TheThe GardenGarden NewsNews The University of Nebraska - Lincoln Botanical Garden and Arboretum Spring 2002 Volume 8, Issue 2 The Garden: special plantings & gardens on City & East campuses including Maxwell Arboretum

Spring Affair 2002 Gardening: America’s Pastime

Spring Affair Plant Sale: Saturday April 20 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. State Fair Park Free Admission

In this Issue: by Carol Bom, event, you can request a volunteer form from ♦Spring Affair Landscape Services Staff Assistant 2002 p.1 the same number. We need over 150 ♦From the volunteers to run this event. We begin on Director p.2 Thursday with the delivery and set up of ♦ From Maxwell Arboretum p.3 The annual Preview Party is set for plants, and continue through Friday setting ♦Education Friday, April 19 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. up for the Preview Party and the plant sale Programs p.4 on Saturday. We have a great core of ♦ Reservations ($25 per plate) are pouring in, Internship volunteers with new people signing up each Program p.5 so if you haven’t made yours yet, please mail ♦Garden Friends it in as soon as you can – seating is limited. year. Ann. Mtg. p.5 A reservation form is available in the If you have access to the World Wide ♦"Meet the Weeds" Web, you may also learn a great deal about p.6 newsletter or on our web site: http:// ♦Garden Tidbits busfin.unl.edu/unlbga Spring Affair there. Our web address has p.6 This year’s event promises to be changed (see first paragraph) and click on ♦Calendar p.7 the Events link. There you will find links that ♦Tree Trivia p.7 another great one. There are a great variety of programs that go along with the theme. include Spring Affair News, volunteer Printed on The topics range from using old-time favorite information, plant lists, vendor and advertiser recycled paper plants in today’s gardens, the garden information, and much more. We try to reflected in quilts, gardening with wild include new items each year, so be sure to flowers, a unique look at butterflies and bookmark it and go back periodically to check plants, birds and berries and gathering and it out. We plan to include the volunteer harvesting of plants. Our panelists for survey after the event. “Anything and Everything” include Fred Spring Affair is co-sponsored by UNL Baxendale, Harlan Hamernik, and Bob Landscape Services, the Nebraska Statewide Gilmour. Arboretum, and State Fair Park. Mark April 19 and 20 on your calendars and enjoy the UNLBGA is an If you have not received a copy of the affiliate site of the Spring Affair News yet, please call the time spent with fellow gardeners, great Landscape Services office at 402-472-2679. speakers and educational topics, and other If you would like to volunteer at this year’s plant enthusiasts. See you there! and curator of the Alice Abel Personnel Updates Arboretum at Nebraska Wesleyan University for 17 Welcome to: years. Before that, she was a ♦ Dale Ekart, Recycling & Solid Waste Resource Mgr. landscape supervisor at UNL Landscape Services. She Welcome Back to: earned her BS in Horticulture ♦ Twyla Hansen, Education Project Asst., formerly from UNL in 1979. Twyla is an Landscape Supervisor 1980-82 Associate Fellow of the Center for Great Plains Studies and has Good-bye & Good Luck to: ♦ Kevin Leonard, Maintenance Mechanic-Irrigation many other credits to her name, including past Board member of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. In addition, Twyla has won numerous writing Welcome Back Twyla Hansen awards, honors and fellowships, and has published three books of poetry: Sanctuary Near Salt Creek, In our by Kay Kottas, Education Mgr. Very Bones and How to Live in the Heartland. I am Twyla Hansen, horticulturist, poet, and all-around great very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Twyla. person has joined me in the Education area as a part-time She has been a tremendous help since her arrival in temporary project assistant. Twyla was grounds manager January. Please welcome Twyla when you see her.

From the Director

by Robert Hensarling, Director, Landscape Services, UNLBGA

plantings, we will keep in mind the prevailing sentiment Howdy! on campus with security, accessibility and aesthetics providing guidance and direction for our departmental I would like to think operations. that we are finally through with On another note, we will begin a new era with the way winter; however, I we approach campus recycling efforts. Beginning March realize I’m not in 1, 2002, we have combined our solid waste and recycling Texas anymore. If operations together in order to provide a more efficient you look carefully at delivery of service some of the trees throughout campus. beginning to bud In doing so, we have throughout our Robert Hensarling hired Dale Ekart as landscape you will our Recycling and see evidence our mild winter and pending spring. Our Solid Waste Resource crews have had an extended period of time to do Manager. Dale pruning of a variety of trees and shrubs on both campus formerly served as locations. While most of this work was conducted as UNL’s Recycling general-purpose maintenance, some of the effort was Contractor and has in response to security issues related to overgrown been on campus in plant material. that capacity since 1993. Dale brings a Dale Ekart Mass plantings of large trees have provided a grand, wonderful sense of green composition for campus for many years. Some organization and proactive environmental enthusiasm to areas of campus with plantings of mature trees and our department and will serve campus well. If you see shrubs are being assessed for their continued viability. Dale Ekart around please say hello and welcome him As we move forward with the basic idea of sustainable “officially” to Landscape Services!

Spring 2002 page 2 Notes From Maxwell Arboretum by Emily Levine, Grounds Supervisor, Maxwell Arboretum

Although most visitors to Maxwell Arboretum are rightly impressed by the trees, aware of the Vine Arbor, or familiar with the Viburnum Collection, many gems—especially shrubs—are hidden within its boundaries. In this issue I’d like to introduce visitors to two interesting shrubs not often seen in local landscapes: Rhodotypos scandens (Black Jetbead) and Dirca palustris (Leatherwood).

Rhodotypos scandens Dirca palustris L. (Thunb.) Mak. Black Leatherwood, Wicopy Jetbead Rosaceae Thymelaeaceae Monotypic genus Deciduous shrub (only one species in the Origin genus); eastern United States Deciduous shrub Introduced 1750 Origin Zone 4-9 Japan, Central Asia Branches light Introduced 1866 brown to olive, small Zone 4-8 white lenticels, aromatic when bruised, very flexible and tough Branches opposite, greenish brown to brown, scaly at (hence the name) base Leaves alternate, simple; elliptic to obovate, obtuse, Leaves opposite, simple, prominently veined, sharply cuneate, entire; glabrous above, pubescent underside; 5-10cm.; bi-serrate, 4-8cm., bright to dark green turning yellowish in fall light green, yellow in fall Flowers perfect, singly at twig end; white, four petaled, Flowers perfect, small, light yellow; usually 3-4 per 4-5cm., May-June inflorenscence; March-April Buds greenish with brown tips, ovoid, glabrous Buds hidden by petiole bases; conical with 4 hairy Fruit drupe; glossy, black, hard, ellipsoidal, Oct. into scales; no terminal buds following season (very persistant), .5cm, in clusters at twig ends, Fruit drupe; light to yellow green; 6mm or larger; usually 4 per cluster HIGHLY TOXIC, may be fatal if eaten, ovoid; June-July contain amygdalin Height 1-2m. Height 1-2m in cultivation, spread greater than height, Habit rounded, dense, thickly branched much larger in the wild Growth Rate slow Habit mounded, loosely branched, ascending/ Pests few; basically trouble free arching branches Culture shade, moist areas; widely adaptable to soils, Growth Rate medium to fast light, and climate Pests few, basically trouble free Notes The strong, flexible braches were used by Culture easy to grow; very tolerant of crowding, native peoples for baskets, bowstrings, rope, fishing line, etc. pollution, varying pH and soils, full sun to heavy shade Dirca, mythical spring near Thebes; palustris, refers to its wetland habitat.

The arboretum’s Jetbeads are located in a bed just to the Our Leatherwood is located along the east edge of the southwest of the bridge. They receive no special care Vine Arbor at about the midway point next to a Japanese beyond occasional pruning. Last year some of the Tree Lilac and some azaleas. Although neither its blossoms branches on two of the plants withered and died. No cause nor fruit are showy, this little shrub has a beautiful form was found. Given the poisonous properties of the fruits, and the structure of its branching is so delicate and intricate please be sure to supervise young children in the vicinity. that it makes a unique contribution to the landscape.

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Early to mid-spring, before Flemming Slope and the Yeutter Gardens are in full bloom, is a wonderful time to visit Maxwell Arboretum. Be sure to check out the Rhododendron Collection and the Lilac Collection. Tours of both collections are scheduled. Early shade–loving perennials can be found hidden in the viburnums and other spots. Finally, in addition to those scattered throughout the Arboretum, recent bulb plantings can also be found along the Loop Road south of the Gazebo and along the front edge of the lilacs. Come enjoy the first signs of spring! Spring 2002 page 3 UNLBGA Education Programs

by Kay Kottas, Education Mgr. Winter Programs Spring Programs

Educational Programs at UNLBGA have Many more programs are coming your way. You blossomed! So far this year, (January-March) we have will definitely want to check out our calendar list (see already had more programs than the last 2 years p.7). April is Spring Affair month (see p.1 article). combined. The response has been wonderful. On April 9, UNLBGA, in conjunction with the Twenty-two people registered for our first program, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the UNL Cooperative "Japanese Garden Design; Inspiration for Your Garden," Extension 4-H, will provide a workshop on two national with Eileen Bergt, Campus Landscape Architect, but thirty- programs called Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project two came! We were very pleased. Water Education for Teachers (WET). This one-day In February, we held a workshop called "Botany workshop is free to volunteers of UNLBGA, who would for Beginners" given by Kay Kottas. Twenty-five like to help with tours for student groups. NSA will offer participants attended on a Saturday morning, and the this program for curators of affiliate sites, who wish to program was repeated two weeks later for the Fremont provide educational opportunities in their Botanical Garden club. Gardens and Arboreta. We also held a program on "Garden Record On Arbor Day, April 26, we will honor the 35th Keeping" in February given by Jane and Bernie Diesen anniversary of Maxwell arboretum with a tree planting of Plattsmouth, NE, owners of LandMark Gardens. We (see article p.2). were all encouraged by Jane’s enthusiasm for keeping In May, we will begin a series of lunch-hour brown photos and a journal of changes in her garden (and I bag tours, a speaker on Orchids, a field trip to see orchids PROMISE to do a better job this year!). in their native habitat, and a Saturday morning weed ID. Our best attended program came on an icy, snow- These programs are free and open to the public. Please covered Saturday morning in Febr. when Linda Vavrus, call our office to register (472-2679), so that we can plan owner of Gardeners-At-Large gave a presentation of for an appropriate number of people. perennial division with raving reviews. In June, Bonsai workshop participants will be able By the time this newsletter reaches you, we will have to make their own bonsai if they register at least two also held a program in March entitled “Pruning Practice weeks in advance. There will be a $20.00 fee for materials with Jeff: Your Spring Pruning Primer, given by Jeff including a traditional Japanese ceramic bonsai pot and Culbertson. recumbent juniper. Those who wish to attend the workshop to observe only may do so at no charge.

Linda Vavrus "Rejuvenating Your Garden with Perennial Division"

Spring 2002 page 4 Landscape Services-UNLBGA Internship Program

UNLBGA is offering an internship program for two-week intervals, thereby gaining an understanding of this summer that assists students preparing for careers in the University of Nebraska Botanical Gardens and a variety of areas in plant science. These may include Arboretum, its mission, and day-to-day operation. The horticulture, botany, landscape student may choose to spend only 1 design, landscape maintenance, week in certain areas in order to vocational agriculture, forestry, spend more time on a project in a natural history, and agriculture. particular area of interest. The internship will span 12 weeks This unique experience will beginning in May 2002 and ending provide an understanding of the in August, 2002. We offer entire range of services completed practical work experience by Landscape Services including supplemented by training, field planning, preparation, and trips, and educational programs. programming within a botanical The intern will work garden. Students will observe and approximately 40 hours per week. participate in all areas of design, Attendance at some evening and preparation, ordering, propagation, weekend events may be planting, maintenance, record suggested. The intern will be keeping, and education. required to keep a daily journal and to complete a project The intern will work in at least 5 of the following of special interest relating to UNLBGA. Students are areas and may emphasize one or two particular area(s) exposed to many career opportunities in public horticulture depending on their personal interests: Landscape programs. At UNLBGA, the student will work under the Maintenance – City Campus, East Campus and Arboretum supervision of a variety of Landscape Services Maintenance, Irrigation, Nursery, Education, and professional staff. The intern will be assigned to staff Landscape Design. The student will also complete a within designated areas of expertise; for approximately special project while at Landscape Services.

Gardeners’ Gala and UNL Garden Friends Festival of Color Unite Annual Meeting

This year, Gardeners’ Gala and Festival of Color (the On January 20, Mary University of NE Cooperative Extension event formerly Ellen Connelly, owner held at Mead every September) will be combined into of Perennial Passions one event to be held on East Campus. A new title will be in Sioux Falls, SD chosen for this event. The tentative date is Sept. 14. gave a wonderful presentation on her favorite perennials. Volunteer Update Volunteers for UNLBGA received recognition and warm We have received more than 40 positive responses to our applause for their request for volunteers. Several of our volunteers will be many years of taking the PLT and WET training (as described on p.4) to Mary Ellen Connelly service. We also help learn about tools and techniques in teaching viewed the Garden youngsters about nature. We have contacted one volunteer Friends’ new video titled “Landscape for Learning”, which to help develop a website for the combined Festival of provides an informative look at the UNL Landscape as Color and Gardeners Gala event. an important part of UNL’s learning environment.

Spring 2002 page 5 "Meet the Weeds" by Laurence E. Ballard, Nursery Plant Supervisor

must be shattered by the reality of the mower, like an alarm clock without a snooze button (although there are some who might prefer to think of the mowers and flying grass more as the noise makers and confetti bringing in the new year). How- ever you look at it though, you would have to agree that the grass has a much better fate than the weeds, which brings me to the point of this rambling. For all of you who are now plotting your strategies and arming yourselves for this year’s war on weeds, I would simply like to suggest that you pause for a moment and take a good look at your foe. Take the time to admire their forti- tude for having lasted all winter, enduring the bitter winds and occasional insults from passing dogs. Look at the beauti- ful blue flowers of the field speedwell (Veronica agrestis) or Spring has finally arrived! What an exciting time of the bright purple henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) flowers, and the year it is as we experience changes all around us. Flow- consider making a pressed specimen for a greeting card. Taste ers are blooming, leaves are beginning to appear, and the the leaves of field penny cress (Thlapsi arvense), Shepherd’s grass is starting to grow. Some of these processes we can purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and common chickweed stand back and enjoy, but alas there are others we simply (Stellaria media), and gather a bunch to make a fresh spring can’t allow. High in the trees we detect swellings and color salad (after washing of course). changes, but can’t quite make out the details of the tiny flow- As for the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), the ers that must quickly release their pollen before the leaves king of all edible weeds, don’t even waste your pesticides get in the way. We watch with excitement as the border now. Instead, harvest the new leaves for a high vitamin treat, forsythia and Cornelian-cherry dogwoods splash their sunny then later collect the flowers and try your hand at wine mak- yellows across campus, and often smell before we see, the ing this summer. We have so much to learn from these useful fragrant white forsythia. At our feet are the much antici- resilient little plants. So rather than racing out with the herbi- pated spring bulbs that seem to guarantee the season. cides as soon as the snow melts, take a few warm spring Below this level though, we have to put our foot down. days to lie down on your stomach (if you can) and get to At this lowest level grow the plants we simply must control: know these amazing plants that help to keep us fit, give us a the grasses and weeds. Our dreamy contemplation of spring bit of free food (and medicine), hold on to our topsoil, and in

Garden Tidbits: Composters Beware Garden Tidbits: Gardening Fights Osteoporosis

There has been a lot of news about CCA treated lumber The December issue of Hort Ideas excerpted an article lately. The EPA is currently evaluating its potential risks from the American Nursery and Landscape Association to children. This wood commonly has a greenish hew. about a study done by Dr. Lori Turner at the University of That is the copper in the Chromated copper arsenate Arkansas. Dr. Turner’s study suggests that higher bone (CCA). These chemicals are absorbed by the skin and density is found in people who weight lift or garden. This can leach into the soil and be absorbed by plants. So, a bone density was not found in people who jog, walk, swim word of caution, do not use CCA treated lumber to build or do aerobics. The exposure to the sun, also helps the your compost bin, childrens play sets, or any other body produce vitamin D, which in turn helps the body structure that come into contact with garden vegetables, absorb calcium. So…lift those shovels and keep on dig’n! food, humans, or animals. For more information, see “What You Need to Know about Wood Pressure Treated with Chromated Copper Aresnate (CCA)” at www.epa.gov/ pesticides/citizens/cca_qa.htm). Spring 2002 Page 6 Arbor Day 2002 UNLBGA Calendar The UNL Botanical Garden & Arboretum will Programs are free; call 472-2679 to register celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree in honor of the May 1, Lilac Collection tour, Emily Levine, East Campus 35th anniversary of Maxwell Arboretum, Friday, April 26, Landscape Supervisor, Maxwell Arboretum gazebo East on East Campus. Campus, 12:20-12:50 pm. Everyone is welcome to bring their brown bag lunch May 8, Lilac Collection tour, Emily Levine, East Campus to the Maxwell gazebo from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At Landscape Supervisor, Maxwell Arboretum gazebo East 12:30, representatives of the Friends of Maxwell Campus, 12:20-12:50 pm. Arboretum and Landscape Services will give a short May 11, “Weed Identification,” Anne Streich, Extension presentation followed by a tree planting. The event is Horticulturist, Maxwell Arboretum East Campus, 10-11:30 free and open to the public; for more information, please am. call 472-2679. May 13-24, 2001 Garden Photo Winners Display, Rotunda This year marks the 130th anniversary of Arbor Gallery City Campus Union. Day. J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska City, founder of May 16, “Orchids Unlimited” Tim Janssen & Dr. David Arbor Day, once said, “Most holidays celebrate the past, Taylor, Lincoln Orchid Society, 327 Keim Hall East but Arbor Day celebrates the future.” The tree you plant Campus, 7-8:30 pm. today will continue to grow for years and provide its May 18, Native Orchids field trip, Tim Janssen, Lincoln benefits of carbon dioxide absorption, oxygen production, Orchid Society, to carpool meet N. of East Campus Union wind and dust reduction, shade and beauty for future , 10 am. Fee to enter parks. generations. June 5, Rhododendron tour, UNLBGA staff, Maxwell Arboretum gazebo East Campus, 12:20-12:50 pm. June 8, “Tree & Shrub Identification,” Justin Evertson, Asst. Dir. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Maxwell Arboretum gazebo East Campus, 10-11:30 a.m. June 20, “Garden Photography,” George Schade, nature photo-grapher, Maxwell Arboretum gazebo East Campus, 7-8:30 pm. Tree Trivia Jazz In June by Twyla Hansen, Education Project Asst. Garden Tours Did you know… —The first Arbor Day holiday in Nebraska was in 1872, Tuesdays 6-6:30 p.m. and is now celebrated internationally? —Nebraska’s nickname was once the “Tree-Planters Arrive early, park your blanket on the lawn, and enjoy a State”? different tour on campus each week of Jazz in June! —Strategically planted trees near your home may reduce heating and cooling costs? June 4, “Famous & Historic Trees,” Bud Dasenbrock, —Trees provide aesthetic enjoyment of your surroundings Friend of UNLBGA, meet E. of Sheldon Gallery. and habitat for wildlife? —April is also National Poetry Month. Trivia Question: June 11, “Cather Gardens,” Kay Kottas, UNLGBA Who wrote this short poem titled “Trees”? Education Mgr., meet E. of Sheldon Gallery.

Food for the table June 18, “Sheldon Sculpture Garden,” Karen Janovy, Wood for the stove Curator Education Sheldon Gallery, meet E. of Sheldon Shade for the body Gallery. Beauty for the soul June 25, “Love Gardens,” Heather Erhart, UNL Land- For the answer go to http://busfin.unl.edu/unlbga scape Supervisor, meet S. of Love Library. Please visit our website weekly for new tree trivia. Spring 2002 Page 7 The Newsletter is published by Landscape Helping the Garden Grow Services. Photographs are copyrighted and require permission for reprint. Articles may be reprinted with credit to the authors and 2002 Friends of Maxwell Board 2002 Garden Friends Board the UNL Botanical Garden and Arboretum. Landscape Services Officers: Officers: & Garden Staff President: Ted Hartung President: Janet Cutshall Vice president: Emilie Ellingson Treasurer: Bud Dasenbrock Robert Hensarling, Director Secretary: Francis Haskins Treasurer: Arlene Hanna Jay Schluckebier, Assistant Director Secretary: Kim Hachiya Administration & Management Board Members: Membership Chair: Irvin Omtvedt Kirby Baird, Landscape & Botanical Margaret Allington Peter Jensen Services - City Campus Eileen Bergt, Landscape Architect Agnes Arthaud James Kendrick Board Members: Carol Bom, Staff Assistant Cyril Bish Ed Lyman Mark Canney Suzy Taylor Jeff Culbertson, Landscape & Botanical Blaine Blad William Lutes Gerald Dimon Ed Vidlak Services - East Campus Kevin Herr, Architectural Services Ron Case Martin Massengale James Estes Bonnie Williams Don Hinds, Operations Equipment August Dreier Dave McGill Susan Evnen Kay Kottas, Education Programs G. Steven Ferris Irv Omtvedt Linda Hillegass Jim Sommers, Irrigation Systems Sandy Wacker, Production and Planting John Furrer Helen Peterson Michael Jess T.O. Hass Jane Wendorff Diane Oldfather Newsletter Howard & Margaret Ottoson Bryan Poppe Kay Kottas, Editor Twyla Hansen, Co-Editor E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://busfin.unl.edu/unlbga/

Non Profit University of Nebraska-Lincoln U.S. Postage Botanical Garden & Arboretum PAID 1340 N. 17th Street Lincoln, Nebraska P.O. Box 880609 Permit No. 46 Lincoln NE 68588-0609