FEATURE STORY
Public
GARDENS
as a Resource for the Horticulture Industry By Timothy Ohlwiler, Extension Agent – Horticulture Virginia Cooperative Extension Fauquier County Office
Researchers are testing hundreds of chestnut hybrids to see if they can find trees that are resistant to chestnut blight. This disease came through the eastern United States in the early 1900’s and killed almost all of the chestnuts in Appalachia from Maine to Georgia. Photo by Tim Ohlwiler
The Quarters with its iconic arches and cupula is the heart of the State Arboretum of Virginia. The Quarters served as residence for the enslaved at a nearby estate, today it holds offices and a gift shop for Blandy. Photo by James R. Emmett
Tansy blooms in the foreground and Graham Blandy Boxwood frame the entrance to the herb garden at Blandy Experimental Farm, home to the State Arboretum of Virginia. Photo by Tim Ohlwiler
P
ublic gardens are a treasure for our communities, and the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce is one of the crown jewels. Sometimes called Blandy, for short, the State Arboretum provides many benefits to the horticulture industry as well as the general public. Public Gardens are a place of inspiration for those in the horticulture industry as well as our clients. A public garden is a place of formal and informal education, and gardens are often places for research. As with many outdoor spaces, they can aid our personal health, especially in stressful times, and a public garden can increase awareness and appreciation for horticulture. Many public gardens are called arboreta or botanic gardens, but many are gardens at historic sites. The following are five ways the State Arboretum of Virginia and other public gardens serve the horticulture industry in Virginia. 1. I nspiration – A grand public garden is often a place of inspiration and ideas. There are ideas to be taken to work and home after a visit — the knowledge of a new plant combination or something to share with a coworker. It can also be a place of inspiration and new ideas for clients. Finding a place in a public garden that mirrors the climatic, soil and water requirements of a garden of a client can help to develop ideas for a difficult situation. The ideas for plants are wonderful, but also design, hardscape elements, and garden structures are often an attractive piece of a botanical garden or public arboretum. The woodland wildflower walk and the raised herb garden at The State Arboretum are sources of inspiration. 2. Education – Many public gardens are also a place for formal and informal education that can serve the horticulture industry as well as the public at large. Blandy is no exception. There are classes and tours, and often there are labels on plants to help visitors learn. The best growing conditions and light requirements for the plants in the gardens are often highlighted. Brochures and maps are the source of additional information. Many times, plants are placed in collections. This makes it easy to compare size, color, and growing habit of the 162 boxwood cultivars in Blandy’s collection. Often trees and shrubs are labeled with the year they were planted, so seeing how large a plant can get is also helpful. 3. Research – The State Arboretum of Virginia, like many public gardens, is also
12 • VNLA News • Winter 2020
