Arboretum Magazine June/July 2024

arboretum JUNE/JULY 2024

magazine

Discover harmony in the gardens

Photo by Mark MacLennan

“Winter & Summer Nymphs” by sculptor Paul Granlund welcomes visitors to the MacMillan and Morgan Terrace Gardens behind the Snyder Building.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ANDREW GAPINSKI

In early summer, the Arboretum’s display gardens and specialty

collections come into full bloom as perennials and shrubs such as peonies, irises, daylilies and roses begin to flower while vibrant annuals add color to containers and the Arboretum’s many displays.

Who are the artists behind these works of art, these living tapestries? It’s the Arboretum’s gardeners, horticulturists and volunteers — who all work in at least five dimensions, including width, height, depth, plus the fourth dimension of time and, finally a fifth, the weather — to create these incredible exhibits which we all enjoy.

Beyond this horticultural artistry, fine art itself is a quintessential part of the experience for the Arboretum’s visitors year round. Three indoor gallery spaces at the Arboretum feature rotating exhibitions of nature-inspired art; the expansive Harrison Sculpture Garden is a JUNE/JULY 2024, VOL. 43, NO. 3

stunning destination showcasing sculptures from around the world; and thoughtfully placed art pieces throughout the gardens and landscapes spark unexpected wonder and routinely connect visitors of all ages to the natural world.

This June, the Gala in the Gardens celebrates this fundamental relationship between art and nature. As the Arboretum’s annual fundraising event hosted by the Board of Trustees, the Gala provides the opportunity to celebrate our successes as an organization and look ahead to the future.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating and supporting art and nature at the Arboretum — including the living art on display in the gardens and the incredible staff and volunteers who make it all possible — this June.

For more art at the Arboretum, explore current and upcoming gallery exhibitions in the Reedy, Cafe and Skyway galleries and take in art and sculpture throughout the gardens, including the “Dakota Sacred Hoop Walk,” the augmented reality exhibition by digital artist Marlena Myles, located in the Harrison Sculpture Garden.

There’s so much to see and explore at the Arboretum this summer, we hope to see you out in the gardens — and galleries — soon.

Arboretum Magazine is published six times a year by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

The Arboretum is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) at the University of Minnesota. The magazine is a benefit of Arboretum membership. To request a copy of this publication in an alternate or digital format, please call 612-301-1257. © 2024 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

arb.umn.edu 612-624-2200 arbinfo@umn.edu

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Elise Bremer, Editor Brenda Drake Lesch, Art Director Andrew Gapinski, Executive Director Matthew Clark, Ph.D., Director of Research Rachelle Crosby, Director of Facilities & Project Management Timothy S. Kenny, Director of Education David Senior, Director of Business & Finance Susan Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Advancement Tom Lany, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager Glenn Stolar, President, Arboretum Foundation

On the cover: “Messenger of Peace” by sculptor Chester Comstock soars over the top of the waterfall across from the Dwarf Conifer Collection. Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

HORTICULTURE

With more than 500 taxa of Iris in the Iris Garden, this group of plants represents the largest herbaceous collection at the Arboretum. Nestled along the edge of Iris Pond, the garden typically reaches peak bloom in late May or early June. Staff and volunteers care for the iris throughout the growing season.

But to keep this spectacular collection looking its best, once a year — in partnership with the Iris Society of Minnesota — the annual iris dig takes place.

A majority of the Arboretum’s iris are classified as bearded iris, known for their beardlike appearance on the lower petals, or “falls,” of the flower structures. Bearded iris have thick underground stems known as rhizomes.

Over time, rhizomes have a habit of crowding, restricting the production of strong flushes of flowers. Because of this, it’s best to dig up clumps of bearded iris every three to five years and divide the rhizomes to promote plant health and stronger floral displays.

When digging bearded iris, timing is important. It’s best to wait until post-flowering to dig up the rhizomes, preferably in mid- to late summer. To inspect rhizome health, knock off all the dirt from the rhizome or rinse with water. Healthy rhizomes are firm. Unhealthy rhizomes may feel soft from rot or have pinholes from iris borers and should be discarded.

When dividing iris rhizomes, use a sanitized pruner and target rhizomes that are the thickness of a thumb, a couple inches long and that terminate in a fan of leaves of five or more.

A central rhizome, or the mother, is often of no use and can be tossed upon removal of smaller rhizomes terminating in fans of leaves. Newly divided rhizomes should be replanted as soon as possible and the remaining foliage should be cut back to around 5 inches to minimize stress and reduce tipping. Bearded iris grow best in a site with full sun and well-drained soil.

While this annual dig is no small feat, it’s an important part of managing the Arboretum’s Iris Collection. Learn more about how the team at the Arboretum divides iris and find additional resources for dividing iris at home in a longer version of this story on the Arboretum’s Nature Notes blog at z.umn.edu/iris-dig.

Inset Photo by Nick Kreevich

NICK KREEVICH • CURATORIAL MANAGER

In mid- to late summer, Arboretum staff, volunteers and members of the Iris Society of Minnesota dig targeted sections of the Iris Garden; dividing, labeling and replanting the iris rhizomes to ensure the health and vigor of the plants in the collection. Photo by Bonnie Ronning A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2024

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THE JOY OF GIVING

JEFF ISEMINGER • CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two sinuous figures seem to soar from the grasses…seem to lift off together as if flying to the sun, breaking the boundaries of the bronze from which they’re made.

Do you doubt that grass and bronze can feel like they flow from the same source, like dancers encircled in a whirl of beauty? To decide for yourself, visit the Arboretum’s Ornamental Grass Collection and look to the far northwest corner just before the tree line.

You can spend some golden moments there because of a gift from Nancy and Karl Cambronne: The sculpture “Kiciuzapi” (kee-chee-youzah-pee) by Sicangu Lakota artist John Sterner of Marshall, Minn.

The Cambronnes originally commissioned the sculpture in 2008 for the backyard of their Golden Valley home. While there isn’t a direct translation, “Kiciuzapi” roughly translates to “holding each other sacredly” in Lakota, inspired when Sterner saw how close the Cambronnes were as a couple.

Later they wanted to widen the audience for the sculpture and chose to donate “Kiciuzapi” to the Arboretum and endow it, with the dedication

in 2021. “Nancy has always been a big fan of the Arboretum,” Karl said.

“And the placement in the ornamental grasses is so perfect.”

Sterner works in many mediums — sculpture in bronze, iron and steel; graphic art; and painting. For example, on Highway 19 entering Marshall, you can see his use of bronze, steel and wood to create a herd of mustangs galloping across the prairie.

After “Kiciuzapi” was moved to the Arboretum, Sterner planted native grasses important to his Lakota heritage around the sculpture and asked that a circle surround it.

“Our family loves to stop at the sculpture,” said Karl. “It’s just a delight when we hear another visitor say, ‘Wow, look at that.’ The sculpture can create a visceral reaction in you.”

Nancy knows it can. “When I see ‘Kiciuzapi,’” she said, “I see family joy.”

The Cambronnes have known their own joy through 44 years of “ a very happy marriage that just works,” said Karl.

What also works, they both believe, is the new home for “Kiciuzapi.”

“The Arboretum,” said Karl, “is an absolute legacy for Minnesota.”

“When I see 'Kiciuzapi' I see family joy.”

Karl and Nancy Cambronne Photo by Lily Smith

The ascendent sculpture “Kiciuzapi” by Sicangu Lakota artist John Sterner was acquired by the Arboretum in 2021 thanks to a gift from Nancy and Karl Cambronne. Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

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NATURE FOCUS

The showy lady’s slipper — Minnesota’s state flower — is one of 48 native species of orchids in the state and blooms at the Arboretum in early summer.

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST

In early June, wetlands and moist woodlands are decorated with the elegant bloom of the showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae). The specific epithet “reginae” is Latin for queen, a fitting name for the most spectacular of our native orchids.

The showy lady’s slipper is also called the “moccasin flower,” as its radiant pink and magenta flowers resemble tiny moccasins or slippers. An Ojibwe legend tells how the flower first appeared from the footprints of a young woman who set out in the dead of winter in search of medicine to save her village from a deadly disease. Upon her successful return, she lost her moccasins, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in the snow. Every spring since that time her footprints reappear in the form of the delicate flower.

Showy lady’s slippers are difficult to grow, and it can take 10 to 17 years for them to bloom from seed. They require acidic soil and, like many orchid species, rely on fungi in the soil to germinate. The fungus acts as a host to the minuscule orchid seed and is absorbed by the orchid

embryo when it invades the orchid cells.

Lady’s slipper seeds are as fine as flour dust. A single flower can produce half a million seeds annually. Each pod can contain 10,000 to 20,000 powdery seeds, which are dispersed by the wind. Once established, a plant can live for over 100 years.

Several bee species pollinate the plant. They are attracted to the lip of the flower and enter through a slit, but they can escape only by exiting beneath a mass of pollen. The pollen from previous visits to other flowers is rubbed off and a fresh load of pollen is picked up as the bees leave.

The showy lady’s slipper was named the Minnesota state flower in 1902, and since 1925, has been protected by law, making it illegal to pick or uproot. Showy lady’s slippers bloom in early summer and can be seen at the Arboretum in the Grace B. Dayton Wildflower Garden and at the junction of Three-Mile Walk and the Bog Boardwalk.

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RESEARCH

ELISE BREMER • EDITOR

This spring, two of Minnesota’s showiest native orchids took to the international stage, representing the Arboretum’s Plant Conservation Program at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.

On display were Minnesota’s state flower, the showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae), and the small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum), which traveled to London ahead of David Remucal, Ph.D., the Delores E. Isaacson Curator of Endangered Plants and Manager of the Plant Conservation Program.

“Lady’s slippers are some of the showiest native orchids that we’ve got,” said Remucal, who views the beauty and diversity of orchids as an avenue to get the public excited about plant conservation.

“There’s more to orchids than the typical showy plants you see in the grocery store or greenhouse.”

At the Chelsea Flower Show, Remucal displayed Minnesota’s native orchids alongside representatives from conservation and research organizations across the U.S., who traveled to London with native orchids from their respective regions to educate and inspire visitors, spreading awareness about the diversity of orchids across the globe.

Back in Minnesota, Remucal’s goals are much the same: Get people excited about native orchids and plant conservation efforts across the state. But the work of the Plant Conservation Program goes far beyond public outreach and education.

Minnesota is home to 48 species of orchids — one-quarter of the country’s total 200 native orchid species. Of these, about 20% can be found on Minnesota’s List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species, with one species,

the Western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara), listed as federally threatened.

The goal of the Arboretum’s conservation efforts is to preserve and protect all of Minnesota’s native orchid species through active conservation efforts such as seed banking, propagation and the relocation of at-risk plant populations.

Through the work of a small but dedicated group of staff and volunteers, the Plant Conservation Program has made great strides since it began in 2013, propagating plants from two-thirds of the state’s native orchids, preserving the beauty of these natural treasures for generations to come.

To learn more about Minnesota’s native orchids and support the work of the Plant Conservation Program, visit arb.umn.edu/plant-conservation-program.

This spring, two of Minnesota’s native orchids, including the small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum), traveled to London along with David Remucal, the Arboretum’s Curator of Endangered Plants and Manager of the Plant Conservation Program, to spread awareness about native orchid conservation efforts. Photo by Justin Meissen

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EDUCATIO N

Stop by the Farm at the Arb this summer to pick your own produce and learn about Minnesota-grown crops at Summer Fun at the Farm, held every Saturday from July 13-Aug. 31. Photo by Katie Knapp

Harvest Minnesota-grown crops DEREK CARWOOD • ADULT EDUCATION MANAGER

No matter the season, there are always new ways to learn and explore at the Arboretum, and this summer brings an abundance of fresh opportunities. As the gardens across the Arboretum delight visitors with their parade of blooms, new events and programs designed by the Arboretum’s Education team will inform and inspire, highlighting the connection between people, plants and the planet.

In celebration of all things agriculture, a new Summer Fun at the Farm series kicks off on July 13 at the Farm at the Arb and continues every Saturday through Aug. 31. Arboretum visitors at these drop-in events can experience the thrill of picking a Minnesota-grown crop, chat with the experts about what it takes to bring a crop to harvest and learn how to prepare the produce for the table. And perhaps most importantly, visitors will be able to taste the fruits of their labor!

As Arboretum farmer Bob Dressen puts it, “Our goal is to engage our members and guests to give them a better understanding of agriculture by demonstrating Minnesota production agriculture with our crop plots and by hosting events throughout the growing season."

The Farm at the Arb features the Crop Walk, Garden Gallery, Fruitful Way and the Foodscape displays and connects visitors to the food they eat.

In addition to these gardens, visitors can explore the historic Red Barn and

the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center or take a cooking class at the Burton and Virginia Myers Education Center.

After exploring and savoring the harvest, visitors have the opportunity to peruse items for purchase at a new Farm Market, play games and enjoy other fun and informative hands-on activities. For those looking for a deeper dive into farming and agriculture, classes are available on a wide range of topics, including beekeeping with beekeeper Ping Honzay and cooking with Chef Beth Fisher.

Summer Fun at the Farm is included with general daily admission.

Learn more about weekly themes and activities at arb.umn.edu/summerfun.

Summer Fun at the Farm July 13 — Garlic Harvest July 20 — Pickling Day July 27 — Potato Dig Aug. 3 — Honey Harvest & Flowers for Pollinators Aug. 10 — Sunflower Experience Aug. 17 — Kernza & Perennial Grains Aug. 24 — Soybean Harvest Aug. 31 — Corn Harvest

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ART AT THE ARBORETUM

Now you see it Artist Adam Turman explores how we perceive nature at the Arboretum SARAH JACKSON • PR / MEDIA SPECIALIST

Artist Adam Turman created a new collection of works to highlight Arboretum icons, showing May 9-July 14. Photo by Erik Fleischhacker

Minnesota artist Adam Turman will present an entirely new collection of artwork at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum May 9-July 14 in the Reedy Gallery.

Turman, whose studio is in Golden Valley, is well known in the Twin Cities and beyond for his vibrantly colored murals, screen prints and original paintings that depict Minnesota landmarks and scenery as well as cultural icons, such as Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. “It’s a completely new body of work — a whole new collection painted specifically for this show, and for the Arboretum audience,” Turman said.

“I love nature and I love everything that the Arboretum has to offer, but I’m coming at nature and the Arboretum from a different angle.”

To make his Arboretum debut extra-special, Turman has spent the past six months creating original paintings that riff on recognizable Arboretum sites, including specialty gardens, natural landscapes and resident wildlife. If that weren’t engaging enough, each of Turman’s paintings will contain a “wink” —

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in the form of hidden objects, subtle cultural references or a touch of whimsy, giving viewers something unexpected to discover in each piece.

That’s why the full name of the show is “Adam Turman: Did You See That?”

Don’t worry: The Arboretum front desk will have a cheat sheet for folks who get stumped. Some of the “Easter eggs” hidden in the paintings are quite obvious, including an octopus (and a submarine) lurking in the Bonita and Scott Fisher Japanese Garden in his piece, “Octopus’s Garden.”

In “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox make their way through an impossible field of the golden flowers. (Is that the Farm at the Arb in the background? Why, yes, it is!)

“As we go about our daily lives, we often miss out on truly seeing everything around us,” Turman said. “I sometimes find myself rushing through life so quickly that I have to remind myself to pause, take a breath and truly appreciate the things I would normally overlook.”

ART AT THE ARBORETUM

Not all of Turman’s works come with a gentle touch of irreverence. “Sight Seeing,” for example, captures the ethereal light of an Arboretum forest, where a fox spies a stag, deep in the woods. It’s a scene so impossibly intimate and beautiful, it’s bound to get a reaction from visitors who come to see the full 4-foot-by-6-foot piece.

In all, the exhibition will feature about two dozen of Turman’s works, ranging in size from 18-by-24-inch pieces to larger-format 4-by-6-foot works, all painted using acrylic and spray paints on large panels repurposed from the theater industry. Turman partnered with Minneapolis vendor Next Stage Rental & Market, which created the cradled panels specifically for this show from recycled scenery materials.

“Mr. Owl” is the signature piece for the show, Turman said, adding that his connection to the great-horned owl (a frequent Arboretum nester)

If you’re a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you might get a kick out of “The Masters,” a nod to the Arboretum’s often-sunbathing pond turtles, wearing the masks of TMNT characters Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo. Painting by Adam Turman

started in his own yard, which features native plants, pollinator gardens and frequent wildlife of all sorts.

This past fall, in one of the trees along his driveway in St. Louis Park, an owl moved in just as he was beginning painting for the show. Turman’s family of four named her Miss Hoots.

“I’ve been watching this owl for months,” Turman said. “Mr. Hoots keeps bringing mice and rodents over to Miss Hoots. We have binoculars that we just keep out. It’s been six months now.”

Wendy DePaolis, the Arboretum's Curator of Art and Sculpture, said she’s excited for visitors to not only stop and look more deeply at Turman’s artworks, but also to rethink their perception of the Arboretum.

“That is what we are trying to get people to do in nature — stop, take a really long deep look,” she said. “Art such as this reminds you to do just that.”

ADAM TURMAN EXHIBITION EVENTS Through July 14: See the exhibit as part of admission to the Arboretum.

Artist Adam Turman said his 4-by-6-foot “Mr. Owl” painting captures the essence of his show’s theme — “Did You See That?” — perfectly. Can you spot an unusual object? Painting by Adam Turman

June 28 | A Night at the Arboretum with Adam Turman: Take part in an after-hours event from 6-9 p.m. with wine, beer and light bites and activities indoors and out, celebrating art and the Arboretum. Advance tickets required.

See arb.umn.edu/art for details.

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EVENTS Find a new way to explore the Arboretum in each season. In addition to 1,200 acres of gardens, plant collections and natural areas, the Arboretum offers a variety of events and activities to enrich your experience and deepen your connection with nature. Events are included with daily admission except where noted. Browse the full schedule of events online at arb.umn.edu/events.

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

YOGA IN THE

Ongoing Connect with nature this summer with the Arboretum’s Yoga in the Gardens series. Offered on select Thursdays and Sundays against the backdrop of the Arboretum’s gardens, this series invites participants to nurture a mindfulness practice with yoga classes, including nia, slow flow, vinyasa, yin yoga and sound healing and more. Registration is $7.50 for members and $27.50 for non-members. Find the full schedule and reserve your tickets (required) online.

Photo by Wendy Composto

GARDENS

SUMMER SOLSTICE YOGA RETREAT

BUD BREAK RUN, WALK, 5K June 22, 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

Celebrate the height of the summer season with a blissful day of yoga at the Arboretum's Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat. Participants will start the day off with a light breakfast in the Sensory Garden before breaking into smaller groups to cycle through four different class rotations, choosing the class that’s right for them. Advance registration required.

FIREFLY VIEWING NIGHTS June 27-29, July 5-6, 11-14, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

On summer nights at the Arb, hundreds of glowing fireflies illuminate the dark skies! Marvel at the wonder of these winged beetles (also known as lightning bugs) and learn about these special creatures from local experts and Master Naturalists. Every week features information about the nighttime creatures that can also be spotted (or heard) during Firefly Viewing Nights. Advance registration required.

MUSIC IN THE GARDENS

Thursdays 6-7:30 p.m. and Sundays 1:30-3 p.m.

Enjoy live music at the Arboretum this summer! Local bands and community groups perform on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons on the Newton Dining Terrace just outside the cafe.

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PRIVATE GARDEN TOUR

July 14-16 Find garden inspiration this summer at the 39th annual Private Garden Tour hosted by the Arboretum Auxiliary. Departing from the Arboretum, visitors will tour four local private gardens — each with its own history and charm. Guests will be inspired by creative color combinations, pollinator-friendly plantings, interesting water features and beautiful art pieces.

Tours will be followed by brunch or hors d'oeuvres and wine and beer. Dates are Sunday, July 14 (daytime or sunset); Monday, July 15; and Tuesday, July 16.

A portion of the fee is a tax-deductible contribution to the Arboretum Auxiliary.

Advance registration is required.

Photo by Sara Pace

EVENTS

PLANT WALKS

Mondays and Fridays, 11 a.m.

New for 2024! Discover more about the Arboretum’s plant collections on a free Plant Walk led by experienced Education staff and volunteers. Plant Walks take visitors on a quarter-mile journey through the main gardens, highlighting interesting plants along the way.

ARBORETUM GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH Photo by Julie Weisenhorn

Sept. 13-15 Save the date for the fourth-annual Arboretum Glass Pumpkin Patch! More than 7,000 stunning handmade glass pumpkins, glass garden art and more will be made available for purchase by a juried group of award-winning glass artists, surrounded by Arboretum’s gorgeous fall gardens. Presented by the Arboretum Auxiliary, the three-day sale supports the Arboretum and the artists. Tickets will go on sale on Aug. 1 and include glass-blowing demonstrations and access to the entire Arboretum. Advance admission tickets required.

ART

GARDEN TRAVEL TOURS

IN THE GARDENS

AN ART & NATURE TOUR IN THE BERKSHIRES

Aug. 16, 4-8 p.m., Aug. 17-18,

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Save the date for Art in the Gardens, a unique showcase of art and nature, featuring more than 70 local vendors offering culinary treats, crafts, fine arts and more. Arboretum guests of all ages can meet the artists, listen to live music, mingle, stroll, eat and shop.

Oct. 13-19, 2024 Join Wendy DePaolis, Curator of Art and Sculpture at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, for a six-day exploration of the intersection of Art and Nature in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts during prime “leaf-peeping” season. Stay at the iconic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Mass., for the week, touring beautiful gardens, fascinating art museums and historic homes. Don’t miss this fabulous fall experience! Learn more and register online at arb.umn.edu/ travel/berkshires.

THE ART AND LEGACY OF

NAKASHIMA WOODWORKERS

July 12, 7-9:30 p.m. and July 13, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Andersen Horticultural Library is home to the largest publicly accessible collection of George and Mira Nakashima furniture. In celebration of its 50th year, the Library is hosting a weekend of special events surrounding the stunning collection of Nakashima furniture, including a film screening of “George Nakashima, Woodworker,” by his nephew John Nakashima, and a special lecture by Mira Nakashima, daughter of George and Creative Director of Nakashima Woodworkers.

Learn more and reserve tickets (required) online.

Mira Nakashima A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // J U N E • J U LY 2024

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EVENTS

Celebrating Art & Nature The Gala in the Gardens is back this summer in its signature location among the main gardens at the Arboretum. The Gala — the Arboretum’s annual fundraising event hosted by the Arboretum Foundation’s Board of Trustees — will be held on Thursday, June 13, and celebrates the connection between art and nature.

Designed to delight the senses on a summer evening, this event includes a reception, dinner al fresco catered by D’Amico, silent and live auctions

and an inspiring program led by emcee Belinda Jensen, KARE 11’s Chief Meteorologist.

The 2024 Gala in the Gardens is sold out thanks to the support of the Arboretum community!

To learn more about this year’s theme of art and nature and donate to support the Arboretum visit arb.umn.edu/gala. Plus, bid on fabulous items during the Gala’s silent auction, available online from June 10-13. Call 612-625-9437 or email arbgala@umn.edu with questions.

PRESENTING SPONSOR Cynthia and Donald MacMillan PLATINUM SPONSOR Jeannine Rivet and Warren Herreid GOLD SPONSORS

Photo by Robert Evans

Carmen and Jim Campbell Lorin DeBonte Georgia and Jim Thompson Jenny Verner

Experience the height of summer among the stunning gardens of the Arboretum at Taste & Toast! Set for Wednesday, July 31, this after-hours event celebrates fresh, local cuisine and regional wine and beer. Live music sets the stage for tastings from local restaurants and food trucks as well as samplings from Minnesota wineries, breweries and more, including the Arboretum’s own Horticultural Research Center, the developer of popular cold-hardy wine grapes including Marquette and Itasca.

Space is limited; find event details and reserve tickets at arb.umn.edu/taste-and-toast.

PRESENTING SPONSOR Jeannine Rivet and Warren Herreid TASTE SPONSOR

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Photos (left and bottom right) by Sara Pace; (top right) by Todd Mulvihill

Sip and stroll the gardens at Taste & Toast

LEARN

Photo by Brad Palm

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

The Arboretum is a wonderful place to learn, thanks to a variety of experts, scenery and plant collections.

Prices listed are for members/non-members respectively. See a complete list of classes for adults, children and families at arb.umn.edu/learn. Register online or call 612-301-1210.

A Wonder-Filled Experience (AWE)

June 6 or Aug. 1, 2-3:30 p.m.

Experience the science behind the healing power of nature. Spark your sense of wonder while learning breathing and grounding exercises to help calm your mind, open your heart and relax your body. Enjoy a guided sensory stroll to restore a connection to the sights, smells and sounds of our surroundings. Create a memento to continue to practice the healing power of nature at home. Cost is $22/$37.

GREEN BEAN FAMILY GARDEN TIME

Photo by Tom LeMay

Photo by Madeline Seveland

June 8, 22, July 13, 27, activities available between 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Dig into nature by spending time in the garden! Ages 5-11, together with an adult, will explore seasonally themed activity stations, including scavenger hunts, garden-inspired creative art projects and tasks such as planting, watering, weeding and harvesting. Participants will develop science observation skills using microscopes and hand lenses. Activities change week to week as the garden grows and changes. Cost is $12 per child.

Discover the Waterbugs of Spring Peeper Meadow June 1, 9-10 a.m. or 10-11 a.m.

June 6, 4-5 p.m., 5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m.

Ages 5 and older are invited to dip in and discover the wonderful world of waterbugs living in the Arboretum’s Spring Peeper Meadow. Catch these macroinvertebrates with dip nets, spoons and ice cube trays and learn about their adaptations, feeding habits and habitat requirements. Take home your own macroinvertebrate guide and a key to use on future wetland family adventures!

Cost is $7/$12.

Honey Bee Hive Inspection

Adults: June 8 or 22, 3:30-4:45 p.m. or July 14, 1-2:15 p.m.

Ages 6 and older: June 14 or July 6, 10:30-11:45 a.m. or 1-2:15 p.m.

Get special access for an up-close look at the inner workings of a honey bee hive and learn more about the life of a hive and how Arboretum staff works with these fascinating creatures. Put on a beekeeping suit and join beekeeper Ping Honzay as she opens a hive. Participants have the opportunity to hold a frame of live honey bees. Cost is $29/$44.

Shinrin-yoku “Forest Bathing”

June 28, 9-11 a.m., July 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m. or July 26, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Enjoy the tranquility and wellbeing of shinrinyoku, a Japanese mindfulness practice that invites nature to be your healer. Instructor David Motzenbecker, a certified forest bathing guide and award-winning landscape architect, will guide awareness exercises to awaken your senses and calm your mind. This Nature Heals Initiative experience takes place during quieter times at the Arboretum. Cost is $25/$40.

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Photo by Susan Snegosky

LEARN

Flower Arranging: Hand-Tied Summer Bouquet

AN IMMERSIVE MINDFULNESS EXPERIENCE: AWAKEN TO NATURE June 20, 6-7:30 p.m.

In honor of the summer solstice, join Mariann Johnson, instructor for the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing in this Nature Heals Initiative experience. Develop a shared understanding of our innate capacity to be mindful and learn awareness practices to use when in natural environments. Enjoy an enhanced sense of wellbeing and a deeper connection with nature. Cost is $45/$60.

Oil Painting: Roses

Three-session class: July 13, 20 and 27, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Stop and smell the roses — and recreate them in oil paint! In this three-part class, participants will learn to create visual interest, depth and effects in a painting. Discuss and practice techniques for paint application and brushwork to achieve texture, layering, color values and composition.

Cost is $159/$204, including supplies.

Neurographic Painting

July 18, 1-4 p.m.

Take doodling to a whole new level and transform your stress into a unique work of art. Neurographic painting is a therapeutic, intuitive art form that creates a mindful and meditative yet aware state that allows for creative freedom and was developed by psychologist, artist and architect, Dr. Pavel Piscarev, to relieve stress. Participants will make their own images using the neurographic technique and learn how to employ this stressreduction practice in daily life. Cost is $79/$97.

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Photo by Don Olson

Painting by Liya Oertel

Painting by Olesya Podshivaylova

July 11, 5-7 p.m.

Working with summer blooms, draw inspiration from the beauty of the Arboretum to create a hand-tied bouquet that showcases movement, a relaxed feel and incorporates your own unique style. Techniques will focus on sourcing flowers (even from the tiniest cut-flower garden!), building infrastructure, color, movement and depth. Flowers may include delphiniums, cosmos, roses, Queen Anne’s lace, snapdragons and clematis, depending on availability. Cost is $95/$115.

Wetland Management and Restoration

July 13 or Aug. 3, 10 a.m.-noon Go behind the scenes at the Arboretum during this special access opportunity to learn about habitat restoration efforts around Green Heron Pond and its surrounding wetlands and woodlands. After a presentation on wetland ecology basics, invasive plants and habitat restoration techniques, participants will explore this unique ecosystem and the native plants that call it home, including pitcher plants, rare orchids and tamaracks. Cost is $25/$40.

MEMBERSHIP

Celebrating members Members are the heart and soul of the Arboretum and support its outstanding horticulture displays, protected natural areas, plant conservation efforts, research, education and more. In this issue, we celebrate a few of our members. Thank you for being a part of the Arboretum community!

JULIE PETERS • COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

Irv Levang

For Irv Levang, the Arboretum is “like medicine without a prescription.”

Irv found the Arboretum to be a comforting refuge after the sudden death of his wife Jean in 2013 from a brain aneurysm. After moving from North Dakota to Chaska to be close to family, he began to visit the Arboretum.

As Irv processed his grief, the Arboretum’s 1,200 acres beckoned him to walk farther and explore new spaces.

The Garden for Wildlife became his favorite spot, where he spent hours journaling on a bench under a towering river birch.

Every day brings new discoveries, he said. “The beauty speaks for itself. I really love the primitive trails — the ones less traveled.”

A member since 2015, Irv has grown close to Arboretum staff and other members, and he has taken part in countless guided hikes and other educational opportunities. “The talent here is amazing,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know the people who make this place great.”

Carol and Charles Thomas

For Carol and Charles Thomas, joining the Arboretum more than a decade ago has provided access to nature’s beauty, an outlet for year-round exercise and a circle of close friends.

“We’ve been walking here almost daily for 10 years,” Charles noted.

Nature is a great connector; the couple’s Arboretum community now includes about 20 people they’ve met along the trails who also walk at the Arboretum regularly.

The Arboretum presents a peaceful change of pace for the couple. Before retiring, they worked for a New York City marketing firm and traveled to Minnesota regularly for photo shoots.

“We’ve always liked arboretums and gardens and decided we should become members,” Charles said. “This place is a gem.”

Bill Sites

After Bill Sites received an Arboretum membership as a Father’s Day gift from his wife Kellie in 2009, exploring the grounds became one of his favorite activities.

Bill especially appreciates the changing color of the maple trees, the vibrant roses and tulips, and the unique Harrison Sculpture Garden. The couple treasures the Arboretum so much that they’ve remained members, even after moving to Whidbey Island, Wash., in 2020.

“We get back to Minnesota three or four times a year,” Bill said. “Whenever we’re back, we stop at the Arboretum as much as we can. We’ll keep the membership going forever.”

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3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613

The Arboretum is now on TikTok! Follow us @mnarboretum.

Art at the Arboretum

For more information on upcoming art exhibitions and events — including Meet & Greet events — visit arb.umn.edu/art.

REEDY GALLERY

Adam Turman: Did You See That? | Through July 14 Experience a new collection of bold, bright and colorful works by beloved Minnesota artist Adam Turman as he explores the wonders of nature — and how we perceive them — at the Arboretum. Turman’s exhibition might catch you off guard with playful-yet-subtle references to iconic Minnesota motifs, local folklore and even childhood nostalgia.

In Light of Trees | July 17-Sept.15 In this exhibition, artists Linda Gammell, Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin and Dodie Logue focus on “treeness” as the language for their deep connections to the natural world expressed through the mediums of photography, drawing and painting.

CAFE GALLERY

Where Birds Land | June 1-July 16 Explore the world of birds and their habitats through the eyes of artists Rob Brass, Lauren Hefty and Sheila Murray. Viewers will get a glimpse into the captivating lives of birds through Brass’s palette knife-painted landscapes and portraits, Murray’s whimsical ceramic birdhouses and feeders and the surreal and dreamlike paintings of Hefty.

Harmony in Bloom | July 18-Aug. 25 Artist and feng shui expert Carole Hyder’s acrylic paintings and mixed media works combine artistry with the principles of feng shui and poetry to create an experience in which art, nature and ancient wisdom converge. Each piece is meticulously crafted to harmonize with the flow of energy, fostering a peaceful atmosphere that reflects the deep connection between art and soul.

ON THE GROUNDS

Symbiosis in Nature: Sculptures by Annie Mariano | June 13-Sept. 7 Explore the Arboretum grounds in a whole new way during this exhibition of natureinspired sculptures by metalwork artist Annie Mariano. Located throughout the Arboretum’s gardens, Mariano’s sculptures invite viewers to engage more deeply with nature — exploring themes of symbiosis in nature and between art and nature itself.

Unlocking Nature Through Clay | July 21-Aug. 18 Working with materials and hues found in nature, the artists in this exhibition build vessels that can be used and admired in everyday life. Through the medium of clay, these artists continue to practice a pastime beloved by all children — playing with dirt!

“Hope Springs Eternal #4” by artist Carole Hyder from “Harmony in Bloom,” on view July 18-Aug. 25.