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WINTER ACTIVITIES GREAT HORNED OWLS MAPLE SYRUP ARBORETUM FLOWER SHOW: PASSPORT TO SPRING
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magazine
arboretum
EXHIBITS, CLASSES & OUTDOOR FUN
arboretum.umn.edu
FEBRUARY/M ARCH 2019
GREAT BACKYARD
BIRD COUNT
Photo by Susie Hopper
GET INVOLVED!
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology (the study of birds) and the National Audubon Society launched the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) in 1998 to provide a venue for anyone to count the birds in their own yard (or other designated location) for a specified period of time and submit the data to track wild bird populations. It’s considered the first online citizen science project to compile data on wild birds that displays the results in near real time. The GBBC occurs annually over the third weekend of February (February 15-18, 2019) to census birds at the peak of their wintering before spring migration begins. It has become a global event with over 160,000 participants with the United States, Canada and India submitting the most checklists. The more submissions the more complete the record of birds across our country and around the globe. Anyone can participate by visiting gbbc.birdcount.org and watch for information on the Great American Birding Festival on May 18.
PETER C. MOE
WINTER WONDERS EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF WINTER New winter trails and the beauty of the outdoors... A new
cross-country skiing trailhead at the Sensory Garden. A new snowshoe trail to the Red Barn Farm. A new Three-Mile Walk parallel to Three-Mile Drive. fills the Great Hall and beyond with a world tour of Spring fragrances, blooms and visual experiences as imagined in nine globe-trekking destinations.
Taste the sweetness of nature... Experience the tradition of maple syruping
for a taste of early spring – “all you can eat” pancake feast, along with maple tree-tapping for the whole family to experience. Indoors and out, join us for a very special winter experience – See you at the Arboretum! FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 * VOL 38, NO. 1
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Magazine is published six times a year by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318-9613, 952-443-1400. The magazine is a benefit of Arboretum membership. No portion may be reprinted without permission from the Arboretum. The information published in this magazine is not necessarily endorsed by the University of Minnesota. • The Arboretum welcomes feedback from readers at arbinfo@umn.edu. • To request a copy of this publication in alternate format, please call 612-301-1257. • The Arboretum is part of The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota.
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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
Male Cardinal in Snow
Patrick B. Petersen, Editor Brenda Drake Lesch, Art Director Peter C. Moe, Director, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Alan Branhagen, Director of Operations Timothy S. Kenny, Director of Education Susan Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Development David Matteson, Director of Retail Operations and Visitor Services Jim Luby, Director of Horticultural Research John Bryant, President, Arboretum Foundation
COVER PHOTO BY MARK PAULSON
Photo by Mark Paulson
Passport to Spring in February... The 2nd Annual Arboretum Flower Show
Photo by Mark Paulson
ARBORETUM SNOWSHOE TREK
HELPFUL TIPS FOR ENJOYING WINTER WONDERS GREG LECKER / MINNESOTA MASTER NATURALIST VOLUNTEER
NEW SNOWSHOE TRAILS are open this winter at the Arboretum; and that is one of many reasons to go exploring the snow there this year! Even frequent visitors who think they know the grounds must admit the fields, hills, woodlands and wetlands look different when seen blanketed with snow. Snowshoe trails probe “off road” – off the beaten path of Three-Mile Drive – and offer a fresh look at popular vistas. Don’t forget to bring a camera or cell phone to capture sights such as animal tracks, seed pods, berries, interesting snow and ice formations and bare woodland trees. Wind is the enemy – probably even more than cold. A calm day with sun warming dark-colored clothing feels much more comfortable than a windy day. Hand warmers really do make a difference. Place a handwarmer outside the inner lining of a glove – or between a thin glove liner and the larger glove or mitten. Snowshoers will want to wear
insulated, waterproof boots, probably with wool socks. Dressing in layers is best. Eat a hearty breakfast and bring snacks if you expect to be out for more than an hour. Snowshoers may find they work up a sweat – snowshoeing is good exercise for the body and a cabin-feverish mind that seeks fresh air. Sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses protect against sun reflecting off bright white snow. If one expects to be out for hours, hydration is very important. A water bladder (such as Camelbak) should be carried and worn close to the body to prevent freezing. Snowshoeing is relatively inexpensive. The Arboretum rents snowshoes and trail maps are available at the Information Desk for those who may want to try the sport before buying snowshoes. So, do your preparation and get outside to explore the Arboretum this winter! arboretum.umn.edu/skiingandsnowshoeing.aspx A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
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The Six Series of th in a on the A Features Leafy Gre rboretum’s en Renowne Canopy, d Collectio Tree n an d Landsca pe
-16 p Experiment: 2014
SWEET SAPS
Tapped Black Walnuts at the Horticultural Research Center
TREES THAT CAN BE TAPPED
ALAN BRANHAGEN • DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
MAPLE SYRUP (derived from maple sap) is a beloved topping or flavoring wherever the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is found native. All of the native maple trees (silver, red, black & boxelder) can be tapped for their sweet sap, but they do not have the sugar content of the true sugar maple – so it takes more sap of the other maples to produce syrup. Sugar maples are a major component of the local Big Woods with extensive beautiful stands gracing the Arboretum. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is another native tree that produces a sweet sap, but it is lesser known by humans. (Squirrels and birds like the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker readily tap these trees to drink their sap.) Each year the Arboretum makes a sampler batch of walnut syrup collected from our experimental groves of walnuts growing at the Horticultural Research Center (sap was collected from 22 trees in 2018). Surprisingly,
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these trees produce the same sugar content as Arboretum sugar maples. Visitors can compare the flavors at a tasting during MapleFest on March 30. Birches (Betula species) are the third most desirable tree group to produce a delicious edible sap. Humans tapped European white birch (Betula pendula) for at least 5,000 years – the sap evaporated down to a gummy consistency and was used as a healthy chewing gum with antiseptic qualities for dental health. Our native paper birch (Betula papyrifera) sap makes a light syrup described as refreshing, sweet and provocatively spicy. Native yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) actually has oil of wintergreen in it – the flavoring of wintergreen Life Savers®. Perhaps the Arboretum should also tap its big stand of former trial paper birch to make a batch of this syrup too?
If you want to learn more, come visit the Arboretum and partake in our many activities surrounding maple syrup at MapleFest this March. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
Photo by Richard DeVries
Black Walnut Syru
OWLS, MAPLE SAP, FIRST BLOOMS ANNOUNCE SPRINGTIME IS NEAR MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST
THE LENGTHENING DAYLIGHT of early spring signals the
emergence from Mother Nature’s dormancy as the sights, sounds and colors of her creation reappear in dramatic fashion. Already, young great horned owlets covered in their downy fluff peer in and out from their nest site as if playing peek-a-boo with passers-by (see photo). It is more likely they are waiting for a happy meal of fresh deer mouse delivered by mom or dad. Great horned owls are the first birds to nest in Minnesota each year and mother owl has endured shivering gusts of wintry winds and raw arctic snow squalls protecting her developing family. Though a great horned owl weighs only an
average of three and a half pounds – for its size, it is one of the most ferocious predators in the animal world. Muskrats, opossums, skunks, and feral cats are all part of its menu. Warming days rejuvenate the maple sap flow and gray squirrels can be seen dangling precariously from swaying limbs licking the sweet liquid before the maple syrup makers begin their annual cookout. Chipmunks skitter along fallen logs with their tails raised, chattering in joyous fashion hoping to attract an interested mate. The diminutive but cold-tolerant snow trillium has forced its way through the remains of the autumn duff to display its milk-white flower. Its species name ‘nivale’ is Latin for snow, a proper designation
for this first native flower of spring. The sun has settled in the west but its final rays are still highlighted by the pink and apricot orange clouds on the horizon. As twilight descends, the first twinkling stars appear in the darkening ebony sky. Migrating male robins continue their evening vespers even as a waxing moon begins to glow from above. Raccoons, striped skunks, flying squirrels and other nighttime creatures who have survived the endless polar cold restlessly increase their activity as they forage for food and look for love. As spring arrives, the Arboretum will be painted in a kaleidoscope of colors and serenaded with a symphony of sounds. It won’t be long now!
READ MORE
Photo by Harry Collins at Dreamstime.com
“Nature at Our Doorstep” –recounts decades of trail adventures and other forays into the outdoors at the Arboretum and other Minnesota locations. 2018 Midwest Independent Publishers prize winner, Matt Schuth, $19.95 – available in the Gift & Garden Store (612-301-7619). "Our Love Of Owls" ($9.95), “Intriguing Owls" ($14.95) and "Birds of Prey" ($14.95) –all by Stan Tekiela; “Owls of the North”– learn how to identify owls, how and where they live and other interesting details about habitat, David Benson, 16.95; and “Owls”– the ultimate photographic reference to the owl species, including detailed images, Floyd Scholz, $80 – all available in the Gift & Garden Store (612-301-7619).
A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
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IT’S TIME TO START SEEDS Photo by Nataliia Shcherbyna at Dreamstime.com
As the sunlight intensifies with solar spring in February, it’s an ideal time to start some seeds indoors to get a head start on spring plantings – and satisfy that yearning to garden!
PLANT COLD HARDINESS
IT’S NOT NECESSARILY A MATTER OF HOW LOW THEY CAN GO!
STAN C. HOKANSON • PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
IN THE UPPER MIDWEST,
whether one loves or hates winter, everyone seems to get some level of deviant pleasure and pride in being that place that experiences some of the lowest temperatures in the continental United States. When it comes to landscape plants, this ‘pleasure’ quickly dissipates. The undesirable sideeffect of winter is dead plants in our landscapes. A plant’s ability to survive winter is normally attributed to the low temperature generally experienced at the site (think USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map) and the lowest temperature that plant is considered to be hardy to. However, there are two other factors to consider when contemplating a plant’s cold hardiness. First is a plant’s potential to acclimate – or its ability to increase tolerance to freezing in response to shorter days and increasingly cold, non-freezing fall temperatures.
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The second is de-acclimation – a loss of tolerance to freezing temperatures due to warming temperatures, longer days and/ or metabolic activity and growth. Typically de-acclimation occurs in the spring. However, de-acclimation can occur in midwinter when plants are exposed to above freezing temperatures for durations as short as 48 hours. Moreover, when exposed to repeated cycles of above freezing temperatures, plants do not regain their maximum level of acclimation or cold hardiness. To conclude, weather data over the last six decades shows a steady increase in the occurrence of 48 or more hours of above freezing temperature (de-acclimation) events during the winter, while absolute winter low temperatures anticipated based on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map are rarely reached. Clearly, in this modern era, plants appear to have a higher likelihood of being damaged by cold due to de-acclimation than to the absolute winter cold temperature.
A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
LIGHT SOURCE: Utilize full-
spectrum grow light or natural light from windows. Note window direction, with south-facing being the sunniest and north-facing too weak for most seedlings. SOIL MEDIA: Provide sterile,
soilless media of fine texture designed for seed starting. CONTAINERS: Plastic trays with
clear domes offer reusable and recyclable environments for various planting inserts, peat or coco pots, or soil blocking in which to plant the seeds. CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:
Research any seed stratification required, seeding depth, germination temperature needed for seeds to grow. Warm-loving plants often benefit from bottom heat provided by heat mats or radiators. WATERING: Be careful not to
over water and watch for molds “damping off” of seedlings. Happy growing!
Photo by Jake Lange at Dreamstime.com
CL ASSES & WO RKSHO PS
GROW YOUR GREEN THUMB! Arboretum and University of Minnesota Extension professionals offer unique classes and workshops to help home gardeners plan and improve their flower and vegetable plots. < < < A Day of Garden Workshops Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Enjoy a day-long buffet of gardening classes designed to give beginner-tointermediate level home gardeners a jump-start to the growing season, with help from the Arboretum and University of Minnesota Extension. Gain useful tips, tricks and inspiration for a wide variety of garden types and styles while creating your own customized schedule – selecting the sessions and workshops that are most interesting and applicable to you and your garden. Choice of sessions includes: • Your Garden Q&A • Seed Starting Indoors • Five Steps for Fabulous Soil • Growing Tomatoes, Peppers & Potatoes • Arboretum Inspiration • Choose the Right Plants for Your Landscape & Garden Resources • Pollinators in Your Yard • Colorful Bulbs & Tubers in Containers • Four Trendy Indoor Plant Ideas $95 member / $110 non-member, includes Arboretum admission, an armful of take-home goodies, and a box lunch! Advance registration required. Register online at arboretum.umn.edu/getgrowing.aspx or call 612-301-1210.
Online Module: Growing Vegetables in Minnesota > > >
Photo by Stock Asso @shutterstock
Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, oh my! This brand new “hybrid” class (including online tutorials and optional in-person activities) from University of Minnesota Extension will teach participants how to plan, plant and manage their own vegetable garden for success throughout the growing season. Vegetable-growing topics include: site, varieties, growing practices, harvesting, pests and diseases, and unique growing spaces such as containers and raised beds. How it Works: Receive login instructions for the online content after March 19, and learn it at your own pace. Add an optional inperson session at the Arboretum on Saturday, April 13; registrants who have elected this option should have the course completed by then. $35 for online-only registration/$50 online registration PLUS in-person April 13 session. Advance registration required by March 19. Register online at arboretum.umn.edu/EdibleGarden.aspx or call 612-301-1210.
KIDS' CORNER
Registration for Summer Kids & Family programs is open! Engaging, nature-inspired programs with kid-approved themes have been thoughtfully developed and are managed by caring youth education professionals. Hurry, many summer programs sell out very early! TIP: If a program you’d like is sold out, add your name to the waitlist. We’ll contact people on the waitlist first when there are openings or cancellations.
• AGES 3-5 TOGETHER WITH AN ADULT PeaPods for Preschoolers • AGES 5-12 TOGETHER WITH AN ADULT Intergenerational TogetherTime • AGES 5-11 Summer Day Camps • AGES 5-13 Summer Weekly Children’s Garden • AGES 7-11 Summer Field Trips for Groups
Browse all Summer Youth & Family programs online at arboretum.umn.edu/SummerYouth.aspx Questions? Call 612-301-1210
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TAKE A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD AT THE
2nd ANNUAL SPRING FLOWER SHOW
THIS YEAR'S FLOWER SHOW is your Passport to Spring! Open the doors to the Arboretum’s Great Hall and instantly experience a world of lush spring flowers and incredible fragrances. Nine blooming vignettes featuring France, China, Morocco, Mexico, Indonesia, Chile, India, South Africa and the Netherlands will tell their stories through plants and culture. The show runs Feb. 1 through March 3. The centerpiece of the show is a graceful French-inspired glass house from luxury conservatory company Conservatory Craftsmen of Minneapolis. The beautiful garden structure is surrounded by a lavish kitchen garden/potager teeming with fragrant herbs, flowers and plants. More than 40 plant species are included in the show plus gorgeous fresh flower arrangements. Guests will also enjoy the “Wonderment” Sculpture Exhibit by noted Minnesota sculptor Nick Legeros. This special event brings more than 20 of his pieces to the flower show. “We are so excited to bring this international theme to guests for our second flower show," Arboretum Director of Operations Alan Branhagen said. “It will magically transport you from the cold landscape to a dreamlike locale. It’s a sensory escape that can’t be topped during a Minnesota winter,” Branhagen said. AFTERNOON TEAS: The popular Afternoon Teas have expanded!
Dates include: Feb. 1, 2 (double capacity), 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23 (double capacity), 28, March 1, 2. Make reservations today: flowershow.umn.edu/ afternoon-teas Special private teas are also available during the flower show for groups (from 40 to 55 guests). Please call Arboretum Catering at 612-301-7602. SPECIAL PASSPORT TO SPRING PREVIEW:
Jan. 31, 5-7:30 p.m., light refreshments, program on the flower show and sculptures with experts, cash bar, $10 members, $20 non-members. Tickets: flowershow.umn.edu/preview-party
From the 2018 Flower Show
SPONSORED BY:
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All Flower Photos: iStock
Photo by Susie Hopper
For more information: flowershow.umn.edu
ARBORETUM MAPLE SYRUP
Photo by Richard DeVries
Annual Springtime Treat PATRICK PETERSEN • EDITOR
ARBORETUM VISITORS hiking around the Big Woods
WHO’S HUNGRY FOR PANCAKES? Arboretum pancakes and SugarBush Tours are a sure sign of spring. This year the MapleFest Pancake Feast is Saturday, March 30, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., in the Oswald Visitor Center. Feast on all you can eat pancakes (courtesy of Sturdiwheat), and bacon, complemented by a maple syrup and toppings bar, milk, coffee, apple and orange juice (also a cash bar selling mimosas, Bloody Marys and Baileys coffee). Wristbands will be sold in the Great Hall on the day of the feast. Pricing: $15 for adults and kids 11 and over; $10 children 4-10; free for children 3 and under. Price does not include nonmember gate fee. Proceeds benefit the Arboretum.
Photo by Mark Paulson
area near the Berens Cabin see a familiar sight every spring – scores of blue sap collection bags and a spider web-like network of vacuum tubing. The maple syruping process is managed by Arboretum gardener Richard DeVries who cautions that it’s nearly impossible to predict the success of the harvest each season. The sap run normally begins in March, when ideally there would be a good stretch of weather with lows in the 20s followed by daytime temperatures in the 40s. Each season, DeVries and his volunteers tap and connect tubing to more than 300 trees. Add to that, the 100 or so trees that are similarly tapped for collection bags by more than 1,000 schoolchildren on field trips. Hopes remain high for a good harvest in 2019. Once collected, the sap is taken to the Sugarhouse where it is boiled down into scrumptious maple syrup for use at the pancake feast and sold in the Gift & Garden Store. See a short video of the process “From Sap to Syrup” at: youtu.be/Fb4q1MU13Rs
Photo by Vienna Volante
Here’s your chance to sync up with the trees and the changing season. Come on out and explore the MapleFest Trail before or after your meal. At each station you can experience a different part of the process. Sip some fresh sap from a tree and drink a toast to spring, see how to tap a tree, check the pressure gauge and sapflow in real time, make a spile (to spill the sap), stop in the Sugarhouse to see it boiling – and you’ve earned your sweet reward – a sample of fresh-made maple sugar!
2019 ARBORETUM TRAVEL
WITH PETER OLIN, ARBORETUM DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Photo by Mark MacLennan
MAPLE SYRUPING 101
Steel and Magnolias Tour – The Arts and Gardens of Pittsburgh. Oct. 18 - 24 Visit world famous Phipps Conservatory, a Biblical Garden, the Frick Greenhouse, the Carnegie Museums, several Frank Lloyd Wright homes (including Fallingwater), and ride the funicular! Contact Lynde Vespoli at Destinations and Tours, DestinationsAndTours@gmail.com or 440-840-6334.
For more information on all Arboretum tours, go to arbtravel.umn.edu or contact Peter Olin, olinx002@umn.edu or 612-301-1275.
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ARBORETUM:
POLLY CHANDLER’S HEART PLACE JEFF ISEMINGER • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“What attracts me to the Arboretum,”
Photo by Gina Logan Photography
says Polly Chandler, “is the tapestry of memories I have here.” Chandler lives in Tiburon, Calif., where she leads her own management consulting company, Polly Chandler Coaching (pollychandlercoaching.com). She grew up on Lake Minnetonka and still considers the Arboretum to be her “home garden.” In fact, despite living nowhere near Minnesota, Chandler has placed the Arboretum in her will as a member of the Leon Snyder Heritage Society.
And why? “The Arboretum is what I call a heart place,” says Chandler. “When I come here, I feel like I’ve come home.” Her heart place can be seen in her tapestry of memories, woven from early childhood to all the highs and lows of life. As a child, Chandler would come to the Arboretum with her parents and two brothers in all seasons. In the fall, for instance, her father, Jim Chandler, would rake leaves into a pile in the woods for his kids to jump into. He died at age 45, and before the funeral, the family came to the Arboretum, she says, “to feel him there.” And later Chandler and her family returned to the Arboretum to celebrate the life of her mother, Joan Jenkins, after her death. “We laughed and we cried,” says Chandler. “It was a day of stories and a celebration of my mother’s life.” Chandler believes the Arboretum today serves several crucial purposes: “At a time when people are pulled in many different directions, the Arboretum is a place where they can turn off the noise and restore.” It also is a laboratory for climate change, because “we need a place that we can watch, so we can understand what’s happening from a scientific viewpoint and not feel hopeless.” For anyone thinking of committing to the Arboretum, says Chandler, “I would say to come, just come and make your own memories, which will start weaving together. Then the Arboretum will become your heart place, too.”
“AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE PULLED IN MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, THE ARBORETUM IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN TURN OFF THE NOISE AND RESTORE.” —POLLY CHANDLER
DOUBLE YOUR GIFT!
The McQuinn Challenge continues! Don't miss out on the opportunity to support the new Horticulture & Operations Headquarters at the Arboretum and have the full amount of your gift matched by Al and Mary Agnes McQuinn. The match is available for any and all contributions - large and small! The new Hort & Ops Headquarters will provide a much-needed new greenhouse, expanded space and updated facilities for the world-class horticulturalists and grounds crew at the Arboretum. Give today at z.umn.edu/McQuinnChallenge or contact Arboretum Development at 612-301-1262 (or arb-dev@umn.edu) for information.
Double your gift, support our gardeners, and give to the McQuinn Challenge today!
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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
WINTER ART FAIR
“Big Wave” – Best in Show Photo by Michael Borg
No need to wait for summer art fairs to experience the thrill of the hunt for that perfect piece of art. You can find it at the Arboretum’s Winter Art Fair Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16 and 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Natureinspired painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics and more will be for sale in the Snyder Auditorium, Tea Room, MacMillan Auditorium and the Visitor Center Balcony. The Art Fair is free to the public with gate admission.
ARBORETUM PHOTOGRAPHERS SOCIETY The Arboretum Photographers Society will present its 11th annual juried photo exhibit in the Cafe Gallery, March 1- April 28. Titled “Home & Away: Views of Minnesota and the World,” the exhibit features the members’ best photographic work no matter where it was created. Images range from hosta at the Arboretum to a tiger in India. The 25 images were selected by professional photographer Ian Plant from a total of 165 submissions.
CELEBRATE SPECIAL DAYS AT THE ARBORETUM
Celebrate your wedding, anniversary or other special occasion at the Arboretum. Choose picturesque garden settings or wonderful indoor venues for your ceremony/reception and a range of menu options including full catering. For a tour: arboretum.umn.edu/weddingform.aspx. The Arboretum and Arb Catering will be featured at the Forever Bride Market, Sunday, Feb. 17, noon-4 p.m., at the Radisson Blu, Mall of America. Attendees can shop for the latest in the local wedding industry – from ceremony and reception sites, florists, catering and more.
AHL: THE CURE FOR CABIN FEVER
HOW TO
FOUR IMAGES RECEIVED SPECIAL RECOGNITION: BEST IN SHOW Big Wave - Michael Borg GOLD Minnesota Loon & Chick - Karen Blenker SILVER Covered Bridge & Fog - Eric Wischmann BRONZE Redback Elephants Bathing - Mark Paulson
YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Enjoy your Arboretum membership year-round. A great way to "feel the love" is Member Appreciation Day, Feb. 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with a full roster of fun and relaxation.
HOW TO LOVE INDOOR EXPERIENCES: Prize Drawings,
Spring Flower Show, Meyer Deats Conservatory, Andersen Horticultural Library, Andrus Learning Center, Art Gallery and Relaxation Events
HOW TO LOVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES: Winter Trails
and Guided Walks (with registration)
PERKS AND DISCOUNTS:
KATHY ALLEN • LIBRARIAN
Already planning your garden? Whether you’re building a walkway or birdhouse, interested in square-foot (or even square-inch!) gardening, or landscaping with swaths of color, the Andersen Horticultural Library (AHL) has resources to assist you. Beyond excellent books and garden magazines, AHL has one of the largest collections of seed and nursery catalogs in the country. Hundreds of Spring 2019 catalogs are available, and with more arriving daily, you’ll be sure to find all kinds of treasures to order. The exquisite Nakashima furnishings add pleasure to the perusal. Also try AHL’s free service Plant Information Online < plantinfo.umn.edu > — to find nursery sources for specific plants. Or, use it to discover nurseries that specialize in your favorites – bonsai, hosta, orchids; choose from 45 categories!
Cafe member discount, Double Discount in the Gift & Garden Store, Gift of Membership and upgrade gift offer.
LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES:
by The Banjo Boys Variety Band, Sweet Adeline's and Sunny VanBrocklin. Popcorn, board games and more! Photo by Roger Pavelle
Photo by Susie Hopper
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS BEST IMAGES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
RSVP requested but not required to member@umn.edu or call 612301-1257 with member name and total guest count. For more information, visit arboretum.umn. edu/join.aspx A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
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Calendar At-A-Glance ONGOING EXHIBITS
CORN CREATIONS - PLANT-MAKER STUDIO
SCIENCE OF PROPAGATION - GRAFTING
FEBRUARY-MARCH PROGRAMS & EVENTS
SUNDAY, FEB. 3
FRIDAY, FEB. 1
Taught by The Transformation Club
REEDY GALLERY
(See back page)
CAFE GALLERY
(See back page)
SPRING FLOWER SHOW (See page 8)
ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY AND SKYWAY GALLERY “Roots to Healing: A Brief Survey of the Past, Present and Future of Plant-based Remedies in Minnesota” Joint exhibit with Dr. Lisa Philander, Curator, U of M College of Biological Sciences Conservatory. Through April 30.
EVERY THURSDAY
STORYTIME IN THE LIBRARY
10:30 a.m., Andersen Horticultural Library
EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PLANT-MAKER STUDIO: CORN CREATIONS
Noon-4 p.m., free with gate admission, Learning Center A fun-filled afternoon focused on corn. Create a bracelet with dried corn and grind cornmeal to prepare cornbread, tamales or tortilla. Test your knowledge about corn with trivia.
YARD & GARDEN DESK Q&A
Noon-4 p.m., free with gate admission, Visitor Center Stop by the Master Gardener’s desk to get gardening tips and learn which areas of the Arb are in peak beauty
WEEKEND BREAKFAST
9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Saturday), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Sunday), $8.99, Arboretum Cafe Start off your day at the Arb with a delicious hot breakfast.
AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
10-11 a.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY
AUXILIARY QUARTERLY MEETING/ LUNCHEON
SATURDAY, FEB. 2
THURSDAY, FEB. 7
(See page 8)
(See page 8)
10 a.m., Azalea Room
AFTERNOON TEAS, (two seatings)
10 a.m.
AFTERNOON TEA
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING PRAIRIE COMMUNITIES
FRIDAY, FEB. 8
Learn to model native prairie plant communities with benefits such as soil-building and carbon storage, attracting beneficial insects including native pollinators, and enhancing human health and well-being.
SATURDAY, FEB. 9
1-3:30 p.m., $47/$62, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center
GRAFTING: SCIENCE OF PLANT PROPAGATION
9 a.m.-noon, $41/$56, Learning Center Grafting remains one of the more mysterious and difficult methods of plant propagation. Remove the mystery and learn about different methods of grafting.
WINTER BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
1-4 p.m., $99/$119, Learning Center Learn basic techniques for photographing birds, bird behavior in the winter, how to capture birds in flight, how to build an easy backyard studio, and the best equipment for photographing birds.
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YOGA IN THE GARDENS – INDOORS
A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY (See page 11)
PERENNIAL POSSIBILITIES: LOOKING AT NEW PERENNIALS & EXCITING COMBINATIONS FOR MINNESOTA GARDENS
1-3:30 p.m., $41/$56, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Learn to consider flower shape, foliage color, and texture along with plant form as you think about possible combinations in your perennial garden. Consider new perennials that have proven to be good options in the North.
Photo by (left) Ariel Dressler
RECURRING FEBRUARY-MARCH PROGRAMS & EVENTS
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 952-443-1400 SCIENCE OF PLANT PROPAGATION - SOILS
PRUNING ESSENTIALS: DECIDUOUS & CONIFEROUS TREES
YOGA IN THE GARDENS – INDOORS
Learn the basic principles of pruning that are essential for the long-term health, vigor and productivity of your trees, including when and how to prune, and how to train new trees you plant.
Taught by Green Lotus Yoga.
1:30-4 p.m., $41/$55, Learning Center
SOILS: SCIENCE OF PLANT PROPAGATION
9 a.m.-noon, $41/$56, Learning Center Make this your best growing season yet by understanding the soil where you grow your plants and how you can enhance and manage it to grow better plants.
HOUSEPLANT PATROL: BASIC CARE, PROBLEM-SOLVING & RESOURCES 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $41/$56, Learning Center
Flowers, tropicals, herbs, seed starting and overwintering plants keep gardeners growing things indoors while snow blankets our gardens. Visit the greenhouse as you discuss pests, repotting, fertilizing and more.
Photo by (middle) De Mo Huy C at shutterstock
HOUSEPLANT PATROL
Noon-1 p.m., free with gate admission, Fireplace Room
PRUNING ESSENTIALS
SUNDAY, FEB. 17 WINTER ART FAIR (See page 11)
YOGA IN THE GARDENS – INDOORS
FRIDAY, FEB. 15
Noon-1 p.m., free with gate admission, Fireplace Room
AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
Taught by YogaFit.
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY
MONDAY, FEB. 18
SATURDAY, FEB. 16
12:30-2:30 p.m., $8/$10, Learning Center
10 a.m., Azalea Room
WINTER ART FAIR (See page 11)
PASTEL: OWL
10 a.m.-1 p.m., $89/$104 (includes Feb. 23), Visitor Center Explore the versatility of chalk pastels. After a demonstration of pastel techniques, create a refined drawing of an owl that balances line, color and composition.
HOMESCHOOL DAY: GREEN GROCERY
Grades 1-3. Students will observe and interact with the plants that their favorite foods come from, including chocolate, cinnamon, bananas, olives, chewing gum and more! They’ll also learn about photosynthesis and the “energy story” in a food chain.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY 10 a.m., Azalea Room
THURSDAY, FEB. 21
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13
PRUNING ESSENTIALS: SHRUBS, WOODY VINES, AND HERBACEOUS SPECIES
10 a.m.-4 p.m., $79/$99, Visitor Center
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $79/$99, Visitor Center
Learn when and how to prune and train landscape plants for long-term health, vigor and beauty, and how to avoid common mistakes that can cause physiological and aesthetic damage.
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS: ORCHID MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
FRIDAY, FEB. 22
WATERCOLOR SEMI-ABSTRACT & ABSTRACT WORKSHOP: APPLES OR PEARS Create a painted patchwork of semi-abstract and abstract techniques with a still-life fruit theme. Make up the rules as you go along, pushing the boundaries of technique and materials.
THURSDAY. FEB. 14 AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
9:30 a.m.-noon, $41/$55, Learning Center
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $99/$119, Visitor Center
Review DSLR techniques to create stunning macro images of orchids and other flowers, including tips on focus, lighting with and without flashes, background and composition.
NATURE SKETCHBOOKS & SPRING VIGNETTES: ALL-DAY WORKSHOP WITH PAM LUER
AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
SATURDAY, FEB. 23
AFTERNOON TEAS, (two seatings) (See page 8)
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Calendar At-A-Glance
SATURDAY IN THE KITCHEN: PLANTBASED SCRUBS FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN 9-11 a.m., $39/$55, Learning Center
Nature-based skin scrubs can stimulate cell turnover and help your skin glow with health and vitality. Create fresh and customizable scrubs such as coffee scrub, sugar chai honey scrub, herb garden body scrub and more.
SUNDAY, FEB. 24
WEDDING DIALOGUE AT THE ARBORETUM: HOW TO
SATURDAY IN THE KITCHEN: PLANT-BASED SCRUBS FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN
INDOOR YOGA
SATURDAY, MARCH 2
SUNDAY, MARCH 3
(See page 8)
10-11 a.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium
AFTERNOON TEA LIGHTROOM 101
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $69/$89, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Learn techniques for library organization and the easiest ways to sort imported photos. Make edits to your photos including lens and camera profile corrections, white balance, exposure, tonality and color corrections.
YOGA IN THE GARDENS – INDOORS Taught by Good Vibrations Yoga.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY 10 a.m., Azalea Room
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Join industry experts and learn about wedding topics like photography, planning and receptions. Hear from recent brides on how their wedding went, what they loved and what they wish they had done differently. $5 – includes Bloody Mary or Mimosa. Ticket price does NOT include gate admission for non-members.
LIGHTROOM 201
CREATING HABITAT FOR BIRDS & BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR YARD & GARDEN
Topics include making use of collections, using the photo merge function to create HDR images, correcting distortion issues, using the graduated filter and brush tools, and building a slideshow.
Invite a stunning variety of birds and butterflies into your own backyard sanctuary. Learn which plants best fit your location and what species they might attract for food or shelter.
THURSDAY, FEB. 28
INTRODUCTION TO HOME WINEMAKING
PERMACULTURE DESIGN FOR YOUR PROPERTY
11 a.m.-3 p.m., Snyder Building
AFTERNOON TEA (See page 8)
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
2019 SCHOOLYARD GARDENS CONFERENCE
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., $70/$80, Visitor Center Join educators, administrators and community leaders as they discuss the multiple benefits of schoolyard gardens such as social and emotional learning, mindfulness and UN Global goals benefiting children. Full details and agenda at arboretum.umn.edu/schoolyards2019.aspx
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY 10 a.m., Azalea Room
AFTERNOON TEA
1:30-5:30 p.m., $69/$89, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center
9 a.m.-noon, $80/$95 (includes Mar. 9), Horticultural Research Center Review equipment and supplies, where to source grapes or other fruits, the steps of winemaking and much more. See the winemaking process used to test the University's wine grapes.
2019 GARDEN-TO-PLATE FOOD CONFERENCE
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., $70/$80, Visitor Center Whether you are growing food for your school, community, food shelf or family, this conference offers inspiration and the latest information on safely growing, harvesting and serving food to others. Full details and agenda at arboretum. umn.edu/gardentoplate2019.aspx
(See page 8)
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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2019
1 p.m.-3:30 p.m., $25/$40, Snyder Auditorium
1-4 p.m., $105/$140; $155/$199 (couples working on the same project.) (includes March 16 and 30), Visitor Center Permaculture is an agriculture ecosystem that is designed to be sustainable and self-sufficient and can be put into practice on properties of all sizes. Explore the amazing abundance that can be harvested using this holistic process.
WHY DID MY BEES DIE?
1-2:30 p.m., $35/$50, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Identifying when and why your bees died can help you improve your honey bee management skills. Review possible reasons for your colony’s death based on the clues the bees leave behind.
Owl Painting by Ann Solyst; Photo by (middle) Kerdkanno@Shutterstock
PASTEL: OWL
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 952-443-1400 MAPLEFEST
SOUPING
THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY: COHORT CRITIQUE & COFFEE
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $69/$89, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Using the four elements of critique (description, analysis, interpretation and discernment), students will learn to review each other’s work.
THURSDAY, MARCH 14
YOGA IN THE GARDENS – INDOORS Noon-1 p.m., free with gate admission, Snyder Auditorium Taught by Green Lotus yoga.
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY 10 a.m., Azalea Room
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Photos by (left) Dani Vincek at Shutterstock; (middle) Richard DeVries
GET GROWING: A DAY OF GARDEN WORKSHOPS
GROW MAINTAIN YOUR OWN GRAPEVINE
FRIDAY, MARCH 29
MONDAY, MARCH 18
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY
HOMESCHOOL DAY: MAPLE SYRUP TIME
10 a.m., Azalea Room
11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. OR 1:15–2:30 p.m., $8/$10, Maple Sugar House Grades 1-6. Learn the history and tradition of maple syrup making from its discovery by Native people through the technology of today. Help check the taps to see if sap is flowing.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19
ONLINE MODULE: GROWING VEGETABLES IN MINNESOTA
$35/$50 ($50 includes Apr. 13 onsite class), online at-your-own-pace (See page 7)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20:
KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY 10 a.m., Azalea Room
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $95/$110, Learning Center
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
(See page 7)
10 a.m.-4 p.m., $74/$94, Visitor Center
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
YOGA IN THE GARDENS – INDOORS Noon-1 p.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium
Taught by Taught by The Transformation Club
FLORAL MONOTYPES FOR EVERYONE Monotypes offer the opportunity to draw, paint and print all at once! Working on a small portable etching press with water-based ink students can produce a number of prints in the class session.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
MAPLEFEST PANCAKE FEAST AND SYRUPING TOURS (See page 9)
“SOUPING” IS THE NEW JUICING 9-11 a.m., $42/$57, Learning Center
Maximize your vegetable and nutritional intake as you make and sample a variety of delicious soups such as Green English Pea, Asparagus and Parsley, Roasted Tomato & Chickpea and Chilled Carrot & Dill.
GROW AND MAINTAIN YOUR OWN GRAPEVINES
1 -3:30 p.m., $41/$56, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Whether you plan to make wine, eat fresh grapes, make jam or just have a bit of shade impacts how you plant and manage your vines. Learn to site the plants in your yard, where to find good quality grapevines, trellis options, maintenance, pruning and pest control.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 LANDSCAPE IN SUMI-E: ALL DAY WORKSHOP
10 a.m.-4 p.m., $45/$69, Visitor Center Sumi-e (black ink painting) landscapes are created by working naturally with your materials. Rivers, mountains, lakes and trees all come forth as you paint with sumi-e ink, drawing inspiration from a sheet of crinkled Japanese masa paper.
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TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
General Information . . . . . . . . 952-443-1400 Andersen Horticultural Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1239 Auxiliary Event & Membership Info . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9865 Trail Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9793 Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1263 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1210 Gift and Garden Store . . . . . . . 612-301-7619 Facility Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-7600 Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1257 Memorials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1263 Volunteering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1203 Yard & Garden Help Desk. . . 612-301-7590 or extension.umn.edu Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1274 Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arboretum.umn.edu
3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613
A publication for members and friends of the Arboretum
Printed with Agri Based Inks
HOURS
Grounds open Nov-March: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Three-Mile Drive closed to vehicular traffic Nov.-March.
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The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. ©2018 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
OSWALD VISITOR CENTER Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun. 10.a.m.-4:30 p.m.
ART AT THE ARBORETUM
GIFT & GARDEN STORE Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Delight in the beauty found indoors in the Oswald Visitor Center. Art available for sale through the Gift & Garden Store, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Arboretum.
ARBORETUM CAFE Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
REEDY GALLERY
“A Different View” Mixed-Media Paintings by Jodi Reeb • Through March 11 20 landscape-based paintings using photographs taken at the Arboretum. * Free printmaking demonstration, open to the public, Saturday Feb. 9, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
ANDRUS LEARNING CENTER AND TASHJIAN BEE AND POLLINATOR DISCOVERY CENTER Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. & Sun. noon-4 p.m.
“Spring Sightings: 2019 Spring Juried Exhibition” • March 21 Through May 1 Presented by the Minnesota Watercolor Society
ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY (Snyder Building) Tue.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat. 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun. & Mon. Closed
“Art in Your Own Backyard” • Through Feb. 27 Flora and fauna are highlighted in a variety of mediums by the Lake Minnetonka Studio. All works are available for sale.
ADMISSION Visitors: $15 for ages 16 and up Members: Free Children 15 & under: Free Arboretum memberships start at $60
GREAT HALL
THIRD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH Third Monday Free Admission 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
CAFE GALLERY
“Home and Away: Views of Minnesota and the World” • March 1 Through April 28 Arboretum Photographers Society (APS) Annual Photography Exhibition “Unfolding Epoch” • March 22 Through April 7 Exhibit interpreting the current state of our relationship to the environment. Held in conjunction with Claytopia, NCECA’s 53rd annual conference taking place in Minneapolis during this timeframe.
SAVE THE DATE About Dogs – Saturday, April 27 “Out of the Woods” Botanical Art Show – * All * Opening Auxiliary Quarterly Meeting/Luncheon – Reception, May 18 *Wednesday, May 1 Summer Exhibit Patrick Dougherty’s *Woodland Castle– Labyrinth Break 5K – Sunday, May 5 – Opening * Bud Spring Plant Sale – Saturday Reception – Thursday, May 23 *&Auxiliary Sunday, May 11-12 Solstice Soirée – Gala in the Gardens – *Thursday, Mother’s Day Brunch – Sunday, May 12 June 20 *