IOS Returns to the Morton for 8Th Conference He 8Th Conference of the Interna- T Tional Oak Society Was a Delight- Ful Event
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Oak News & Notes The Newsletter of the International Oak Society, Volume 20, No. 1, 2016 IOS Returns to the Morton for 8th Conference he 8th Conference of the Interna- T tional Oak Society was a delight- ful event. In honor of the organiza- tion’s 21st year, the Conference was held in Lisle, Illinois, at The Morton Arboretum – the host site of the first Conference in 1994. A total of 188 people were in attendance, represent- ing 15 different countries. The event was graciously hosted by Dr. Gerard Donnelly, President and CEO of The Morton Arboretum, and Dr. Andrew Hipp, Senior Scientist in Systematics and Herbarium Curator of The Morton Arboretum. This year’s Conference boasted an im- pressive 26 presentations and 8 work- shops on a myriad of topics, as well as The Conference Committee (clockwise from top left): Henry “Weeds” Eilers, Nick Stoynoff, Andrew Hipp, Megan Dunning, Guy Sternberg, Jim Hitz, Nicole Cavender, Murphy Westwood, Alana McKean, Joe Roth- 9 poster sessions. Presenters highlight- leutner (not in photo: Matt Lobdell). Thank you all for a great job! Photo: ©Guy Sternberg. ed species from North America, Mexi- co, and China – discussing topics from Specialist Group. Addressing the issue ent oaks species to help update the da- phylogeny and genomics to evolution of conservation, Sara’s inspirational tabase. Future partnerships between and maintenance. Horticultural re- presentation echoed the sentiments of the IUCN, The Morton Arboretum, searchers shared the latest in breeding, the International Oak Society’s mis- and the IOS are anticipated. clonal reproduction, and cultivation sion of preservation. The IUCN, or techniques. The program also included The following morning, proceedings International Union for Conservation presentations on the cultural and his- began at Thornhill Education Center of Nature, is an organization dedicated torical significance of oaks such as the with opening remarks from Dr. Don- legacy of Pathfinder (a sentinel oak), to global conservation. The group is nelly and Béatrice Chassé, outgoing the art of oak-rod basketry, and an in- especially known for the creation of IOS President, followed by the first quiry into the consumption of acorns the Red List, which details the endan- round of presentations. In between the by early humans. germent status for known species. Ear- intellectual morsels of talks on cutting- lier that morning, Sara and Dr. Murphy edge developments in our knowledge The Conference officially opened on Westwood led a workshop to discuss about oaks, attendees were treated to Sunday, October 18 with an address and update the Red List status for oak an excellent lunch buffet. Refresh- from keynote speaker Sara Oldfield, species. Many IOS members attended ments were also served in the Found- co-chair of the IUCN/SSN Global Tree to contribute their knowledge of differ- er’s Room, surrounded by a surfeit of 1 Oak News & Notes Arboretum staff guided and non-oak seeds as a parting gift. groups through each A special thank you goes out to the area, giving an over- Conference Committee of 2015, The view of the hard work Morton Arboretum, the individual and and dedication that has corporate conference sponsors (Diana been the legacy of The Gardner, David Gooder, Michael Morton Arboretum. Heathcoat Amory, Bartlett Tree Ex- True to the season, perts, and an anonymous donor), and many oak species were all who were involved in making the awash in bright saffron, Conference a big success. This year’s deep burgundy, and Conference glowed with the same pas- brilliant crimson. Tall sion for research and conservation that grasses from the prairie, united our group over 20 years ago. Quercus acerifolia in The Morton Arboretum. Photo: ©Charles Snyers. although not in bloom, May the spirit of brotherhood continue towered overhead as a to carry the IOS into the future. Here’s oak souvenirs displayed for the silent foretaste of the coming beauty of to our next reunion at the 9th Triennial auction. Additional information on the spring. Conference in 2018, at the UC Davis silent auction can be found on page 5 That evening, attendees gathered for a Arboretum! of this issue. Gala Banquet at the Ginkgo Restaurant Presentations continued into the after- at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center. Rebecca Dellinger-Johnston noon, followed by a series of open Overlooking the gardens, guests ad- Note: The Conference’s 26 presentations, workshops. These workshops included mired the landscape lit with the cheery the Keynote Address and the Gala Banquet a tour of the herbarium, a lecture and neon glow of festive autumn lights. Address can be viewed on The Morton Arboretum’s YouTube channel, in the Lec- demonstration on grafting techniques, After a round of drinks and light re- tures and Symposia feed. discussion of oak diseases, and even a freshments the main course was botanical sketching class. In addition, a served. During the meal, guest speaker Touring Illinois with the IOS special video, Quercophiles Abroad, Joel Greenburg delivered the somber The Pre-Conference Tour was shown. Created by Dan Keiser, but inspirational tale of the extinct pas- this nostalgic film chronicled the ad- senger pigeon. Immediately following he 2015 IOS Pre-Conference Tour ventures of the International Oak Soci- was the IOS Service Awards ceremo- T highlighted an amazing diversity ety, reminding members of joyous ny, which honored this year’s recipi- of trees and biomes across Southern times shared together. The day closed ents with plaques made from the his- and Central Illinois. Our wonderful with a reception back in the Founder’s toric Pathfinder oak. More details on tour guides, Guy Sternberg and Alana Room where a series of poster sessions the IOS Awards are on page 5. McKean, went out of their way to were set out. Nine presenters were on make this whirlwind trip awesome. The final day of the Conference hand next to their posters to explain The first day started out with some presentations concluded with a special their research and answer questions word from Murphy Westwood about about diverse oak-related topics, such The Morton Arboretum’s campaign to as acorns in traditional food in Korea complete the Quercus entry for the and tissue culture propagation of Quer- IUCN Red List and to promote future cus, among others. research in oak conservation through On the second day, after another the Global Oak Conservation Initia- schedule of provocative presentations, tive. Following the IOS business meet- guests were treated to a much-antici- ing and introduction of the slate of pated tour of the Arboretum itself. Officers and Board Members for the Shuttle buses and trams took groups to coming term, the Conference conclud- tour the Schulenberg Prairie, the Oak ed in traditional fashion with a polite Collection, the East Woods oak wood- frenzy of exchanging acorns. Atten- Warren Chatwin poses next to a skull-like burl on lands, and oak forest restoration re- dees swarmed a small tent outside of National Champion Quercus shumardii in Ellis Farm. search sites. With warmth and humor, the conference hall, gathering both oak Below left, Anna Forester chats with owner Mrs. Ellis. Photo: ©Warren Chatwin. 2 Oak News & Notes amazing views off the sandstone “Weeds” Eilers could lead us on a tour escarpments at Cliff View Park in Alto around the Shoal Creek Conservation Pass, followed by a visit to the gigantic Area. After a delicious lunch, we drove National Champion Quercus shumardii to see the ortet tree of Q. ×deamii at Ellis Farm. If you look closely at the ‘Champion Seedless’, then visited a large burl in the photo, you can see cool gnarled Catalpa speciosa standing that it resembles a skull! Later that outside the homestead Power Farm. evening we enjoyed a stroll through Not far from the tree we saw a court- the Pine Hills in Shawnee National house built in 1829, where a young Forest and watched a gorgeous sunset Abraham Lincoln pleaded his first from the top of a cliff. That evening case. Later we experienced a beautiful we were treated to a delicious Southern evening tour of the restored New Sa- -style dinner at the rustic Giant City lem Historic Village, where Abraham Lodge in Giant City State Park. Lincoln lived during his formative A probable specimen of Quercus prinoides found young adult years. The next morning we hiked through during the Pre-Tour in Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Na- the lush, beautiful Rocky Hollow at We spent our last two days around Pe- ture Preserve. Photo: ©Roderick Cameron. Ferne Clyffe State Park filled with tersburg, IL, soaking in all the beauti- rocky outcrops, beautiful fall colors, ful things we had seen as the Tour Into Indiana with Jim Hitz and lots of ferns (my favorite hike of came to a close. Most of our group The Post-Conference Tour the trip). Deciding to branch out and stayed at the Riverbank Lodge, which fter assisting with the planning look at something other than oaks, we has two oak trees growing through A and organization for the Pre- enjoyed a change of scenery at the (planned) holes in the roof! Our guide Conference Tour, I was certainly look- northernmost ancient Taxodium Guy Sternberg took us to see Abraham ing forward to kicking back on the swamp at Heron Pond. Walking the Lincoln’s Tomb at Oak Ridge Ceme- Post-Conference Tour with our knowl- boardwalks through the quiet swamp tery, and then showed us around the edgeable guide Jim Hitz at the helm! was a stark change from the cushioned beautiful and diverse collection outside leaf-littered paths we had followed that his home at Starhill Forest Arboretum. Setting off from the Conference hotel morning. We eventually made our way On the last day of our trip, we made an near The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, back to the forests and visited the Illi- exciting discovery while hiking around we traveled east along Lake Michi- nois State Champion Q.