JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update

November 2003

In This Issue

Director's Note
Developing News
Behind the Gate
This Old (Lath) House: Comings and Goings
Coming Attractions – Highlights of November
November Calendar
Benefit Providers Showcase

Director's Note

Since its renovation in 1999, the Perennial Border has come under close scrutiny to maintain accurate maps of its inventory. This is a complicated garden and the nature of the plants contained within it can make for some tricky record keeping. Some species naturally disappear while others may start their march towards taking over if not kept in check. Our Plant Recorder, Valerie Tyson, and her volunteers are responsible for periodically reviewing and checking the status of all of the Arboretum's beds. I have been working with them since early 2003 on the Perennial Border in particular, identifying plant locations, rouging out self-sowers and keeping spreaders in check. The accompanying photo shows just one of our volunteers involved in this task; John Schott works to move and remove plants to keep our maps up to date and keep the Border beautiful during its own evolution! – Bob Lyons, Director

Developing News

Special Dedication

Monday, October 6, four ladies and one gentleman drove from Hickory, North Carolina to dedicate their pocket garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum – and what a great day it was!

The Club – The Pioneer Garden Club of Hickory.
The Group – Lynn Beckom, Club President, Jim Beckom, Mae Oliver, Jan Scarborough, and Henrietta Thomas
The Winners – The Pioneer Garden Club purchased the winning ticket in the special drawing at the 2003 Gala in the Garden.

There are still many additional naming opportunities at the Arboretum, including pocket gardens like this one. Your tax-deductible contribution toward a naming opportunity is a wonderful way to support the JCRA and create a special tribute or memorial for a friend, loved one, or organization.

If you are interested in a special tribute or memorial gift, please contact Anne Porter at (919) 513-3463.

Student Interns – A Real Win-Win for Everyone!

For a minimum of $2,000.00 per year, you can sponsor a named internship – sponsored in your name, a loved one's name, or a business or organization's name. It's so easy, and what a difference your gift will make to the Arboretum! Your sponsored named internship and the year of the internship will be permanently displayed and recognized at the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center. Please call me for more information on this significant program, and how you can make a huge difference for the JCRA and in the lives of these gifted students!

If you are interested in more information on these and other giving opportunities for the JCRA, please give Anne Porter a call at (919) 513-3463 or e-mail <anne_porter@ncsu.edu>. – Anne Porter, Director of Development

Behind the Gate

There is nothing like a good challenge every once in a while to keep you on your toes. Todd made the decision to renovate the Nandina Collection, so my objective is to propagate the entire collection. The first challenge is timing – soft to semi-hard wood gives the best opportunity for rooting success. It worked out that mid to late July offered the growth stage I was looking for along with enough of this year's growth to get a sufficient number of cuttings. I was going for stem cuttings, which if you have ever really looked at a Nandina there are a lot of leaves but not much stem. Nandinas do readily root, but they are susceptible to fungal infections while in the mist bed so the cuttings were dipped in a rooting hormone and a fungicide as a precaution. So far so good. I tugged on the cuttings recently and they all have good root systems and are ready to be potted up next week. The biggest challenge is to keep over twenty-five different Nandinas from getting mixed up while taking cuttings, sticking them, potting them up, and caring for them while they grow out. Wish us luck! – Anne Calta, Horticultural Technician

This Old (Lath) House: Comings and Goings

Within the next month or so, the Lath House will undergo several changes in both plant content as well as structurally. First and foremost is the relocation of the Manglietia yunnanensis (Yunnan wood lotus) and Taxus wallichiana var. chinensis (Chinese yew). Located on the eastern side of the Lath House these two stalwarts of the Arboretum have reached "critical mass" in terms of space (or lack thereof). Rather than flip a coin to determine which specimen should be removed, it has been decided to tree spade both the Taxus and the Manglietia to locations where they can spread their wings (limbs). Chris Wilkerson of Tree Movers, Inc., located in Willow Springs, NC, will take care of the move and accompanying prep work for the move.

Additionally, many mature plants have been transplanted out from the Lath House to areas around the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center. The transplanting has created room within the Lath House which will soon house newcomers from our burgeoning nursery.

Finally, soon you may see sections of roof disappear piece by piece. Don't be alarmed, this is not the result of isolated wind storms, thievery, or very aggressive termites. This is merely the very first stage in a process to begin the long awaited renovation of the Lath House.

Keep tuned for more developments in the Lath House. – Jon Roethling, Horticultural Technician

Coming Attractions – Highlights of November

All the colors of fall right in your own backyard! It will be quite a show, with nearly 50 different cultivars of Japanese maple in the Arboretum. Fall is not only colorful leaves at the JCRA, but also stately grasses, colorful berries, and fall flowers.

November

Klein-Pringle White Garden:
Acer palmatum [Dissectum Atropurpureum Group] – red lace-leaf Japanese maple
Callicarpa japonica 'Leucocarpa' – white Japanese beautyberry
Lagerstroemiaa 'Natchez' – hybrid crepe myrtle
Lindera glauca – silver spicebush

Japanese Garden:
Acer palmatum 'Oshio beni' – scarlet Japanese maple
Lagerstroemia fauriei – Japanese crepe myrtle

Lath House:
Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset' – red lace-leaf Japanese maple
Gentiana saponaria – soapwort gentian
Rhododendron Autumn CoralT – EncoreT azalea
Rhododendron Autumn RoyaltyT – EncoreT azalea

Mixed Border:
Acer truncatum - Shantung maple
Corylopsis glabrescens var. gotoana - fragrant winterhazel
Fothergilla major 'Beaver Creek' – mountain witch-alder
Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Jelena' – copper-flowered witchhazel
Rhamnella franguloides - crow's pillow

Paradise Garden:
Gardenia augusta – Cape jasmine
Punica granatum – pomegranate
Ziziphus jujuba 'Inermis' – Chinese date

Perennial Border:
Arundo donax 'Variegata' – striped giant reed
Aster oblongifolius – aromatic aster
Chrysanthemum (Elizabeth Lawrence Pink) – garden chrysanthemum
Cortaderia selloana 'Aureolineata' – golden pampas grass
Miscanthus floridulus – giant Chinese silver grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris – Muhly grass

Other Areas of the Arboretum:
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' – purple-leaf Japanese maple – E47, E43b, J2
Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Giant' – purpleleaf Japanese barberry – E41
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Albifructus' – white beautyberry – T10
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' – purple beautyberry – E23
Ginkgo biloba 'Tschi Tschi' – maidenhair tree – W20
Ilex 'Carolina Cardinal' – hybrid winterberry holly – E43b
Nyssa sylvatica 'Dirr' – black gum – W4
Vaccinium 'John's Blue' – blueberry – T5

This show is free. We invite you to visit often. – Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist

November Calendar

Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society's 6th Annual Flower Show – November 1, 2003 (Saturday) – 11:00 AM-4:00 PM and November 2, 2003 (Sunday) – 12:00 PM-3:00 PM – Free

This event is sponsored by the Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society and is being held at the JC Raulston Arboretum in the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center.

Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – November 20, 2003 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM – Free for members, $5.00 for nonmembers

"Towards a Four Season Garden, a Look at Some of the Plants and Planting Techniques for Creating Gardens of Beauty and Interest Year Round" presented by Douglas Ruhren, Head Gardener, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Gardens never need have a down time. There are plants for all seasons as well as plants with multiple seasons of interest. Not only will specific plants be discussed but also what makes for a plant of multiple seasons of interest. In addition to plant selections there are also some planting techniques that are useful as one strives for a four season garden.

Plantsmen's Tour – November 21, 2003 (Friday) – 1:00 PM – Free

"The Perennial Border in Fall" If you think that our Perennial Border finishes as summer dims, think again! Come and join Todd Lasseigne on a tour of the magnificent JCRA Perennial Border, featuring asters, salvias, Helianthus, and a veritable host of other plants that are at their best in the autumn months.

Details for these events and all other JCRA events can be found in the "Calendar of Events" section on the JCRA Web site.

Benefit Providers Showcase

This month's featured benefits providers are: Indigo Marsh Nursery, The Last Unicorn, and Long Hill Bed and Breakfast.

In business for over 25 years and at their present location for seven years, Indigo Marsh Nursery, located in Florence, South Carolina, grew from a landscaping business that had trouble finding the type of plants they wanted for their clients. They take pride in growing unusual plants that perform well for their customers and use no growth regulators on their plants. They're located at the Pee Dee State Farmers' Market at 2153 W Lucas Street (B-6), Log Cabin or you can call them at (843) 679-0999. They give a 10% discount on regularly priced plants and gift items.

A trip to visit Gaines Steer at The Last Unicorn is a trip to a mystical lair. Five acres of trails offer surprise after surprise. Every step of the way you will encounter precious antiques or collectibles that will inspire new ideas for your home or garden. Gaines calls his collection a "well for ideas." Gaines and The Last Unicorn are located at 536 Edwards Ridge Road, next to the Governor's Club, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Visit him electronically at <www.thelastunicorn.com> or call him at (919) 968-8440. Don't miss this adventure. Gaines gives a 12.5% discount on items over $50.00 in value.

A bed and breakfast inn located on Apple Pie Ridge Road seems cozy just reading the address. Former NCSU faculty member George Kriz and his wife Rhoda opened Long Hill Bed and Breakfast upon his retirement. It's located at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley near Winchester, Virginia, and a myriad of historic sites in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Go to their Web site <www.longhillbb.com> for a virtual tour of the beautiful rooms, a list of their many amenities, and a sample breakfast menu. They're located at 536 Apple Pie Ridge Road, Winchester, Virginia. Call them at (866) 450-0341. George and Rhoda offer a 20% discount on regular bed and breakfast, subject to availability.

Remember to have your valid membership card available when you visit these businesses and be sure to add your thanks to ours for their being a part of the JCRA benefit providers! – Donna Walker, Development Associate

JC Raulston Arboretum e-Updates are published electronically every month for everyone interested in the Arboretum. Did you find this edition informative? What information would you like to see in future editions? Send Christopher Todd Glenn your suggestions. To remove yourself from this mailing, please write Christopher Todd Glenn.