50 Michigan Gardener | May 2012 | www.MichiganGardener.com
Sandie Parrott
The large tree to the right is an American elm— one of two on the estate that survived Dutch elm disease. “Both trees are injected every three years with a fungicide. They are also wellwatered and watched carefully,” explained Program Coordinator Rebecca Stack. continued from previous page Techniques used in the orchard to control insects include monitored traps, mating disruption, neem oil for Japanese beetles and apple maggot flies, and specific Michigan native wildflowers grown throughout the estate to attract beneficial insects. “Two honeybee hives, a bumblebee ‘quad’ (a unit containing 4 hives), and a nesting place for blue orchard bees are located near the orchard to ensure adequate pollination. Over 100 pounds of honey was harvested from the hives in 2011 and is used in estate recipes for public events,” added Belco.
Visiting Applewood Applewood is not open to the public on a
Ruth Bryan
The perennial garden bursts with color in the spring, including a ‘Floribunda’ crabapple, hundreds of tulips and daffodils, and a tea house in the corner.
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To learn about Applewood’s schedule, special event days, and more, visit www.applewood.org.
regular schedule. However, it is open during their special events or by special arrangement for parties, tours, or groups. Typically, Applewood has 5 to 6 special event days, including Celebrate Spring in May and the Fall Harvest
Festival in September. According to Program Coordinator Rebecca Stack, “In 2012, a new event is being planned: ‘Lunch and Learn.’ The concept is to open up Applewood on a regular basis during weekdays at lunchtime.
Visitors will be encouraged to take a break in their day, bring their lunch, stroll the gardens and learn from our horticultural staff’s short presentations.” Stack and the staff are also starting to gear up with ideas for 2016 and Applewood’s 100th Anniversary! Sandie Parrott is a freelance writer, blogger, photographer and Advanced Master Gardener living and working in Oakland County, Michigan.
The trees of Applewood by Sandie Parrott Starting with Mott’s original collection as well as specimens that have been added, Applewood has some rare and old, wonderful trees for viewing. Some of the trees include two bur oaks (on the 1915 survey), yellowwood, roundleaf and cutleaf beeches, two American elms that flank the driveway (and that survived Dutch elm disease), epaulette tree (planted in honor of Ruth Mott’s 100th birthday), kobus magnolia, lacebark pine, katsura, black gum, Carolina silverbell, bald cypress, tulip tree, three silver lindens, and two pagoda trees. “A sugar maple on the front lawn is magnificent—its branches are allowed to spread out and rest on the ground, creating an impressive specimen,” affectionately described Estate Manager Deborah Elliott. “Mr. Mott’s clay tennis court was located next to the bur oak with a bench under it. I have often wished the tree could tell us about the tennis matches and conversations it witnessed over the years. Mr. Mott played tennis with Mr. Manley and he pitched the idea of opening schools after classes to give youths something creative to do. Mr. Mott agreed to supply money to try out the concept. From there the Community School Program was born and became an international model,” Elliott related. Many of these valuable trees have lightning protection installed by professionals. Elliott explained, “It is not a do-it-yourself project. Braided copper cables are run up the tree trunk to the top of the crown. The other ends of the cables are buried under the soil to the tree’s drip edge. If lightning does strike the tree, it should follow the copper cables down rather than damage the tree.”
Dave Miller
‘John Cabot’ is a magnificent climbing rose at Applewood.