can be propagated from stem cuttings,” Tubesing said, “and is lime tolerant, meaning that it has potential to be used as ground cover on heavily disturbed and alkaline urban soils.” According to the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at the Ohio State University, R. aromatica is excellent at erosion control due to its entangled stems and quick rooting ability. Choosing R. aromatica over C. varia for ground cover or erosion control on your property is a no-brainer for the native ecosystem and for your viewing pleasure.
Diervilla sessilifolia (Southern bush honeysuckle) Once you learn more about Diervilla sessilifolia, you will completely forget the idea of planting C. varia on your property. D. sessilifolia is a dazzling rare species from the Southern Atlantic region, including Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. It is a deciduous perennial shrub that can grow up to six feet tall in its native range. Here in Ohio D. sessilifolia has been observed to grow between four and five feet tall. D. sessilifolia has beautiful, glossy dark green foliage that slowly turns a deep crimson-purple color as the seasons progress into autumn. It has elegant trumpet-shaped flowers, which display a crisp yellow color. Despite its common name, D. sessilifolia is not a true honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.), as Lonicera species produce berries as fruit. D. sessilifolia produces dry seed capsules at the tips of its twigs that look similar to grains of brown rice. In addition to producing seeds, this honeysuckle relative spreads by underground rhizomes.
Diervilla sessilifolia ‘Butterfly’, www.canadiangardenjoy.blogspot.com
Summer 2015
It’s nice to know that such a great looking plant can also be useful for the landscape. D. sessilifolia happens to look strikingly similar to D. lonicera, or Northern bush honeysuckle, which is native to Ohio. So, why are we recommending a species that is native to southern states? Tubesing believes that D. sessilifolia is a much tougher plant than its northern cousin. Sunlight Gardens, located in D. sessilifolia’s native Tennessee, said that this plant is tolerant of drought, cold temperatures and numerous different soil types; it is even deer resistant, which is a nice plus especially here in Northeast Ohio. D. sessilifolia can root and grow rapidly from stem cuttings and can bloom on new wood, according to Tubesing, meaning that D. sessilifolia can be cut in spring and still bloom that same summer. Common cultivated varieties such as ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Cool Splash’ share these great traits. So, after hearing the positives of D. sessilifolia, is C. varia still a thought? I doubt it!
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ask Greg by Greg Wright, nursery supervisor
Q:
A:
I enjoy butterflies but I don’t see many of them around my yard. What can I do to attract more butterflies for me and my family to enjoy? Attracting butterflies to your yard is a great goal as
butterflies and moths pollinate plants and help those plants complete their life cycle. In addition, butterflies and moths are also prey for birds and rodents, and as such, provide ecological significance in our landscapes. There are 80 resident species of butterfly in Northeast Ohio, but the butterfly and moth populations have been reduced because of habitat loss, increased use of pesticides and night lighting, as well as other factors. To accomplish your goal of increasing the population of butterflies, consider increasing their habitat through appropriate plantings. To do this, you need to understand a little of their life-cycle. Butterflies and moths start their lives as caterpillars. In that stage they need different food than they consume in their adult stages. So it also is important to provide host plants for the caterpillars. You will want to provide a season of bloom and utilize flat topped fragrant single flowers from which it is easier for the adult butterflies to extract nectar. By providing for the complete life cycle of the butterfly you will not only have butterflies stopping by for some nectar and a rest, but to lay eggs, ensuring more butterflies in the future. (See feature on page 4.) To create a healthy habitat, consider the environment. Most butterflies and their host plants prefer sunny sites. The butterfly needs the heat of the sun to warm its body so it can fly. They also need damp soil or shallow puddles from which they extract salts needed in their diets. They are initially attracted by color so planting masses of brightly colored flowers will get their attention. Provide protective areas such as trees with flaking bark, or butterfly boxes for inclement weather and for overwintering species. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in the landscape as they can be toxic. These tips will get you started in your efforts to attract butterflies. For additional information and resources please review our Landscape Bulletin No. 6. The websites pollinator.org and monarchwatch.org also have additional resources.
Leaves
THE PENNINGTON BEDS
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IN THE MYRTLE S. HOLDEN WILDFLOWER GARDEN
Research News and Highlights Holden-Cleveland Botanical Garden scientist to present at urban restoration conference Sandra Albro, research associate in applied urban ecology and project manager at Cleveland Botanical Garden, was accepted to present and lead a panel discussion entitled Neighborhood-scale green infrastructure in three Great Lakes cities at the Reclaiming Vacant Properties conference in Detroit, Mich., May 19-21, 2015. The discussion will focus on the Botanical Garden’s Vacant to
Vibrant program. Vacant to Vibrant is a Great Lakes Protection Fund-supported initiative to evaluate the success of small green infrastructure projects to achieve multiple community benefits in Gary, Ind.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Buffalo, N.Y. Learn more at our project blog cbgarden.org/lets-learn/ research/vacant2vibrant.aspx
VACANT TO VIBRANT IS A PROJECT OF CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN’S APPLIED RESEARCH PROGRAM. OVER FOUR YEARS, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN WILL STUDY THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS THAT COME FROM INSTALLING STORMWATER PARKS ON VACANT URBAN LOTS IN GARY, IND., CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND BUFFALO, N.Y. ON THIS SITE IN WOODLAND HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD OF CLEVELAND, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN HAS CONVERTED A VACANT LOT INTO RAIN GARDENS AND BIRD HABITAT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD BIRD WATCHERS.
Study highlights seasonal changes in mycorrhizal fungi of forest wildflowers Wildflowers are important components of forests and are often used as an indicator of overall forest health. One such wildflower still found in mature forests, and prevalent in many older forest stands at the Arboretum, is Allium tricoccum (wild leek). Populations of wild leek and other forest wildflowers are threatened by a number of factors, including acid rain, overabundant deer, habitat fragmentation and potentially global climate change. But we still know very little about the basic relationship between wildflowers and important soil fungi, such as the mycorrhizal fungi that colonize plant roots and assist the plants in acquiring nutrients from soil. Present in more than 85 percent of all land plants, mycorrhizal fungi are important plant mutualists, and their presence in roots is necessary for plant success. In order to establish the extent of mycorrhizal colonization in wild leek, and how the fungal partners change seasonally, Holden research scientists Charlotte Hewins, Sarah Kyker and David Burke, with assistance from summer intern Rose Egelhoff, conducted a study over the course of one year in
an old growth beech-maple stand in Stebbins Gulch. This study, recently published in the international journal Mycorrhizas, found that mycorrhizal fungi are present in the roots throughout the year, but their numbers are highest in late winter and early spring just as new leaves emerge. Although the species of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots didn’t change over the year, the presence of mycorrhizal species in the roots was affected by proximity to forest trees, indicating that wild leek may share the same mycorrhizal fungi with tree species such as sugar maple and tulip-poplar. The study also found that nutrient uptake by plant roots is very high in autumn and winter, when leaves are absent but roots are still active. This work helps us understand the patterns affecting these important soil fungi, how tree presence may affect the fungal communities of wildflowers and what times of the year are most important for nutrient uptake in wild leek. The paper, “Seasonal variation in mycorrhizal fungi on roots of Allium tricoccum (wild leek) in a mature mixed hardwood forest” was authored by Hewins, Kyker and Burke.
Summer Construction Updates
shorts
Coming Soon! The Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower will open in September. Stay tuned for special ‘members only’ previews.
Summer 2015
Sections of Sperry Road will be closed in June and July to allow for installation of the deer fencing around The Holden Arboretum’s core gardens and collections. Each crossing on Sperry Road will take approximately two weeks to complete and require traffic to be detoured. The deer grate will be installed to the south of Corning Lake between June 15 and June 30, requiring visitors to take Booth Road or Mitchells Mill Road to Sperry Road to reach the Corning Visitor Center. Construction on the second crossing, near the intersection of Mitchells Mill Road, will be installed between July 1 and 15, requiring visitors to access the Corning Visitor Center by taking Kirtland Chardon Road to Sperry Road.
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periodicals ®
9500 Sperry Road Kirtland, Ohio 44094 440.946.4400 holdenarb.org
Please notify Holden of change of address.
Heather, Calluna calluna vulgaris ‘Silver Knight’ in the Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden
JACKIE KLISURIC
postage paid Mentor, Ohio