TheThe GarGardenden NewsNews The University of Nebraska - Lincoln Botanical Garden and Arboretum Volume 8, Issue 1 Winter 2002 The Garden refers to all the Gardens and plantings on both City and East Campus including Maxwell Arboretum

In this Issue: Japanese Garden ♦New Programs for Design: Inspiration You in 2002 ♦Personnel for your Garden Updates January 17, East Campus Union, ♦From the Director presentation given by Eileen Bergt ♦Adopt-An-Area Litter Campaign ♦ Book Review: The Nature of NE ♦Landscape New Programs For You in 2002 Services Annual by Kay Kottas, Programs Manager Awards Luncheon ♦Project Updates New UNLBGA programs will begin in 2002. and other record-keeping aids that gardeners use. ♦ "Glasscrete" We Among them are Third Thursday Programs at 7 p.m. Since this speaker is coming from Plattsmouth, we Put A Sparkle.. on the third Thursday of each month (except April) have chosen the following Thursday as a snowday. ♦Education in the Garden from January through August. The first such pro- We will announce postponed or cancelled events on ♦Thank You gram will be a talk by Eileen Bergt, University of Ne- KFOR radio (AM1240). UNLBGA braska-Lincoln, Landscape Architect, entitled Japa- On Saturday, March 9, Linda Vavrus will Supporters nese Garden Design: Inspiration For Your Garden. give us some pointers on Propagation and Division ♦ UNLBGA We all dream about the coming Spring. This year, of Perennial Plants (location TBA). Linda is a Mas- Garden Friends Annual Meeting dream about the possibilities of incorporating some ter Gardener and Owner/Manager of her own com- ♦2002 Calendar Japanese design principles into your garden, as you pany, Gardeners at Large. Come to “Pruning Prac- enjoy a talk and slide presentation. Eileen spent six tice w/ Jeff: A Spring Pruning Primer” on Thurs- weeks in Japan studying Japanese gardens and the day, March 21 at 7 pm. Jeff Culbertson, East Campus relationship between the garden and the home. She Landscape Manager will tell you everything you need will share some of these ideas with you. to know about good pruning techniques and will even Second Saturday Sessions will teach you a let you practice. little about the science of Botany and Horticulture. These programs are free and open to the Printed on These sessions are held on the second Saturday of public. Please call our office to register (472-9139) so recycled paper each month beginning in February. On February 9, that we can plan for an appropriate number of people. at 10 a.m. (East Campus Union), learn why a banana We would appreciate a call at least one week prior to is a berry; why you should eat triploid endosperm; the event, but we want to see you there, so don't let the difference among bulbs, corms, tubers, and roots; late registration stop you. how plants are classified and what to look for when Later in the year look for Wednesday walks, you try to identify your plants at home. This Second Jazz in June tours, and Field trips. Come to presenta- Saturday Session is entitled Botany For Beginners tions on weed identification, orchids, nature pho- and is presented by Kay Kottas, Manager of Educa- tography, bonsai, and sketching nature. Also, look tional Programs. for announcements on Spring Affair, Arbor Day cel- On February 21, (the third Thursday), en- ebrations, the 35th Anniversary of Maxwell Arbore- joy Garden Record Keeping presented by Jane tum the Festival of Color and Gardener's Gala! Fees UNLBGA is an Diesen, Manager of LandMark Gardens in may apply when field trips take us to a park which affiliate site of the Plattsmouth, NE. Jane has managed this Hosta busi- requires an entrance fee; or for materials in a hands- ness for about 15 years, and keeps immaculate records on demonstration. Call our office at 472-9139 with including labels, journals, maps, and photography. questions about any of these events. (see Calendar We will also share examples of the labels, software, page 7) Garden Notes Personnel Updates: Winter Blooms

Welcome to: Landscape crews are reporting that flowering quince was blooming on campus on December 20th. ♦ Janette Roth, Groundskeeper, Flowering quince (any one of three East Campus Chaenomeles sp.) comes from wooded mountain areas in China and Japan. Only ♦ Brian Dieterman, two of the species are hardy to zone 5. They Groundskeeper, are cultivated for their early spring flowers. East Campus Well formed buds that normally overwinter may open in the fall when the weather re- mains warm, as we have seen this year. This may cause some reduced flowering the following spring.

From the Director

Howdy! It is through these programs that we tie our mission to the As I was writing this article I began to think of all the greater vision of the University of Nebraska. We are a wonderful projects and continued changes brought about part of a tremendous effort to mold our campus into an by our staff during the past year. I began to reflect on environment that is safe, educational, aesthetic and man- the various types of people and programs that ageable for present and future Nebraskans. our department has the opportunity to work With the help of all our staff, Campus Admin- with on a daily basis. Further, I thought about istrators and Friends groups, we provide a cata- how terrific it is to be a part of a University lyst for student and faculty recruitment that is that supports a myriad of ideas and visions the foundation of the campus experience. creating an environment of progress and change. As we close out the year of 2001, it is impor- tant to consider where we have been and what Whether it is our landscape staff clearing we have accomplished. I urge you to take leaves, pruning trees and mowing turf or our time to reflect not only on the projects we com- design team designing numerous pockets of pleted or seminars attended, but also on our beauty throughout campus, we are all a part relationships that we have developed as well. of our campus environment. As our campus And as we approach the New Year please continues to expand, our operations and irri- challenge yourselves to be engaged in the gation crews always seem to meet the challenges pre- world around you. We are all caretakers of the land, and sented by last minute changes in the plans. When our as such, the Gardener in all of us should take solace in the education division collaborates with academic depart- rejuvenating qualities of our environment. ments to provide an extended learning environment, we begin to forge perpetual relationships that benefit our In closing out another great year, I would like to say Thank University on a broader scale. Additionally, with the You to everyone that has worked directly with and in financial support of our support groups, UNL Garden support of our UNLBGA mission throughout the year! Friends and Friends of Maxwell Arboretum, we have expanded our interpretive and educational impact throughout both campus locations. Robert Hensarling Director, Landscape Services, UNLBGA Volume 8, No. 1, page 2 Adopt-An-Area Litter Campaign from the Landscape Services Litter Task Force

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln person or group of people within organizations, departments, campus spends approximately $181,445 or buildings. Interested persons can adopt the area around a per year in labor costs for litter pick-up. building , parking lot, and/or garden near their building, and Landscape Services crews spend an challenge other groups to do the same. average of 10,700 hours per year pick- Participants will spend a few minutes each day or ing up litter on campus. week picking up litter in their adopted spot, then visit our web We know that many of the campus page and report the hours to us. The initial campaign will last community are concerned and willing from January 14 to April 26. We will acknowledge success- to help with this problem. For that rea- ful participants in early May. We are confident that the son, we are offering the opportunity for those who work and campus community can help reduce costs, contribute to the live on campus to have a positive impact on the beauty of this beauty of campus, and improve campus pride and involve- campus and the pride we have as a united community. We ment. hope that they can help Landscape Services reduce the number Members of the campus community, including stu- of hours and expense involved in keeping the campus beauti- dent groups can sign up for this endeavor by logging onto our ful. web site http://busfin.unl.edu/landscape filling out the at- An announcement will be issued with a list of build- tached form and sending it to Litter Task Force at Land- ings, parking areas, and gardens that can be adopted by a scape Services. For more information contact Kay Kottas at 472-9139.

Book Review by Kay Kottas

The Nature of Nebraska The book contains a guide to natural areas and preserves in by Paul A. Johnsgard every county and descriptions of Nebraska's vanishing spe- cies. The book is filled with his personal sketches (and those The Nature of Nebraska is the latest of 41 books of other artists) of Nebraska's native species. written by author Paul Johnsguard. I got my autographed I cannot do a better job of describing the book than copy as soon as they went on sale. My love of my native by quoting from it. "One of the purposes of this book will be home State and nature drove me to it. That sentence alone to point out that the story of Nebraska...is to be found by may tell you that this review is somewhat bi- meditating under an ancient ased. Cottonwood...heard in the song of a Dr Johnsgard's latest book is a refer- meadowlark...present in the gently waving ence book of Nebraska's natural history. " How long the story may grasses...silently calls out in the smell of There is some- last and what lessons we may ponderosa pine..How long the story may thing for every learn from it are up to us." last and what lessons we may learn from it area of natural are up to us." history cover- This book contains the kind of in- ing animal, vegetable and min- formation that every resident of the State should be familiar eral. Just as importantly, it with. This book is written for the mature reader, with the gives a glimpse of how they desire to read about natural history. I would love to see it are all connected. reproduced in a way that would make it understandable and It covers the history of Ne- compelling for the youth of Nebraska. Every Nebraskan braska geology and describes should have a copy. No naturalist should be without it. different ecological regions. Dr. Johnsgard lists native birds, mammals, fishes and plants. Volume 8, No. 1, page 3 Landscape Services Annual Awards Luncheon by Danielle Merlino

On Friday, December 14, approximately 100 people University grounds. He is a very gathered at the East Campus Shop for the Landscape Services enthusiastic and hard working holiday luncheon of roast pig, turkey and pot luck salads and individual. " desert. Landscape Services staff were joined by special There were several nominees for the Temporary/Student Employee of the year award. The recipient, Matthew Polzin, has been very dedicated to Landscape Services for the past two and a half years. He is a self-motivated individual who takes pride and responsibility for his work. He works well with his co-workers and has remained Jeff Culbertson, Employee of the Year giving his accep- on the same crew the entire time tance speech at awards banquet

of his employment. The final award given was the annual Safety guests from Business and Finance, University Recycling and Award of Excellence. the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, as well as a few past This award was initiated employees and immediate family. in 1994 to allow Awards were presented to Landscape Services recognition of outstanding Employees for their outstanding work performance. There employees that strive to are three award categories; Permanent Employee of the Year, make our working Temporary/Student Employee of the Year, and the Safety Matt Polzin, Student environment safe. Award of Excellence. Employee of the Year, Floyd Runge was accepting award from This year there was a tie for the Permanent Empoyee the recipient this year. Robert Hensarling, Director of the Year Award. One Floyd came to Landscape recipient was Dave Services in July of 1982, Schneider, Supervisor of as a Mechanic III. He retired from full-time duties in Area 4 (areas near the January of 1988 and worked part time until August of Beadle Center), who has 1986, when he resumed fill-time duties. Comments about been with Landscape Floyd describe him as a teacher of safety, who encourages Services since 1992. staff to to have training sessions on all equipment. "He is Nominators stress that extremely efficient "Dave has remarkable about maintaining our communication skills with equipment so that it runs his co-workers, and a great as safely as possible." Dave Schneider, Employee of the knowledge of the duties Year, receiving award from Robert bestowed upon him." Hensarling, Director The second recipient of the award is Jeff Culbertson, East Campus Manager, who has been with Landscape Services since 1991. Included in the comments Floyd Runge, Safety about Jeff are the following: "He keeps himself knowledgeable Award Winner, accept- about new techniques and design processes, to improve the ing his award plaque

Volume 8, No. 1, page 4 seeded. New perennial plantings will be installed in the spring. Project Updates by Eileen Bergt Other projects on East Campus include planting the parking Four completed construction projects were planted lots at the Judging Pavilion and the East Campus Union. Many this last growing season; Kauffman Center, Richards Hall, of these projects are also in the final design phase with plant Teachers College (southwest side), and the 17th and R Street material selection to be completed this winter. Parking Garage. We also added plants to improve another UNL has several projects in design and construc- ten areas on city campus and six areas on east campus. We tion. Landscape Services is working with the architects on planted throughout the growing season with balled and bur- these projects designing the adjacent exterior gathering spaces lap and containerized plants. In November we had both 55” including seating areas, plazas and plant material. One of the and 90” tree spades moving trees out of our nursery on East most visible projects is the Van Brunt Visitor Center and Ross Campus into these project locations. Film Theater on 13th Street between R and Q Streets. The Planting season, next spring, will be equally busy. project is under construction with completion scheduled for We will complete plantings at the 17th and R Street Parking the fall of 2002. The current design on the site includes open Garage, the south side of Richards Hall, and the north side of green space with cherry trees between the sculpture "Torn Morrill Hall. We will begin working on new areas including Notebook" and the new Visitor Center, an open seating patio Teachers College Courtyard and south lawn at Love Library. on the west side of the building, a redesigned bus stop on Q We are currently working on the soil work and sidewalks at Street and planting beds and sitting areas on the east. The the site of the former Lyman and Bancroft Halls at 14th and Visitor Center will be an attraction for University visitors and Vine Streets. This area will become a large open green space moviegoers between the downtown area and the campus. available for informal activities and events. On east campus, As spring approaches, take a walk around campus; the project we are currently working on is the Old Quad- We hope that you will be pleasantly surprised with all of the rangle Mall. The mall streets were repaved and new side- new plantings. walks were installed. The site has been fine graded and We Put a Sparkle in Your Walk… To Go With the Spring In Your Step by Kay Kottas

Thanks to $10,000 in matching grant funds from the ing to Rod Leber, Chief Inspector at General Testing Labo- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, several new ratories in Lincoln, strength tests showed that a cylinder cured sidewalks have been installed on campus. This is our version for 7 days broke under 2,324 p.s.i. where a comparable mix of the Hollywood Walk of using no glass would Fame; only it isn’t local ce- normally reach lebrities immortalized in the 2,500 to 3,000 p.s.i. sidewalk; It is the glass Prompted by the from your mouthwash need to repair and bottle or mayonnaise jar. replace sidewalks The sparkle in our side- without available walks comes from re- money, Brenda cycled glass. (You provide Osthus, UNL Di- The ground glass looks like the spring in your step.) E.C. Activities buliding large particles of colored sand. rector of Environ- Washington County Recy- (6,047 lbs. of glass) mental Health and clers in Blair, NE. provided Safety, brought to- the recycled glass. This is gether the grant from the NE DEQ, UNL Landscape Ser- a volunteer organization that vices, and UNL Recycling to make this all possible. grinds glass for use as ice- So as you step across campus this spring, look for melt on county roads. the sparkle in these walks: Ready Mixed Concrete Co. prepared the special mix by City Campus replacing 10% of the sand Hamilton hall curved walk on the southeast corner and gravel with ground Bus Shelter, 17th and Y, concrete pad south of existing bus stop. glass. 14th and W, diagonal walk on the SE side of the intersection The recycled glass 14th & W East Campus concrete (glasscrete) ap- (3,835 lbs. of glass) East entrance walk to the Activities Building on 35th Street pears to be somewhat weaker than regular concrete, but only time will tell how it wears in pedestrian walkways. Accord- Volume 8, No.1, page 5 Education in the Garden 2002 GreatPlants

Students from St Josephs School in Lincoln, came to visit Every year, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum the Gardens in November. Ann McIntosh and her (NSA) solicites nominations of beautiful and durable, yet assistant Dina presented some fun facts about plants in underused plants, from Nebraska nursery professionals. the Arboretum. We were very happy to receive personal This service is provided by NSA to help the nurseries thank yous from this second grade class. Danielle Merlino promote plants that are not used as often as they should has put together a collage of some of the pictures they be in the Nebraska Landscape. This effort also sent. encourages the use of more sustainable, less demanding plants. This year's winners are:

Tree of the Year: Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus doicus) a Nebraska native Recommended cultivars: 'Expresso' and 'Stately Manor', both male selections

Shrub of the Year: Kalm St. John's Wort (Hypericum kalmianum) Native to Quebec, Ontario, Michigan and Illinois. Zone 4 hardy Recommended cultivar: 'Ames'

Perennial of the Year: Crane's Bill Geranium (Geranium sanguneum) Hardy to zone 3. Recommended cultivars: 'Album', 'Shepherds Warning', 'Elsbeth' For more information visit www.nnla.org Thank You UNLBGA UNL Garden Friends Supporters Annual Meeting

The UNL Garden Friends have generously offered The UNL Garden Friends Annual Meeting will be to pay for labels at Love Garden, the Old Rose collection, held on Sunday, January 20th from 2:30-4:00 pm., at the Ne- and for brochures and other printed materials in support of braska Center for Continuing Education (33rd and Holdrege) UNLBGA. Many Thanks from the University of Nebraska in the Nebraska room (first floor). All members of the UNL and the staff of Landscape Services! Garden Friends and all past volunteers of UNLBGA are welcome. The program will include a thirty-minute program Recent Donors were: given by Mary Ellen Connelly, owner of Perennial Passions Marian Anderson - Swamp White Oak "In Memory of in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We will also show a seven- John L. Anderson, PhD, Naturalist, Educator, Environmen- minute film about the Garden Friends, and recognition of past tal Activist, 1938-2001" volunteers. We are inviting all past volunteers to attend the An- Lois Wilson - Green Mountain Sugar Maple, " In Memory nual Meeting. We appreciate your efforts. If you or some- of Robert Wilson Sr. Nemaha Co. Extension Agent, 1947- one you know is a past volunteer for UNLBGA working at 1979 Professor Emeritus" Spring Affair, Gardeners Gala, or in any other capacity, please plan to attend. The Manager of Education Programs has The University Residence Hall Association Senate - sent letters to past volunteers. If you have not received such Schlesinger Red Maple , "In honor of the opening of Kauffman a letter, but have volunteered, please consider yourself in- Residence Center from the 31st RHA Senate" vited Call our office (472 9139) to let us know how many Volume 8, No. 1, Page 6 years you have volunteered and whether or not you can come. 2002 PROGRAMS East Campus 7-8:30 pm More Information will come on the following programs Wednesday Walks (WW) (approx. 1 per month beginning in May) April 20-30 minute tours during lunch hour. Feel free to bring a Fri 19 Spring Affair Preview Party* sack lunch to enjoy in the gardens before or after the tour. (*fee and preregistration required) State Fair Park 6 pm Third Thursday Programs Evening programs that may or may not require a fee. Hands- Sat 20 Spring Affair on demonstrations, slide shows, speakers. 7-8:30 PM State Fair Park 9 am - 4 pm

Second Saturday Sessions Thrs 25 Tentative Arbor Day Celebration Date These classes are meant to teach a little about the science of Program TBA Botany and Horticulture. Held from 10:00 am until 11:30 or May 12:00 pm Wed 8 Noon Lilac Collection Tour Sat 11 Weed ID Field Trips 13-24 2001 Photo Winners Displayed Car pool field trips evenings or weekends depending on the Rhotunda Gallery City Campus Union trip. Thrs 16 Orchids Sat or Sun 18 or19 * Field Trip to Fontenelle to view orchids CALENDAR (*fee required to enter park) January June Thrs 17 Japanese Garden Design: Tuesdays in June Jazz in June Garden Tours TBA Inspiration For Your Garden Wed 5 Noon Rhododendron Tour Eileen Bergt, UNL Landscape Architect Sat 8 Tree and Shrub ID East Campus Union 7-8:30 pm Thrs 20 Photography - George Schadde

Sun 20 Annual Friends Meeting July All past volunteers of UNLBGA Sat 13 Landscaping w/ Grt Plants & Natives are welcome Thrs 18 Bonsai* NE Center for Continuing Ed 2:30-4pm (*may require a fee for materials) Wed 24 Noon Hosta tour February Fri 26 Tentative date for 35th anniversary Sat 9 Botany for Beginners celebration of Maxwell Arboretum Kay Kottas, UNLBGA Education Mgr East Campus Union 10-11:30 am August Wed 7 Noon Old Porch RosesTour Thrs 21 Garden Record Keeping Sat 10 Weed ID Jane Diesen, Mgr. LandMark Gardens Thrs 15 The Art of Nature: East Campus Union 7-8:30 pm The Nature of Avian Art Thrs 28 Snowdate for Garden Record Keeping September March Wed 4 Noon East Campus Prairie tour Sat 9 Perennial Propagation & Division Sat 14 Festival of Color/Gardeners Gala Linda Vavrus, Gardener's At Large, Master Gardener October East Campus 10-11:30 am Wed 2 Noon Color of City Campus tour Wed 9 Noon Color of East Campus tour Thrs 21 Pruning Practice w/ Jeff: Your Spring Pruning Primer Jeff Culbertson, East Campus Landscape Manager Volume 8, No. 1, 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 2001 Friends of Maxwell Board 2001 Garden Friends Board the UNL Botanical Garden and Arboretum.

Officers: Officers: Landscape Services President: Ted Hartung President: Janet Cutshall & Garden Staff Treasurer: Bud Dasenbrock Vice president: Emilie Ellingson Secretary: Francis Haskins Treasurer: Joe Berchenko Robert Hensarling, Director Secretary: Suzy Taylor Jay Schluckebier, Assistant Director Board Members: Administration & Management Agnes Arthaud Augusta Lux Board Members: Kirby Baird, Landscape & Botanical Cyril Bish Ed Lyman Dr. James Estes Services - City Campus Blaine Blad William Lutes Kim Hachiya Eileen Bergt, Landscape Architect Carol Bom, Staff Assistant Ron Case Dave McGill Arlene Hanna Jeff Culbertson, Landscape & Botanical August Dreier Irv Omtvedt Michael Jess Services - East Campus Kevin Herr, Architectural Services G. Steven Ferris Helen Peterson Irvin Omtvedt Don Hinds, Operations Equipment U.E. & Jane Wendorff John Furrer Susan Evnen Kay Kottas, Education Programs Peter Jensen T.O. Hass Dottie Kuester Jim Sommers, Irrigation Systems Sandy Wacker, Production and Planting Martin Massengale Gladys Jeurink Bryan Poppe Margaret Allington James Kendrick Mark Canney Newsletter Howard & Margaret Ottoson Ed Vidlak Kay Kottas, Editor E-mail: [email protected] Bonnie Williams 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