arboretum FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024
magazine
The Spring Flower Show provides a welcome respite from the cold
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ANDREW GAPINSKI
The crisp, cold and sunny days of late winter are among my
favorites of the entire year for exploring the wonders of the natural world. The Arboretum grounds in any weather or season are an ideal way to get outside. With 12 miles of walking trails and even ski and snowshoe trails — depending on sufficient snowfall — you’ll always find fresh air, wildlife and a connection to the natural world. The rolling hills, open meadows and pristine wetlands welcome visitors to get outside and embrace the best of winter in Minnesota. Three-Mile Walk and Three-Mile Drive are both open year round, and visitors can keep an eye on road and trail conditions at arb.umn.edu/winter. After a busy season of Winter Lights and other festivities at the FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024, VOL. 43, NO. 1
Arboretum, the coming months provide the perfect opportunity to slow down and connect with nature — and enjoy an early hint of spring indoors. During this season of renewal, I invite you to discover everything the Arboretum has to offer, including informative classes, engaging events and the natural beauty of the landscape. Come out for a walk with friends and family and afterwards warm up with the Spring Flower Show, on display Feb. 8-March 10. On the next page, you’ll get a preview of the plants and flowers that will be featured in this year’s show, plus a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring the show to life. Through the winter months, our horticulture team is busier than ever, inspecting the trees in our collections to spot health concerns and to carry out any necessary pruning. Trees such as oaks and crabapples are the focus of this seasonal pruning because the diseases that can affect these species are dormant. Learn more about this important maintenance on page 6. As ever, I’m grateful for the support of our members and the broader Arboretum community who make this work possible. Thank you! I look forward to seeing you at the Arboretum soon.
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. © 2024 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 Matthew Clark, Ph.D., Director of Research Timothy S. Kenny, Director of Education David Senior, Director of Business & Finance Susan Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Advancement Tom Lany, Marketing, Communications & PR Manager Glenn Stolar, President, Arboretum Foundation
On the cover and above: The Spring Flower Show culminates in the balmy Meyer-Deats Conservatory. Photos by Sara Pace
SEASO NAL BEAUTY
ELISE BREMER • EDITOR
is a toast to the horticultural heritage of the Arboretum on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the historic Snyder Building. The Snyder Building — named for Dr. Leon Snyder, the first Director of the Arboretum — officially opened its doors in 1974 and served as the Arboretum’s first visitor center. This milestone anniversary will be marked with special installations throughout the Flower Show, including a timeline of the Arboretum’s history on display in the Eatery and a larger-than-life “birthday cake” decorated with blooming plants in homage to the Snyder
Building’s 50th. In the Oswald Visitor Center, spring comes alive with a creative installation of baskets that transforms the north wall of the McQuinn Great Hall, bursting with fresh greenery, blooms and springy accents. This showstopping botanical display is the creative vision of Horticulturist Jewel Engstrom, whose eye for design adds beauty to the Arboretum’s gardens and indoor spaces year-round with help from other staff and countless volunteer hours. Among the greenery and branches in the Great Hall, intricately designed mosaic u
Photo by Sara Pace
An early hint of spring is blooming indoors at the Arboretum. Opening Feb. 8, the Spring Flower Show invites visitors to celebrate a breath of spring, capturing the sights, sounds and heady fragrances of a season that’s still just out of reach. With lush floral and foliage installations on display throughout the Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building, visitors will be fully immersed in the spring season, while also enjoying a look back at the Arboretum’s rich history. Underlying the all-out celebration of spring
Bright blooms lit up the Oswald Visitor Center during the Spring Flower Show in 2023. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2024
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Photo by Sara Pace
SEASO NAL BEAUTY
Stop into the Eatery at the Arboretum during the Spring Flower Show to enjoy coffee, pastries or lunch surrounded by an oasis of spring blooms.
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mirrors by local artist Shelley Beaumont glitter in the sunlight, reflecting the foliage and flowers surrounding them. The exhibition is on display throughout the duration of the Flower Show, and Beaumont will be the featured speaker for Opening Night, Feb. 8, exploring the relationship between her work and the flowers and plants that inspire her creations. Visitors can expect to see classic spring bulb flowers throughout the show, including fragrant hyacinths, daffodils and tulips alongside other late-winter bloomers such as primrose and cyclamen. In order for the bulb flowers to burst into bloom ahead of schedule, they are pre-chilled in a cooler before being planted six to eight weeks before the Flower Show, “forcing” the bulbs to bloom just in time for Opening Night. Greenhouse Manager Ricky Garza, along with other staff and volunteers, plant the bulbs in stages, so visitors will enjoy fresh buds and blooms throughout the entirety of the Flower Show. Even while dining in the Eatery, visitors will be surrounded by the show with bright and cheerful planter boxes filled with greenery and colorful blooms. Just past the Eatery, visitors can walk through the Skyway to the Snyder Building to view a snapshot of the Arboretum’s plant life on display during the Andersen Horticultural Library’s exhibition of the “Flora and Fauna Illustrata,” featuring the ongoing work of a group of dedicated artists to document the natural world at the Arboretum. The Spring Flower Show culminates in the bright and humid Meyer-Deats Conservatory, with ferns, succulents and colorful tropical plants pressing in from all sides, whisking visitors away from the chill of winter. The Conservatory offers the perfect respite from winter weather, featuring a vivid display of many unique species of orchids alongside a special selection of bromeliads in honor of Dr. Edith Potter Deats, a renowned perinatal pathologist and avid horticulturist who specialized in tropical plants. Dr. Potter Deats provided the generous gift that established the Conservatory at the Arboretum in 1980, donating more than 100 cultivars of bromeliads from her personal collection to the Conservatory. Plan your escape from winter at arb.umn. edu/flowershow, and don’t miss special ticketed events including Opening Night and After Hours With the Flowers Date Nights. The Spring Flower Show is included with daily ticketed admission and runs Feb. 8-March 10.
SEASO NAL BEAUTY
Horticulturist Jewel Engstrom adorns the Arboretum year-round JULIE PETERS • COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST
Arboretum events including Mother’s Day Brunch and Taste & Toast. The cutting garden is bursting with Engstrom’s favorites, including zinnias, dahlias, snapdragons and other stunning varieties grown for their long stems and showy blooms. Engstrom said she’s inspired by the many positive comments she receives from visitors who admire the bouquets at Arboretum events and in the Eatery. “Each season I try to change them up, but keep some things the same if they work out well,” she said. Growing up in a family of eight on a dairy farm near Park Rapids, Minnesota, Engstrom said she learned the importance of working hard and always doing her best. “My mom was an avid gardener,” she said. “She took great pride in her garden.” Engstrom attended Hennepin Technical College where she studied landscape design and crop production, which included coursework in cut flowers. She was and still is a strong advocate for celebrating the beauty of the Arboretum’s gardens by bringing the flowers in, which she hopes “helps others appreciate how much cut flowers can enhance their lives.”
Photo by Elise Bremer
The beauty and creativity behind this year’s Spring Flower Show is in large part thanks to Horticulturist Jewel Engstrom, a 41-year Arboretum employee who got her start at the Horticultural Research Center before moving to the Arboretum early in her career. Engstrom’s passion for horticulture and design is on full display at the Arboretum, where her work enhances the natural beauty of the Arboretum throughout the seasons, focusing primarily on the indoor and outdoor spaces near the Oswald Visitor Center and the Snyder Building alongside other staff. Visitors can also see her horticultural handiwork in the garden beds she plants and maintains at the Arboretum’s entrance, as well as in the festive seasonal displays that beautify the Arboretum throughout the year. From spring to fall, she brings a little bit of the Arboretum’s gardens in, planting and tending to hundreds of plants in the cutting garden she maintains just behind the Meyer-Deats Conservatory. She uses the cut flowers to create gorgeous floral arrangements — with the help of volunteers — for displays throughout the Eatery at the Arboretum and at special
Horticulturist Jewel Engstrom cuts colorful long-stemmed flowers from the cutting garden she maintains at the Arboretum to create stunning floral arrangements for special events. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2024
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HORTICULTURE
ELLA KYLLO • GARDENER, ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST
and hawthorn trees. The Arboretum is home to numerous oaks that are estimated to be as old as 200-250 years old, and winter pruning helps to ensure their health and longevity. During the winter, the branch structure of trees is clearly revealed, and horticulturists can prune any branches that need attention. This includes removing dead, broken or rubbing branches, and raising lower limbs that are causing obstructions. Taking a drive along Three-Mile Drive after a fresh snowfall is an excellent way to observe the natural branch structures and appreciate the architectural forms of trees. For an experience of solitude that only fresh snow and the grandeur of mature trees can provide, embark on a snowy hike along Three-Mile Walk or the Arboretum’s snowshoe and ski trails this winter. Learn more about proper pruning techniques for trees and shrubs from the University of Minnesota Extension. Visit their website at extension.umn.edu and search “pruning,” or sign up for a pruning course at the Arboretum at arb.umn.edu/gardening-classes. Photo by Sara Pace
Late winter is the perfect time to cozy up indoors with thick woolen sweaters, mugs of hot tea and other comforts to carry us through the darkest season. Outside, trees have dropped their leaves, drawn their energy resources inward and are blanketed by a thick, insulating layer of snow. As tempting as it is to stay inside until warmer days, winter is also one of the best times of year to get outside and prune trees. From winter to early spring, the horticulture staff at the Arboretum is out in force, skillfully pruning trees across the grounds. A targeted effort is made during this time to prune oak, crabapple, apple, mountain ash and hawthorn trees, when disease transmission is at a minimum, and horticulturists can clearly see the form and structure of the bare branches. While trees are dormant, so are the pathogens, and transmission of devastating oak wilt fungus and fire blight bacteria are at their lowest in the winter months. The period from November to March is considered the safe period to prune oaks, while February to April is the safe period to prune trees that are affected by fire blight. This includes crabapples, apples, mountain ash
Winter reveals the intricate branch structure of trees, making it an ideal time to prune.
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NATURE FOCUS
Photo by Johanna DeBuhr
Snowdrops emerge through the leaf litter in early spring — sometimes pushing through the snow to reach the warmth of the sun.
MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST
As the bitter, frigid days of old man winter stubbornly give way to the coming season of green, early signs of spring appear. A mother great-horned owl sits resolutely on her nest in spite of falling snowflakes covering her in a cloak of white. A thick coat of feathers keeps her eggs warm until the young owlets greet the world covered in their own fluffy down. Sugar maple sap begins to drip as temperatures rise and hungry gray squirrels eagerly lick the sweet nutritious liquid. On the forest floor, only tiny brown patches of leaf litter show through ice-crusted snow. Despite these freezing conditions, a remarkable, delicate flower forces its way up to reach the warming rays of sunlight. This incredible
flower is commonly known as snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), in Greek meaning “milky snow flower.” The French call it “snow piercer,” because it appears to slice through the late-winter snow. Snowdrops survive their early spring emergence because they contain proteins that keep thin tissues from freezing when temperatures plummet. Snowdrops are native to Europe, but have become naturalized in America, meaning they can reproduce on their own in their new environment. They reproduce from offsets, which are new bulbs attached to the mother bulb, and are one of the most widely traded bulbs in the world. Snowdrop seeds are spread by ants that take the seedpods back to their
den to feed their young. Ants do not consume the seeds but feed on the elaiosome, the fat covering of the seed, leaving the seeds to reproduce. Some cultures believed that the white shroudlike petals were associated with death and bad luck, making it unlucky to bring the first snowdrop flower into a house. Most cultures, however, called it the “flower of hope” symbolizing new beginnings, rebirth and an ability to overcome challenges — including the long northern winter. Snowdrops are the first flowers to bloom at the Arboretum and can be seen along the Hosta Glade trail. The poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s words sum up our feelings toward the snowdrops: “Many, many welcomes, February’s fair-maid.”
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RESEARCH
MATT CLARK, STAN HOKANSON, JIM LUBY AND STEVE MCNAMARA • HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER
A novel, early ripening Asian-type pear, Juicy Jewel ® (MN121 cultivar) is recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 4-5. It produces small oval, yellow-green fruits with an occasional orange-pink blush and offers an excellent spring floral display. The fruit texture right off the tree is very crisp and juicy, with a sweet, mild flavor with tropical overtones.
Triumph® apple (MN80 cultivar) produces medium-sized red fruit with a firm but juicy texture and a well-balanced flavor that is pleasantly tart. Triumph® is recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 4-5 and is harvested in late September to early October. With the combined genes from parents Honeycrisp and Liberty, this tree brings a high level of resistance to apple scab, the most common disease of apple and crabapple trees in Minnesota.
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‘Clarion’ and ‘Itasca’ are two cold-hardy white wine grapes suitable for the home winemaker, with low acidity for making dry wines. Itasca wines have notes of quince, starfruit and gooseberry while Clarion wines feature aromas of pear, citrus, melon and chamomile. ‘Clarion’ is more suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 5, but has been grown successfully at the Horticultural Research Center (Zone 4b) for more than 20 years. With the loss of millions of ash trees due to emerald ash borer, city foresters are looking for new species with which to repopulate and diversify landscapes. Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a native, deciduous tree that is tough and adaptable, tolerating cold, heat, drought and a range of soil types. True North™ is a male selection of Kentucky coffeetree with no seed pods, superior branch architecture and a compact, upright-oval crown, making it well-suited for street and residential plantings. Find more information about these plants, including local nursery information, at mnhardy.umn.edu. Limited quantities of these plants can also be found at the Arboretum’s Plant Sale on May 10-11. Find ticket information and dates at arb.umn.edu/plantsale.
Photos courtesy of the University of Minnesota
Did you know it usually takes several years for a commercial nursery to make a fruit tree that is ready for retail sale? While new introductions garner a lot of attention and excitement, there is often a lag between the time the plant is introduced by the University of Minnesota breeding program and when it becomes available to the public to purchase. Interested in growing your own University of Minnesota-developed apple or fruit tree? This year, several exciting new plants are hitting the market in limited quantities.
THE JOY OF GIVING
JEFF ISEMINGER • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Johnson worked at Cargill for 32 years and led its global communications before retiring. MacKay, who is a Hennepin County Master Gardener, was the publisher of several weekly newspapers in South Dakota. “My mother was a gardener,” he said, “and my 4H project in junior high was gardening.” The Living Grass Patio was dedicated by the family last August, and one person attending was Cris Johnson, Lori’s brother. Though he had never been to the Arboretum, Cris decided, then and there, to contribute to the patio. “I was impressed with how the Arboretum is training market gardeners.” The training comes through online and in-person classes, events and the Farm at the Arb Apprenticeship Program. It’s one thing for an institution to have an important mission, but another to connect potential supporters to that mission. “The Arboretum staff was fabulous in helping us develop a tribute to Mavis and Glenn,” said Johnson. In fact, she and MacKay had such a good experience they decided to include the Arboretum in their estate planning. “We can be confident that our dollars will help the Arboretum continue to create a great experience for people.” Photo by Cory Ryan
How do you render love in a landscape? That poignant question was asked of the Arboretum’s staff by Lori Johnson and her husband, Jim MacKay. They loved Johnson’s aunt and uncle, the late Mavis and Glenn Hawkyard, who in turn loved the Arboretum. So last year, they asked the Arboretum how and where they could establish a memorial in honor of the Hawkyards. They were delighted with the answer, which may seem odd, but actually is apt — a patch of green turf grass by a big red barn. The grass in question is in the new Living Grass Patio, between the Red Barn and the Myers Education Center. “Glenn and Mavis both had farming backgrounds, so they would have liked to have their memorial by a barn,” said Johnson. The patio structure is a grid filled with soil that contains mostly tall fescue with a smidgen of bluegrass. “Tall fescue is more traffic- and droughttolerant than bluegrass, because its roots are 3 to 4 feet deep,” said Jon Trappe, a turf expert at the Arboretum. “We developed this patio as a demonstration for homeowners, who can buy this kind of grid locally.”
Lori Johnson and Jim MacKay celebrated the dedication of the Myers Education Center and Foodscape — including the Living Grass Patio — with designers Julie Weisenhorn and Jon Trappe in July 2023. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2024
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Photo by Sara Pace
Photos by Arboretum staff
EVENTS
SPRING FLOWER SHOW Feb. 8-March 10 Immerse yourself in a celebration of vibrant color, rich textures, enchanting fragrance and lush, green floral vignettes. Plus, don’t miss special events throughout the show, including the Opening Night celebration and After Hours With the Flowers Date Nights. The Spring Flower Show is included with gate admission, but tickets are required for special events. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/flowershow. Opening Night Feb. 8, 6-8 p.m. Be among the first to experience the Spring Flower Show on its opening night. Mingle with the horticulture experts behind the floral installations and learn about the work of our featured speaker, artist Shelley Beaumont, whose mosaic masterpieces are on display throughout the show.
STORYTIME
Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 23, 29 and March 7, 14, 21, 28, 29, 10:30 a.m. Head to the Andersen Horticultural Library every Thursday and the last Friday of each month for StoryTime. We’ll celebrate plants and nature and foster a love for books and reading as we explore the library's vast catalog of children’s books. StoryTime is included with daily ticketed admission and is recommended for ages 0-5 with a parent, but all are welcome. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/storytime.
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After Hours with the Flowers Date Nights Feb. 15, 22 and 29, 6-9 p.m. Make a night of it and enjoy the Spring Flower Show after hours during this special experience with live music and entertainment plus wine, beer and cocktails available for purchase. Make-and-Take Fairy Garden Workshop Feb. 11 & 25 1-3 p.m. Get inspired at the Spring Flower Show and then make your own fairy garden terrarium to take home. Basic materials, including a garden base, soil, pebbles, moss, two plants, one fairy and one small structure piece are included. Additional fairy garden pieces will be available for purchase in the Gift & Garden Store.
KNIT AND STITCH
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 21 and March 1, 6, 15, 20, 29, 10 a.m.-noon Make progress on your latest knitting, crocheting or handiwork project while catching up with members of the Arboretum community! This gathering — held on alternate Wednesdays and Fridays through May — is open to the public and is included with gate admission. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/auxiliary.
EVENTS
YOGA IN THE GARDENS
Complete your visit to the Arboretum this season with a restorative yoga session! Registration is $7.50 per class for members and $22.50 for non-members and includes daily general admission. Get tickets (required) at arb.umn.edu/yoga.
Galentine’s Yoga Retreat Feb. 13, 5-10 p.m. Treat yourself and your BFF to a special after-hours yoga retreat for Galentine’s Day! Kick off the evening with a selection of delightful appetizers before rotating through a lineup of 45-minute sessions, all wrapping up with a yoga nidra sound bath and a soul-nourishing chocolate dessert to go. Spring Yoga Retreat March 16, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate the beginning of spring with a joyful yoga retreat at the Arboretum. Our Yoga in the Gardens partner studios will lead participants through eight mini-classes. All experience levels are welcome to participate.
Photo courtesy of Red Sled Pottery
Feb. 4, 10 a.m. — Hatha Yoga in MacMillan Auditorium Feb. 11, 10 a.m. — Yoga Sculpt in the Snyder Auditorium Feb. 15, Noon — Vinyasa to Yin Yoga in MacMillan Auditorium Feb. 25, 10 a.m. — Snowga (Yoga in the Snow) at the Lilac Walk March 3, 10 a.m. — Vinyasa Kriya Pranayama in MacMillan Auditorium March 10, 10 a.m. — Yin & Gentle Movement in MacMillan Auditorium March 14, Noon — Hatha Yoga in MacMillan Auditorium March 24, 10 a.m. — T'ai Chi Chih in MacMillan Auditorium
FEBRUARY ART FAIR
Feb. 17-18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Browse beautiful, botanically themed art and products from local artisans while checking out the Spring Flower Show. Find the list of vendors and learn more at arb.umn.edu/ events/febartfair.
FULL MOON HIKES
Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis
Experience the Arboretum’s trails by the light of the full moon with unique programming for each season. Reserve tickets at arb.umn.edu/fullmoonhikes. Full Snow Moon Snowshoe Hike Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m. Marvel at the beauty of the full moon during this after-hours snowshoe hike! February’s full moon is known as the Snow Moon due to the heavy snowfall that typically occurs in this season. Before embarking on your moonlit trek, swing by the MacMillan Auditorium for a presentation by Dr. Brian Smoliak with Weathervane Labs on snowfall in Minnesota. Afterward, warm up and roast a marshmallow over the fire with friends. Full Worm Moon Hike March 25, 6:30-9:30 p.m. In late spring as weather conditions slowly warm, earthworms begin to appear at the soil surface, lending this month’s full moon its evocative name. March weather can still be chilly, so warm up around a bonfire after your hike. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2024
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ARBORETUM PLANT SALE
Photo by Mark MacLennan
Save the date for the Arboretum’s annual Plant Sale, taking place May 10-11. Shop for plants selected by Arboretum horticultural experts, including a fabulous selection of annuals, perennials, fruits, vegetables, herbs, Minnesota natives, trees and several varieties of University of Minnesota-developed plants. Admission is free, but shoppers need to make a reservation. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/plantsale.
Photo by Sarah Jackson
EVENTS
March 23, 9 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Did you know the Arboretum taps more than 350 trees every winter? Learn more about our trees and the maple tapping process at several interpretive stops at Frog Hollow Workshop and the Maple Sugar House including sugar maple tree tapping demos and tree identification. Visitors will watch Arboretum staff cook down the sap to make pure maple syrup. Afterwards, warm up in the Eatery, offering a variety of maple-themed items for purchase. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/maplefest.
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Photos by Sue Isaacson
MAPLE FEST
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 Karen Campbell
learn techniques for photographing birds at the feeder or in flight, and gain insights into winter bird behavior. Registrants can include an optional in-person practicum with the instructor at the Arboretum’s feeders on Feb. 10. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/winter-bird-photography.
Soils: Science of Plant Propagation Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-noon
EDITING ESSENTIALS: REMOVING DISTRACTIONS WITH PHOTOSHOP (ONLINE) Feb. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. In this online webinar, photographers of all levels will learn how to remove or reduce distracting plants, contrasting backgrounds, floral imperfections or even photobombing insects using Adobe Photoshop. Explore tools and techniques such as layering, masks and heal and clone tools. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/editing-distractions.
Gear up for your best growing season yet by getting the dirt on the basics of soil science. Students will gain an understanding of soil formation, soil texture and structure, the role of compost, maintaining good drainage and more. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/soils.
observation of shape, line weight, color, layering and blending techniques, as well as shading and perspective by drawing tropical orchids. All supplies are included. Register at arb.umn.edu/ learn/draw-orchid.
Grafting & Budding: Science of Plant Propagation Illustration by Aryn Lill
Feb. 3, 9 a.m.-noon Learn how to combine two different plants so they grow together through grafting. Through hands-on practice, students will learn the art and science used in the production of many plants. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/grafting.
Drawing in Colored Pencil: Tropical Orchids
Winter Bird Photography (Online)
Feb. 10, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 8, 6:30-8 p.m.
Beginner to intermediate-level students will learn to develop fundamental drawing skills, including
Get better shots of birds at your feeder this winter. In this class, students will explore the proper equipment needed for winter bird photography,
Pruning Essentials: Deciduous & Coniferous Trees Feb. 10, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Pruning is important for the long-term health and vigor of deciduous and coniferous trees. Learn when and how to prune, how to avoid common mistakes and how to train newly planted trees. Students will observe on-site demonstrations in the Arboretum collections, weather permitting. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/pruning-trees.
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LEARN Art of Photography Speaker Series: Cynthia Dickinson (Online) Feb. 13, 7-8:15 p.m.
Photo by Don Tredinnick
Photo by Vienna Volante
Photographer Cynthia Dickinson interprets the beauty of motion, color, light, texture and line found in flowers, gardens and landscapes. Trained as a sculptor, Dickinson is compelled by the sculptural elements of her subjects. Learn more about Dickinson’s work in this final installment of the Art of Photography Speaker Series. Register at arb.umn.edu/ learn/art-photography-dickinson.
Homeschool Day: Plants & Their Habitats Feb. 14, 12:15-2:15 p.m. Student scientists in Grades 2-6 will learn to identify diverse plant adaptations for desert, tropical rainforest and wetland plants. Participants will create a take-away terrarium with tropical rainforest plants. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/hs-habitats.
CAMERA TECHNIQUES FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (ONLINE) March 14, 6:30-8 p.m. Beginner-level photographers will learn to utilize their camera’s full potential to capture nature’s beauty. Discussion will include the exposure triangle, focal lengths, switching from manual to focusing mode, how to capture sunbursts and shooting at higher ISO settings. Registrants can include an optional in-person practicum with the instructor in the field on March 16, 10 a.m.1 p.m. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/nature-photography.
Student artists will learn basic painting techniques including shape, pattern, texture, composition and color mixing. All supplies included. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/painting-chickadee.
Pruning Essentials: Shrubs, Woody Vines & Herbaceous Species Illustration by Aryn Lill
Feb. 17, 9 a.m.-noon
Painting with Acrylics: Chickadee
Pruning is critical for the long-term health and vigor of your shrubs, vines and most herbaceous species. Learn when and how to prune, how to avoid common mistakes and how to train newly planted trees. There will be on-site demonstrations in the Arboretum collections, weather permitting. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/pruning.
March 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jump Start Your Garden Workshop
Instructor Aryn Lill will guide beginner to intermediate-level students through the steps to create an acrylic portrait of an adorable chickadee.
Join the Andersen Horticultural Library staff and Extension Educator Julie Weisenhorn for this in-
March 16, 10 a.m.-noon
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spiring workshop to help kickstart summer garden designs! Workshop participants will leave with more confidence, a list of plant possibilities and a sketch of their garden design. Additional garden design reference materials from the library will be available, along with a plethora of seed catalogs to explore. Learn more at arb.umn.edu/learn/ jumpstart-garden.
Editing Essentials: Creative Techniques with Photoshop (Online) March 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Photographers of all levels can explore ways to express themselves with creative photo editing using Adobe Photoshop. Learn to combine images, change backgrounds, add colors and layer textures. These techniques can add interest and depth, evoke a feeling or mood, create abstract imagery and even hide distracting elements. Register at arb.umn.edu/learn/editing-creative.
EDUCATIO N
JILL LEENAY • EDUCATION
The Myers Education Center opened last spring at the Farm at the Arb, the Arboretum’s agricultural and food-growing hub. The Farm at the Arb is home to edible gardens, crop plots, a farmer apprentice program, family festivals, the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center, a historic Red Barn and the new Foodscape, all of which serve to showcase the plant-to-plate story in Minnesota. Fisher’s vision is to educate visitors on agriculture and help them appreciate and enjoy cooking out of their gardens and farmer’s markets. “Supporting local farmers has always been at the core of who I am as a chef, so getting to be a part of the Arboretum’s new culinary center is a perfect fit for me,”
Fisher said. “This classroom and what we can do here [by using the produce grown and harvested on site or locally] is full circle seed-to-table.” Expect Fisher to draw on industry friends and restaurant connections to help fill the Kitchen Classroom’s culinary calendar. A recent Beth & Beth dinner co-hosted by chef and author Beth Dooley sold out almost immediately. Anticipation is high for Fisher’s upcoming classes and they are likely to fill quickly. To receive notifications when new classes are added, subscribe at z.umn.edu/arbemails and select Food & Wine under Adult Classes. Browse all Food & Wine classes at arb.umn. edu/food-wine-classes.
Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis
A popular chef with an impressive career in the Twin Cities restaurant industry has joined the team at the Farm at the Arb. With a new high-tech Kitchen Classroom as her office and teaching space, Chef Beth Fisher’s role as Culinary Programmer and Instructor is to develop plant-to-plate culinary classes for adults from the Farm’s new Burton & Virginia Myers Education Center. Fisher has been a creative force in the local farm-to-table scene for many years, playing key roles in shaping a number of restaurants and brands, including Lucia’s, Wise Acre Eatery, Rustica, French Meadow and Kruse Markit. She has also honed her teaching skills at venues such as Cooks of Crocus Hill and Kitchen Window.
Chef Beth Fisher brings life to the Myers Education Center at the Farm at the Arb with farm-to-table culinary programming. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2024
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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 — including Meet & Greet events — visit arb.umn.edu/art. REEDY GALLERY
Ways of Seeing the Natural World | Through 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. Drawing inspiration from the Arboretum and further afield, this exhibition offers viewers a glimpse into unique ways of seeing the natural world.
MCQUINN GREAT HALL
Mosaics and Mirrors | Feb. 8-March 10 Artist Shelley Beaumont’s intricately designed mosaic mirrors explore the hidden geometry of flowers, playing with color, frequency, energy and light. Tucked in among the Spring Flower Show’s vignettes, Beaumont’s art will allow viewers to see themselves surrounded by the vivid hues of spring. Ticket holders attending Opening Night of the Spring Flower Show on Feb. 8 can meet Beaumont, who will speak about her art at the event.
CAFE GALLERY
Photo by Brett Dorrian Artistry Studios
Let Nature Lead | Through March 3 Experience the rhythmic work of Suzanne Kubach and Melinda Wolff, two artists who follow nature's rhythms while producing beautiful art that contains movement, harmony and balance akin to that which we find in the natural world. Land, Sea and Sky | March 6-April 14 Celebrate the wide-ranging work of the Arboretum Photographers Society during the 17th-annual juried exhibition of the volunteer photographers who capture the beauty of the Arboretum in all seasons. This year’s exhibition features images of “Grand Landscapes from Minnesota and Around the World.”
ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY
50 in 50: Celebrating 50 Years of Wonder | Opening March 22 Explore the hidden gems and curiosities in the Andersen Horticultural Library’s extensive collection of rare books and artifacts. Discover something new from these captivating pieces of nature’s history at the largest horticultural library in the Upper Midwest.
Artist Shelley Beaumont’s shimmering mosaics explore the hidden geometry of flowers. See the exhibition on display throughout the Spring Flower Show, Feb. 8-March 10.
