JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
November 2006
In This Issue
- A Very Special Gift from a Very Special Man
- Connoisseur Plants
- Featured Plant – November
- Coming Attractions
- November Calendar
A
Very Special Gift from a Very Special Man
Bobby Wilder is one of those remarkable people who has been actively involved with the JC Raulston Arboretum almost as soon as J. C. Raulston first thought of creating an arboretum 30 years ago. He continues to be one of the Arboretum's most dedicated volunteers and donors, spending his time and resources to support the JCRA. Included in the areas that Bobby has sponsored: a JCRA student intern for the last three years; he and his company, Century Framing, have been a Gala in the Garden silver sponsor for many, many years; and he has been a sponsor for the new Celebrate North Carolina Wines for the last two years.
Now Bobby has generously made a planned gift – a charitable gift annuity to benefit the Arboretum. As part of this gift, Bobby has designated that two $50,000.00 endowments be created to support the JCRA student internship program. One will be called the Jack R. Lamm JCRA Internship Endowment, in memory of his life partner and dear friend of 43 years, and the other named the Bobby G. Wilder JCRA Internship Endowment.
These endowment internships will go on into perpetuity and will ensure long-term support for the JCRA, as well as making a significant impact on the lives of the many students that they will support. Please join us for Bobby's endowment signing and reception preceding the Friends of the Arboretum Lecture on November 2, 2006 at 7:00 PM.
From his many hours of volunteer service, to supporting the bench, brick, building campaign, Galas, internship program, and now this very generous planned gift, Bobby is truly one of the Arboretum's most treasured friends. – Anne Porter, Director of Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Academic Programs, NC State
Connoisseur Plants
Our Connoisseur Plants program is in full swing! This program is a great way for our members to receive a great benefit for consistently supporting the Arboretum so generously. Remember, if you increase your membership to the Sponsor level you will be eligible to receive Connoisseur Plants. Check out our brochure and call Autumn Keck at (919) 513-3826 or e-mail at <autumn_keck@ncsu.edu> if you have any questions. – Autumn Keck, Associate Director of Membership and Fund-raising Events
Featured Plant – November
A superstar for fall color and an autumn favorite at the Arboretum is a large
black gum (Nyssa sylvatica 'Dirr') located to the east
of the Visitor Center. 'Dirr' is a clone that J. C. Raulston selected
in Athens, Georgia for its brilliant Chinese lacquer red fall color. Michael
Dirr sent J. C. cuttings to propagate at the Arboretum in the 1980s. Today,
one of these stately trees stands 40' tall, maturing into a beautiful
pyramidal shaped specimen. Each year in mid-November, 'Dirr' appears
to simply glow, as its shiny red leaves catch and reflect the sunlight.
This selection was made from one of North Carolina's fine native deciduous trees, black gum, which typically grows unnoticed in its native lowland habitat from the northeastern United States south through Texas. Attractive leaves are 3" to 6" long, simple, ovate shaped with smooth margins. This relatively slow growing tree will tolerate sites with poor drainage and is best located in full sun. Birds enjoy the dark blue fruits that form in early fall. It has a taproot that can make transplanting difficult. Currently, there is a renewed interest to formally evaluate various clones for their tolerance to leaf spot, form, fruit production, and leaf color. – Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
Coming Attractions – Highlights of November
Klein-Pringle
White Garden
Acer palmatum [Dissectum Atropurpureum Group] – red lace-leaf
Japanese maple
Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' – Virginia sweetspire
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
Rhododendron Autumn Coral™ –
Encore™ azalea
Rhododendron Autumn Royalty™ – Encore™ azalea
Mixed Border
Amsonia hubrichtii –
Ozark blue star
Fothergilla major 'Beaver Creek' – mountain witch-alder
Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Jelena' – copper-flowered
witchhazel
Rhamnella franguloides – crow's pillow
Viburnum nudum – possumhaw viburnum
Paradise Garden
Gardenia augusta – Cape jasmine
Perennial Border
Aster oblongifolius – aromatic aster
Chrysanthemum (Elizabeth Lawrence Pink) – garden chrysanthemum
Cortaderia selloana 'Aureolineata' – golden-stripe pampas
grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris – hairy-awn muhly grass
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' – purple-leaf Japanese maple – E47, E43b, J2
Berberis thunbergii 'Red Rocket' – upright purple-leaf Japanese barberry – E41, Su7
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' – purple beautyberry – E23, Z04
Diospyros kaki – Japanese persimmon –S05
Ginkgo biloba 'Tschi Tschi' – maidenhair tree – W20
Nyssa sylvatica 'Dirr' – black gum – W4
Pseudolarix amabilis – golden larch – E50
This show is free. We invite you to visit often. – Nancy Doubrava, Interpretive Specialist
November Calendar
Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – November 2, 2006 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM – Free for members, $5.00 for nonmembers
"Heirloom Seed Catalogs: Reflections on our Horticultural Past" presented by Denny Werner, Ph.D., Director – Heirloom seed catalogs contain a treasure-trove of horticultural history. In this presentation, Denny will discuss the horticultural highlights and history contained in the pages of heirloom seed catalogs, focusing on the catalogs of the W. Atlee Burpee Seed Company, the leading U.S. seedman for home gardeners for much of the 20th century. Denny's seed catalog collection will be on display for all to enjoy.
Please join us for Bobby Wilder's endowment signing and reception at 7:00 PM.
Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – November 16, 2006 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM – Free for members, $5.00 for nonmembers
"Soil Preparation for Water Conservation" presented by Stu Warren, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State. Since water is our most precious resource, installing and maintaining water efficient landscape should be a high priority. This session will present what you can do to install and maintain a high quality landscape while minimizing irrigation needs.
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, November 2006