Arboretum Magazine December 2023/January 2024

arboretum DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024

magazine

Celebrate the magic of winter at the Arboretum

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ANDREW GAPINSKI

As the days grow colder and darker, the tell-tale signs of

winter have begun to appear across the Arboretum. While it’s bittersweet to put a beautiful growing season behind us, there are so many ways to enjoy the magic of the Arboretum this winter.

Even in our colder months, getting outside to experience nature provides so many benefits to our health and wellbeing (page 5). With miles of hiking, ski and snowshoe trails (and snowshoe rentals), the Arboretum is the perfect place to connect with nature this season.

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024, VOL. 42, NO. 6

I’m delighted to be back in the Midwest to enjoy the snow and the many winter activities that go along with it.

Our staff is excited to celebrate winter and the season of lights with the 7th-annual Winter Lights walking tour — a unique after-hours experience that lights up the Arboretum. This year’s festive event includes new light displays as well as beloved annual traditions such as a giant walk-through apple covered in lights. Learn more about what’s new this year on page 3.

Looking back on the past few months in my role as Executive Director, I'm grateful for the incredible opportunities I’ve had to learn from and grow with the staff, volunteers and members of the Arboretum. In 2023, we welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors to the Arboretum, which wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous support of our community. As we move into 2024, I’m grateful for the support of our members, and I hope the Arboretum continues to inspire and inform you into the New Year — from the first tulips in spring to the last golden leaf of autumn.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Magazine is published six times a year by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The Arboretum is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) at the University of Minnesota. The magazine is a benefit of Arboretum membership. To request a copy of this publication in an alternate or digital format, please call 612-301-1257. © 2023 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

arb.umn.edu 612-624-2200 arbinfo@umn.edu

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Elise Bremer, Editor Brenda Drake Lesch, Art Director Andrew Gapinski, Executive Director Timothy S. Kenny, Director of Education Susan Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Advancement Matthew Clark, Ph.D., Director of Research Tom Lany, Marketing, Communications & PR Manager Glenn Stolar, President, Arboretum Foundation

Cover photo by: Jason Boudreau-Landis

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

Lights illuminate the Dahlberg Terrace outside the Oswald Visitor Center, welcoming visitors to experience a new season at the Arboretum.

SEASO NAL BEAUTY

ELISE BREMER • EDITOR

a welcoming Winter Village — as well as a brand new color-changing archway and a light-up array of cheerful sunflowers. Visitors can warm up inside the Oswald Visitor Center with seasonal music on select nights from the Winter Music Series, or gather around fire pits at a S’Mores Village near the Sensory Garden, with s’mores kits available to purchase for convivial marshmallow roasting.

For those looking for a curated experience, special theme nights provide exclusive access to Winter Lights. Events include nights for families and photographers, as well as date nights for adults and a New Year’s Eve celebration for all ages with countdown celebrations on the hour throughout the evening.

Combining time-honored traditions with new and exciting light displays, the 7th-annual Winter Lights creates a shimmering spectacle in the darkest months of winter. Said Composto, “It’s special here after hours; it’s just a different experience.” Don’t miss the magic of Winter Lights — on display throughout November and December.

Tickets are required for all Winter Lights viewing nights as well as special theme nights for all visitors, including members of all levels. For more information and to reserve tickets, head to arb.umn.edu/winterlights.

Photo by Todd Mulvihill

Celebrate winter with the return of Winter Lights — the Arboretum’s festive, one-mile walking tour featuring light displays with a botanical theme. This unique after-hours experience invites visitors to come out and enjoy the Arboretum in the winter time, said Wendy Composto, Signature Seasonal Events Manager and the creative force behind Winter Lights.

This year’s tour will feature brand-new installations and more lights than ever before along with familiar pieces that honor the Arboretum’s horticultural heritage, including a larger-than-life apple bedecked in twinkling lights. For Composto, it’s all about illuminating the Arboretum’s connection to the University of Minnesota and celebrating the many cold-hardy plant varieties developed at the Horticultural Research Center (HRC). “Our goal is to create as many natural, floral tie-ins as possible,” said Composto, listing off “Lite-Brite” versions of chrysanthemums, forsythia and azaleas, all on display as an homage to the HRC. The self-guided walking tour provides a unique opportunity to experience the magic of the Arboretum after hours and to celebrate the beauty of the winter season in Minnesota. The newly expanded route includes a visit up to Scarecrow Hill — transformed for the season into

Visitors are invited to explore a larger-than-life walk-through apple that celebrates the Arboretum's rich horticultural history.

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Photos by (left) Mircea Costina; (right) Jukka Jantunen

NATURE FOCUS

While it can be tricky to spot the Arboretum’s resident river otters in action, their tracks — including a tell-tale tail mark — are easily identified in fresh snow.

MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST

When the snowy days of early winter arrive, the brown and tan hues of the autumn landscape are covered in a cloak of glistening white. For some species, the bitter cold temperatures and endless long nights are spent in hibernation. River otters are the exception to this sleepy behavior. They are furry bundles of inexhaustible energy through even the harshest wintry months.

A sure sign that otters are active is the snow slides they create down hillsides. Snow and mud sliding, tail chasing, water play and other sports develop young otters’ bodies for the flexibility they need for hunting. A family of otters is called a romp — a fitting name for these “Energizer Bunnies.”

The otters’ main diet consists of fish and crustaceans, and their water-repellent coats, webbed feet and powerful tails that propel them through the water make them formidable hunters. They have long whiskers that can detect prey in dark waters; they are able to close their noses; and have a third eyelid — called a nictitating membrane — that allows them to see underwater.

Otters are equipped with oil glands to waterproof their fur and scent glands to mark their territory. The scent is extra potent to keep the smell from washing away in the water. Otters can hold their breath for up to eight minutes and are equally adapted to land, running at top speeds of 15 miles per hour.

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Otters are in the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, muskrats and skunks.

Like other members of this family, they reproduce via delayed implantation. They mate between December and April and the fertilized eggs exist in a free-floating state until the following winter. The next year the eggs are implanted. The young are born between February and April, and otters usually have one to six pups a year.

Playful otters are symbols of friendship, peace and kindness, and the otter spirit encourages us to enjoy the simple things in life away from stress. Otters can be seen frolicking around the Arboretum throughout the year.

WINTER TRAILS

JEAN LARSON • NATURE-BASED THERAPEUTICS MANAGER

how you connect with nature through the following: • Senses — Tune in to nature through touch, sight, sound and smell.

• Emotion — Be alert to the emotions and feelings nature brings.

• Beauty — Notice nature’s beauty, awe and wonder.

• Meaning — Think about how nature brings purpose and intention to your life.

• Compassion — Care for the planet and take action for nature.

The Arboretum is the perfect place to explore nature in the winter months with miles of hiking, snowshoe and ski trails. Visit arb.umn.edu/winter for routes and up-to-date trail conditions all winter long. Snowshoes can be rented in the Oswald Visitor Center, making it easy to try out a new physical activity that gets you outdoors in the winter. Whatever you do, make nature a part of your everyday routine in all seasons.

Note: While connecting with nature is essential for overall health and wellbeing, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real. According to the organization Mental Health America, symptoms of seasonal depression can be similar to those that occur with depression. If you think you have SAD, speak to your health care provider or a mental health specialist.

Photos by (left) Norbert Lucas; (right) Mark MacLennan

Now that winter is upon us, it’s time to embrace the new season and renew our connection to nature. There are many positive benefits to connecting with nature during the colder months. According to a 2019 paper published in the journal Nature, spending just two hours per week in natural environments will increase your health and wellbeing.

The benefits go far beyond just a good mood. Connecting with nature can help us heal from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, increase positive mental health outcomes, reduce stress and anxiety, diminish pain through distraction and more.

But, it’s winter. You might be asking yourself, “Why would I want to go outside when it’s freezing out?” Besides the aforementioned physical and mental health benefits, getting outdoors in the colder months provides the opportunity to develop a new relationship with the natural world. It allows us the chance to explore our engagement with nature as more of a lifestyle or mindset that can transform the way we experience our world.

On your next walk at the Arboretum, take a moment to think about

Reconnect with nature this winter and explore the Arboretum’s hiking, snowshoe and ski trails.

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THE JOY OF GIVING

JEFF ISEMINGER • CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“I knew Leon Snyder [the Arboretum’s first director] and took a course from him at the University of Minnesota,” said Gordie. “He knew his plants A to Z.” Plants and nature are foundational to Gordie’s company and to the Arboretum, which he said “are so basic to humanity as the world becomes more urbanized. We have threatened the planet, so we must live more sustainably.”

He believes in being active in nature, so he’s hiked the Arboretum’s trails in all seasons and still, at age 88, loves to bicycle. In fact, as a 69-year-old, he cycled in stages across America coast-to-coast, as part of a fundraiser for the Horticultural Research Institute.

Oh, and Gordie can offer one more definition of durability: He and Jo have been married for 63 years. How did they meet? On a double date, but not like you think.

“My best friend was dating Jo, and I was dating his sister,” said Gordie with a chuckle. “Well, you just never know what’s going to happen.”

Photo by Lulle Photo

You may have gone to a nursery one day, seen a tree or shrub you like and noticed on it a familiar rectangular tag with two words — words somehow synonymous with durability despite the fact that you’re looking at living tissue — Bailey Nurseries.

Durable, as in a fifth-generation wholesale company founded in St. Paul in 1905. You may know its Endless Summer® hydrangeas, First Edition® trees and shrubs and Easy Elegance® roses. It operates growing centers in four states with sales in a dozen countries. Gordie Bailey is Bailey board chairman, and his niece, Terri McEnany, is Bailey Nurseries’ CEO. Durable, as in an Arboretum-Bailey partnership stretching back to the Arboretum’s founding. You can find Bailey plants across the Arboretum’s grounds, including the Lilac Collection and the Bailey Shrub Walk across from the Harrison Sculpture Garden.

Durable, as in Gordie and Jo Bailey, who have long been Arboretum supporters. Both served many years on the Arboretum board, and their son, Patrick, is a current Arboretum Trustee. The Bailey Shrub Walk is dedicated to Gordie’s father, Gordon Sr.

Members of the Bailey family gathered at the Arboretum in August 2022 to celebrate the wedding of Patrick Bailey and Kirsten Christopherson Bailey.

Pictured here from left to right: Gordie Bailey Jr., Patrick Bailey, Kirsten Christopherson Bailey and JoAnn Bailey.

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Photo by Don Olson

LEARN AN D DO

Learn new horticulture skills this winter at the McVay Learning Lab in the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center at the Farm at the Arb.

JILL LEENAY • EDUCATION

Winter is the best time to plan and prepare for the growing season ahead. Elevate your horticultural knowledge, skills and confidence through unique Arboretum classes and programs not offered anywhere else! Professional instructors leverage the latest research-based information paired with hands-on practical applications — all set against the backdrop of the Arboretum’s beautiful collections and grounds.

The ProHort Core Course is an online, at-your-own-pace series that unlocks the same trusted professional-level horticulture training that Master Gardener volunteers receive.

Developed and created by the University of Minnesota Extension, the course is composed of 14 modules including Botany and Horticulture; Soils, Composting and Fertilizers; Herbaceous Plants; Woody Plants; Lawn Care; Weeds;

Growing Vegetables; Growing Fruit; Indoor Plants; Integrated Pest Management; Plant Pathology; Plant Diagnostics; Entomology; and Living with Wildlife. The course opens in midJanuary 2024 and takes about 40-60 hours to complete. The full course with a printed course companion is $599 member/$639 non-member.

The Science of Plant Propagation series explores common methods to propagate plants through a combination of hands-on lab work, classroom presentations and take-home experiments. This four-class series delivers college-level plant science to learners in an accessible way. Each class covers a specific propagation methodology that sets the foundation for successful plants and healthy landscapes. Mix and match the topics that interest you or take all four classes, including Seeds on Jan. 20; Divisions, Cuttings and Layers

on Jan. 27; Grafting and Budding on Feb. 3; and Soils on Feb. 10. Each class is $41 member/$56 non-member.

Pruning Essentials classes provide the confidence, knowledge and skills that are foundational for long-term health and vigor of trees and landscape plants. Receive practical instruction on when and how to prune and train different species, as well as how to avoid common mistakes that can cause damage. Weather permitting, the instructor will lead students on a visit to the Arboretum’s collections for on-site demonstrations of proper pruning techniques.

Reserve your space for Deciduous and Coniferous Trees on Feb. 10; and/or Shrubs, Woody Vines and Herbaceous Species on Feb. 17. Each class is $41 member/$56 non-member.

Browse all classes and register online at arb.umn.edu/gardening-classes.

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Photo by Johanna DeBuhr

HORTICULTURE

ERIN BUCHHOLZ • GEORGE AND MARY LOU KLACAN PLANT HEALTH SPECIALIST

What happens to the koi?

In the summer, visitors often admire the Woodland Azalea and Japanese Gardens’ resident koi fish. “The koi are super interesting and people really enjoy watching them,” said Horticulturist Matt Horth (above right) who oversees these gardens. The gardens’ water features are cementlined and not heated, so the fish are removed during the winter months. They vacation in a heated barn during the winter, and once spring weather resumes, the fish return for visitors to enjoy.

Photo by Mark MacLennan

Every year, beginning in the fall, Arboretum staff begin the important task of preparing the gardens for the winter ahead. In order to hit the ground running in the spring, our staff spends the fall taking care of many tasks spread out across our acreage, protecting our gardens from low temperatures, animal damage and other potentially detrimental elements of our Minnesota winters.

Photo by Tom Lany

Goodnight, roses The beautiful hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras and miniature roses — found in the Wilson Rose Garden and across the Arboretum’s grounds — are not hardy in our climate. If we were to leave them unprotected during the winter, they would die. So, we bury them! In October, Horticulturist Ted Pew, along with volunteers from the Minnesota Rose Society, tie the canes with twine, dig up one side of the roots (opposite a newly dug trench) and tip the roses into the trench before covering them with the soil that was just removed. This process — known as the Minnesota Tip Method — is completed with a layer of straw mulch that blankets the plants. In the spring, the whole process is reversed once the soil temperature warms and the growing season begins.

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Oh, deer. Not again!

While the Arboretum is mostly enclosed by a perimeter fence, the grounds are not free of white-tailed deer. Arborvitae, pine and yews — and sometimes juniper — are browsed by deer, depending on the scarcity of food and the severity of the weather. To prevent damage, we apply repellents, but physical barriers are best. Each fall, Horticulturists Darwin Pellett and Aleah Bingham are responsible for installing temporary fences around the display gardens near the main entrance. It may be unsightly, but nothing works better to protect our gardens from foraging deer.

RESEARCH

DREW HORTON • ENOLOGY SPECIALIST, HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER

retained, and all or a portion of the whole clusters are put directly into the fermentation vessel. This contact with the stems allows additional tannins to be extracted, resulting in wines with more intense color, flavor, texture and complexity.

In 2021, I collaborated with Dr. Aude Watrelot, Assistant Professor of Enology at Iowa State University (ISU), on a project to produce three experimental wines from Marquette and Frontenac grapes sourced from the Horticultural Research Center and ISU’s vineyards. First, a control batch was created with all the stems removed. Then, experimental batches were made, with both 25% and 50% whole clusters retained.

The finished wines were subjected to various analyses to measure and compare the phenolics, tannins and color compounds, and regional winemakers and growers evaluated the wines in 2022.

The results showed a preference for the wines made with 50% whole clusters. Chemical analyses revealed much higher amounts of color and flavor (tannin) in the finished wines. With this knowledge, we can now provide recommendations on how to produce better and more popular styles of wines from our University of Minnesota developed grape varieties.

Photo by Elise Bremer

Released in 2006 as part of the Horticultural Research Center’s cold-hardy grape research, the red wine grape Marquette has become very popular among Midwest growers and winemakers for a variety of distinctive characteristics — specifically that it can make a dry, balanced red wine similar in character to traditional European reds.

Marquette has relatively high amounts of proteins in its juice and pulp, which tend to bind up the tannin and phenolic color compounds (anthocyanins) in Marquette’s resulting wines, often offering lighter color, softer structure and body and a less-complex mouthfeel.

So we had to ask: Could there be a way to boost these traits when making Marquette or other Minnesota wines?

In the traditional home of pinot noir in Burgundy, France, many winemakers use a technique known as whole-cluster fermentation. In typical red winemaking by contrast, the grape clusters are destemmed, crushed by machinery and fermented “on the skins,” along with the pulp and seeds of the grape, without the stems. The skins and seeds provide the color and tannin compounds that lend most red wines their deep color and complex mouthfeel.

But in whole-cluster winemaking, all or a portion of the stems are

John Thull (left) and Colin Zumwalde (right) of the Arboretum’s Grape Breeding and Enology Project deliver whole clusters of grapes from the vineyard to the Horticultural Research Center’s enology lab for evaluation.

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EVENTS

DAKOTA SACRED HOOP WALK

Ongoing Experience this augmented reality art exhibition in a new season! The installation, by Twin Cities Digital Artist Marlena Myles, a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota tribe, begins in the Harrison Sculpture Garden and passes through five stops across the grounds. A smartphone and the Revelo AR app are required. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/sacredhoopwalk.

Dec. 1-2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Save the date for the annual Auxiliary Holiday Sale, offering exquisite handcrafted winter and holiday seasonal gift items. Shop knitwear for the entire family, felted and quilted items, home décor, spa gifts, jewelry, toys, cards and gift tags and more, all in support of the Arboretum.

Learn more at arb.umn.edu/auxiliary.

Photo courtesy of the Auxiliary

Through Dec. 31 Stroll through the Arboretum gardens decked out with light displays highlighting flowers, trees and the beauty of nature on a one-mile self-guided walk.

New displays for 2023 include a colorchanging archway, a Winter Village on Scarecrow Hill and a field of sunflowers, all with more lights than ever before! Revisit the 16-foot Weeping Willow in a new space and walk through a giant apple, a nod to the Arboretum and Horticultural Research Center as the Home of the Honeycrisp.

For a curated experience, visit one of the Winter Lights special theme nights, including Family Nights on Dec. 7 and Dec. 21, Date Nights on Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 and a New Year’s Eve celebration for all ages Dec. 31.

Visitors, including all members, must reserve tickets now for the viewing nights and special theme nights at arb.umn.edu/winterlights.

Photo by Susie Hopper

WINTER LIGHTS

Photo by Arboretum staff

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

AUXILIARY HOLIDAY SALE

APPLEHOUSE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

Through Dec. 20 Head just 1.5 miles west of the Arboretum to find everything you need to make the holidays special, including seasonal decor, gifts and gourmet goodies for your holiday meals.

Arboretum members receive a 10% discount with their membership cards on AppleHouse purchases. No admission is required to visit the AppleHouse. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/apple-house.

HERB SOCIETY WINTER SALE

Dec. 1-2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Shop for gifts, kitchen and personal-care items and culinary delights with an herbal theme while supporting the Minnesota Herb Society and its work in the Arboretum’s herb gardens.

Learn more at arb.umn.edu/herbsocietywintersale.

KNIT AND STITCH

Jan. 5, 10, 19 and 24, 10 a.m.-noon Join Auxiliary members for a morning of knitting, crocheting and handiwork. This gathering — held on alternate Wednesdays and Fridays through May — is a great opportunity to start a new project while catching up with members of the Arboretum community. Bring your own project and materials. This event is open to the public and included with gate admission. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/auxiliary.

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EVENTS

WINTER MUSIC SERIES

Warm up in the Oswald Visitor Center and enjoy the sounds of the season on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays! Find the performance schedule at arb.umn.edu/wintermusicseries.

Friday, Dec. 1 Saturday, Dec. 2 Sunday, Dec. 3 Saturday, Dec. 9 Friday, Dec. 15 Saturday, Dec. 16 Sunday, Dec. 17

Photo by Sarah Jackson

Friday, Dec. 22 Saturday, Dec. 23

City of Lakes Chorus Westwind Big Band/ Flute Cocktail Star of the North Concert Band/ The Silverwinds Flutes Music on a Stick The Prairie Brass Jazz on the Prairie/ The Flute Loops Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra/ Bend in the River Big Band Mike's Brass Celebration Brass

YOGA IN THE GARDENS Photo by Wendy Composto

Enjoy energizing and restorative yoga sessions against the backdrop of the Arboretum’s gardens all year long! Sign up as you go or — for a limited time only — register for an entire year of Yoga in the Gardens classes — $175 for members and $275 for non-members. Full-year participants must sign up by Dec. 31. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/yoga.

DECEMBER GIFT MARKET

Photo by Mark MacLennan

Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. and Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Stumped for gift ideas? Find inspiration for even the most hard-toshop-for recipients by perusing work from local crafters and artisans. Saturday evening’s hours are open only to Winter Lights ticket holders. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/december-gift-market.

Photo by Arboretum staff

WINTER WELLNESS FAIR

Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

January is the perfect time of year to pamper yourself, family and friends!

Designed to help visitors find nourishment for the body, mind and soul all in one place, this event includes wellness vendors, drop-in restorative yoga sessions and special workshops. It’s also peak time to enjoy the great outdoors with snowshoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing on the Arboretum trails.

Reserve your space at arb.umn.edu/winterwellnessfair.

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Photo by Gary Fultz

EVENTS

GARDEN TRAVEL TOURS

Photo courtesy of Knowmad Adventures

Experience beautiful gardens around the world with fellow Arboretum enthusiasts. Learn more or book an upcoming trip at arb.umn.edu/travel.

FULL WOLF MOON HIKE Jan. 25, 5-8 p.m.

Come howl at the Full Wolf Moon during this special snowshoe-afterdark event at the Arboretum. A self-guided snowshoe path along Wood Duck Pond will be groomed and lit with tealights for everyone to enjoy. Along the way, warm up around one of the multiple bonfires in the Frog Hollow parking lot and roast a marshmallow. Register at arb.umn.edu/fullmoonhikes.

Photo by Sara Pace

Dec. 29 and Jan. 26, 10:30 a.m.

Join us on the last Friday of each month for StoryTime in the Andersen Horticultural Library.

Celebrate plants and nature and foster a love for books and reading by diving into the library’s vast collection of children’s books. StoryTime is recommended for ages 0-5, but all are welcome. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/storytime.

Feb. 15-24 Embark on an incredible Mexico travel experience with Arboretum host, David Remucal, Ph.D, in partnership with Knowmad Adventures. This 10-day trip — A Journey Through Mexico’s Monarch Migration, The Art + Culture of Oaxaca & Mexico City’s Gardens — immerses travelers in millions of monarch butterflies as well as vibrant Indigenous cultures in the villages of Oaxaca, breathtaking ruins and more.

Photo by Sarah Bednarek

STORYTIME

Kingdom of Monarchs

Photo by Steve Silverman

SPRING FLOWER SHOW

Feb. 8-March 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Save the date for the Spring Flower Show, opening Feb. 8!

This year’s botanical installations will celebrate the anticipation of spring, while lending a floral nod to the rich history of the Arboretum and the 50th anniversary of the historic Snyder Building. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/flowershow.

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Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston

March 18-24 The Arboretum, in partnership with Destinations and Tours, presents an enchanting seven-day spring tour of the historic districts of Savannah, Ga.; Charleston, S.C.; and Beaufort, on South Carolina’s Port Royal Island. Join host Jennifer Peterson, the Arboretum’s Assistant Director of Development, to explore glorious gardens bursting with azaleas, gardenias and jasmine while also visiting fascinating historic sites. Step back in time for guided tours by foot, trolley and riverboat as you’re immersed in the charming sights and sounds of the beautiful South.

LEARN The Arboretum is a wonderful place to learn, thanks to a variety of experts, scenery and plant collections.

Prices listed are for members/non-members respectively. See a complete list of classes for adults, children and families at arb.umn.edu/learn. Follow the class links to register or call 612-301-1210.

Photo by Stock Snap Pixabay

Photo by Todd Mulvihill

Growing Vegetables; Growing Fruit; Indoor Plants; Integrated Pest Management; Plant Pathology; Plant Diagnostics; Entomology; and Living with Wildlife. See story, page 7.

Cost is $599 member/$639 non-member.

SPECIAL ACCESS PHOTOGRAPHERS’ EVENING: ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS

Painting in Watercolor: Holiday Notecards

Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Create two wintry watercolor scenes of holly berries and a cardinal in the snow. Learn to paint variegated leaves and bright berries with glazes, soft snowy backgrounds with washes and salt, and learn how to add snow with a splatter of white gouache. Bring your own watercolor supplies; notecards and envelopes are provided.

Cost is $79/$97.

Homeschool Day: ‘Did You Eat a Plant Today?’

Dec. 8, 12:15-2:15 p.m.

Children grades 1-3, together with an adult educator, will learn all about plant parts, food plants and photosynthesis. Discover over 20 different food plants from all over the world in the Greenhouse, then make and taste a garlic snack in the Harvest Kitchen. Cost is $15/$18.

Online webinar: Jan. 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Optional In-person practicum: Jan. 6, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Learn how to create beautiful images this winter with tips on protecting and troubleshooting your equipment, making the best use of winter light, and techniques for choosing the correct exposure for winter landscapes. Add an optional sunset practicum on the Arboretum grounds with the instructor on Jan. 6. Cost is $44/$49 (webinar only), or $119/$139 (webinar and practicum).

Photo by Travis Novitsky

Drawing by Aryn Lill

Watercolor by Sonja Hutchinson

Dec. 6, 5-8:30 p.m.

Bring your camera equipment and snap dazzling shots of the Winter Lights display during this special night for photographers of all levels. Tickets are limited to 200 attendees max to limit crowds for a quality photographing experience. Registration includes a recorded online presentation with photography tips and tricks for stunning night shots. Cost is $22/$37.

Photographing Winter’s Wonders (Online)

Drawing in Colored Pencil: Holly Berries

Dec. 9, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Beginner or intermediate level students learn to draw using a four-step instructional process.

Students will develop fundamental skills including observation of shape, line weight, color, layering and blending techniques, as well as shading, composition, perspective and shape while creating a seasonal drawing of a holly stem.

All supplies included. Cost is $79/$97.

Extension ProHort Core Course 2024 (Online)

Registration deadline Jan. 2, course begins Jan. 11 This comprehensive at-your-own-pace horticulture course takes about 40-60 hours to complete and includes 14 modules: Botany and Horticulture; Soils, Composting and Fertilizers; Herbaceous Plants; Woody Plants; Lawn Care; Weeds;

ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY SPEAKER SERIES: TRAVIS NOVITSKY (ONLINE) Dec. 12, 7-8:15 p.m.

Travis Novitsky is a master of making images of the night sky, moonlight, the Milky Way and Aurora Borealis. A life-long resident of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation, Novitsky has been photographing the woods and waters of Lake Superior’s north shore for over 20 years, fully immersing himself in each photographic moment and experience.

Cost is $15/$20.

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Photo by Areca Roe

LEARN

Art of Photography Speaker Series: Areca Roe (Online)

Jan. 9, 7-8:15 p.m.

Areca Roe’s art practice engages with our multifaceted relationship to the natural world.

We need, revere and protect, but also exploit and destroy, the natural world. Her photography explores the various ways the natural world and human-made world intersect. Roe is a Minnesota-based artist practicing photography as well as video, sculpture and installation. Cost is $15/$20.

Editing Essentials: Flower and Nature Photos (Online)

Jan. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Editing is an essential part of photography that makes good photos great! Learn essential edits to improve your flower and close-up nature imagery using Adobe Lightroom Classic software. Discuss tips for developing your own editing workflow, including color sliders for improving luminance, saturation and hue; cropping and masking; and edits to multiple images. Cost is $44/$49.

WINTER MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY Jan. 27, 9 a.m.-noon

Seeds: Science of Plant Propagation

Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-noon As seed catalogs start arriving, understand the science and practice of plant propagation with seeds. Discuss seed collection and storage methods, seed germination techniques, overcoming seed dormancy and tried-and-true techniques to grow a wide variety of plants from seeds. See story, page 7. Cost is $41/$56.

Photo by Mike Shaw

Photo by Maria Evseyeva

Photo by Don Olson

Explore the wonders of creative winter macro photography for beginners. Discuss lighting as well as best practices for capturing snowflakes and water droplets in the winter landscape. Learn to manage composition, depth of field and how to use snow to enhance your macro images.

Class includes practice time together in the Arboretum collections. Cost is $75/$90.

Cuttings, Division and Layers: Science of Plant Propagation

Jan. 27, 9 a.m.-noon Create new plants from existing ones! Learn the scientific basics of asexual propagation (without seeds), including how and when to divide plants, take cuttings and use layers and specialized structures. Prepare your own cuttings in class and take home a personal “greenhouse in a pot.”

See story, page 7. Cost is $41/$56.

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Focus Stacking for Photographers

Jan. 27, 1-4 p.m.

In this intermediate-level class, create a focusstacked image with a maximum depth of field.

Learn when to use focus stacking for macro and landscape images, how to create a set of stacked images, how to prepare images for post-processing and utilizing apps for this process. Bring your laptop with Helicon Focus and the Adobe Photography Plan installed. Cost is $75/$90.

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

MEMBERSHIP

JULIE PETERS • COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

For Minnesota Landscape Arboretum volunteer Catherine Kriske, sharing her love of gardening stemmed from her mother’s passion for gardening, and now that adoration has bloomed in Kriske’s adult sons.

Every Thursday morning, Kriske volunteers under the direction of Arboretum Horticulturist Duane Otto and Gardener Aimee Thuen. Duties include planting annuals in the spring, weeding and deadheading blooms through summer and preparing flower beds for winter. “I enjoy helping Duane and Aimee make the Arboretum be the most beautiful it can be,” Kriske said.

In the winter, Kriske — and other horticulture staff — help Landscape Gardener Jewel Engstrom create stunning indoor arrangements for the Arboretum’s Spring Flower Show and “make Jewel’s creative vision a reality.”

Kriske grew up seeing her mother Susan Simonton volunteering at the Arboretum, both at the Horticultural Research Center and in various

specialty gardens. “She taught me everything about gardening,” Kriske said, adding her mother also created a love of gardening in Kriske’s sons, Daniel, 35, and Matthew, 32. She inspired them to help plant impatiens behind the Snyder Building and trim an Arboretum wisteria arbor, after teaching them how to prune the beloved wisteria in her yard.

“My mother had a large garden at her home on the edge of Hopkins where she lived for over 20 years,” Kriske said, fondly remembering her mother’s wide variety of plants. The Arboretum remained a special place for Simonton, even after her health was failing, Kriske said. “I would bring her to the Arboretum; it was a special connection we shared.”

Like Kriske’s family, you can make a difference!

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, love to organize or simply want to share your love of nature, volunteers are always welcome. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/volunteer or contact arbvol@umn.edu or 612-301-1203.

Gift an Arboretum Membership Connect loved ones to the wonder of nature, all year round The perfect gift for gardeners, aspiring naturalists and life-long learners, membership provides year-round access to the leading northern landscape arboretum, featuring more than 1,200 acres of gardens, natural areas and miles of hiking trails.

Membership to the Arboretum includes: • Arboretum admission for an entire year • Year-round free events and activities • Special discounts to Arboretum classes • Early ticket access to signature events including Taste & Toast and Winter Lights • Subscription to Arboretum Magazine

Catherine Kriske and her son Daniel Kriske volunteered together in the spring, beautifying the beds behind the Snyder Building with impatiens and other brightly colored annuals.

In addition to providing access to the Arboretum, memberships help maintain the stunning landscapes at the Arboretum and support plant research and local and global conservation efforts.

Purchase a gift membership by calling 612-301-1257 or see arb.umn.edu/support/membership.

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3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613

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Art at the Arboretum

For more information on upcoming art exhibitions and events visit arb.umn.edu/art.

REEDY GALLERY

The Abstract Essence of Nature | Through Jan. 21 Explore the world of abstract art through the work of this exhibition's six featured artists — Andrea Canter, Dita Masters, Morgan Mercer, Sue Mooney, Paul Richards and Kathy Snow Stratton — who use a variety of mediums, styles and techniques to facilitate new discoveries at every turn.

Stop by the Reedy Gallery from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 16 for an Artist Meet and Greet.

Ways of Seeing the Natural World | Jan. 25-March 30 Working with oil, encaustic and mixed media, artists Peter Truran and Kathleen Kvern have collaborated to explore the intersection of art and nature from both a naturalistic and abstracted artistic perspective. View the exhibition and meet the artists in the Reedy Gallery from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Jan. 27.

CAFE GALLERY

Seasonal Reflections: A Community of Imagination | Through Jan. 7 Enjoy the amazing art created by the Arboretum Open Studio artists who meet weekly to be inspired and create art. This community of more than 30 artists — working in a variety of mediums — fosters camaraderie, explores creative ideas and encourages artistic growth.

Let Nature Lead | Jan. 11- March 3 Experience the rhythmic work of Suzanne Kubach and Melinda Wolff, two artists who are adept at following nature's rhythms while producing beautiful art that contains movement, harmony and balance akin to that which we find in the natural world.

SKYWAY GALLERY

The 6th-Annual Flora and Fauna Illustrata | Through March 17 This exhibition highlights the ongoing and important work of the artists who create beautiful and scientifically accurate depictions of plants and animals found at the Arboretum.

ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY

Petals and Poetry: A Floral Journey Through the Works of Shakespeare | Through March 17 Honoring the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, this exhibition highlights works from the library's collection that bring to life the enchanting world of William Shakespeare's flora and fauna.

“She Dreams in Green” by Morgan Mercer from “The Abstract Essence of Nature” (top right) and “Sunlight on the Water Looks So Lovely” by Suzanne Kubach from “Let Nature Lead” (bottom right).