MN Arboretum Magazine Dec 2022 January 2023

arboretum DECEM BER 2022/JANUARY 2023

magazine

Arboretum Director Peter C. Moe

WINTER L I GHTS KOREAN MOUNTAIN-ASH MAKING A DIFFERENCE ARTT IST’S CONK MUSHROOM AR PLUS: EXHIBITS, EVENTS, CLASSES & OUTDOOR FUN

arboretum.umn.edu

PETER C. MOE

December and January at the Arb mean celebration,

reflection and the great outdoors. Once again, we plan to light up your nights with Winter Lights and inspire your winter workouts with groomed ski trails, snowshoe trails and Three-Mile Walk – all maintained throughout the winter.

As we bid farewell to 2022, we remain grateful for your support as Arboretum members. We celebrate a record attendance of 534,292, signifying that more people value the positive experiences at the Arb, including beautiful gardens and plant collections, the healing power of nature and the wide variety of classes and events offered. In May, visitors were rewarded with an outstanding tulip display, along with fantastic bloom on redbuds, flowering crabapples, lilacs and Northern Lights DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 VOL 41, NO. 6

azaleas. The beauty in the gardens continued throughout the summer with showy peonies, roses, daylilies, annual flowers, grasses and perennials. As always, the diversity and beauty of fall foliage took center stage in September and October.

Looking to the future – with the announcement of my upcoming retirement – I can say that the search for the next Arboretum Director is in full swing and progressing well. A wonderful surprise and honor was the renaming of Eastern Drive to “Peter C. Moe Drive.” The University owned the property traversed by the Eastern Drive since the late 1960s but there was no public access to the southeastern side of the Arb. As we proceeded with plans to build the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center and the Farm at the Arb the need for access from Three-Mile Drive became a priority. The drive has been expertly designed to follow the contours of the rolling terrain and provides beautiful access to the new developments – and opens up large areas of open fields for new tree collections.

We hope the Arboretum has been and continues to be a place of solace and celebration for you. Happy New Year!

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Magazine is published six times a year by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318-9613, 612-624-2200. The magazine is a benefit of Arboretum membership. No portion may be reprinted without permission from the Arboretum.

The information published in this magazine is not necessarily endorsed by the University of Minnesota.

The Arboretum welcomes feedback from readers at arbinfo@umn.edu.

To request a copy of this publication in alternate format, please call 612-301-1257.

The Arboretum is part of The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota.

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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

Patrick B. Petersen, Editor Brenda Drake Lesch, Art Director Peter C. Moe, Director, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Alan Branhagen, Director of Operations Timothy S. Kenny, Director of Education Susan Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Development Matthew Clark, Ph.D., Director of Research Tom Lany, Marketing, Communications & PR Manager Glenn Stolar, President, Arboretum Foundation

Cover Photo by Robert Evans Imagery

Photo by Sara Pace

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Photo by Doug Croucher

HOLIDAY CHEER

PATRICK PETERSEN • EDITOR

H

oliday season is the unofficial ‘5th season’ at the Arboretum and once again our “Winter Lights” event is the star of the show! Indoors, the Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building are festively decked out and the 25-foot Poinsettia Tree is back, made up of 560 red, white and pink poinsettias. Bundle up and head out on the .75-mile walking route through light displays featuring flowers, nature and winter fun. Photo opportunities abound as you walk through a giant apple (an ode to the apple research done at the Horticultural Research Center), explore a large tent of lights, chase a series of butterflies and admire the lighted moving display by Epic Lights. In the Sensory Garden, marvel at the brand new Weeping Willow Tree and enjoy S’mores Village – selling s’more kits for marshmallow roasting near the fire. In addition to the lights outside, visitors can pick up dinner at the Eatery at the Arboretum and shop the extended hours in the Gift & Garden Store. Along with general admission evenings, check out the special nights for photographers, families and couples, as well as a New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31.

General Admission Nights

5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Nov. 18-23, 25-27; Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-23, 26-30; Jan. 1.

Family Nights

4-6 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 15 This family-friendly evening features smaller crowds, complimentary cookies and hot cocoa and a craft project. Get some fresh air before bedtime, and bring your children to explore the Arboretum at night as they walk through the magical Winter Lights displays under the beautiful evening skies.

Date Nights

5-10 p.m. Dec. 8 and 22 Make reservations for a romantic night under the stars with your favorite person. Stroll through the lights displays and buy dinner and a drink at the Eatery at the Arb. This adults-only night features smaller crowds, as well as a dance classes from Costa Rica Ballroom and live music from The Barn Cats on Dec. 8 and Traveled Ground on Dec. 22.

Photography Nights

5-8:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 The Arboretum's mesmerizing Winter Lights display opens for a limited-admission,photographers-only night (200 photographers), these two nights only! Registrants will also receive access to a pre-recorded webinar with Night Sky Photographer, Dr. Mike Shaw, to prepare them to make the most of their onsite photography experience.

New Year’s Eve Party

5-10:30 p.m. Dec. 31 Celebrate the end of 2022 with a magical walk through the Winter Lights display, family-friendly games and live music from Traveled Ground. Take your picture in a photobooth, add your wishes for 2023 to the New Year Wish Tree and join in on countdown celebrations at 8, 9 and 10 p.m.

Winter Lights information and registration: arb.umn.edu/winterlights

GOLD SPONSOR:

TRANSPORTATION PARTNER: On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the display, visitors can take a SouthWest Transit bus from the East Creek Station. Park at the station located at 2120 Chestnut St. N. in Chaska, and enjoy bus service to and from the Arboretum. Buses run from 4:45-10 p.m.

Visitors must make Winter Lights Bus reservations to use SouthWest Transit.

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Peter Moe’s love of horticulture started at a young age SARAH JACKSON • PR/MEDIA SPECIALIST

Peter Moe’s family visited the Arboretum regularly when he was a boy, living in Richfield. But it wasn’t until he

was in college, studying horticulture science at the University of Minnesota, that he landed his first Arboretum job, almost by happenstance.

It was the summer of 1973 when he fatefully decided to tag along for a trip to the Arboretum with his mother, who was visiting with her Bachelor Buttons Garden Club. Seeing a staff member on the grounds, Moe asked if there were any open positions for the summer.

“Actually,” a staff member said, “we just had someone leave today, so we have an open position. Can you start … tomorrow?”

Peter Moe stopped for a quick portrait on the front terrace of the Snyder Building during his early years working at the Arboretum

From digging in the dirt to directing Moe, of course, said yes. But how could he have known then how much the Arboretum would change his life — or that he would one day become its iconic leader?

Along the way, Moe met his wife, Susan, who was working as a plant breeder in the azalea trial garden. They built a life together in Carver County and raised three children.

Peter Moe worked long and hard at the Arb — digging in the dirt, supervising others and even working at the Horticultural Research Center for a time as a Research Plot Technician.

After Moe graduated from the Horticultural Science Department at the University of Minnesota, he accepted a string of successful promotions — including the roles of Landscape Maintenance Supervisor, Operations Director and eventually Director — at one of the most well-regarded public gardens in the country.

“It’s been an incredible journey from student gardener to director.” Moe says. “I feel so fortunate to not only have witnessed the astonishing growth of the Arboretum, but to have also had the opportunity to shape it as well.”

Moe, who announced his retirement earlier this year, will stay at his post, rather than hiring an interim director, so he can pass the torch to a new leader sometime in the first half of 2023.

were no major buildings on site until the 1974 completion of the Leon C. Snyder Education & Research Building, which served as the first visitor center, research headquarters and education center, all in one.

Today, numerous roads, trails and buildings grace the dramatically expanded 1,200-acre grounds, including a beautiful and inviting Oswald Visitor Center in 2005, and in 2016, an award-winning Tashjian Bee & Pollinator Discovery Center at the Farm at the Arb, which officially opened in 2019 with a restored Big Red Barn.

In March, a new 4,500-square-foot Burton & Virginia Myers Education Center will open at the Farm at the Arb to provide a home for the Arboretum's Adult Education team and a statewide headquarters for the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

Prioritizing workers Though Moe had a hand in many of the recent building openings on the Arboretum’s campus, the one he’s most proud of is actually closed to the public: It’s the Horticulture and Operations Headquarters, located on a private southern site at the Arb. The 12,000-square-foot architectdesigned building serves as a home base for the horticulture, curatorial and mechanical staff at the Arboretum.

“Plans for the headquarters had been in two previous capital campaigns

50 years of growth This coming summer would have marked 50 years of employment for Moe at the Arboretum, which was founded just 65 years ago, in 1958.

When Moe accepted his first Arboretum role, many of the early tree, shrub and perennial collections had been established as part of the property’s first 15 years, along with woodland and prairie restoration areas. But there

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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

Arboretum gardener Jim Lewis (left) and Peter Moe take a short break during work at the Arb in 1978

with zero dollars raised. That was my first priority as director — to get that done,” Moe says. “Several longtime donors stepped forward and made major gifts and then many Foundation Trustees, Arboretum Auxiliary members and other donors made gifts as well.”

In 2020, the headquarters took the place of the pole shed that was used previously for staff, including Moe himself during his earlier roles at the Arboretum. Workers now have adequate office space, workstations and a light-filled break room with views of tree collections on nearby hillsides. Two new greenhouses are part of the headquarters as well.

Peter and Susan Moe at the Arb’s Winter Lights

Photo by Robert Evans Imagery

Apples and education Moe is delighted to see how far the fruit-breeding program has come at the Arboretum, including cold-hardy apples such as the Honeycrisp in 1991, which made an impact around the world.

Moe has also loved seeing the Arboretum’s effects on children’s education over the years. He witnessed the opening — and expansion of — the Marion Andrus Learning Center (established in 1983), fueled by a large demand for science and horticulture education among kids and adults, who now take classes in person and virtually.

“Parents who started out as kids in our children’s gardening programs decades ago are bringing their kids back today to those same programs to learn at the Arb,” Moe says.

Most of all, Moe says, he feels fortunate that the Arb has brought so much joy and peace to visitors.

“I’m especially fond of seeing people of all ages enjoying the beauty of 40,000 blooming tulips, hundreds of flowering crabapples, lilacs and azaleas,” he says, “as well as some of the most outstanding tree collections in the country.”

D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

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HORTICULTURE

KOREAN MOUNTAIN-ASH COLORFUL IN ALL SEASONS ALAN BRANHAGEN • DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

In front of the Snyder Building grows a winter-lively tree: Korean mountain-ash (Sorbus alnifolia). I’ll refrain from using the standard language tree of winter interest because it is so much more.

During my meetings with Pete Moe, the tree is in view from his office window and is often a distraction to a naturalist like me who can’t help but notice nature. This is especially so in the wintertime when the tree is studded with its fleshy red fruit that are relished by ever-changing songbird diners.

American robin, check. A flock of cedar waxwings, check; but on a few occasions there’s been the western vagrant Townsend’s solitaire swallowing the fruits whole (a new life bird

for Pete Moe).

Korean mountain-ash is a small tree and resistant to the maladies that limit many of the other mountain-ash species in our climate.

Coming from the warm summer regions of Korea, it is much more adapted to our hot and often dry spell-filled summers, whereas the other species come from cool maritime, northern lakeshore, or montane environments.

The tree grows steadily, reaching maturity at around 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet. It blooms in later May, cloaked in white flowers above its fresh new green leaves. Most mountain-ash have pinnately compound leaves similar to ash trees. The ash-like leaves are how the plant group got its name, but they are in the rose family, and are not an ash.

Unlike the typical compound leaves of other mountain-ash, Korean mountain-ash’s leaves are simple (a single blade on a petiole) and sort of look like an alder’s leaf, which is how it got the alnifolia botanical name which translates to alder-leaf.

Korean mountain-ash is at its ornamental prime in fall when the fruits ripen pinkish red, adorning the golden foliage. The leaves drop but the fruits persist, offering a much longer ornamental display than the glorious, albeit brief fall color. So, this small tree shines from November until the hungry birds have laid its branches bare, which usually doesn’t happen until late winter. Through all the weather winter can throw at it, the fruits remain, a feast for the eye and literally for the birds.

Sorbus alnifolia spring blooms Sorbus alnifolia tree in front of Snyder Building in fall

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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

Sorbus alnifolia fruits in fall Sorbus alnifolia fruits in winter

All Photos by Alan Branhagen except for Sorbus alnnifilia in winter Jennifer Johnston

Sorbus alnifolia tree in spring

Photo by Visivastudio at Shutterstock

LEARN AN D DO

An online, at-your-own-pace professional horticulture course.

What is the ProHort course?

ProHort stands for Professional Horticulture. This online course contains 14 modules developed by University of Minnesota Extension, using the latest research and science in the field. Also known as the “Core Course” used to train Master Gardener Volunteers, the Arboretum now offers this course to anyone seeking a comprehensive foundation of horticulture knowledge.

Who should take ProHort?

Homeowners, hobbyists or professionals in gardening and horticultural fields can gain knowledge, skills and confidence.

What do you learn?

The 14 modules include Botany & Horticulture; Soils; Composting & Fertilizers; Herbaceous Plants; Woody Plants; Lawn Care; Weeds; Growing Vegetables; Growing Fruit; Indoor Plants; Integrated Pest Management; Plant Pathology; Plant Diagnostics; Entomology; and Living with Wildlife.

How does it work?

The course is entirely online and accessible by a computer, tablet or phone. Each module contains a short series of videos covering the content, activities to practice and apply the knowledge and quizzes to check your learning. The course opens Jan. 5 and is available through the end of 2023.

Expect about 40-60 hours to complete all the material, with a Certificate of Completion at the end.

What is the difference between taking ProHort and becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer?

The ProHort course provides horticultural knowledge, but without Master Gardener Volunteer commitments. Master Gardener Volunteers complete this course, plus cover additional materials on volunteering and perform 50 hours of community service. It is important to note that completing the ProHort course does not make you a Master Gardener.

Are there opportunities to dive deeper into the content?

ProHort students may optionally attend online Q&A sessions with classmates, facilitators and guest experts to review and discuss module content. An online Course Companion embedded in the course provides deeper topic exploration, and is optionally available in printed format for $49 when you register.

How do you sign up for ProHort?

Register at z.umn.edu/prohort for $541 member/$581 non-member. The Course Coordinator will email course instructions by Jan. 3 and is available to assist with any questions throughout the course.

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5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursdays, 5-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays (and Date Night). Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-23, 26-30; Jan. 1. Special Nights: Photography Nights – Dec. 7 & 14, Family Nights – Dec. 1 & 15; Date Nights – Dec. 8 & 22; New Year’s Eve Party – Dec. 31.

Stroll through beautiful holiday light displays on this walking tour through our sparkling winter gardens – plus enjoy grab-and-go food items, beverage bars, extended hours for the Gift & Garden Store and more! $10 member adults, $25 non-member adults, children free (ages 15 and under). (See page 3) Reservations needed: arb.umn.edu/events/winterlights

GOLD SPONSOR:

Photo by Susie Hopper

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Oswald Visitor Center Shop for herb-infused vinegar, gifts and kitchen and personal-care items with an herbal theme. The Minnesota Herb Society helps support and maintain the Arboretum’s Herb Garden.

DECEMBER 5-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10, Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building Stumped for gift ideas? Find inspiration for even the most hard-to-shop-for recipients at the December Gift Market, featuring work from local artisans.

WINTER LIGHTS MUSIC SERIES Join us in the Oswald Visitor Center for the sounds of the season!

AUXILIARY HOLIDAY SALE 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Dec. 2-3; 11 a.m.3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, Snyder Auditorium The annual Auxiliary Holiday Sale offers exquisite seasonal gift items for everyone. You’ll find handmade items with winter and/or holiday themes including knit scarves and hats for the entire family, felted items, quilted household items, jewelry, home décor, soaps and scented items. Shop too for holiday ornaments, toys, cards, gift tags, seasonal wreaths and arrangements – plus unique and beautiful wood items for the home.

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FRIDAY, DEC. 2 6-7:30 p.m., City of Lakes Chorus

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 6-7:30 p.m., Waconia Suzuki Ensemble

SATURDAY, DEC. 3 10-11:30 a.m., Westwind Five 1:30-3 p.m., Crosstown Community Band 6-7:30 p.m., The Arbor Bells

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 10-11:30 a.m., Flute Cocktail 1:30-3 p.m., Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra 6-7:30 p.m., The Prairie Brass Quintet

SUNDAY, DEC. 4 10-11:30 a.m., Celebration Brass Quintet 1:30-3 p.m., Mike’s Brass 6-7:30 p.m., The Silverwinds Flutes SATURDAY, DEC. 10 6-7:30 p.m., The Prairie Brass SUNDAY, DEC. 11 10-11:30 a.m., Roseville Big Band 1:30-3 p.m., Capri Big Band 6-7:30 p.m., Westwind Big Band

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

SUNDAY, DEC. 18 10-11:30 a.m., Gourmet Jazz 1:30-3 p.m., Bend in the River 6-7:30 p.m., Jazz on the Prairie Big Band FRIDAY, DEC. 23 6-7:30 p.m., Comes a Time Full list: arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsmusicseries

Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

WINTER

Photo by Susie Hopper

MINNESOTA HERB SOCIETY WINTER SALE

A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS

Give the gift of an Arboretum membership! Allow your friends and family to enjoy the Arboretum year-round with a variety of membership levels. As a token of appreciation, each gift of new or renewed membership purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 will receive a beautiful 2023 Arboretum calendar, while supplies last. Call 612-301-1257 or visit arb.umn.edu/ support/membership to purchase a membership today!

WINTER YOGA Photo by Mark Paulson

With more than 1,200 acres of breathing room, the Arboretum serves as a refuge to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit in one of the greenest spaces in Minnesota. Our Yoga in the Gardens series features year-round, holistic wellness classes led by local instructors. From yoga and Pilates classes to Tai Chi and Nia, you’ll learn the basics of mindful movement, yoga, breathing, meditation, balance, strength, flexibility, core awareness and deep relaxation. All are welcome, including beginners!

December Winter Yoga sessions, held in conjunction with the sponsors below, are scheduled on the following dates: • 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, MacMillan Auditorium • Noon Thursday, Dec. 15, MacMillan Auditorium New for 2023 – beginning in January – classes will cost $5 for Arboretum members, $20 for non-members, $150 full-year of 2023 classes (available for pre-purchase only until Dec. 31, 2022). The class fees will support the instructors and the general operating expenses of the Arboretum equally.

January sessions are scheduled for: • 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, Snyder Auditorium • 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15 – Winter Wellness Fair, Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building • Noon Thursday, Jan. 19, MacMillan Auditorium • 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, MacMillan Auditorium Sessions are for all levels. Please bring your own mat and water bottle. arb.umn.edu/events/yoga ®

APPLEHOUSE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Dec. 20, 7485 Rolling Acres Road, Victoria The Arboretum AppleHouse has been converted into a Holiday Boutique – offering seasonal decor, as well as hostess gifts, maple syrup, wild rice, pies and other goodies.

All proceeds of the AppleHouse Holiday Boutique help support Arboretum research and operations. Arboretum members receive a 10% discount with their membership card at the AppleHouse.

2023 ARBORETUM TRAVEL WITH ARBORETUM DIRECTOR EMERITUS PETER OLIN,ARBORETUM DIRECTOR PETE MOE AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS ALAN BRANHAGEN

Northern Florida. March 13 – 20.

A new Arb trip exploring Jacksonville, Gainesville and St. Augustine. Enjoy botanical, city and historical gardens – as well as many beautiful natural areas including the famous Okefenokee Swamp, museums, geologic sites and the oldest city in the United States. This will be an up-close-and-personal look at the ‘Sunshine State’ with a whole new perspective! Hosted by Peter Olin, MLA Director Emeritus. Contacts: Lynde Vespoli at destinationsandtours@gmail.com or 440-840-6334; Peter Olin at olinx002@umn.edu.

Gardens of New York City. April 11 – 18.

Explore some of the grandest public gardens in the country, including New York and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Wave Hill, the elevated Highline Garden and Elevated Acre. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and other New York historical sites – enjoy a harbor cruise, vest pocket gardens and even a Broadway show! See gardens, architecture and art in all 5 boroughs. This trip has it all. Hosted by the Arboretum’s Director of Operations, Alan Branhagen.

Contacts: Lynde Vespoli at destinationsandtours@gmail. com or 440-840-6334; Peter Olin at olinx002@umn.edu.

For more information on all Arboretum tours, go to arbtravel.umn.edu or contact Peter Olin, olinx002@umn.edu or 612-301-1275.

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

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THE JOY OF GIVING

JEFF ISEMINGER • CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Who else needs your help?”

Photo by Robert Evans Imagery

Jeannine Rivet and Warren Herreid at the 2022 Arb Gala at the Farm

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A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

Jeannine Rivet learned to ask that fundamental question of herself from her parents, as she grew up in Rhode Island. They taught her that with the capacity to give, comes the responsibility to give, in whatever way you can.

That doesn’t mean her parents had a mound of material wealth. Quite the contrary: Both she and her husband, Warren Herreid, came from “homes of humble beginnings,” says Rivet.

But “humble” was emphatically not a synonym for “miserly” in their families. They did their level-best to lift others up by regarding “give” as an action verb, not merely a nice idea.

In turn, Rivet and Herreid have tried to teach their children and grandchildren to share and get involved.

For both of them, says Rivet, “giving is not to get recognition, but to have impact and make a difference.”

And what a difference – both broad and deep – they have made to the Arboretum.

For instance, they’ve supported constructing the current entrance (first impressions matter), installing deer fencing (“not glitzy, but important,” says Rivet), contributing to the Fund-a-Need portion of the annual Galas and hosting many events at their Minnetrista home. In addition, Rivet has served as a trustee and chair of a capital campaign.

She and Herreid do more than support the Arboretum, they enjoy it. “We’ve taken our grandkids to the maze and the annual scarecrow display,” says Rivet. “We also love Taste and Toast, the art exhibits and the Arboretum’s beauty in all seasons.”

Herreid says the Arboretum offers homeowners a stunning in-the-ground laboratory. “When we began landscaping, we spent a lot of time there looking at trees and shrubs.”

He and Rivet are very intentional in their giving.

“We identify the impact of organizations we’re considering,” says Rivet. To them, the impact of the Arboretum is powerful and profound, which prompts them to share, in the best tradition of their origin families.

Does any of this inspire you to share your time, talent or treasure with the Arboretum? That would delight Rivet and Herreid, who’ve always favored inspiration over recognition.

Photo by Nikolai Kurzenko at Dreamstime.com

NATURE FOCUS

CONKED OUT: MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST

December is the time of year when whispering winds sweep gently over fields of glittering diamond snowdrifts, creating the sounds of a wintertime symphony. In the woodlands, only the sassy call of a disturbed red squirrel or the hammering of a downy woodpecker breaks the silence. On the barren, leafless trees the Artist’s Conk mushrooms (Ganoderma applanatum) continue to live and provide a unique addition to the forest scene.

The large gray-brown brackets of the Artist’s Conk (fruiting bodies) have an uneven crusty surface and cling low to large hardwood trees.

The cap is zoned with a series of lines and ridges and the rounded margin is white. Caps lie in horizontal rows which can be one row or dozens of rows, weighing hundreds of pounds! Artist’s

Conk does not have gills like most mushrooms but instead has a series of tubes (polypores) which produce the spores on the underside of the fungus. It is estimated to produce 350,000 spores a second, as many as 5.4 trillion spores annually. It can continue to do this up to 10 years or more. Spores are very small and when dispersed by the wind can travel for miles. Spores trapped in the ice at the Arctic Circle have traveled thousands of miles.

Unlike trees that are cut horizontally to determine their age, Artist’s Conk age is determined by cutting it in half and counting the number of pore layers. In Alaskan folk lore the Susitna Dena’ina people say that deep in the interior of Alaska there is a specimen a quarter mile in diameter on a birch tree.

Artist’s Conk has been used as a natural

canvas for painters for many years. Its soft white underside is a perfect format for an artist’s picture.

The Artist’s Conk has been used in Chinese medicine dating back to the 1st century CE. The fungus causes rot in hardwoods, which breaks down the beneficial compounds from the tree. Prepared as a tea or tincture it is filled with antioxidants, is known to strengthen the immune system, increase blood flow and improve cardiac function and in cancer research has inhibited the growth of solid tumors and increased the natural killing of cancer cells. Scientists say Artist’s Conk is emerging as a profound mushroom with powerful application for healing. On your next Arboretum trek – look for it, enjoy and appreciate it – but please leave it in place.

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Calendar At-A-Glance PAPER QUILLING SATURDAY, DEC. 3

ONGOING EXHIBITS

WINTER LIGHTS MULTIPLE DATES

REEDY GALLERY “Viewpoints Paintings and Drawings: Andrew Wykes and Holly Newton Swift” • Through Jan. 9 (See back page) “Visions From the Land: Native Interpretations” • Jan. 12 – March 26 (See back page)

CAFE GALLERY “Art Flies Free: The Stylings of Olivia Hoppe and Pat Owen” • Through Feb. 12 (See back page)

SKYWAY GALLERY

ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY “The Art of Tiny Things” • Through Feb. 28 Celebrate the tiny things in life! Explore miniature books, as well as art from the Andersen Horticultural Library's collection featuring tiny organisms that are often overlooked, including moss, fungi, lichen, insects and more.

RECURRING JANUARY PROGRAMS & EVENTS 2023 EXTENSION PROHORT CORE COURSE

Registration deadline Jan. 2 $541/$581 online only ($590/$630 with printed companion), online class at your own pace (See page 7.)

DECEMBER-JANUARY PROGRAMS & EVENTS THURSDAY, DEC. 1

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., $53/$65, Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room *Note that each Winter Lights Tea listing is for scheduling purposes. Individual sessions may be sold out at the time of the magazine printing. arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

WINTER LIGHTS – FAMILY NIGHT

Family friendly event! Stroll the holiday lights outdoors with complimentary cookies, hot cocoa and craft projects. arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

FRIDAY, DEC. 2

AUXILIARY HOLIDAY SALE (See page 8)

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

FELTED LUMINARIAS

10 a.m.-3 p.m., $84/$99, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Use traditional wet felting techniques and a variety of natural materials to create a pair of pretty, felted luminarias that will add a warm glow to any room. All supplies included.

PAPER QUILLING

11 a.m.-2 p.m., $59/$74, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center

MINNESOTA HERB SOCIETY WINTER SALE (See page 8)

Learn quilling techniques for various shapes to create your own colorful designs for notecards or a larger image. All supplies included.

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

WINTER LIGHTS

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

HOLIDAY MUSIC

AUXILIARY HOLIDAY SALE (See page 8)

6-7:30 p.m., City of Lakes Chorus (See page 8)

SUNDAY, DEC. 4 HOLIDAY MUSIC

SEASONALLY INSPIRED WATERCOLOR NOTECARDS

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

10-11:30 a.m., Celebration Brass Quintet 1:30-3 p.m., Mike’s Brass 6-7:30 p.m., The Silverwinds Flutes

(See page 8)

(See page 8)

Learn to mix a variety of watercolor winter greens, create glowing berries and paint snow. Practice wet-into-wet and glazing techniques to create "Holly Leaves and Berries'' and a "Cardinal in the Pines.”

MINNESOTA HERB SOCIETY WINTER SALE (See page 8)

WINTER YOGA

HOLIDAY MUSIC

Taught by onelove.yoga

10 a.m.-4 p.m., $79/$99, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center

12 |

AUXILIARY HOLIDAY SALE

10-11:30 a.m., Westwind Five 1:30-3 p.m., Crosstown Community Band 6-7:30 p.m., The Arbor Bells (See page 8)

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

10-11 a.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium arb.umn.edu/events/yoga

(Middle) Art by Sarah Bober; (Right) Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

“Capturing Colors: 5th Annual Flora and Fauna Illustrata Exhibition” • Through Feb. 28 This year's FFI Exhibition features scientifically accurate artwork by local artists depicting flowers, fruits, insects, and other organisms living at the Arboretum that are brightly colored.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 612-624-2200

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

PAINT A PORTRAIT OF YOUR PET SATURDAY, DEC. 10

HOMESCHOOL DAY - GREEN GROCERY DID YOU EAT YOUR PLANTS TODAY WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14

WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7 WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

SPECIAL ACCESS PHOTOGRAPHER’S EVENING: ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS

5-8:30 p.m., $19/$34, Oswald Visitor Center For photographers of all levels – bring your camera equipment and snap dazzling shots of the Winter Lights display…without crowds!

Includes a recorded online presentation of photography tips and tricks for stunning shots. arb.umn.edu/winterlights

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14

HOLIDAY MUSIC

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

6-7:30 p.m., Prairie Brass (See page 8)

12:30-2:30 p.m., $10/$12, Marion Andrus Learning Center

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

WINTER LIGHTS - DATE NIGHT

Stroll the holiday lights display outdoors on adultsonly night. Come ready to dance – free ballroom dancing lessons taught by Costa Rica Ballroom Dance Studios with music by The Barn Cats. arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

DECEMBER GIFT MARKET (See page 8)

Photo by (Left) Liya Oertel; (Right) Vienna Volante

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

DECEMBER GIFT MARKET (See page 8)

1:30-3:30 p.m., Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

For grades 1-2 together with an adult educator.

Learn about plant parts, food plants, and photosynthesis. Find 22 food plants from all over the world in the Greenhouse. Plant your own garlic bulbs.

WINTER LIGHTS

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

PAINT A PORTRAIT OF YOUR PET 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., $74/$89, Marion Andrus Learning Center

Use a favorite photograph of your pet to create a portrait using acrylic paints. Explore painting materials and learn techniques to create highlights and depth in your beloved subject.

1:30-3:30 p.m., Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

WINTER LIGHTS

10-11:30 a.m., Roseville Big Band 1:30-3 p.m., Capri Big Band 6-7:30 p.m., Westwind Big Band

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

BEESWAX LUMINARY: GIFTS FROM THE HIVE

10:30 a.m.-noon or 2-3:30 p.m., $29/$44, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Bee Center Beekeeper Ping will guide you through the step-by-step process to create your own beeswax luminary, a unique gift or centerpiece for holiday gatherings! Embellish with natural materials like pressed leaves and flower petals, if desired. All supplies included.

HOMESCHOOL DAY: GREEN GROCERY “DID YOU EAT A PLANT TODAY?”

HOLIDAY MUSIC

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

SPECIAL ACCESS PHOTOGRAPHER’S EVENING: ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS (See Dec. 7)

THURSDAY, DEC. 15 WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

WINTER YOGA

(See page 8)

Noon-1 p.m., free with gate admission, MacMillan Auditorium

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

arb.umn.edu/events/yoga

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

Taught by Green Lotus

WINTER LIGHTS – FAMILY NIGHT (See Dec. 1)

WINTER LIGHTS

FRIDAY, DEC. 16

(See page 3)

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

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Calendar At-A-Glance

HOLIDAY MUSIC

6-7:30 p.m., Waconia Suzuki Ensemble

PHOTGRAPHING WINTER'S WONDERS THURSDAY, JAN. 5

WINTER LIGHTS

SEEDS - SCIENCE OF PLANT PROPAGATION SATURDAY, JAN. 21

HOLIDAY MUSIC

(See page 8)

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

6-7:30 p.m., Comes a Time (See page 8)

WINTER LIGHTS

MONDAY, DEC. 19

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 HOLIDAY MUSIC

10-11:30 a.m., Flute Cocktail 1:30-3 p.m., Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra 6-7:30 p.m., The Prairie Brass Quintet (See page 8)

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

SUNDAY, DEC. 18

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

HOLIDAY MUSIC

10-11:30 a.m., Gourmet Jazz 1:30-3 p.m., Bend in the River 6-7:30 p.m., Jazz on the Prairie Big Band (See page 8)

14 |

WINTER LIGHTS

WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

SUNDAY, DEC. 25

TUESDAY, DEC. 20

Arboretum is closed

WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room (See page 3)

WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

THURSDAY, DEC. 22 WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

WINTER LIGHTS - DATE NIGHT (See Dec. 8)

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

WINTER LIGHTS TEA

1:30-3:30 p.m., Snyder Building Tea Room & Fireplace Room arb.umn.edu/events/winterlightsteas

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

CHRISTMAS DAY

MONDAY, DEC. 26 WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

TUESDAY, DEC. 27 WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28 WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

THURSDAY, DEC. 29 WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

FRIDAY, DEC.30 WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

(Middle) Photo by Stock Snap at Pixabay; (Right) Photo by Maria Evseyeva at Shutterstock

HOLIDAY TEAS MULTIPLE DATES

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 612-624-2200

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY 5-10:30 p.m.

Bring family and friends together to celebrate the end of 2022 with a magical walk through the Arboretum’s Winter Lights display, family-friendly games and live music. Take your picture in a photo booth, add your wishes for 2023 to the New Year Wish Tree and make a craft item to bring home. Enjoy countdown celebrations on the hour at 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. — with a special sparkling apple juice toast at 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, JAN. 1

WINTER YOGA

10 a.m.-11 a.m., $5 member, $20 non-member, Snyder Auditorium arb.umn.edu/events/yoga

WINTER LIGHTS

Holiday lights display outdoors arb.umn.edu/winterlights (See page 3)

THURSDAY, JAN. 5

PHOTOGRAPHING WINTER’S WONDERS (ONLINE)

6:30-8:30 p.m., $32/$37, online via Zoom Learn what to wear for winter photography, how to protect and troubleshoot your equipment, how to make the best use of winter light and techniques for getting the correct exposure for winter landscapes. Add on optional sunrise or sunset practicum on the Arboretum grounds with the instructor on Jan. 7 for $69/$84.

FRIDAY, JAN. 6

KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY

SNOWY TREES: ARBORETUMINSPIRED DRAWING Draw winter trees as you develop fundamental drawing skills including observation of shape, line weight, color, layering and blending techniques, as well as shading, composition and perspective. All supplies included.

THE POWER OF BALANCE: STONE SCULPTURES FOR YOUR GARDEN 9-11:30 a.m., $45/$60, Oswald Visitor Center

Use shape, weight and friction to create impossible-looking balances using ordinary stones.

Gain insights on photographing your creations, learn about design and composition and receive helpful tips while you practice in class.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

WINTER WELLNESS FAIR

8 a.m.-4 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center & Snyder Building arb.umn.edu/events/winterwellnessfair

THURSDAY, JAN. 19 WINTER YOGA

Noon-1 p.m., $5 member, $20 non-member, MacMillan Auditorium arb.umn.edu/events/yoga

FRIDAY, JAN. 20

KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY

10 a.m.-noon, Azalea Classroom, included with gate admission (See Jan. 6)

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

Join the group for a morning of knitting, crocheting, handwork or just visiting. The group can help you get started with a handiwork project. Bring your own project and materials.

9 a.m.-noon, $41/$56, Marion Andrus Learning Center

KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY 10 a.m.-noon, Azalea Classroom, included with gate admission (See Jan. 6)

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

BEESWAX LUMINARY: GIFTS FROM THE HIVE

10:30 a.m.-noon or 2-3:30 p.m., $29/$44, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center (See Dec. 9)

WINTER MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY SATURDAY, JAN. 28

10 a.m.-2 p.m., $69/$84, Snyder Auditorium

10 a.m.-noon, Azalea Classroom, included with gate admission

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

Photo by Don Treddinick

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

SEEDS: SCIENCE OF PLANT PROPAGATION

Discuss the practice of plant propagation through seeds, seed collection and storage methods, overcoming seed dormancy and triedand-true techniques to grow a wide variety of plants from seeds.

CITRUS FRUITS, EDIBLE SUNSHINE: HANDS-ON COOKING CLASS 9-11 a.m., $55/$70, Marion Andrus Learning Center

Explore the flavor components and combinations of citrus for various uses. Prep, cook and taste the class menu including Kumquat Vinaigrette, Orange Glazed Chicken, Mixed Citrus Bars and Four-Fruit Salsa.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

KNIT & STITCH WITH THE AUXILIARY

10 a.m.-noon, Azalea Classroom, included with gate admission (See Jan. 6)

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

CUTTINGS: SCIENCE OF PLANT PROPAGATION 9 a.m.-noon, $41/$56, Marion Andrus Learning Center

Learn the basics of asexual propagation (without seeds) for how and when to divide plants and take cuttings. Prepare your own cuttings in class and take home a personal “greenhouse-in-a-pot.”

WINTER MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY

9 a.m.-noon, $69/$84, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center Discuss creative macro photography and lighting as well as how to capture snowflakes and water droplets in the winter landscape. Learn to manage composition, depth of field and how to use snow to enhance macro images.

FOCUS STACKING – FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

1-4 p.m., $69/$84, Oswald Visitor Center In this intermediate-level class, create a focusstacked image with maximum depth of field.

Learn when to use focus stacking, how to create a set of stacked images, preparing for post processing, and using apps for this process.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29 WINTER YOGA

10 a.m.-11 a.m., $5 member, $20 non-member, MacMillan Auditorium arb.umn.edu/events/yoga

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // D E C E M B ER 2022 • J A N UA RY 2023

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TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613

General Information . . . . . . . . 612-624-2200 Andersen Horticultural Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1239

A publication for members and friends of the Arboretum

Auxiliary Membership & Events Info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9865 Seasonal Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9791 Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1266 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1210 Gift and Garden Store . . . . . . . 612-301-7619 Facility Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-4353 Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1257 Memorials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1266 Volunteering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1203 Yard & Garden Help Desk. . . 612-301-7590 Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arboretum.umn.edu Printed with Agri Based Inks

AppleHouse Info Line . . . . . . . 612-301-3487 Gate Reservations/Ticketing. . . 612-301-6775 If you prefer to receive the Arboretum Magazine electronically, please call 612-301-1257.

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The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. ©2022 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Painting by Andrew Wykes

ART AT THE ARBORETUM

Make the art galleries at the Arboretum part of every visit. All art is for sale through the Gift and Garden Store with proceeds going to fund the Arboretum and the local artist community. arb.umn.edu/art-galleries

REEDY GALLERY

“Viewpoints Paintings and Drawings: Andrew Wykes and Holly Newton Swift” • Through Jan. 9 The paintings and drawings on view reflect the diversity found in the Minnesota landscape.

Andrew Wykes’ current paintings are concentrated in a small urban park south of the Twin Cities.

Through drawings, watercolor, oil and acrylic, he notes the interchange of natural and human influence that this unassuming urban place offers.

In contrast, Holly Newton Swift has been working for many years in the Far North of the wilderness of Minnesota. Immersed in the natural forms of solitary trees, rocks and timeless flow of water, she builds her work with charcoal, pastels and oil paint.

Old Memorial Park Northfield Painting by Holly Newton Swift

“Visions From the Land: Native Interpretations” • Jan. 12 – March 26 Don’t miss this unique opportunity to view the work of four regional Indigenous artists: James Autio, Gordon Coons, Anna Johnson and Ivy Vainio. Each artist uses a different technique/process to produce their captivating art, finding inspiration in the natural world.

CAFE GALLERY

“Art Flies Free: The Stylings of Olivia Hoppe and Pat Owen” • Through Feb. 12 Discover the freedom present as these artists paint the flora and fauna of our surroundings.

Both artists create without restrictions in their own artistic voice. Interestingly, Hoppe chooses to use homegrown gourds, bone and wood as her canvas. Owen deeply observes and paints our feathered friends with a vibrancy and energy that will encourage the viewer to make new connections with nature.

SKYWAY GALLERY

“Capturing Colors: 5th Annual Flora and Fauna Illustrata Exhibition” • Through Feb. 28 (see page 12)

ANDERSEN HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY “The Art of Tiny Things” • Through Feb. 28 (see page 12)

Spruce Creek Falls