JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
March 2006
In This Issue
Director's Note
I am excited to announce
that the JCRA is in the preliminary phase of developing a "Grassroots
Conceptual Master Plan" that will address immediate and future physical
improvements to the gardens and grounds consistent with the Arboretum's mission
of research, education, outreach, and environmental sustainability. The Master
Plan will be developed through a process of participatory design initially open
to all staff, volunteers, members, Horticultural Science faculty, and other
interested members of the design community. Landscape designers Suzanne Edney
and Harriet Bellerjeau (ASLA/HTM) will be coordinating the process. I would
like to invite you to participate in our first meeting where Suzanne and Harriet
will discuss the "Grassroots" process and time frame for designing
the Master Plan.
Meeting Dates
March 29, 2006 (Wednesday)
– 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
or
April 1, 2006 (Saturday) – 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Please e-mail me at <dennis_werner@ncsu.edu> if you plan to attend one
of these meetings. If you are unable to attend but still wish to be a part of
the process, please inform me. The JCRA has been shaped by your dedication and
experiences. I am looking forward to your most valued ideas and concepts regarding
a new Master Plan for the future. – Denny Werner, Director
Gala in the Garden
| Sponsors (as of February 23, 2006) Diamond Sponsor North Carolina Association of Nurserymen Platinum Sponsors Pender Nursery Mary Ann and Greg Poole Silver Sponsors Carroll's Plant Center, Inc. Century Framing Ltd. Becky and John Logan Taylor's Nursery, Inc. Bronze Sponsors C.T. Wilson Construction Company, Inc. Golden Corral Corporation Anne M. Porter Leon and Mildred Simon Georgina and Dennis Werner |
Celebrating the JC Raulston Arboretum's 30th Anniversary
May 7, 2006 (Sunday) – 3:00 PM-7:00 PM – $55.00
Join us for a delightful spring afternoon with cocktails, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, live music, and a silent auction featuring a plethora of unique plants and an eclectic array of many other distinctive items.
Schedule of Events
3:00 PM-6:00 PM – Cocktail
party and silent auction in the Garden
6:00 PM-7:00 PM – Dessert social in the York Auditorium and special 30th anniversary
presentation
7:00 PM – Silent auction check-out
Look for more silent and live auction information over the next weeks. If you wish to donate a tax-deductible item for the Gala or becoming a corporate sponsor, please call Anne Porter at (919) 513-3463. – Anne M. Porter, Director of Development
Coming Attractions – Highlights of March
Take
heart! Spring is nearly here. What a great year this has been so far, especially
for marking the 30th anniversary of the Arboretum. We hope you have been enjoying
this mild winter season weather as much as the plants at the Arboretum have.
The season is several weeks ahead of what you might typically expect in Raleigh
for this time of year, so be sure to visit soon. You can also take a peek at
the photographs of the JCRA by visiting "Now
Showing."
In March, we eagerly greet many familiar favorites such as forsythia, Japanese camellia, primrose, loropetalum, spirea, quince, and a multitude of early spring bulbs. Discover over 200 different kinds of Narcissus planted at the Arboretum and the sweet fragrance of winter daphne in the air.
No, it's not too early for magnolias either. The Magnolia Collection begins its show in late February with the early-flowering magnolias, including the star magnolias (Magnolia stellata 'Chrysanthemiflora', 'Jane Platt', and 'Waterlily') and Loebner magnolias (Magnolia ×loebneri 'Leonard Messel' and 'Merrill'). Later in March, most of the collection will be in flower. Walk to the far east end of the Arboretum to enjoy the display.
In the Lath
House, look for the graceful clusters of flowers hanging from the Japanese
andromedas (Pieris japonica 'Valley Valentine', 'Tilford', and 'Scarlett
O'Hara') and azaleas starting to bloom. The golden flowers of fragrant winterhazel
(Corylopsis glabrescens var. gotoana) will pleasantly appear
in the Mixed
Border and the Winter
Garden. Lilacs of the South will begin by the end of the month with the
Korean early lilac (Syringa oblata subsp. dilatata) in full
flower.
Redbuds (Cercis) should be starting their show by mid-March, and the
redbud collection at the Arboretum is among the best to be found anywhere. You'll
enjoy the bright purplish-pink flowers, especially those of the lovely Mexican
redbud (Cercis canadensis subsp. mexicana) growing at the
far east end of Mixed
Border, and the popular weeping Texas redbud (Cercis canadensis subsp. texensis 'Traveller') located near The Necessary and near the District
X Garden Club of North Carolina Wall Garden sidewalk. In the Klein-Pringle
White Garden, watch for the white-flowered redbud (C. canadensis 'Alba') later in the month.
This show is free. We invite you to visit often. – Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
March Calendar
Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – March 2, 2006 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM – Free for members, $5.00 for nonmembers
"Looking for Linnaea: Geographic Stories in the Flora of North Carolina" presented by Peter White, Ph.D., Director, North Carolina Botanical Garden. – North Carolina and the Southeast harbor an amazing plant diversity. We have the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi, with some rarities found far to the north around Hudson's Bay. The coastal plain has the most northerly ranging palms and epiphytic orchids, both showing tropical to subtropical affinities. But our plant diversity is more than just the range of environments between the mountains and the coast – our landscape differs from more northern places because of the high numbers of very localized species – Venus fly trap, Oconee bells, Carolina hemlock, pinkshell azalea, and many other species are narrow endemics (species with very narrow world ranges). We will explore the patterns and causes of diversity in the Southeast and also take a side trip to similar environments in east Asia to examine global patterns in temperate zone plant diversity.
Day Tripping to White Pines Nature Preserve – March 4, 2006 (Saturday) – 12:00 PM-4:30 PM – $25.00 for members and $30.00 for nonmembers
Join us on our day trip to White Pines Nature Preserve, the Triangle Land Conservancy's flagship property. Located at the confluence of the Deep and Rocky rivers, White Pines Nature Preserve is a great place to enjoy nature. The preserve supports several stands of white pines, a tree that is normally found in the cooler mountain region of North Carolina. Many other plants more commonly seen in the mountains including Catawba rhododendron and mountain laurel grow at White Pines, too. Benson Kirkman and Jesse Perry will lead us on special tours highlighting the natural beauty and the plants of White Pines. Part of the proceeds for this trip will be donated to the Triangle Land Conservancy.
Guided Tours – March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2006 (Sundays) – 2:00 PM – Free
We invite you to join us for free guided tours through the Arboretum. Learn about the Arboretum's history, plants, and more. Tours are available to the public free of charge every Sunday* at 2:00 PM from March-October. Tours are led by a dedicated group of volunteers and last approximately one hour (rain or shine). *No tours on May 7, 2006 or October 8, 2006.
Camellia Display and Floral Design Show at the JCRA – March 11, 2006 (Saturday) – Free
The Triangle Camellia Society, the Raleigh Garden Club, and the JC Raulston Arboretum invite you to bring your biggest, best, and most beautiful camellia blooms to enter for display, one bloom to a stem. Members of the Triangle Camellia Society will be available to help you to identify those unknown camellias that you have growing in your yard. Don't forget to vote for your favorite bloom! Door prizes will be awarded after the seminar.
Schedule of Events
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Blossoms accepted for show
11:00 AM-12:00 PM – Camellia tour at the JCRA with Dick Pearson
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Outstanding camellia plants available for purchase
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Camellia display and floral design show
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Seminar on camellias
Hypertufa Workshops – March 11, 2006 (Saturday) – 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and March 11, 2006 (Saturday) – 1:00 PM-4:00 PM – $30.00 (members only).
Registration for these workshops is closed.
Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – March 16, 2006 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM – Free for members, $5.00 for nonmembers
"Blueberries for the Home Garden" presented by James Ballington, Professor, NC State University – James Ballington is a leading authority on the genus Vaccinium, and has been involved in blueberry breeding for over thirty years. Jim will discuss the dual fruiting and ornamental usage of this versatile fruit in the home garden. He will also address the culture and management of blueberries in the home garden, and share his recommendations on the best varieties to grow. Join us to learn about how easy it is to grow and enjoy this incredibly healthful fruit in your home garden.
News and Observer Birdhouse Competition at the JC Raulston Arboretum – March 24, 25, and 26, 2006 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) – Free
Schedule of Events
March 24, 2006 (Friday)
7:30 AM PM-7:00 PM – Registration of entries. No birdhouse entries will be accepted after 7:00 PM.
7:30 PM – Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – "First in Flight: Birds and Butterflies of the Outer Banks" by Jeffrey S. Pippen, Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North CarolinaMarch 25, 2006 (Saturday)
8:00 AM-11:00 AM – Judging begins promptly and should take one to three hours to complete. Winners will be announced upon completion of judging and in the News and Observer.
11:00 AM-5:00 PM – Entries on display.
10:00 AM – Tours of the JCRA highlighting plants that attract birds.
2:00 PM – Tours of the JCRA highlighting plants that attract birds.March 26, 2006 (Sunday)
12:00 PM-5:00 PM – Entries on display.
2:00 PM – Tours of the JCRA highlighting plants that attract birds.
5:00 PM-6:00 PM – Entries may be picked up.March 27, 2006 (Monday)
Entries may be picked up between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Monday. Entries not removed by 6:00 PM will become the property of the JCRA.
Please visit the "Calendar of Events" section on the JCRA Web site for a complete listing of our upcoming programs.
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.
© The JC Raulston Arboretum, March 2006