Planning and planting for a better world Friends of the JC Raulston Arboretum Newsletter Number 7, Spring 1999 York Challenge Announced at Gala On May 2, 672 revelers streamed through the Arboretum to celebrate the 1999 Gala in the Garden. They shopped at the hat boutique to capture designer creations by Susan Stephenson. They vied for the fantasy bird houses decorating the paths and the tables. They competed hotly for items in the silent auction, strolled the garden, and settled in for a dinner under the big top. The spired white tent, rising from a floor constructed over the annual trial gardens, allowed all the gala guests to dine together Lib and Willie York and their daughter, Phyllis Brookshire, for the first time since the gala’s enjoy a moment under the arbor in the Finley Rose Garden. inception. Photo by Ginger Long The biggest news of the evening, however, came during a surprise Professor Raulston and all that he Bill Wilder, chairman of the announcement made by Chancel- has meant to the greening of North Arboretum Board of Advisors and lor Marye Anne Fox. She told Carolina,” Friday said. “At this legislative liasion for the NC guests of a $300,000 challenge place, he developed whole new Association of Nurserymen, grant extended by Lib and Willie industries for our people. Now, the officially accepted the challenge. York to support the future Educa- state, through its friends, will build tion Center. here a lasting tribute to this man “Lib and Willie York have chal- whose noble spirit impacted each of lenged the Arboretum community William C. Friday, Executive us. to raise $3.4 million in legislative Director of the William R. Kenan, funding and $800,000 in private Jr. Charitable Trust and former “Lib and Willie York are the strong funds to build the future Education president of the UNC system, right arm of JC Raulston in making Center,” Wilder said. “On behalf of spoke eloquently to the signifi- his dreams come true. They have the Arboretum Board of Advisors cance of the York’s challenge. devoted so much of their lives to and the North Carolina green making NC State the important industry, I accept that challenge, institution that it is today.” “The Arboretum represents the See York, page 2 fulfillment of the great dreams of Spring 1999 Page 1 Table Plant News...........................3 1998 Accessions...............13 of Development News..............9 Editor’s News....................22 Volunteer News...................11 Staff and Curators.............23 Contents Reviews and Previews.......12 Director’s Letter Remember that movie from the sixties, something like “If this is Tuesday it must be Belgium?” Well, I have been following a similar course for the past two months as I traverse the state to meet our members, advocates, and other supporters. Destinations in North Carolina and beyond are being covered, and will continue to be for several months ahead. These meetings enable me to not only introduce myself, but also articulate our mission and express the need to On February 1, 1999, Flocks of pink and white flamingos mysteriously complete the new Master Plan, landed in the Arboretum. It was also Bob’s first day as director. Any including the Education Center. I connection? What’s next, pink elephants? photo by Jonathan Nyberg am very excited about the potential benefits which can be derived from matching the York Challenge. recognition of their commitment, these new facilities, and I’ve made the auditorium in the future it a priority issue in my travels and Lib and Willie York and Marye Education Center will bear their talks. Remember, improved Anne Fox and Jim Whitesell served name. This is a fitting legacy to facilities for the entire JC Raulston together as honorary co-chairmen of two individuals whose contribu- Arboretum (JCRA) staff and the Gala in the Garden. tions can be seen everywhere in the volunteers are also integral to the JC Raulston Arboretum, and a “Jim and I were honored to serve as Master Plan and we critically need family that, for four generations, honorary co-chairs alongside such them. This is particularly true has been - and are still - integral to great friends of NC State,” said Fox. when you consider the major the history of NC State University.” upgrade in computer systems “Lib and Willie York have both brought strong leadership to the “I also want to thank event co- See Director’s Letter, page 24 Arboretum and to this University. chairs Pickett Guthrie and Char- NC State is a far greater institution lotte Martin, the rest of the amaz- as a result of their unwavering ingly talented and dedicated York, cont. from p. 1 friendship and support.” committee, and all the very gener- ous sponsors who made this and thank Lib and Willie York for Arboretum director Bob Lyons also evening possible.” this generous commitment and this expressed his gratitude for the motivation to move forward.” York’s commitment and for all those The gala raised over $61,000 toward who made the 1999 Gala in the the construction of the Education Wilder asked the legislators and Garden a success. Center. Ground breaking for the other friends of the Arboretum center will begin as soon as the $4.2 present to work with him toward “This challenge is a tremendous million necessary for construction the passage of legislation currently inspiration to all of us, and we can is raised. introduced in NC House and never thank Lib and Willie enough Senate. He and Libby Wilder also for this latest example of their See the summer issue of the news- pledged the first $1,000 toward leadership and generosity. In letter for more on the gala! ■ Page 2 Friends of the JC Raulston Arboretum Newsletter Plant News Evergreen Magnoliaceae Evaluations By Pat McCracken Can you imagine the above magnolia flower in shades of pink and red growing on a trellis in your garden? Breeder Pat McCracken The collection of Magnoliaceae at the JC Raulston Arboretum at can! photo by JC Raulston North Carolina State University has become extensive over the past acres of field space for this exten- The other evergreen species will several years. As curator of the sive collection. I am currently also also be evaluated for cold hardiness magnolia collection, I have taken a trying to collect all other species and landscape value. There is a personal interest the last few years and cultivars of evergreen large number of species that may in the evergreen members of this Magnoliaceae for evaluation. have commercial value in the family. Most people are familiar warmer regions of the United with the popular southern magno- One of the primary interests in the States. In the following section, I lia (Magnolia grandiflora); however, Magnolia grandiflora collection is to will discuss my breeding ideas in most people have never seen the evaluate for cold hardiness. This more detail. more exotic species of evergreen will be done with cooperative Magnoliaceae. One of my goals is research with Dr. Paul Cappiello to introduce the gardening public at Bernheim Arboretum in Ken- Breeding Work within to this diverse and landscape tucky. Dr. Cappiello will be worthy group of plants. To my conducting laboratory experi- the Evergreen knowledge, a thorough and serious ments to determine the theoretical Magnoliaceae collection of these plants has not minimum temperatures each been done to date. cultivar can withstand. At the Plant breeders have long over- termination of the laboratory trial, looked evergreen magnolia species Initially, I decided to emphasize we will conduct extensive field (and other evergreen genera in the Magnolia grandiflora cultivars. The trials of the hardiest cultivars in Magnoliaceae). This remarkable collection now contains over 100 northern test sites. This knowl- group of plants offers a wide range selections of this wonderful species edge will be invaluable to the of hardiness, plant size and growth and represents one of the largest nursery industry because it will habit, leaf form, flower size and collections of this species in the allow us to aggressively make flower fragrance. Flower color has world. Unfortunately these plants selections of magnolias that can be been basically only white (with a require a tremendous amount of marketed far north of the current very few pink selections in genera space, and can not all be grown at market. It will also be of great other than Magnolia). the arboretum. The collection is value in magnolia breeding. By being housed by Taylor’s Nursery crossing the hardiest Magnolia Hardiness ranges from a limited in Raleigh, NC and will be main- grandiflora cultivars with other less number of plants that will survive tained there for the duration of the hardy species it should be possible zone 5 all the way to plants that are evaluations. Taylor’s has gra- to produce cold hardy hybrids ciously agreed to donate several with great garden merit. See Magnolia, next page Spring 1999 Page 3 Plant News within the genus Mangletia. 2. Develop large pink/red flower- Magnolia, continued Mangletia yunnanensis has leaves six ing evergreen magnolias that are inches long and three-quarter hardy to at least zone 7b. This may tropical zone 10 hardy. The primary inches wide. Some species have be difficult since Magnolia delayvii problem with evergreen magnolias leaves that are extremely glossy on “red flowered form” is a zone 9 has always been cold hardiness. the upper surface (Magnolia grandi- plant. The large evergreen leaves are flora), and others have leaves with extremely susceptible to desiccation very dull, matte surfaces (Magnolia 3. Develop improved growth habit during the winter. There are a few guatamalensis and several other and flowering characteristics.