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Arboretum/National Park Service Partnership Receives Two Major Grants Phyllis Andersen, Landscape Historian

The Arboretum’s partnership with the regional office of the National Park Service, known as the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, is strengthened this year by the receipt of two grants for historic landscape preservation of national importance. We have just received a grant of $40,000 from the National Center for Pres- ervation Technology and Traimng to produce a technical publication on the preservation of woody plants in historic landscapes. The - .- .------pubhcation will evolve out of a se- Kristin Claeys, landscape preservation field assistant, Jack Alexander, ries of working group sessions in- chief plant propagator, and Gary Koller, senior horticulturist, comparing volving professionals actively lilac cultivars from the Vanderbilt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, engaged in the landscape manage- New York, to plants in the Arboretum’s collection. ment of historic sites. It will ad- dress historic tree maintenance, to develop and disseminate skills and replacement strategies for the management of features such and technologies for both architec- woody plants of historic impor- as woodlands, hedges, and vistas, tural and landscape preservation tance. The Forum will be geared the inventory and documentation and conservation. to individuals responsible for the of woody plants and the use of The Olmsted Center has also ongoing management of historic computer technology for both received a grant of $12,500 from sites with some space available for mapping and inventory control. the Preservation Assistance Divi- the general public. We are particularly proud that sion of the National Park Service Our partnership with the this grant, one of only two to hold a Forum on Historic Veg- Olmsted Center continues to place awarded to landscape projects, is etation Management at the Arnold us in the forefront of landscape among the first group given by Arboretum in the spring of 1995. preservation work. We are umque the newly created National Center This one-day event will bring to- as an arboretum in our commit- for Preservation Technology and gether speakers from all over the ment. By bringing our traditional Training, which is located at country to participate in panel strengths in plant identification, Northwestern State University of discussions on a variety of topics propagation, and woody plant Louisiana in Natchitoches. The including arboncultural practices management to bear on the newly Center, estabhshed in 1992 by an at historic sites, the management emerging methods of landscape Act of Congress, is part of the Na- of plant succession, and the iden- preservation we are adding solid tional Park Service. Its mission is tification, condition assessment, botanical and horticultural skills to those of landscape architects, preservation, training, and tech- in strategic planning to enable it preservation professionals, and nology development. The future to continue to play a leadership general maintenance specialists. of our partnership looks promis- role in cultural and natural land- Our projects are diverse. Peter Del ing, and we are currently engaged scape preservation. Tredici has identified plants lost to Fairsted, the home and office of National Preservation Frederick Law Olmsted, from his- Conference Honors toric photographs of that site. Arboretum Staff Peter’s work has contributed a Bob Cook, director of the Arnold Arboretum, was given a new to the layer of authenticity Heritage Hero award by Roger Kennedy, director of the National treatment plan currently being Park Service, on the occasion of the 48th National Preservation at Fairsted. implemented Jack Conference sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preserva- Alexander has grafted old apple tion held in Boston, October 26-30, 1994. Heritage Hero awards varieties from Weir Farm, the are given to individuals who have made major contributions to home of American impressiomst the preservation mission of the National Park Service. Boston painter Alden Weir, now a prop- Mayor Thomas Menino was also honored with this award at a erty of the National Park Service, ceremony at the Park Plaza Hotel on October 27. and from the Franklin Delano The renovation of Harvard Yard, including the Yard land- Roosevelt site in Hyde Park, New scape, buildings, and encircling fence received the National York, to provide replacement Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic for histonc orchards. The plants Preservation. Peter Del Tredici, assistant director for living collec- Olmsted Center, now located at tions, was a member of the committee that prepared the replant- the Frederick Law Olmsted Na- ing plan, which will add over 250 trees to the Yard over the next tional Historic Site in Brookline, 7 to 10 years. The replanting plan is a unique contnbution to the has been nationally recognized as field of landscape preservation in its detailed and sensitive the only within the Na- facility approach to dealing with the loss of the key landscape element, tional Park Service devoted exclu- the American elm. sively to historic landscape

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The Arnold Arboretum interns of 1994 are, from left to right in the front row, Kirsten Thornton, Todd Forrest, Amy Spencer, Debra Castellano, Kirsten Ganshaw, and in the back row, Vincent DiFusco, Andy Bell, Amy Capron, Scott Wunderle, Lisa Farino, Chris Fannin, Merrill Whittington, Kyle Orr, and Pam Snow. Irina Kadis is missing from the photo. Their training included hands-on experience in grounds maintenance-including an extra dose of hard work on Peters Hill and Bussey Hill-labelling and mapping of trees and shrubs, plant propagation, and library curation. They also participated in plant identification and landscape maintenance classes and joined Arboretum staff members for tours and talks.

2 The Rain Forest learning, decision-making, and Because each student "expert" has Connection technology. umque information, the team can Based on our ongoing search succeed only by sharing their Robert E. Cook, Director for plants containing anti-cancer knowledge and ideas. As the and anti-AIDS compounds in teams make decisions, the direc- Last month the Arboretum Indonesian tropical forests, The tion of the narrative changes, re- entered into an unusual collabora- Ram Forest Connection will com- flectmg the consequences of their tion with a company called Tom bine real-life narratives with col- choices and presenting new oppor- Snyder Productions. Supported by laborative problem-solving based tunities for problem-solving and a $90,000 grant from the Na- on actual scientific research on the decision-making. tional Science Foundation, we will discovery and management of bio- John Burley, director of our be working with them to develop logical resources. The CD-ROM programs in Indonesia, and The Rain Forest Connection, an will include video, animation, still Andrew MacDonald, our research interactive CD-ROM-based cur- images, data sets, maps, remote associate who has just returned riculum package for middle-grade sensing images, sound and music from six months m the forests of students. CD-ROM is a technol- to provide story, information, Borneo, will be working with me ogy that places vast volumes of in- background, incentives, and feed- and a production team at Tom formation on a compact disc that back. Classroom students will Snyder to develop the narrative can be rapidly accessed at any work in small cooperative teams and ensure scientific accuracy. It point. Tom Snyder Productions made up of different scientific promises to be a very creative has extensive experience in creat- "experts." Each team will collect, collaboration and will bring the ing award-winning educational organize, and analyze data from work of the Arboretum to thou- materials that effectively integrate the CD-ROM, print booklets, and sands of schoolchildren across the science content with cooperative related hands-on activities. country.

Preliminary Report of the 1994 NACPEC Germplasm-Collecting Trip to Wu Dang Mountain, Hubei Province, China: September 4 to October 11,1994 Peter Del Tredici, Assistant Director for Living Collections

Hubei Province figures prominently in the history of the Arnold Arboretum. It has been the source of many of our most prized introductions. E. H. Wilson collected many plants in the vicinity of Yichang (on the Yangtze River) in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and in 1980 Chennongjia Mountain in the western part of the province was the pnncipal site of the Sino- Amencan Botanical Expedition, the first major plant- collecting expedition to China since 1949. This fall, representatives from four of the institu- tions in the North American-China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC), working in cooperation with the Nanjing Botanical Garden, joined in a collecting to Wu Mountain in northern Hubei expedition Dang Mr. Zen of the Science and Technology Committee, Province. I was on the Paul accompanied trip by Meyer Dang Jiang Kou City in Hubei Province, holds a of the Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, Kevin Conrad fruiting specimen of Emmenopterys henryi collected from the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C., on the 1994 NACPEC Expedition.

3 R. William Thomas from road takes visitors up to about interesting plants whose seeds we Longwood Gardens, Kennett 3,000 feet, where a handful of collected were Acer gruzum, Square, Pennsylvania, and two hotels are located. Beyond this Castanea henryi, Emmenopterys botanists from the Jiangsu Insti- point a steep stone path leads to henryz, Hamamelz.r mollzr, and tute of Botany, Mao Cailiang and the summit, which is crowned Sinowzlronza henryr. Hao Riming. As well as being with the spectacular Golden In all, we made 127 collections botamcally interesting, Wu Dang Temple. Chinese tourists and pil- of seed that are now being pro- Shan is famous throughout China grims visit the mountain at all cessed for germination at the Dana as one of the principal centers times of year, but their impact is Greenhouses. With luck, this new of Daoism during the Ming Dy- generally confined to the immedi- generation of Chinese plants will nasty. Over 500 years ago, some ate vicinity of the stone path. flourish at the Arboretum well 300,000 workers were employed While the vegetation adjacent to into the next century. In addition, in the building of some 46 the path shows signs of wear and many of them will be distributed temples and halls, 72 shrines, 39 tear, one can find well-preserved to other botanical gardens and bridges, and 12 pavilions on the forest just a short distance from it. nurseries in order to diversify the mountain, many of which are Indeed, it was very exciting to see germplasm currently available in still standing. many "old friends" from the this country. Readers of Arnoldia The mountain itself is 5,285 Arboretum growing in their na- can expect a more detailed report feet in elevation. A good paved tive habitat. Among the most on the trip in the near future.

Support for Field Studies Arnold Arboretum Committee president Jim Gorman recently presented a check to Diane Syverson, manager of school programs, and friends from the Joseph Lee School in Dorchester. The recent donation caps a total of $26,000 contributed by the Committee to support the participation of Boston Public School students in the Arboretum’s Field Study Experiences Program. Open House On Sunday, October 16, Arboretum members and friends from the surrounding community joined director Bob Cook and staff for a special open house. In addition to tours of the landscape, greenhouses, and Hunnewell Building, participants enjoyed a demonstration of the Arboretum’s High Ranger truck (above) with arborist John Olmsted and grounds superintendent Patrick Willoughby.

4 Growing Classroom Gardens As every good gardener knows, part of the science programs at Gardening Association. Known as the expenence of cultmaung elementary schools in Dorchester, The Growth Connection, the pro- plants engages our best observa- Hyde Park, and Mattapan. Coor- gram is part of the Arboretum’s tional skills and provides a fasci- dinated by Arboretum school pro- ongoing efforts to tap the poten- nating close-up window on the gram manager Diane Syverson, tial of the world of plants and hor- natural world. Through a recent the project will enable teachers ticulture for hands-on science grant from Northeastern from the Arboretum’s LEAP learning. University’s CESAME (Center for (LEarning About Plants) program the Enhancement of Science and to lead children in sci- gardening Volunteerr Mathematics Education), the Ar- ence investigations developed by boretum will make this experience the Arboretum and the National Recognition

Arboretum Renovation Receives Preservation Award

Each year the Boston Preservation historic character of both the Alliance recognizes exemplary Hunnewell Building and the sur- contributions to the preservation rounding landscape was a pnmary of the City’s rich architectural and goal of the recent renovation, and This October we wish to extend for landscape heritage. recognition Loretta Wilson and Flora Bussewitz the Arnold Arboretum received a the project’s success to Arboretum were among the many honored at 1994 Preservation Award for "its renovation Sheila Connor manager the recent luncheon held in recog- outstanding restoration and the (and horticultural research archi- nition of Arboretum volunteers. Al creation of handicapped access in vist), landscape architect Carol Bussewitz’s illustrated lecture on the historical Hunnewell Build- Johnson, and architectural con- Henry David Thoreau was the ing, circa 1892." Preserving the sultants The Primary Group. highlight of the event.

New Staff at the Arboretum

the Arboretum’s plant records us- Indonesia. Ann-Marie comes to us ing accessioning and planting lists from the Department of Organis- and nursery inventory. In Oregon, mic and Evolutionary Biology. Todd worked for a retail nursery as a landscape design consultant and spent his free time studying the ecology of the Douglas fir for- ests of the Western Cascades. He is a 1991 graduate of Wesleyan Umversity and an inveterate plantsperson.

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Todd Forrest, our new curatorial Ann-Marie Luciano is a recent assistant in the Mapping and addition to the Arnold Arboretum Labelling department, came to staff at the Harvard University the Arboretum from Portland, Herbaria. She will be assisting a B.S. m Oregon, as a grounds-crew intern John Burley with day-to-day tasks She was awarded ~ournal- relations from in April of this year. His primary on the Biodiversity Collections ism and pubhc responsibihty will be updating Project with the government of Northeastern University in 1993. 12th Annuall Plant Sale and Auction A splendid selection of unusual and choice plants from the Arboretum and other botanical collections, nurseries, and private collectors ensured a highly . successful 12th Annual Arnold Arboretum Plant Sale and Auction. The Arboretum expresses its many thanks to the 555 volunteers who contributed over 780 hours of excellent effort to the event.

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Members choose their bonuses outside the Case Estates barn.

The calm before the storm: volunteers prepare to register bidders before the 12th Annual Rare Plant Auction.

New England plant societies and horticultural organizations gathered on Society Row. A magnolia and other plants head for new grounds.

6 , EVENTS

The Arnold Arboretum’s Education Department offers many short courses, lectures, and programs during the winter months. These cold months give gardeners the time to plan their gardening activities for the coming season, and to learn about new plant materials and horticultural techmques. For a complete catalogue of programs and events at the Arboretum, call (617) 524-1718, ext. 162. Please note that course fees printed in boldface are for Arboretum members.

J A N U A R Y led to the final plan drawings. Students will partici- pate in weekly critiques of their plans in progress. HOR 377 Woody Plant Groupings: Designing Please note that all class members create a for With Trees and Shrubs plan the visited during the first class. Laura Eztener, Landscape Derzgner garden Prerequisite: Some knowledge of the basics of This class will examine the ways in which woody plan drawing is needed in this course.

can be combined to in ’ plants shape space boundary Fee: $95, $110 plantings. The instructor will also discuss canopy 1 Sunday, February 5/ 1:00-3:00 pm layers, understory levels, groves, allees, and or- (Hunnewell Building and required site visit) chards. The last session will emphasize ornamental and 5 Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7/ as a of the effect of the tree pruning way enhancing 6:30-8:30 and shrub groupings. Slides and plan drawings will be used to uses of illustrate striking woody plants. HOR 277 The Business of Design Fee: $64, $77 Carol Julzen, Garden De.rzgner 4 Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19, 26/ 6:30-8:30 pm Every landscape practitioner, whether landscape (Dana Greenhouse) architect, designer, installer, or maintenance spe- cialist, has business issues that need to be success- F E B R U A R Y fully resolved. Experienced garden designer Carol HOR 406 Building the Design: How to Solve Julien will introduce and discuss many of these Problems in Landscape Construction business-related questions. Bob Hanss, Landscape Architect and Fee:$40,$46 DeazgnlBuzld Profe.r,rzonal 3 Mondays, February 6, 13, 27/ 6:30-8:30 pm This course is designed for the needs of landscape (Dana Greenhouse) professionals, but homeowners or gardeners inter- WAL 311 Classic and Choice Garden Roses ested in doing their own subcontracting are also Botanic Garden welcome. The class will see slides of current or re- Stephen Scanniello, Rorarzan, Brooklyn cently completed projects that illustrate how to deal As Chairman of the Heritage Rose Foundation and with the many problems and issues of turning a a judge at the International Rose Competition held plan into reality. Topics to be covered include cost each year in Pans, Stephen Scanniello sees and analysis and materials selection. evaluates the best rose introductions. This beauti- Fee: $54, $65 fully illustrated slide lecture will give rose admirers a to winter and 3 Wednesdays, February 1, 8, 15/ 6:30-8:30 pm chance shake the doldrums plan (Dana Greenhouse) spring purchases. Fee:$15,$188 HOR 210 Fundamentals of Garden Design Thursday, February 16/ 7:30-9:00 pm Douglas Reed, Landscape Architect (Hunnewell Building) Gardening begins with a plan, whether you are BOT 100 Introduction to renovating an existing garden or starting from Botany Arborzrt and Horticultural Instructor scratch. This course will help participants to visual- James Martzn, ize good garden design, get a plan down on paper, An introduction to botany for students new to the and choose plants consistent with the design. discipline and a refresher for those who feel the need The instructor will use lectures and slides to to brush up on old skills. Among the topics to be convey the steps in developing a plan, using before- explored are plant cells and tissues, cell division, and-after slides of garden sites and the sketches that plant anatomy and morphology, plant diversity,

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