MN Arboretum Newsletter Dec Jan 2013-14 by Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

d ecem b er 2 013 / j a n uary 2014

arboretum.umn.edu

Dwarf Conifer Collection Tashjian Bee Center Winter Photography

Exhibits, Classes and Winter Fun

Berens Cabin Decorated in 2012 Photo by Don Olson

Call for Entries: Minnesota Magic Arboretum members are invited to submit paintings of the beauty and majesty of Minnesota for juried exhibit in the Reedy Gallery, Jan. 17- March 31. Paintings must be original oils, watercolors, acrylics or pastels. Art must be framed with wire ready for hanging. Entries accepted by email, CDs or actual paintings to the Wilcock Gallery, with a non-refundable entry fee of $20 for the first painting and $10 for each additional painting. Open to Arboretum members only. Deadline: Dec. 2, 2013. www.arboretum.umn. edu/reedygallery.aspx

The Arboretum touches people near and far, for the enjoyment of visitors.

Saturdays & Sundays, Noon and 1:30 p.m. Take a narrated 1-hour bus tour through the Arboretum’s winter landscapes. Enjoy plant forms in winter and maybe spot some wildlife. Marvel at the Harrison Sculpture Garden at High Point as it takes on a new look with a fresh coating of snow! Tickets ($3) for the bus tours are available at the Information Desk.

d ece m ber 2013/ja n ua ry 2014 VO L 32, N O. 8 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Magazine is published seven 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. Patrick B. Petersen, Editor Judy Hohmann, Marketing & Communications Manager Tanya Kingery, True Reflection Design, Art Director Edward L. Schneider, Arboretum Director Megan Dayton, President, Board of Trustees Timothy S. Kenny, Director, Education Peter C. Moe, Director, Operations Frank J. Molek, Director, Development and Communications The Arboretum welcomes feedback from readers at arbinfo@umn.edu. The Arboretum is part of The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota. To request a copy of this publication in alternate format, please call 952-443-1438.

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Ed Schneider

Making Spirits Bright

Winter Bus Tours

A Message From the Director...

Nearby, intertwined with the early history of the Arboretum, is the historic Berens Cabin, located near the start of Three-Mile Drive. The cabin was known as ‘the ranch’ to Mary Berens, her two sisters, brother and parents, a family summer escape from their home in Excelsior. In 1958, the Berens family sold the property to what would become the Arboretum. More than 40 years later, Mary and her sister Lola contributed to a fund established by the Arboretum Auxiliary for renovation of the cabin (the Men’s and Women’s Garden Club of Minneapolis and other donors also contributed). Mary’s estate created an endowment for the cabin and recently, her estate (she died in 2007) distributed final funds for maintenance. From afar, a Minnesota pine tree and two magnolia trees were planted in honor of the Arboretum at the University of Tver botanic garden, located north of Moscow, Russia. As a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the Arboretum has assisted Tver botanic garden through shared horticultural research, conservation practices and community outreach. May the beauty and wonder of the Arboretum touch your family this holiday.

Table of Contents... Oaks/Winter Photos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Travel/Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Feature/Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Calendar at a Glance. . . . . . . . . . . 8-11

Dwarf Conifers/Wreaths . . . . . . . . . . 5

Art/Save the Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Making Spirits Bright . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

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On the Cover: 2012 Arboretum Poinsettia Tree Photo by Don Olson

Arboretum Oak in Winter Photo by Chris Hall

Photo by Bronwyn, Dreamstime.com

The Mighty Oak Matt Schuth Naturalist The silence of a woodland trail in winter is often broken by the lonesome stirring of red oak leaves tenaciously clinging to their branches. Though the leaves have lost their green hues of summer and have turned a faded brown, they hang on in a futile effort to defy old age and the bone-chilling gales of Father Frost. Unlike most tree leaves, red oak leaves lack an abscission layer (meaning “to cut from” in Latin) of cells which separates and releases the leaf stem from the branch. Red oak leaves are sharp-pointed, distinguishing them from round lobed white oak leaves. Acorns of red oaks mature in two years while white oak acorns mature in one year. Red oak acorns have a higher tannin content and are more bitter than white oaks, and need to be buried in the fall to effectively sprout in the spring. Gray squirrels tend to bury red oak acorns and eat white oak acorns, and along with blue jays, play a key role in the propagation and spreading of oak forests. Only red oaks are susceptible to oak wilt.

Photographing in Winter Light Photo by Gayle Fleming

A few oak facts: About half of the hardwood lumber produced in the U.S. is from oaks. Leonardo DaVinci's drawings were done in ink extracted from oak galls. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his music with oak ink and the founding fathers used oak ink to draft the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And did you know, in English history, commoners were taxed based on how many pigs their acorn crop could feed? The Arboretum is a wonderful place to enjoy the sounds of falling acorns and rustling leaves as the seasons pass. Read more: “Oak” – how the oak tree has played an important role in human history. Peter Young, $27, and “Oak” – one artist’s interpretation of the same 250-yearold oak tree with 50 paintings completed in a three-year time-frame. Stephen Taylor, $29.95 – both available in the Gift Store (952-443-1439).

Make Photographic Magic with Nature’s Winter Light Hoar frost, a silver moon, deep shadows on fresh snow, and the crisply invigorating winter air... Minnesota nature photographers treasure the cool light and rich palette of the winter season. Esteemed Arboretum photography instructor John Pennoyer (www.impressionsofnature.net) will share his passion for nature through a popular hands-on Arboretum workshop “Winter Light: Photographing Winter Wonders.” Be prepared for and inspired by nature in winter and learn how to create masterpieces of its frozen beauty. Winter Light: Photographing Winter Wonders, Saturday, January 11 or Saturday February 1, 1-6 p.m. Fee per class: $70 members/$85 non-member, includes Arboretum admission. To register: www.arboretum.umn.edu/photographyclasses.aspx

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arboretum magazine

Joe Tashjian as a Child

Marla Spivak

Tashjian Bee Center at the Arboretum Alice Tashjian grew up in her father’s garden in upstate New York, with wonderful memories of watching the gentle bees dance as they pollinated flowers. Years later, when she and her husband Harry moved their family to Minnesota, she vowed to raise her own children in a backyard filled with flowers. Son Joe Tashjian remembers tending his mother’s three formal gardens, a rock garden and one with wildflowers, attracting hummingbirds, cardinals and insects, especially honeybees. Years later, when the Tashjians learned of the crisis facing honeybees, their passion for gardens blossomed into a generous gift to the Arboretum to establish an outreach center about bees. Alice became concerned after hearing about the crisis while attending an Arboretum workshop facilitated by U of M honeybee expert Marla Spivak. Professional beekeepers across the country are worried about the mysterious demise of entire colonies of bees. Why they are disappearing is still being investigated, but one fact is certain: a threat to honeybees is a threat to fully one-third of the world’s food supply.

After Harry passed away, Alice and Joe decided to honor his memory with a transformative ($2 million) gift to establish the Tashjian Bee Center at the Arboretum. Joe, now in his second year as a member of the Arboretum Foundation’s board of trustees, states. “We hope the Center will raise awareness and support of Marla’s research. Dad would have loved it.” “What an important role the bee center will play in telling the story of bees and their place in nature,” said Arboretum Director Dr. Ed Schneider. “Its location near the iconic Red Barn will make that area accessible to visitors. The Tashjians’ generous support is a marvelous expression of their love of gardens and learning.” The bee center opening is planned for 2015. Alice added. “We want future generations to understand the importance of bees, and find ways to protect them. We want to make a difference.” Except from Legacy magazine article by Mary Winstead, University of Minnesota Foundation.

Gift of membership Share your love of the Arboretum with family and friends! Give the gift of membership this holiday season. A beautiful 2014 Arboretum calendar is yours free when you upgrade your current membership or purchase a new or gift membership. The images highlight stunning close-ups of Arboretum flowers taken by the Arboretum Photographers Society. PLUS, each membership purchase comes with 2 free VIP Arboretum admission passes (a $24 value) you can give as a holiday gift. Stop at the Membership Desk, call 952-443-1440 or visit us online at www.arboretum.umn.edu/join.aspx to take advantage of this offer before it ends on December 31, 2013.

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Conifer with Snow Photo by Vasic, Dreamstime.com

Arboretum Dwarf Conifers

The Seventh in a Continuing Series on Tree and Shrub Collections at the Arboretum Jeffrey Louis Johnson Woody Plants Specialist Few spots in the Arboretum are as beautiful year round as the northwoods setting of waterfalls surrounded by conifers that make-up the Dwarf Conifer Collection. It is spectacular in variety of colors, textures, shapes, sizes; weeping, tightly pyramidal, mounded and spreading. Conifers are cone-bearing seed plants. In fact, conifer literally means ‘cone bearing.’ With few exceptions, conifers are evergreen in our climate. Those exceptions are Larch, Dawn Redwood and Bald Cypress. “Dwarf” is a relative term. Most conifers naturally grow to enormous mature specimens. That may be fine for a place like the Arboretum, but many homeowners desire unusual and small statured plants. Therefore, horticulturists select mutations (“sports”) and propagate them vegetatively (clone). These are grafted onto a compatible rootstock. The cultivars are then grown into specimens that are smaller and more manageable for smaller spaces.

Wreath-Making

Some visitor favorites at the Arboretum are Tsuga canadensis ‘Moon Frost’- Hemlock – a soft needled evergreen with flat needles and light green to almost white new growth during the summer. Larix laricina ‘Deborah Waxman’- Larch is an 8' deciduous conifer (loses its needles in winter), very similar to its full-size cousin. Picea omorika ‘Pendula Bruns’- Serbian Spruce, is a twisting, narrow-growing specimen right out of a popular children’s book. There are many other Dwarf Conifers in the collection that may tickle your fancy. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Explore the Dwarf Conifers Collection and the large waterfalls, top and bottom, for respite, learning, and temptation. Read more: “Conifers of the World” – comprehensive book describes all true conifers, including 545 species of trees and shrubs. James E Eckenwalder, $59.95 – available in the Gift Store (952-443-1439).

Create your own holiday wreath Dramatic honeysuckle vine, aromatic cedar, dark feather-leaf myrtle, and tiny spruce cones are the inspiration behind the new “Make a Holiday Wreath” workshop led by acclaimed floral design artist Ashley Fox (www.ashleyfoxdesigns.com). This make-and-take class includes everything you will need to create a stunningly unique wreath that is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. Perfect for a gift (with a florist value of $100) or to decorate your door, you’ll also learn design principles and shortcuts that you can use at home to create additional welcoming wonders for your holiday season. Make a Holiday Wreath, Saturday, December 14, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Fee $68 member/$84 non-member, includes Arboretum admission. To register: www.arboretum.umn.edu/artsclasses.aspx

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’Tis the season for celebrating the serenity of winter beauty, the fun of gatherings with family and friends, holiday music and mirthful merriment! Make the Arboretum your holiday home away from home! Festivities run Nov. 29 - Jan. 5. Here’s a glimpse at our Making Spirits Bright offerings:

Poinsettia Tree Nov. 29-Jan. 5 • Great Hall Returning for a second year, this stunning “tree” comprising hundreds of live poinsettias – this year in brilliant white.

Shop Local This Holiday Season Arboretum Gift Store Check out the Gift Store selection, including many one-of-a-kind items and a tasty assortment of food products. Special events: Samplings on Saturdays from 1-3 p.m., featuring Kettle Creek Kitchens (Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Dec. 21), Ames Honey (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 21) and more. Also, “Meet the Authors” book-signings: Chef and food writer Beth Dooley, Dec. 1, 1-3 p.m., and Jim Gilbert, naturalist, Dec. 8, 2-4 p.m.

Holiday Storytimes at the Trees

Holiday Teas Dec. 4-22, 26-30, 2:30-4 p.m., Tea Room • Snyder Bldg. Enjoy a traditional tea of sweets, savories and English trifle, plus freshly baked scones, in the charming ambiance of the historic Tea Room. $26 member/$29 non-member, Reserve at www.arboretum.umn.edu/teatime.aspx or call (612) 626-3951.

Weekends through Dec. 30, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. • Great Hall Bring the kids for a special storytime surrounded beautiful by holiday decor!

Double Discount Days Friday, Nov. 29-Sunday, Dec. 8 • Arboretum Gift Store Arboretum members qualify for a 20 percent discount on all regularly priced merchandise (double the usual member discount). Just show your member card at the cash register. Holiday books galore! The gift store has a huge selection for both children and adults. (952-443-1439).

Auxiliary Sale by Ann Dryer

Auxiliary Holiday Sale Friday & Saturday, Dec 6 & 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. • Snyder Building Handcrafted holiday wreaths, tree ornaments, table centerpieces and decor, all created by talented members of the Arboretum Auxiliary. Includes handmade textile accessories, potpourri and fresh greens! All proceeds benefit the Arboretum.

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Choir by Mark Weber

Holiday Music Performances Enjoy live musical performances of holiday favorites by talented local choirs, instrumental groups and more! Scheduled are... • Saturday, Nov. 30: Dragonfly, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Minnesota Chorale, 1:30-3 p.m. • Sunday, Dec. 1: Minnetonka Chamber Choir, 11 a.m. & noon; Celebration Brass, 1:30-3 p.m. • Saturday, Dec. 14: Minnetonka Choral Society, 11 a.m. & noon; 34th Annual Messiah Sing-Along, with Minnetonka Association of Music, 2-4 p.m. • Sunday, Dec. 15: F Sharp, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; OVation, 1:30-3 p.m. • Saturday, Dec. 21: Grant Piano Studio, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Minnesota Chorale, 1:30-3 p.m. (All performances are free with gate admission.) Sponsored by:

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{ activities }

A Holiday Affair

Gourmet Dinners

Thursday, Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. • Oswald Visitor Center

Friday, Dec. 13, and Friday, Jan. 10, at 6:30 p.m., $70 member/$75 non-member

Find unique gifts galore, stop by the demonstration tables for the latest holiday decor ideas while enjoying the ambiance of the holiday scenery and music by Jazziblu. Try wine tastings from local wineries, marvel at the “tablescapes” by local craft designers and stores, be inspired by seasonal greenery artistry for your home, and then shop till you drop! Swag bags with valuable offers for all who attend. $15, cash bar and refreshments. Presented by Savvy Magazine and the Arboretum.

Weekend Family Fun Noon-4 p.m. (drop-in basis), every Saturday & Sunday, Free with gate admission • Learning Center In November, learn all about “Prehistoric Plants” and what the dinosaurs munched on! Pot an ancient plant to take home with you! December‘s theme is “Gifts from the Bees.” Learn about life in the hive, look at pollen up-close and “buzz” through the greenhouse in search of flowers! Sample comb honey and make your own beeswax lip balm to take home. For January, it’s “Cozy up to a Cactus.” Escape from winter for a desert adventure in our warm greenhouse. Munch on edible cactus and savor sweet agave syrup!

Minnesota Herb Society Holiday Sale Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 7-8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday • Oswald Visitor Center Balcony Shop for handmade herbal gifts—from potpourri to lotion—created by the MN Herb Society.

Photos with Santa Saturdays, Dec. 7, 14 & 21 (10 a.m-5 p.m.); and Thursdays, Dec. 12 & 19 (4-7 p.m.) • Oswald Visitor Center Visit and have photos taken with the Jolly Old Elf! The photo sessions on Thursdays only are open to all family members – pets included! (Please allow for occasional break times for Santa – they will be posted!) Photo pricing starts at $5 with you own framed photo. Sponsored by:

Celebrate the holidays with family and friends at these exquisite multicourse gourmet dinners, with wine pairings, prepared by our Arboretum Catering professional chefs and served in the charming Arboretum setting. For reservations, call 612-626-3951 or visit www.arboretum.umn.edu/finedining.aspx

“How to” Decorating Demos – Ice Decor & Natural Ornaments! Ice Decorating: Saturday, Dec. 14 Natural Ornaments: Sunday, Dec. 15 Times: 10-10:30 a.m. & 1-1:30 p.m. • Oswald Visitor Center Learn to dazzle the neighborhood with these latest decorating trends! All ages. Free with gate admission. Hoigaard’s by Mark MacLennan

Arboretum Outdoors! With Hoigaard’s Friday, Dec. 27, 11 a.m., 12:30 & 2 p.m. • Oswald Visitor Center Try out snowshoes on guided treks with Arboretum staff. The pros from Hoigaard’s will help fit you with snowshoes and poles. Equipment compliments of Hoigaard’s (sizes limited). Free with gate admission. Rentals available at Arboretum Info Desk. Walk in Winter by Karen Blenker

Ar-BRR-etum! Tuesday, Dec. 31, All Day Free admission to cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Bring your own gear (snowshoe rentals in Visitor Center) and hit the trails with a ‘self-guided’ adventure for the whole family. Hot chocolate available in Restaurant.

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calendar-at-a W inter Progr a ms & Ev ents... Sunday, Dec. 1 Making Spirits Bright Season Through Jan. 5, free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center Enjoy a season brimming with merriment, music and make-believe. Walk down the magical indoor woodland path to see ornaments and other holiday décor with a nature-based theme! Catch live music and visits with Santa on weekends (see details on weekend calendar dates).

Arboretum Travel with Peter Olin, Arboretum Director Emeritus Reserve now for these upcoming trips in 2014: Darwin’s Galapagos Islands & Ecuador: Feb. 27 – Mar. 11. Ecuador, Quito, Mindo & Bellavista Cloudforest, Octavio and the fabulous Galapagos.

Double Discount Days 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, Nov. 29 - Dec. 8, Gift Store (See Page 6-7)

Magnificent India: Gardens, History, Culture: Oct. 17 – Nov. 1. Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Jaipur (Pink City), Jodhpur (Blue City), Udaipur (City of Lakes), Mumbai (hanging gardens, Elephanta Caves). Contact Peter Olin at 952-443-1412 or olinx002@umn.edu or visit our website www.arboretum.umn.edu/travel.aspx.

Artist Lauri Rockne will lead a hands-on program and give a talk, Capturing Plant Energy with My Nature Print Process, for the Friends of Andersen Horticultural Library meeting, Monday, January 27, 1-2:30 p.m. To become a “Friend of AHL” – join for only $15/yr – at: www.arboretum.umn.edu/ friendsofthelibrary.aspx Interested in nature printing? Don't miss the Library’s exhibit Impressions of Nature, featuring both vintage and modern examples, on display through March 31.

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Storytime at the Trees 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. weekends, Oswald Visitor Center (See Page 6-7) Live Music! Minnetonka Chamber Choir 11-11:30 a.m. & noon-12:30 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center Live Music! Celebration Brass 1:30-3 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center BOOK-SIGNING – with Chef Beth Dooley 1-3 p.m., Gift Store

Wednesday, Dec. 4 Holiday Tea 2:30-4 p.m., Tea Room, Snyder Bldg. (See Page 6-7)

Thursday, Dec. 5

Friends of the AHL Event

Winter Bus Tours Noon & 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through April 27, $3, Oswald Visitor Center A Winter Wonders Bus Tour will explore plants in winter form, winter wildlife and the new Sculpture Garden. Tickets are for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. We regret the Arboretum bus lacks a chair lift; winter tours are not currently wheelchair accessible.

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A Holiday Affair 6-9 p.m., $15 at the door, Oswald Visitor Center Find unique gifts galore and enjoy live demos while taking in the ambiance of holiday scenery and music. Swag bags for all who attend with valuable offers, plus an opportunity to win door prizes. Cash bar and refreshments. Presented with Savvy Magazine. StoryTime at the Library 10:30-11 a.m., free with gate admission, Andersen Horticultural Library Stories for the young and young at heart. Geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Friday, Dec. 6 Auxiliary Holiday Sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Snyder Building (See Page 6-7) Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

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To Register for Classes: call 952-443-1422 or visit arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx

Saturday, Dec. 7

Storytime at the Trees (See Page 6-7)

Weekend Family Fun: Gifts from the Bees Noon-4 p.m. (drop in), Learning Center (See Page 6-7)

APS & STUDENT ART & PHOTOGRAPHY SALE (See Dec. 7)

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Minnesota Silk Moths and Butterflies Portraiture with Mixed Media (100-12-07-13) 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $95/$110, Learning Center Relieve mid-winter blues while learning about butterflies and silk moths native to Minnesota. Combine watercolor and colored pencil to bring a variety of color and textural interest to these subjects. Work at your own pace, with individualized instructor attention. Taught by Carlyn Iverson. Saturday in the Kitchen: Recharge...Renew...Relax— A Morning Just for You! (800-12-07-13) 9-11 a.m., $35/$45, Learning Center Join Kris James, accomplished cooking instructor, caterer and owner of Artful Brew Tea, for a morning of pampering. Sip custom tea blends, enjoy a guided meditation, create a skin-nourishing mask and boost your mood with chocolate. Minnesota Herb Society Holiday Sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center Balcony (See Page 6-7) Photos with Santa! 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center Please note: Santa will need to go out to feed his reindeer and check his Naughty & Nice list periodically, so there will be posted break times throughout the day. Photo pricing starts at $5 with you own framed photo. APS & STUDENT ART & PHOTOGRAPHY SALE 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium Shop for handcrafted greeting cards, original artworks in watercolor, oil and pastels and photographs—framed or unframed—created by students in Arboretum adult art classes and members of the Arboretum Photographers Society.

Storytime at the Trees (See Page 6-7) Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Sunday, Dec. 8 Yoga in the Gardens Noon, free with gate admission, Fireplace Room, Snyder Bldg. Get your Zen on while enjoying yoga at the Arboretum. Sponsored by Life Time Fitness. Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/yoga.aspx or call (952)443-1440.

Auxiliary Holiday Sale 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (See Page 6-7) Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Above photo by Don Olson

Monday, Dec. 9 Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Tuesday, Dec. 10 Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Wednesday, Dec. 11 Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Thursday, Dec. 12 4x4 Culinary Minnesota Wine Series: Winter Magic (800-12-12-13) 6:30-8:30 p.m., $55/$65, Learning Center Accomplished chef and Byerly’s culinary instructor Joan Donatelle will select her favorite four Minnesota wines and create a four-course meal to pair them with. Wine experts will also be on hand to discuss Minnesota’s growing wine industry. See website for menu. Photos with Santa at the Poinsettia Tree 4-7 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center This special photo session is open to all family members, pets included! Bring your family pet along for a photo with you and Santa or just your pet and Santa. Photo pricing starts at $5 with you own framed photo. Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7) StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5)

Friday, Dec. 13 Green Grocery Home School Days (965-12-13-13) 12:15-2:15 p.m., $8/$10, Learning Center Suggested ages: 1st-2nd grade. Includes adult admission for home school educator. Investigate the sources of Hershey bars, bananas, Wheaties and pizza. Make and taste a delicious snack with green garlic in the Harvest Kitchen. Plant your own garlic to take home.

Auxiliary Holiday Sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (See Page 6-7)

Minnesota Herb Society Holiday Sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (See Page 6-7)

BOOK-SIGNING – with Naturalist Jim Gilbert 2-4 p.m., Gift Store

Holiday Gourmet Dinner 6:30 p.m., $70 member/$75 non-member, Snyder Building Enjoy a delicious four-course holiday gourmet dinner with wine pairings. Call (612)626-3951 for reservations and information. Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Saturday, Dec. 14 Flower Arranging: Make a Holiday Wreath (100-12-14-13) 9:30 a.m.-Noon, $68/$84, Learning Center Acclaimed floral designer Ashley Fox will show you how to create a whimsical wreath with a florist value of $100 that will last through the holiday season. You will be dazzled by what you create. All materials provided.

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calendar-at-a Holiday Photography – Up Close and Personal MACRO WORKSHOP (750-12-14-13) 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $85/$100 , Learning Center John Pennoyer instructs on ways to capture winter subjects as well as greenhouse blooming exotics. Winter Decorations How-To Demonstration: Outdoor Decorating with Ice! 10-10:30 a.m. & 1-1:30 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center

Saturday, Dec. 21 Live Music! Grant Piano Studio 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium (Please note that this group may not perform solely holiday music) Live Music! Minnesota Chorale 1:30-3 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Live Music! Minnetonka Choral Society 11-11:30 a.m. and noon-12:30 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center

Photos with Santa! (See Dec. 7)

Live Music! 34th Annual Messiah Sing-Along 2-4 p.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium Featuring the Minnetonka Chamber Orchestra.

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7) Photos with Santa! (See Dec. 7)

Storytime at the Trees (See Page 6-7)

Sunday, Dec. 22 Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7) Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Storytime at the Trees (See Page 6-7)

Thursday, Dec. 26

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Sunday, Dec. 15

StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5)

Winter Decorations How-To Demonstration: Make your own Natural Ornaments 10-10:30 a.m. & 1-1:30 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center Live Music! F Sharp 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center Live Music! OVation 1:30-3 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center (Please note that this group may not perform solely holiday music)

Friday, Dec. 27 Arboretum Outdoors! with Hoigaard’s 11 a.m., 12:30 & 2 p.m., free with gate admission, Oswald Visitor Center (See Page 6-7) Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Saturday, Dec. 28

Storytime at the Trees (See Dec. 1)

Hot Chocolate Walk! (960-12-28-13) 10 a.m.-Noon, $10/$25, Oswald Visitors Center Join acclaimed naturalist Matt Schuth for a show-and-tell about some of the Arb’s collections, then head out to the wildflower garden and learn to track animals and identify trees and plants in winter.

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Monday, Dec. 16

Storytime at the Trees (See Dec. 1)

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Sunday, Dec. 29

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Wednesday, Dec. 18

Storytime at the Trees (See Dec. 1)

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Thursday, Dec. 19 Photos with Santa at the Poinsettia TREE (See Dec. 12) StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5) Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

Friday, Dec. 20

Ar-BRR-etum! All day, Arboretum grounds Close out 2013 with a refreshing winter outing on skis or snowshoes. Cap it off with a hot chocolate in the Restaurant. Free admission for cross-country skiers (must bring own skis) or snowshoers (snowshoes available for rent).

Holiday Tea (See Page 6-7)

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Above photo by Don Olson

To Register for Classes: call 952-443-1422 or visit arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx

Thursday, Jan. 2

Thursday, Jan. 16

StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5)

Saturday, Jan. 4

Friday, Jan. 17

Weekend Family Fun: Cozy up to a Cactus Noon-4 p.m. (drop-in), Learning Center (See Page 6-7)

Yoga in the Gardens (See Dec. 8)

Days of the Dinosaurs Home School Day (965-01-17-14) 12:30-2 p.m., $8/$10, Learning Center Suggested ages: 2nd-5th grade. Includes adult admission for home school educator and all materials. Study ferns, horsetails cycads, and conifers to see the distant relatives of plants that were on the plant-eating dinosaurs’ menu.

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Saturday, January 18

Thursday, Jan. 9

Grow Lights: Jump Start Your Gardening! (150-01-18-14-01) 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $38/$50 or bundle with afternoon class for $60/$85, Learning Center Learn how to use a simple, bookcase-sized grow light structure to produce a year-round source of herbs and salad greens. Expert horticulturalist and Arboretum Director of Education Tim Kenny will provide his favorite lighting design, materials and plants, and the potential cost savings over the same store-bought items.

Sunday, Jan. 5

4x4 Culinary Minnesota Wine Series: Ringing In the New Year (800-01-09-14) Featuring Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, chef, entrepreneur and Award-winning author of “Amalia’s Guatemalan Kitchen-Gourmet Cuisine With A Cultural Flair.” (See website for menu and additional details) StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5)

Friday, Jan. 10 Gourmet New Year’s Dinner 6:30 p.m., $70 member/$75 non-member, Snyder Building Start the New Year off right! Enjoy a multi-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings. Call (612)626-3951 for reservations and information. Registration required.

It’s in the Bag! Creating Your Pop-Up Garden of Edibles (150-01-18-14) 1-3:30 p.m., $38/$50 or bundle with morning class for $60/$85, Learning Center The “garden-in-a-bag” approach brings the joy of growing plants to countless settings, from a balcony to a schoolyard. Expert horticulturalist Tim Kenny provides the essentials of pop-up gardening, reveals his favorite plants to grow, and shares recipes. Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Saturday, Jan. 11 Winter Light: Photographing Winter Wonders (750-01-11-14) 1-6 p.m., $70/$85, Learning Center Capture the winter landscape and a full moon rise with accomplished photographer John Pennoyer. Learn all aspects of winter photography: protecting yourself and your gear from the elements, winter light and correct exposure, and shooting in very cold weather. Keeping Chickens: The Chicken AND the Egg! (150-01-11-14) 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $40/$55, Learning Center Bring this fascinating aspect of urban agriculture to your home with guidance from long-term chicken keeper and Arboretum Animal Assisted Interaction Specialist Tanya Bailey. Get information on breeds, shelters, obtaining chicks, illness, injury and backyard safety. Learn best watering, feeding and care practices.

Sunday, Jan. 19 Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Thursday, Jan. 23 StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5)

Saturday, Jan. 25 The Science of Gardening: Plants from Plants— Seeds (150-01-25-14) 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $38/$50 or bundle all four, including Saturdays Feb. 1, 8 & 15 for $125/$172, Learning Center Understand the biology of seeds, germination techniques, scarification, stratification and more. Work with experienced horticulturist Jim Calkins, an acclaimed expert in propagation, to de-mystify how to use seeds to grow your plants.

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Sunday, Jan. 12

Sunday, Jan. 26

Weekend Family Fun (See Page 6-7)

Thursday, Jan. 30 StoryTime at the Library (See Dec. 5)

december 2013/january 2014

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arboretum magazine

Telephone Directory... General Information . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1400 Andersen Horticultural Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1405 Auxiliary Event & Membership Info. . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9865

3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613

A publication for members and friends of the Arboretum ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Ski Trail Conditions. . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9793 Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1432 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1422 Gift Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1439 Facility Rentals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1411 Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1440 Memorials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1432 Volunteering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1437 Yard & Garden Help Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-1426 or www.extension.umn.edu Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-443-2521 “Follow” us at www.twitter.com/mnarboretum “Like” us at www.facebook.com/mnarboretum

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Hours... Grounds open 8 a.m.-sunset daily.

Art at the Arboretum

Holiday Hours:

Restaurant Gallery

Closed Nov. 28 Closed 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 Closed Dec. 25 Oswald Visitor Center NOVEMBER-March Hours:

Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Gift Store Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Restaurant

The Science of Beauty in the Gardens • Three Botanical Artists • Nov. 5-Jan. 5 7th Annual Arboretum Photographers Society Show & Sale “Best of the Arboretum” • Through the lens of the Arboretum Photographers Society • Jan. 8-April 4

Reedy Gallery Colors of the Season • 20 Artists • Nov. 1-Jan. 17 Minnesota Magic • Artistry of Arboretum Members • Juried Exhibit and Sale: Jan. 17-March 31

LIBRARY Impressions of Nature • 3 Artists • Through March 31

save the date

Mon.-Sat.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday Brunch 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Orchid Tree Exhibit • January 11-February 14, Oswald Visitor Center Experience a touch of the tropics at the Arboretum. Includes rare and common varieties. Free with gate admission.

Andersen

Member Appreciation Event • Saturday, February 15

Horticultural Library (Snyder Building) Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Closed Nov. 28-29, Dec. 23-25, Jan. 1, 20) Admission Fee Visitors: $12 for ages 13 and up Members: Free Children 12 & under: Free Arboretum memberships start at $49 Thursday Admission Free admission all day Thursdays Nov.-March

Tiny Treasures – Fairies & Gnomes at the Arboretum February 22-March 23, Oswald Visitor Center, Great Hall Catch this whimsical display of miniature gardens and the fairies, sprites and gnomes that inhabit them. Mill City Farmers Market • March 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Arboretum’s Great Hall will be transformed into a bustling marketplace of locally produced, quality food items. Shop for everything from pickles and artisan cheeses to freshly milled grains and flours. Typically located in the Mill City Museum train shed and on the Chicago Mall next to the Guthrie Theater and Spoonriver Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, the market is making its third appearance at the Arb!