MN Arboretum Magazine June July 2021 by Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

arboretum JUNE/JULY 2021

magazine

Season of Trees

Albert G. Johnson’s

HARDY PLANT RESEARCH RESCUING EASTERN HEMLOCKS SUMMER GARDEN COLOR TASTE & TOAST RETURNS PLUS: EVENTS, CLASSES & OUTDOOR FUN

arboretum.umn.edu

PETER C. MOE

An arboretum, by definition, is a “botanical garden devoted to trees.” While our 1,200 acres are filled with formal

annual and perennial gardens—as well as wetlands and prairies—it’s the trees that define both our organization and our land. From the first tree planted by the Arboretum’s founding director Leon Snyder (it was a Shellbark Hickory that still stands in the Oak and Nut Collection off Three-Mile Drive) in 1957, to the new introductions released by the Horticultural Research Center, trees are essential to our work. As we celebrate our Season of Trees, sponsored by International Paper, we’re using this issue of the magazine to highlight the work of Arboretum Taxonomist and Plant Breeder Albert Johnson (page 3), who was the first person hired to breed woody plants at the Arboretum, as

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well as the continuing research on the Eastern Hemlock, one of the rarest trees in Minnesota (page 11). While you explore our gardens this summer—enjoying the thrilling combinations of color in the Annual Garden and discovering some of the best vegetables to grow in our climate in the Home Demonstration Garden (page 4)—we hope you’ll take some time to appreciate the trees that define our arboretum. Arboretum Season of Trees Presenting Sponsor

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Magazine is published six times a year by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318-9613, 612-624-2200. 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.

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 Matthew Clark, Director of Research Tony Baisley, Associate Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Jenny Verner, President, Arboretum Foundation

Cover Photo by Patrick Witherow

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

Photo by Chris McNamara

FROM THE DIRECTOR

LEAVING A LEGACY

Many horticulturists and curators have been involved in developing the Arboretum’s magnificent tree collections, but the Arboretum’s first research director, taxonomist and plant breeder, Albert G. Johnson, was perhaps the most important. Al loved all plants and had an encyclopedic knowledge of both native and introduced species. He initiated the Arboretum Prairie, now named the Bennett-Johnson Prairie. He made the first azalea crosses, which resulted in the hardy ‘Northern Lights’ azaleas and, amazingly, inventoried all of the native plants on the Arboretum site within the first 15 years. However, his biggest impact on horticulture in the upper Midwest are the many species and cultivars of trees he planted at the Arboretum beginning in the late 1950s. The post-World War II building boom, which included the rapid growth of suburbs surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul, did not result in diverse home landscapes. Many new homeowners planted the same five or six trees that included silver maples, green ash, white poplar, American elm and Colorado spruce. As a student of horticulture at the University of Minnesota at the time, you can imagine my astonishment when I observed hundreds of diverse trees on trips to the Arb. I later

learned that Al Johnson, working with Dr. Leon Snyder and extension horticulturists Mervin Eisel and Michael Zins, had been bringing seeds and trees from all over the U. S. and beyond and planting them for long-term evaluation and introduction into landscapes in the northern states. Just a few of the wonderful plants that Al added to the Arboretum tree collections include hardy forms of tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera); cucumber, anise and umbrella magnolias (Magnolia acuminata, M. salicifolia and M. tripetala); Japanese red and Himalayan pines (Pinus densiflora and P. wallichiana); as well as eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) grown from a now-extinct and westernmost population of this species near Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota (see research article on page 11). Johnson passed away in 1977, much too soon, but his life’s work lives on in the diverse and beautiful tree collections at the Arboretum and in modern landscapes featuring a wide variety of beautiful, hardy and well-adapted trees.

Northern Lights Azalea

Photos by Mark McLennan; (portrait) Courtesy of Andersen Horticultural Library

PETER MOE • ARBORETUM DIRECTOR

Arboretum Linden Trees A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

Photo by Mike Borg

ART OF HORTICULTURE

LIZ POTASEK • ARBORETUM WRITER

Home Demonstration Garden

From harvesting a bountiful vegetable patch to finding solace in color therapy, gardens have the potential to nurture us physically and spiritually. As you explore Arboretum gardens this summer, we hope to nourish your body with ideas in the Home Demonstration Garden for tried-and-true vegetables you can grow, and inspire your soul with stunning color combinations in the Annual Garden.

HOME DEMONSTRATION GARDEN This year’s Home Demonstration Garden focuses on All-America Selections of the past and present. Landscape Gardener Ted Pew chose to highlight a selection of vegetables and companion plant varieties that grow well in our climate. All-America Selections are made from the recommendations of a panel of expert judges based on national and regional trials. Pew’s garden designs are beautiful, as well as practical, proving that adding a kitchen garden can

be as aesthetically pleasing as it is nourishing. In addition to the beds in the Home Demonstration Garden, Pew is also planning to plant a bed featuring vine crops of pumpkins, squash, watermelons and melons near the Dahlia display garden along Three-Mile Drive.

ALL-AMERICA SELECTION DEMONSTRATION GARDEN The Arboretum has an All-America Selection Demonstration Garden dedicated to highlighting plants that have been tested by a panel of expert judges for their garden performance in our region. This year’s garden features All-America Selections from 2020 and 2021, including Zinnia Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor and Squash Goldilocks. ANNUAL GARDEN Landscape Gardener Duane Otto brings his knowledge of color theory to this year’s annual gardens, creating a design featuring beds of

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Squash Goldilocks

different color combinations. Expect to see pairings of warm and cool colors, as well as complementary and contrasting colors. Each bed works as its own color theme, yet the themes come together to create an overall garden display designed to uplift and inspire.

WHAT’S IN BLOOM Stay in tune with what’s happening in Arboretum gardens this season with our weekly What’s in Bloom web feature. Each Tuesday we’ll introduce you to a new plant that’s at its peak in our gardens and provide a list of other blooming plants worth seeking out. Make your reservation and watch for updates on our website: z.umn.edu/ArbBlooms.

Photos (Zinnia & Squash) Courtesy of All-America Selections

Photo by Don Olson

Zinnia Profusio Red Yellow Bicon lor

Photos by Don Olson; (Chipmunk & Turtle) Roger Pavelle

NATURE FOCUS

WEATHERING THE STORM MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST

When a languid sun rises into a hazy, crimson sky on a summer dawn, a forewarning of unsettled weather is often predicted, reminiscent of the old adage, “red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” Rising steamy temperatures by mid-afternoon bring billowing cumulonimbus thunderheads of purple and dull steel gray, which rise up into the heavens like eruptions from Vesuvius. Thunder claps and yellow zigzag bolts of lightning precede raindrops that will fall in torrents. Wildlife hunkers down when the deluge arrives and puddles and ponds are filled with bubbles as if tiny water nymphs were partying below the water’s surface. Baby birds in open nests jostle each other as they seek cover under their mother’s protective wings. Adolescent mallards and wood ducks sit stoically by their mother hidden in sedges and reeds of an adjoining pond waiting for the downpour to stop so they can begin preening their fuzzy down and emerging feathers. Bluebirds, tree swallows and other cavity nesters are warm and

dry in their nests peering out as if watching the storm pass by. Dragonflies, butterflies and bees are hiding under leafy Arboretum vegetation waiting to take to the air as the skies clear. As the last raindrops fall and the sun appears, an arch of a rainbow, shining with its prismatic colors flowing and glowing in intensity, signals that Mother Nature’s feverish state is over and calm has returned. With the rain subsided, gray tree frogs begin their joyous chorus as if thanking the rain god for the life-giving moisture. Big blue darner dragonflies are on the wing zipping to and fro, nabbing pesky mosquitoes as they flit about. In the Arb’s Home Demo Garden, bees are bouncing from flower to flower gathering nectar as they go. Baby birds are crying for food since the storm has interrupted their dinner time. Chipmunks and gray squirrels pop out of their nests noisily rummaging about on the forest floor. Painted turtles climb back onto

perching logs catching the warming rays of the late afternoon sun. A sweet freshness and serenity has returned after a turbulent storm. The creatures of the natural world are resilient, showing us how to survive these troubling times. The Arb’s gardens and natural areas are teeming with wildlife in the summer – be on the lookout during your visit…in any weather!

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RESEARCH

The Herbivore’s Dilemma—

to Eat or Not to Eat?

Photos by (left to right) Dominique Ebbenga; Dr. Kate Freund Saxhaug

DR. KATE FREUND SAXHAUG • POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER DOMINIQUE EBBENGA • PHD CANDIDATE

WHILE WORKING IN YOUR YARD OR GARDEN, you’ve likely noticed iridescent copper and green insects munching on your rose bushes and linden trees. These insects are Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) and they have a voracious appetite for over 300 plant species. There are, however, plants that they tend to avoid, like lilac bushes. Why do Japanese beetles feed on some plant species and varieties but not others? Collaborative research at the Horticultural Research Center (HRC) investigates Japanese beetle feeding on various fruit crops and perennial landscape plants. Researchers are using this information to guide the selection of resistant varieties and breeding decisions. In Minnesota, there has been little research on alternative pest management strategies outside of the regular use of insecticides. Gaining an understanding of beetle varietal preferences may lead us to new options for Minnesota gardeners. Research into alternative control methods starts with observing feeding behavior. Grapes are a highly preferred host plant for the beetles, and researchers with the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology have begun evaluating six UMN wine grape varieties for beetle preference and resistance. Insect counts and leaf samples were collected to evaluate the degree of preferential feeding. Early results show a high preference for

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all Frontenac varieties, a moderate preference for Marquette, and a low preference for Itasca and Edelweiss. It is unknown whether these differences are due to leaf characteristics (such as thickness or hairiness), or because of a presence of attractive or deterrent compounds in the leaf. It has long been surmised that toxic or distasteful chemical compounds present in leaves are an important component of resistance to feeding. After observing differences in feeding on various species at the HRC, researchers with the Horticultural Science department began exploring specialized phytochemistry associated with beetle deterrence. They are examining beetle-resistant cultivars and species, like pear trees, for extractable phytochemicals to apply externally as a repellent to susceptible plants like cherry trees. They are also working in apple and grape populations to identify genes associated with beetle resistance to inform future cultivar development and deployment. Studies aimed at determining the driving factors of beetle varietal preference will hopefully lead to the development of additional control measures for growers to implement in their integrated pest management programs to keep those Japanese beetles at bay.

Photos by Bongkarn, Miriam Doerr, Martin Frommherz at Shutterstock

LEARN AN D DO

The Summer Webinar Series will help you to appreciate plants in their peak season, tackle pests and problems with expertise, identify new plants on your hikes, and much more! 13 Sessions: Live every Tuesday, 7-8 p.m., June 1 – Aug. 24. Each weekly webinar includes a 30-45 minute presentation with time for questions along the way: • Foraging in Minnesota • Minnesota-Grown Vegetables • Edible Landscaping • Dealing with Pests: Intro to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) • Invasive Species: What You Can Do • Landscaping for Shade • Diagnosing Your Plant Problems • Garden Visions: Native Shrubs • Little Bluestem: A Great Native Grass • Best Shade Trees to Replace Green Ash • Plant Selection for a Changing Climate • Extend the Growing Season with Fall Vegetables • Asters and Goldenrod for the Late Summer

This series is endorsed by

About Calling all gardeners, landscapers, and nature enthusiasts! Join local horticultural experts to virtually explore collections, backyards & gardens from your armchair as you learn more about Minnesota trees, perennials, edible plants, houseplants & more... and get tips and tricks for your own garden! $30 Member/$40 non-member, includes live and recorded access to all 13 webinars plus their accompanying digital handouts and resources. Register at z.umn.edu/MNPlantsSummer.

How it works Receive a weekly email with the live webinar Zoom link and instructions, plus a link to the Minnesota Plants website with the schedule, links, resources and more.

Busy schedule, can't watch live? No problem, you never have to miss a session! Recordings and handouts from each session will be available to watch on demand when you want for up to one year.

Minnesota State Horticultural Society Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program

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GOLD SPONSOR:

SILVER SPONSOR:

2021 ARBORETUM TRAVEL Photo by Wendy Composto

WITH ARBORETUM DIRECTOR EMERITUS PETER OLIN, ARBORETUM DIRECTOR PETE MOE AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS ALAN BRANHAGEN

ATTENTION: We are planning Arboretum Garden Tours for 2021. However, some or all tours

SOLSTICE YOGA RETREAT 7 a.m.-6:15 p.m. June 19, Sensory Garden Join us for the 2nd annual Yoga in the Gardens Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat. Start the day with a welcome and chance to enjoy the Arb gardens before they are open to the public. End the day with Yoga Nidra and a chance to enjoy the evening gardens. Full and Half Day options: Full Day will consist of 4 classes with a break for lunch. Morning or afternoon 1/2 day will consist of 2 classes. Retreat fee: Member $40 for full day, $20 for half day. Non-member $55 for full day/ $35 for half day arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

are subject to cancelation or postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this uncertainty, we’ve made special arrangements to have you sign up with no deposit until we know that the trip can take place safely. When that is assured, we will then ask for a deposit. We encourage you to sign up now to hold your place for the trip you wish to take. Washington, DC and surrounding areas. Sept. 23 – 30, 2021. Explore the history of gardens in the Washington, DC, area. Visit Annapolis, Georgetown, Alexandria and more! See a Topiary garden as well as gardens of the rich and famous. Host: Peter Olin. Contact Lynde Vespoli at destinationsandtours@gmail.com or 440-840-6334. Kingdom of Monarchs, Mexico. Feb. 2 – 11, 2022. This time it will go! See the winter home of the Monarch butterflies, and explore the culture, art, cuisine and history of Mexico. We will stay in Oaxaca and Mexico City, explore gardens, pre-Columbian ruins at Monte Alban, Chapultepec Park, Chiampa’s floating gardens and more. Limited to 20 people. Host: Alan Branhagen. Contact Renee Davies at renee@knowmadadventures.com or 612-315-2894 x105. Texas Hill Country. Mid-March, 2022. Explore San Antonio, Fredericksburg and surrounding areas. We’ve set up this trip to see the blue-bonnets in bloom on the rolling hills of Texas. Public and private gardens, LBJ historic sites, the Alamo, and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Host: Peter Olin. Contact Lynde Vespoli at destinationsandtours@gmail.com or 440-840-6334. For information on all Arboretum tours, go to z.umn.edu/ArbTravel or contact Peter Olin, olinx002@umn.edu.

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Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

Your imagination will blossom at the virtual Gala in the Gardens on Thursday, June 17. Funds raised at the Gala will ensure that the healing power of nature through gardens, collections, natural areas, and miles of trails are here for you. Just imagine trying to take care of 1,200 acres—no small task. Toro has generously agreed to match each dollar raised with the equivalence of in-kind Toro equipment to help maintain and transform the Arboretum you know and love for the 2021 Gala “Fund-a-Need.” Join us for the pre-show at 6:45 p.m. followed by a powerful program at 7 p.m. Did you know the Gala auction is open to all? Early bidding begins on Monday, June 14 and closes on Friday, June 18 at 5 p.m. Just imagine how you can help the Arboretum heal people through the power of nature! For registration, auction and event details:z.umn.edu/ArboretumGala. For questions, please call 612-625-9437, or email ArbGala@umn.edu.

Photo by Ken Evans

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS! The Membership team is excited with the anticipation of summer and all that means at the Arb! Blooming flowers, the Season of Trees, family picnics, stunning wildlife and more! Although the biggest perk of membership is admission (averaging just $9 per month based on 30,000 member households at different membership levels), there are additional bonuses to supporting the Arb! • Reciprocal Garden Admission for 2 (Visit more than 300 gardens in the U.S. FREE! Visit ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/ for a full list of participating gardens). • Discounts on retail, rentals and education (Cafe discount has been discontinued for 2021). • Martha Stewart or Better Homes and Gardens Magazine Subscription. • Arb Magazine & E-News. • Free Parking. • Dog Memberships for up to two dogs (additional fee required). • AND more based on level of membership. Visit arb.umn.edu/support/membership to renew your membership today! Your support keeps the Arb growing!

be on hand to welcome you back to our spectacular summer gardens! Salsa Del Sol, a T&T favorite, will provide live music in the Perennial Garden and The Wayzata Symphony Orchestra will join the evening for the first time. Tasteandtoast.umn.edu.

Photo by Todd Mulvihill

TASTE & TOAST IS BACK ON JULY 28!

The Arb's second biggest fundraiser is back – and in-person – this summer! After a year off, this very popular 'garden to table' food event will return with some added safety measures. This year, attendance is limited and entry times will be staggered to help with social distancing. The Patron event will be from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., with general admission guests entering during two event times, 6:45 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 9:15 p.m. All attendees will receive the signature Arb wine glass to take home. Patrons will get an Arb-branded swag bag with goodies, as well as first entry to the gardens. The event layout will be spread through more gardens than usual to keep attendees safe and food and beverage lines from crowding into each other. Taste & Toast will follow all current COVID safety protocols in effect on the day of the event. As always, an amazing lineup of 45 outstanding local and outstate restaurants, wineries, breweries and food trucks will

Arb, the Tree Gnome is a fun-loving creature who likes to explore. As his name implies, he especially loves to learn about trees. This summer, you can find him touring Arboretum tree collections and hanging around interesting trees during the Arb’s Season of Trees. As you may know, gnomes are both playful and shy. Arb and seven of his pals want to play a hide-and-seek game with Arboretum visitors. Each week throughout the summer, Arb and each of his friends will be hidden in a new location with the answer to a fill-in-theblank trivia question. Collect the letters found on each gnome and unscramble them to find the answer. Collect all 24 answers for a chance to win Arb or one of his friends at the end of the Season of Trees. To find all questions, visit z.umn.edu/arbgnome

AUXILIARY PRIVATE

Sunday, July 18 (daytime or sunset); Monday, July 19; and Tuesday, July 20. Arboretum Auxiliary guests travel on luxury air-conditioned motor coaches to tour four specially selected private gardens incorporating traditional features, with seasonal blooms, some with water features and some that include native plants for the pollinators. Tours are followed by Sunday brunch, Sunday evening hors d'oeuvres (after the sunset tour option) or weekday lunch on the Arb’s Morgan Terrace. Garden Tour guests will receive a 20 percent off coupon to use at the Arboretum Gift & Garden Store. A portion of the fee is a tax-deductible contribution to the Arboretum Auxiliary. Register online at arb.umn.edu/GardenTours. Any restrictions due to COVID-19 will be listed on the website. Guests may purchase and print their own ticket. You may also register by calling 612-301-1210. A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

THE JOY OF GIVING Shreya Dixit

Photos by (portrait) Michelle’s Portrait Design; (Bench images) Robert Evans Imagery

JEFF ISEMINGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It’s way, way more than a bench at the Arboretum.

It’s peace and calm and comfort and healing for Vijay and Rekha Dixit. There’s a reason the bench is a balm for them: It’s a memorial for their daughter, Shreya, established in her name by the Dixits’ friends, Richard and Sue Anderson. (The Andersons’ daughter Katy was a classmate of Shreya’s.) In 2007, Shreya was returning home from college as a car passenger when unspeakable tragedy struck. The driver reached back to get a napkin and – in a sliver of a second – smashed the car into an overpass pillar. Shreya was killed, and the driver and two other passengers walked away. The next year the Andersons created the memorial bench, which sits at the kids’ entrance to the Maze Garden, in honor of Shreya. “It’s the best gift we have ever received,” Vijay says. “When it becomes unbearable,” Rekha says, “we sit on the bench and feel Shreya’s presence in the natural world.”

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One day, when Rekha and Vijay were sitting there, a friend of Shreya’s brought her brother’s entire wedding party to the bench. She didn’t even know the Dixits were there. “It was surreal,” Vijay says. By all accounts, the world lost a lot when Shreya died. “I would describe her with one word – joy,” Vijay says. “She was a joy to be with, and one way she communicated her joy was through singing.” Rekha and Vijay didn’t let their grief freeze them in despair. They created the Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation to build distraction-free driver communities (shreyadixit.org). “The foundation focuses on working with young drivers,” Vijay says. For example, the Dixits have formed distraction-free driving clubs in metro-area high schools, as well as programs in elementary schools led by teen mentors. Vijay, who had a long career in corporate business strategy, worked for years to lobby for Minnesota’s hands-free driving law that passed in 2019. He also wrote the book

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“One Split Second: The Distracted Driving Epidemic,” with a foreword by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

And then there’s that bench.

On one of Shreya’s birthdays after her death, Rekha and Vijay met a family at the bench, who learned about Shreya. A year later to the day at the very same spot, the Dixits found flowers and a birthday card from that family.

“There’s magic in that bench,” says Vijay with a smile. MEMORIALS

If you’d like more information about memorials at the Arboretum, please visit arb.umn.edu/give.

HORTICULTURE & RESEARCH

SAVING MINNESOTA’S NATIVE HEMLOCKS STEVE MCNAMARA • CURATOR OF WOODY PLANTS

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) is a slow-growing and long-lived native conifer found in forests of the eastern United States and ranging across the Great Lakes region as far west as Minnesota. It has a broad, pyramidal form with small, dark-green needles on pendulous branches that give the tree an overall lacy appearance. It is also a valued landscape plant with many dwarf and weeping cultivars currently available for sale. Unfortunately, eastern hemlock is under attack throughout much of its native range by an invasive insect – the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand). While the pest has yet to reach Minnesota, Eastern hemlock has historically existed only in small, disconnected populations in the northern part of the state where its numbers are in decline due to poor recruitment, deer browse and site degradation. In 2013, it became Minnesota’s first officially endangered tree species.

Eastern hemlock has been growing at the Arboretum almost since its inception. Sixteen Arboretum trees originated as seedlings from a now extirpated population near Mille Lacs Lake, illustrating the important role arboreta can play in conserving rare plants. In 2014, graduate student Emily Ellingson and U of M professor Stan Hokanson began expanding the effort to collect and conserve other rare Minnesota Eastern hemlock germplasm by locating native stands and evaluating their genetic diversity and propagability. Field surveys revealed that there are fewer than 40 known native mature Eastern hemlock trees left in Minnesota along with scattered seedlings and saplings. Genetic analysis revealed that trees at Hemlock Ravine Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) near Jay Cooke State Park and those growing in a stand in West Duluth represented genetically distinct populations that warrant

conservation and restoration efforts. To date, attempts to clonally propagate several of these native trees by rooting of shoot cuttings have been largely unsuccessful. Grafting onto seedling rootstock may provide an alternative method of cloning these specimens for conservation purposes. Seedlings have been successfully generated from seed collected from a number of these trees. Some will be planted at the Arboretum and others will potentially be used to bolster existing natural stands of this rare native tree.

Eastern hemlock is extremely shade tolerant and can survive with as little as 5 percent sunlight. It can withstand overstory suppression for up to 400 years, waiting to capitalize on a break in the canopy.

Photos by Steve McNamara

Tsuga canadensis at the Arboretum

Hemlock Ravine SNA eroding hillside Arboretum Season of Trees Presenting Sponsor

Hemlock Ra

g vine seedlin A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

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Calendar At-A-Glance Due to ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and updated requirements from both the State and University of Minnesota, please find the latest calendar information at arb.umn.edu

TAKING DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE PHOTOS THURSDAY, JUNE 3

ARBORETUM TRAM SEE RECURRING PROGRAMS & EVENTS FOR TIMES AND DATES

ONGOING EXHIBITS REEDY GALLERY “Birds of a Feather: Contemporary Avian Artists” • Through June 14 (See back page) “Nature: Wild and Wonderful” June 17-Sept. 6 (See back page)

“Turning Over a New Leaf” Through Oct. 31 In honor of trees, we'll turn over a new leaf of an old book once a week, displaying a beautiful woodcut image. While the book is from 1755 (Traité des Arbres et Arbustres [Treatise on Trees and Shrubs]), the original woodblocks are from 1563. Nineteenthcentury nurserymen's plate-books, laced together to enable turning of several colorful images of trees and fruits at once, will also be featured in each of the library's display cases.

RECURRING JUNEJULY PROGRAMS & EVENTS

SKYWAY GALLERY

Tickets on sale through Sept. 25

“Celebrating Trees: 4th Annual Flora & Fauna Illustrata (FFI) Exhibition” July 10-Oct. 31 The FFI, our "hundred-year project," includes these original artworks celebrating individual trees that live at the Arboretum! Use the GPS coordinates to find and compare the living tree at the Arboretum to the artist's rendition.

ONE-HOUR GUIDED TRAM TOUR

Daily at 10:30 a.m. (not on Mondays), noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., Visitor Center Join us for a narrated tram tour highlighting our varied collections, display gardens and demonstration gardens. Purchase same-day tickets at the Visitor Center Information Desk. z.umn.edu/arbtram

2021 AUXILIARY QUILT RAFFLE FUNDRAISER

This year's Arboretum Auxiliary quilt, "Sights and Sounds of the Arboretum," highlights many of the birds that call Minnesota home. It measures 72" x 80" and is on display in the Oswald Visitor Center’s Great Hall. Tickets are $2. The drawing will be held in the Snyder Auditorium at 2 p.m. Sept. 25, as part of the Auxiliary’s annual Harvest Sale.

ACTIVITY KIT TO-GO: LET’S GET GROWING GREEN THUMB GARDEN CLUB (AGES 5 - 11)

Order deadline May 28; Pickup-at-Arb Sunday, June 13, 1-4 p.m. or Tuesday, June 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $120/$135 Packed with fun supplies and live plants, these kits will get you outside, growing your own garden plants and harvesting all summer long. Engage with dozens of structured hands-on activities and creative projects as your plants come to life and help you explore science, nature, and the arts.

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EVERY THURSDAY

STORYTIME AT HOME

New StoryTime recording every Thursday: arb.umn/edu/storytime.

JUNE-JULY PROGRAMS & EVENTS TUESDAY, JUNE 1

MINNESOTA PLANTS SUMMER WEBINAR SERIES (ONLINE)

7-8 p.m., also includes every Tuesday through August 24, $30/$40, online via ZOOM Join local horticultural experts each week to virtually explore collections, backyards & gardens from your armchair as you learn more about Minnesota trees, perennials, edible plants, houseplants & more... and get tips and tricks for your own garden! (see page 7)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2

RAPTOR PHOTOGRAPHY: EXCLUSIVE CAMERA ACCESS (ONLINE + IN-PERSON PRACTICUM)

Live Webinar: June 2, 6-8 p.m. + In-Person Photoshoot: Sat., June 5, 12:45-3 p.m., $119/$139, Farm at the Arb Picnic Shelter The webinar will teach you skills to control your camera to capture images of raptors from distances of 8-20 feet, as well as longer distances in the field. Then meet in-person to put your skills into practice with live raptors from the Raptor Center set amidst the Arboretum’s stunning collections. More session options, see July 28.

Photos by (left to right) Don Tredinnick; Mark MacLennan

ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 612-624-2200 ALL ABOUT DOGS DAY SATURDAY, JUNE 5

THURSDAY, JUNE 3

ACTIVITY KIT TO-GO: HOGSWOOD FOREST SCHOOL OF MAGIC (AGES 6 - 12) Order deadline June 3; Ships-to-you June 8, $115/$130

Photos by (left to right) Kathy Eischens; Painting by Emily Donovan; Wendy Composto

Experience the wonder and excitement of Hogswood School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at home with this all-inclusive activity kit! Self-guided hands-on activities explore science, nature and the arts through magical subjects: Potions, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures and more.

A DELICIOUS APPROACH TO COOKING SUSTAINABLE MEAT: LIVE COOKING DEMO (ONLINE)

6-7:30 p.m., $25/$30, online via ZOOM Take a culinary journey with Chef Beth and Farmer Andy as they demonstrate unique cuts, delicious global preparations and sustainable choices. Menu: CevapciciBalkan Kebabs (meaty fingerling sausages from southeast Europe - the Balkans); Cumin Spiced Flatiron, Skirt or Bavette Steaks with Chimichurri; and Ajvar (Roasted Pepper and Eggplant “Caviar”).

TAKING DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE PHOTOS (ONLINE)

6:30-8 p.m., $25/$30, online via ZOOM Learn and understand the importance of light to landscape photography, guidelines for great composition, the importance of hyperfocal distance, and creating a sense of depth in your photos. Add-on an optional in-person practicum at the Arb on Saturday June 5, 8-10 a.m., for hands-on practice with the instructor (add $54/$69).

PERSPECTIVES OF AN ARTIST-BIRDER - ARTIST DEMO SATURDAY, JUNE 12

YOGA RETREAT SATURDAY, JUNE 19

FRIDAY, JUNE 4

SUNDAY, JUNE 6

FIRST BLUSH: APPLE BLOSSOMS IN WATERCOLOR

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

10-11 a.m., free with gate admission, Shrub Rose Garden

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $49/$69, online via ZOOM

Paint the bright buds and translucent petals of our blushing apple trees as you learn to: map the edges of defining shapes, mix soft neutral colors for subtle shading, create blooming washes for a smooth transition of color and build a geometric framework to finish your composition.

SATURDAY, JUNE 5

ALL ABOUT DOGS DAY

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 5, Dog Commons $5 Member with Dog-Added Membership; $15 Member with regular membership; $30 non-member. Annual day to celebrate dogs in nature! Join us for a new 2021 experience at the Dog Commons, the Arboretum's on-leash dog trails. Explore the 65-acre Dog Commons and visit up to 40 vendors at the Dog Expo. A goal of the Dog Commons is to inspire a shift from walking the dog as a chore to walking the dog as a mindful and restorative experience that benefits health and well-being for humans and pets. All About Dogs Day registration: arb.umn.edu/content/all-about-dogs

Taught by Sue Bitney. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

SATURDAY, JUNE 12

EXHIBITING ARTIST DEMO WITH EMILY DONOVAN: PERSPECTIVES OF AN ARTIST-BIRDER – FINDING COLOR, MEANING & CONNECTION (ONLINE) 10-11 a.m., free with advance registration, online via ZOOM

Watch the artist demonstrate her multi-media art paintings from her backyard studio, using native plant materials to make natural dye and pigment. Learn new ways of seeing flora and fauna through the artist’s eyes z.umn.edu/6mhq

THURSDAY, JUNE 17

GALA AT THE FARM (ONLINE) (See page 8)

SATURDAY, JUNE 19

SOLSTICE YOGA RETREAT

7 a.m.-6:15 p.m., Sensory Garden (See page 8) arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

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LATE SPRING VEGETABLES TO BOIL, BRAISE & STEAM SATURDAY, JUNE 19

CREATIVE GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY THURSDAY, JULY 8

LATE SPRING VEGETABLES TO BOIL, BRAISE & STEAM: COOK-ALONG LIVE (ONLINE) 9-10:30 a.m., $20/$25, online via ZOOM

Explore seasonal June crops such as snap peas, cauliflower and cilantro. Perfect your wet cooking preparation methods such as boiling, braising and steaming to prepare Summer Vegetable Stew, Braised Cauliflower with Capers and Snap Pea Salad with Herb Vinaigrette.

TUESDAY, JUNE 22

TIME-LAPSE VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY (ONLINE) For intermediate-level photographers, this fun workshop with instructor Mike Shaw will take a deep dive into how our vision interprets time lapses, and how to set up equipment to create and animate images into finished time-lapse video clips.

THURSDAY, JUNE 24

YOGA IN THE GARDENS 6-7 p.m., free with gate admission, Sculpture Garden

Taught by Spirit of the Lake. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

FRIDAY, JUNE 25

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT

Experience the magic of summer nights at the Arboretum with hundreds of fireflies flashing through the sky. The Arb will be open late for select Firefly Viewing Nights. Bring your family – and a camera – and marvel at the wonder of these glowing winged beetles -- also known as lightning bugs. Reservations are $5 for Arboretum members and children and $20 for non-members. z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

SATURDAY, JUNE 26

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

FRIDAY, JULY 2

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

SATURDAY, JULY 3

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

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SUNDAY, JULY 4

YOGA IN THE GARDENS – TAI CHI 10-11 a.m., free with gate admission, Pine Collection Taught by Sue Bitney. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

TUESDAY, JULY 6

ACTIVITY KIT TO-GO: SEED STARTERS GREEN THUMB GARDEN CLUB (AGES 5 - 11)

Order deadline July 6; Ships-to-you July 20, $120/$135 Arboretum activity kits allow kids to explore science, nature and the arts wherever they live through a wide variety of self-guided hands-on activities: Packed with fun supplies and a cool collection of seeds, cultivate a variety of seed-grown plants for indoor and outdoor use with your very own seed starting equipment. Use your creativity while investigating the plant kingdom through scientific experiments and art projects.

THURSDAY, JULY 8

ACTIVITY KIT TO-GO: OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CHALLENGE (AGES 7 - 12)

Order deadline July 8; Ships-to-you July 13, $60/$75 Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to explore the great outdoors with experiments, investigations and scavenger hunts. Put your abilities to the test as you make new discoveries and complete survival skill challenges, while exploring science, nature and the arts through self-guided handson activities.

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

CREATIVE GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY (ONLINE) 6:30-8 p.m., $25/$30, online via ZOOM

Learn to capture amazing photos of gardens by managing techniques of selective focus, varying points of view, fields of view and panoramas. Lead the viewer with line, pattern and color, and incorporate engaging elements such as people, objects and insects. Add-on an optional in-person practicum at the Arb on Saturday July 10, 8-10 a.m. for hands-on practice with the instructor (add $54/$69).

FRIDAY, JULY 9

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

SATURDAY, JULY 10

SUMMER VEGETABLES TO GRILL & BROIL: COOK-ALONG LIVE (ONLINE) 9-10:30 a.m., $20/$25, online via ZOOM

Summer crops of green beans, tomatoes, and corn begin to ripen in July! Gain confidence with classic summer techniques of grilling and broiling as you prepare Grilled Corn with Chipotle Aioli, Broiled Vegetable Frittata and Grilled Leafy Greens.

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

Photos by (left to right) Jukov Studio And Yummypic at Shutterstock

7-9 p.m., $35/$40, online via ZOOM

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 612-624-2200 SUMMER VEGETABLES TO GRILL & BROIL SATURDAY, JULY 10

NATURAL DYES FROM INVASIVE PLANTS SATURDAY, JULY 17

THURSDAY, JULY 15

SUNDAY, JULY 18

12-1 p.m., free with gate admission, Shrub Collection

(See page 9)

AUXILIARY PRIVATE GARDEN TOURS

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

Taught by Green Lotus. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

TUESDAY, JULY 27

CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE WEAVING: SAORI (IN-PERSON)

2-5 p.m., $94/$124, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center

MONDAY, JULY 19

AUXILIARY PRIVATE GARDEN TOURS

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: BIRDS OF THE NORTH NEEDLE FELTING SERIES (ONLINE)

TUESDAY, JULY 20

This contemporary weaving method is considered a meditative art form. The end result is a unique handmade textile inspired by nature. All supplies included.

(See page 9)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28

Receive a complete kit with all needle felting materials and tools mailed directly to you! Then join the live online class to receive step-by-step guidance through the process to create your own adorable hummingbird. There are enough supplies for two birds, one for practice during class and one to perfect your skills after class! Registration deadline July 1.

THURSDAY, JULY 22

(See page 9)

FRIDAY, JULY 16

1-4 p.m., $94/$114, online via ZOOM

Photos by (left and center) Jukov Studio at Shutterstock; Theresa Hornstein

AUXILIARY PRIVATE GARDEN TOURS JULY 18-20

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

SATURDAY, JULY 17

DEMO—NATURAL DYES FROM INVASIVE PLANTS (ONLINE)

10 a.m.-1 p.m., $49/$69, online via ZOOM Learn how to dig up pesky invasive plants and turn them into beautiful dyes to color yarn or fabric! Watch a demonstration on the tools, materials and techniques used to transform four common invasive plants into colors with the help of modifiers and mordants.

(See page 9)

AUXILIARY PRIVATE GARDEN TOURS

TASTE & TOAST

ACTIVITY KIT TO-GO: HOGSWOOD FOREST- ALCHEMIST EMERGENCY! (AGES 7 - 12) Order deadline July 22; Ships-to-you July 27, $60/$75

The Hogswood Forest School of Magic's Floskilly Knarlaps (magical creatures that look like a cross between an eagle and a dragon, and help defend the school) have been kidnapped! Rescue them by completing a series of magical alchemy challenges as you explore science, nature and the arts through a wide variety of self-guided hands-on activities.

SUNDAY, JULY 25

RAPTOR PHOTOGRAPHY: EXCLUSIVE CAMERA ACCESS (ONLINE + IN-PERSON PRACTICUM)

Live Webinar: July 28, 6-8 p.m. + InPerson Photoshoot: Sat., July 31, 10 a.m.12:15 p.m. OR 12:45-3 p.m., $119/$139, Farm at the Arb Picnic Shelter The webinar will teach you skills to control your camera to capture images of stunning raptors from distances of 8-20 feet, as well as longer distances in the field. Then meet in person to put your skills into practice with live raptors from the Raptor Center set amidst the Arboretum’s stunning collections.

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

12-1 p.m., free with gate admission, Shade Tree Exhibit Taught by Yoga Bella. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHT z.umn.edu/ArbFireFlies

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2021

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TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

General Information . . . . . . . . 612-624-2200 Andersen Horticultural Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1239 Auxiliary Membership & Events Info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9865 Seasonal Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9791 Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1266 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1210 Gift and Garden Store . . . . . . . 612-301-7619 Facility Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-7596 Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1257 Memorials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1266 Volunteering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1203 Yard & Garden Help Desk. . . 612-301-7590 Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arboretum.umn.edu

3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613

A publication for members and friends of the Arboretum

Due to ongoing limited operations because of COVID-19, please visit arb.umn.edu for hours and programming updates.

HOURS

Printed with Agri Based Inks

GROUNDS 8 a.m.-8 p.m. BUILDINGS 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

July 4: Regular Sunday hours. ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday.-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday CLOSED SUNDAY AND MONDAY ADMISSION Visitors: $15 for ages 16 and up Members: Free Children aged 15 and younger: Free Arboretum Memberships start at $60 (Arboretum.umn.edu/newmemberships.aspx)

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ART AT THE ARBORETUM

Delight in the beauty found indoors in the Oswald Visitor Center. Art is available for sale through the Gift & Garden Store, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Arboretum. PLEASE NOTE: Due to ongoing limited operations because of COVID-19, please visit arb.umn.edu for Art Gallery exhibit updates.

Artwork left to right: Last Refuge by Eleanor McGough, Poetic Gate by Jackson Dainty, Palm by David Lefkowitz, Islands Shadows by Sonja Peterson

REEDY GALLERY EXHIBITS “Birds of a Feather: Contemporary Avian Artists” • Through June 14 Birds provide inspiration for Kim Russell and Emily Donovan, the two contemporary artists featured in this exhibition. While inspired by ancient legacies in art, each uses vastly different techniques. Russell is influenced by indigenous imagery resulting in meticulous, highlystylized ink and acrylic drawings. Donovan’s natural hand-dyed paper is created through an exacting process shared by cultures around the world. Throughout her processes, from foraging for raw materials to finished works of art, Donovan maintains a close connection to the land and sky. Both artists ensure the essence of their subjects remain in their finished work, rooted in a shared desire to provide a new perspective of our feathered friends. • Join artist Emily Donovan via Zoom from her backyard studio for “Perspectives of an Artist-Birder: Finding Color, Meaning &

Connection” – a demonstration of her art process using natural dye and pigment. Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. Register in advance for this webinar: z.umn.edu/6mhq “Nature: Wild and Wonderful” • June 17-Sept. 6 Be prepared for the unexpected in this nature themed exhibition! Four renowned artists – Jackson Dainty, David Lefkowitz, Eleanor McGough and Sonja Peterson – come together with wildly different styles. Each work contains a larger narrative that entices the viewer to move in closer and discover deeper intentions. Make the art galleries at the Arboretum part of every visit. All art is for sale through the Gift & Garden Store with proceeds going to fund the Arboretum and the local artist community! arb.umn.edu/art-galleries/reedy-gallery