MN Arboretum Magazine Feb Mar 2021

arboretum FEBRUARY/M ARCH 2021

magazine

ARBORETUM TRAILS DWARF CONIFERS SNOWY OWLS MARY MEYER: LEAVING A LEGACY PLUS: RESEARCH, CLASSES & OUTDOOR FUN

arboretum.umn.edu

Arboretum Trails

EXPERIENCE

Winter

One of the best-kept secrets at the Arboretum might be our Ornamental Grass Collection. Not only

is it a stunning display garden, it’s also a research planting, serving as a training ground for students and revealing new information about grasses. That garden wouldn’t exist without Dr. Mary Meyer, who transitioned to emeritus professor in January, but thankfully plans to continue her long-standing association with the Arboretum.

Before Dr. Meyer started her research as a graduate student, ornamental grasses were almost never privately planted and hard to find in garden centers. She devoted her entire career to these grasses, continuing her research as she received her doctorate degree and became an extension, teaching and research professor at the University of Minnesota. Ornamental grasses are now extremely popular plants. Garden designers, nursery growers and devoted gardeners know which plants are the best for our cold, Zone 4 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 VOL 40, NO. 1

FROM THE DIRECTOR PETER C. MOE

climate, based on Meyer's research and publications.

In addition to her impressive career accomplishments (read more on pages 8-9), Dr. Meyer has also been a valuable and trusted colleague for many years, and I am very pleased that she is continuing to serve as Curator of the Ornamental Grasses Collection at the Arboretum. She is always positive, approachable and willing to pitch in to work with a dedicated team of volunteers and horticulture staff in the garden. We’re looking forward to working with Mary in the years to come.

Along with the Ornamental Grasses Collection, there is much more to explore at the Arboretum this winter. We invite you to check out our guide to winter trails (page 3) for details on our new cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, as well as information about Three-Mile Walk and Three-Mile Drive, which are being maintained and open to visitors this winter for the first time ever.

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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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, Director of Research Tony Baisley, Associate Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Jenny Verner, President, Arboretum Foundation

On the cover: Winter beauty in the Arb’s Dwarf Conifer Collection as seen through a child’s eyes.

Photo by Erica E. Photography.

Photos by (Left) Jason Boudreau-Landis; (Right) Mark MacLennan

Dr. Mary Meyer

OUTDOOR FUN

LIZ POTASEK • ARBORETUM WRITER

Whether you’re snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing, hiking, biking or driving, there are plenty of ways to experience the Arb in winter.

We know how important it is to get outside and enjoy fresh air during a Minnesota winter. And this year, as we navigate a new way of living with COVID-19, it’s even more critical. So we’re increasing access to Arboretum grounds by creating new cross-country ski and snowshoe trails and keeping ThreeMile Drive and Three-Mile Walk open throughout the season.

Visit arb.umn.edu/winter for the trails map and to see the latest trail conditions. You can also call 612-625-9793 for updates on trail and drive conditions.

Cross-country Ski Trails: The Arboretum offers a variety of classic ski trails for all skill levels. The new cross-country ski trailhead is at Farm at the Arb, which can be accessed from the Arboretum entrance off 82nd St. W. All skiers must make reservations online at arb.umn.edu/order -tickets and display each ticket in their vehicle at the Farm at the Arb parking lot. There needs to be at least six inches of snow on the ground before trails can be groomed.

Snowshoe Trails: With about eight miles of snowshoe trails, there are countless ways to explore the Arb landscape. Pick up snowshoe trails

Laying D Cross-Count own the ry Ski Trail

near the Sensory Garden and Japanese Garden and create your own adventure through deep woods and prairie. Snowshoes are available for rent in the Oswald Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The rental fee is $7 for the first hour and $5 for each additional hour.

Snowshoes must be returned by 4 p.m.

Three-Mile Drive: For the first time, Three-Mile Drive will be maintained and open throughout the winter, which means it’ll be easier than ever to experience the magic of winter in the Harrison Sculpture Garden and Chinese Garden. The drive will be open to vehicles and bicycles only. Since the drive is narrow and slippery in some areas, it might be temporarily closed due to winter weather conditions. Please visit arb.umn.edu/winter or call ahead to make sure the drive is open when you’re planning to visit.

Three-Mile Walk: One of the Arboretum’s most popular walking trails will be maintained this winter, as well. The fully-paved path starts in the Sensory Garden and leads through the Johanna Frerichs Garden for Wildlife, Harrison Sculpture Garden, Pine Collection and more, providing sweeping views of the landscape and a great opportunity for getting your steps in.

WE’RE INCREASING ACCESS TO ARBORETUM GROUNDS

BY CREATING NEW CROSSCOUNTRY SKI AND SNOWSHOE TRAILS

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Photos by (Left) Don Olson; (Right) Richard DeVries; (Bottom) Don Olson

WINTER TREKS

WINTER SPLEN DOR

Arboretum Dwarf Conifers Provide ALAN BRANHAGEN • DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

are a hot topic and the Arb’s Dwarf Conifer Collection displays a premier example of shrubs and small trees that can make or break a winter landscape. Most are evergreens – which makes them so valuable to the winter scene. As these plants are also conifers (bearing cones), their cones add a bit of ornament too and many new dwarf conifers display these well.

The Arb’s Dwarf Conifer Collection began when the site was acquired, and some were moved to their current location in 1971.

The collection was formalized in 1976 with the construction of the stream and waterfall.

At more than 60 years old, some of the Arb’s conifers are no longer so dwarf, but are nonetheless inspiring as they demonstrate what majestic plants they can grow to be.

The American Conifer Society has revised its “Conifer Size Categories” that describe dwarf conifers to better classify their mature size: a new category includes miniature for those that don’t grow more than 1-inch per

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are best viewed from where the sun is behind you so they are fore lit to show their detail. The winter shadows of conifers are also places for ice and snow to persist, as solar warmth is blocked.

Be sure and take some extra time observing the Arb’s Dwarf Conifer Collection on your next winter visit. They are a delightful sight in the season’s light as their winter costume is always changing with the snow and ice. You are sure to get some ideas for your own home landscape – great choices to replace overgrown foundation plantings or a good investment for a new home.

For Branhagen’s full article including a listing of classic dwarf conifers in the Arboretum’s collection, please visit z.umn.edu/6irh

Photos by Patrick Petersen

The Arboretum is a great place to get your landscape and garden ideas – even in winter! Winter gardens

year and mature under 1-foot tall after 10 years! The other categories include dwarf (1 to 5 feet), intermediate (5 to 10 feet), and large (more than 10 feet).

Besides the wonderful foliage colors of dwarf conifers, it’s their forms that make them a real standout in the landscape.

There is everything from rounded, spherical forms (one cultivar of our native Arborvitae is named Mr. Bowling Ball™), to typical conical or pyramidal forms, to sprawling creepers and upright weepers. With our low winter light, backlit conifers are often just a shadow so the form becomes even more apparent. Do keep that in mind when planting them in your garden – they

NATURE FOCUS

SNOWY OWLS ‘SILENT WHITE GHOSTS’ FROM THE ARCTIC

Photos by Mark Paulson

MATT SCHUTH • NATURALIST

When the days of hard winter arrive in our area, snowy owls appear from their arctic homelands like silent white ghosts. Their creamcolored plumage blends in seamlessly with the snow-covered landscape. Snowy owls are perfectly suited for the cold, piercing days of icicles and snowdrifts, with soft outer feathers covering a durable layer of down, and feet blanketed with feathery white boots. Delicate foot feathers partially cover four- to five-inch black needlesharp talons, which, when used, mean certain death to any unsuspecting critter.

In wintering areas, snowy owls need to eat seven to twelve rodents per day to survive. Unlike most of their cousins, snowy owls will also capture birds when possible. In the polar region, lemmings are the main target of their diet. An adult snowy owl there will eat three to five lemmings per day.

Adult owls may only mate once every four

or five years depending on the available food sources. If the food supply is limited, a female will lay four to seven eggs – if prey is abundant she can lay as many as twelve! Snowy owl nests are situated on ‘hummocks,’ which are piles of soil and rock scattered throughout the arctic.

The refuse left at these sites by the snowy owls becomes tiny ecosystems where flowers, lichen and other species thrive. Young owls hatch asynchronously, one every two days. When an owlet is held in the hand, it becomes rigid. This reflex is called “frozen corpse display.”

The snowy owls’ southern migration in winter is called an ‘irruption.’

It was always believed the number of owls migrating south was based on the number of lemmings available, but now some researchers theorize it may have more to do with weather patterns than food supply.

Native Americans called the snowy owl the “night eagle.” Being that owls are not social birds and prefer being alone, they represent the desire for peaceful solitude – a gift from them to us in these uncertain times.

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HORTICULTURE AN D RESEARCH

DNA TESTING NOT ONLY ABOUT PEOPLE

Photos by (Left and Middle) Matt Clark

MATT CLARK • DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

OVER THE LAST DECADE, DNA testing has become

commonplace for people wishing to understand their ancestry, to study genealogy and to gain insight into their risks for disease. Similar technologies and approaches are now used routinely in the apple and grape breeding programs at the Horticultural Research Center (HRC) at the Arboretum.

Recent discoveries using DNA tests have allowed breeders to understand complex pedigree relationships, including identifying the true parents of ‘Honeycrisp.’ The DNA testing – or what is known as marker-assisted breeding – is used to improve efficiencies in the breeding process. Ultimately, the breeder wants to predict how a plant will perform at maturity, but make the decision when the plant is very small. For the apple project, choosing the best parents based on DNA tests has proven to be very effective. The orchards and vineyards are limited in space, so only the best plants are advanced when a DNA marker test is available.

Linking a DNA marker with a trait has been the emphasis of HRC research projects for several years to enable these technologies. Collaboration has been key for this, especially through USDA-funded projects RosBREED and VitisGen. In general, emphasis has been placed on key attributes like fruit color, fruit quality (i.e. acidity or sugar content), storage disorders, and

resistance to diseases or insects.

In each breeding program, parents are selected every spring to be used to make new crosses. The seedlings that are produced combine the attributes of each parent, and just like in humans, each offspring is different within a family, even though the same two parents are used. The seeds go through cold stratification to replicate winter conditions and prime the seeds to germinate in late winter. The scientists then collect leaf tissue as the seedlings emerge. DNA is isolated from the leaf tissue and specialized lab techniques are used to select which seedlings to keep and which to cull.

Large data sets are produced, and analyzed quickly in order to discard the unwanted plants during the greenhouse stage. Moving the plants into the field is costly as the apples are painstakingly grafted and the seedling grapevines first are planted into a nursery for one year.

The DNA tests being used by each program are highly effective, and typically from any one family roughly 50 percent of the seedlings can be discarded with just one test! This means that the breeding programs are starting more seeds than in previous years so that the pipeline stays full. However, now the downstream evaluation is enriched with plants displaying more favorable attributes.

CHOOSING THE BEST PARENTS BASED ON DNA TESTS HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE. THE ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS ARE LIMITED IN SPACE, SO ONLY THE BEST PLANTS ARE ADVANCED WHEN A DNA MARKER TEST IS AVAILABLE. 6|

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Photo by May Chanikran at Shutterstock

LEARN AN D DO

Photography From Your Smartphone As technology advances rapidly, so do the cameras inside our convenient - and always with us - smartphones!

Created for beginners, online Zoom photography courses show you how to unlock the potential of your phone to produce amazing images.

Each class $40 member/$45 non-member Advance registration required Online: arboretum.umn.edu/PhotoWorkshops.aspx Phone: 612-301-1210 Email: ArbEdu@umn.edu

CREATIVE SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY: LIGHT & PORTRAITS (ONLINE)

Live Zoom Webinar Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. – noon • Recognize and use soft and hard lighting • The effects of color temperature on your images • Why direction of light matters • Make the most of available light • Improve photos of your friends and family • Simple ways to modify available light and create a DIY light kit • Which apps are best for modifying portraits • Easily touch-up portraits on your phone!

CREATIVE SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY: SHOOTING & COMPOSITION (ONLINE)

Photo by Eric Mueller

Live Zoom Webinar Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. – noon • The 10 rules of composition • Decide what to shoot and how to shoot it • The importance of a main subject • Smartphone settings for the best photos • Techniques and tips for making better photographs

IPHONE PHOTO EDITING MADE EASY (ONLINE) Live 2-Session Zoom Webinar Tuesday March 16, 6:30 – 9 p.m. & Thursday March 18, 6:30 – 9 p.m.

Session 1 • Develop an editing strategy • Adjust contrast, structure and sharpening • Adjust brightness, saturation and white balance • Add vignettes and remove blemishes • Make adjustments to only a part of a photo • Effectively crop photos Session 2 • Use the View Edits function • Fix perspective • Explore filters like Drama, Grunge and Vintage • Explore the Portrait tool • Take a deeper dive into Snapseed's other tools

Smartphone photography courses are taught

by Eric Mueller, artist, photographer, a teacher with over 40,000 followers on Instagram (instagram.com/ericmueller/)

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2021

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Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis

MARY MEYER, ALONG WITH MANY HORTICULTURALISTS, VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS, HAS CREATED THE BEST GRASS COLLECTION IN THE COUNTRY AT THE MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM.

PATRON SAINT of ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

Mary Meyer:

SUSIE EATON HOPPER • MEDIA/PR SPECIALIST

Arboretum members treasure the magnificent Ornamental Grasses Collection on Three-Mile Drive. Now

celebrating its 34th year, the grasses were born out of a passion by Mary Hockenberry Meyer, PhD, for their study, planting and preservation.

Dr. Meyer retired from the University of Minnesota at the end of 2020.

Her grass obsession started at Cornell University in upstate New York, where she was studying for a master’s degree. In 1971, she was introduced to a small collection of grasses by her advisor. It was love at first sight! “No one knew much about grasses. I thought, “Someone has to write about these,” she said. “I wanted to get out there and plant them.”

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So she did. Her first project was Little Bluestem and Pennisetum in a parking lot plot in Ithaca.

“They were considered weeds, a big mess,” Meyer says. “The Associated Press put out a story about it. It was fortuitous.” She then wrote a bulletin for Cornell Extension. Bit by bit, she was getting the word out. A book agent who worked with Scribner’s contacted her and she wrote a hardcover book in 1975.

At the time, grasses were so new in the U.S. landscape that she scrambled to find pictures of different varieties.

While Meyer had found her calling, there were plenty of naysayers, initially. At turf conventions, Meyer would start a talk about ornamental grasses and half the room would leave. She was at a cocktail party at Cornell, standing with the president of the American

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Horticultural Society. Ornamental grasses were mentioned and he threw up his hands, stating “there’s nothing there!” Meyer was unfazed. “I saw the void was there in this niche area. I need to do this. I can do this,” she says, determined to educate the world about grasses.

As her efforts began to take hold, consumers started inquiring where they could get such plants. Famous landscape architects like the Oehme and van Sweden firm were using these grasses in designs for public spaces.

By the mid-80s, grasses were really catching on. Meyer came to the University of Minnesota in 1986 when her husband, Jim, was transferred for his position with Citibank in Philadelphia to Minneapolis. She planted the grass collection in 1987 with the help of then-Arboretum Director Peter Olin and

“YOU CAN’T FIND SOMEONE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN MARY,” SAYS FREQUENT EXTENSION COLLABORATOR JULIE WEISENHORN, WHO ALSO WAS MEYER’S GRAD STUDENT.

Photos by (Top Left) Patrick Witherow; (Top Right) Don Olson; (Bottom Left) Kent Withington

researchers Harold Pellett and Donald White. At that time, there wasn’t a grass grower in Minnesota. Bailey Nurseries asked for 10 grasses they could sell. With Meyer’s efforts at the forefront, grasses were about to hit the big time.

Fast forward 33 years and Meyer, along with many horticulturalists, volunteers and students, has created the best grass collection in the country at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. “No other U. S. botanical garden has one,” Meyer says.

“I couldn’t have a better place to have this collection where the public can see it, commercial growers can see it.”

Her efforts, along with those of

forward-thinking nurseries and landscape designers, have put ornamental grasses on the map – now a $158-million industry (latest figure is from 2014). Through this journey, Meyer has become a revered professor at the U of M; cold-climate researcher; Program Leader in Horticulture with University of Minnesota Extension; leader of national societies and programs; book author; interim Director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and so much more. “You can’t find someone more knowledgeable than Mary,” says frequent Extension collaborator Julie Weisenhorn, who also was Meyer’s grad student. “She always goes deeper and is so innovative.

Ornamental Grasses Collection

She’s so supportive, always looking ahead.”

Though Dr. Meyer is now emeritus, she will continue to curate her beloved Ornamental Grasses Collection at the Arboretum. She will also have more time for her husband, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Don’t be surprised if the next time you visit the grasses, you see Meyer, rake in hand, tending to her garden. Thank you, Mary Meyer!

For the full story, including a list Dr. Meyer’s accomplishments and her pointers for growing ornamental grasses in your home landscape go to z.umn.edu/6iri

DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT THE GRASSES, YOU SEE MEYER, RAKE IN HAND, TENDING TO HER GARDEN. THANK YOU, MARY MEYER! A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2021

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THE JOY OF GIVING

A Three-Generation Greenhouse

Bachman Gre

enhouse

Stan Bachm

an

Near the Horticulture and Operations Headquarters at the Arboretum, sits a showcase for

how three generations of human beings can, well, generate a huge amount of good.

The showcase is a gleaming greenhouse that opened in October 2019. It replaced a 1970s hoophouse deemed “temporary” at the time, though it morphed into close-to-permanent.

The provenance of the new greenhouse is a striking story. After an Auxiliary gift in the early planning stages, Stan and Georgia Bachman’s estate gift motivated the next two generations to help make it a reality.

Stan and Georgia’s sons and daughtersin-law, Paul and Barbara Bachman and Peter Bachman and Janet Rice, made gifts and inspired their children to follow suit.

Adam and Emy Bachman, Leslie Bachman, Blair and Amy Bachman, and Kelly and John Henry joined as the third generation supporting the Bachman Greenhouse at the Arboretum.

The greenhouse, featuring a third more

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Peter, Stan and Paul Bachman

growing space than the hoophouse, is a stunning botanical boon. It overwinters unhardy perennials like rosemary trees and citrus and houses annuals grown for outdoor displays and the Auxiliary’s annual plant sale.

Its walls, made of improved polycarbonate, even survived last summer’s hail storms, and its state-of-the-art ventilation system brings relief to workers from the summer hoophouse heat they used to experience.

In other words, the Arboretum now has a professional-grade greenhouse to match the professional quality of its horticultural work.

The Bachman family has been running its own floral, gift and garden company since its founding in 1885, six generations ago. Today it has eight acres of greenhouses and six stores in the Twin Cities.

Stan Bachman was the third generation to manage the business. “Dad always had a warm spot for the Arboretum,” says Paul, “so all of us wanted to leave a legacy in his and Mom’s names.” Peter agrees: “Mom and Dad were wonderful people, and they loved the

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Arboretum, which was a cause near and dear to their heart.” In fact, both Peter and Paul remember when, as kids, they’d stop with their dad at the home of Dr. Leon Snyder, the Arboretum’s first director.

Fondness for the Arboretum – and the greenhouse project – has flowed from Stan and Georgia through their sons to their grandchildren: Blair says their grandparents’ “love of flowers will be able to live on” through the greenhouse. Adam says that giving to the project “was a great way for us to acknowledge the hard work of previous generations and help with future success of the Arboretum.” Leslie says she was happy to give, because “it was important to carry on the tradition and legacy of horticulture that my grandparents and parents have instilled in me.”

That’s exactly what the Bachman Greenhouse has done: carry on a family tradition through the giving – and loving – impact of multiple generations.

Photos by (Top Left) Susie Hopper; (Bottom Left and Right) Courtesy of Bachman Family

JEFF ISEMINGER • CONTRIBUTING WRITER

VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION WEEK

ONLINE CELEBRATION SLATED FOR FEB. 1-5

T

his year has been tough! While the Arboretum loves its members and enjoys the annual member appreciation event, unfortunately, it will not be possible to hold the event in-person this year..

Although we cannot be together, we will continue to celebrate our members through a virtual campaign scheduled for Feb. 1-5! Among other things planned, members will be able to learn about the dedicated membership staff and hear

GET READY TO GARDEN! KATHY ALLEN • LIBRARIAN

Days are getting longer and

the urge to garden is already taking hold! If you’ve been inspired by Arboretum gardens of the past, the Andersen Horticultural Library (AHL) has everything you need to recreate your favorite designs. Stop by to see Arboretum landscape designer Duane Otto’s 30 years of hand-drawn garden plans and photographs, or go to z.umn.edu/arbgardenplans to see exactly which plant varieties he chose for various themes, compatibility, and interest throughout the seasons.

The library is home to thousands of books and magazines about garden design, landscape design and construction (pergola anyone?), plants for Minnesota conditions, and many more topics. AHL is open Tuesday through Saturday, and staff will be available to steer you to resources specific to what you’re looking for, using our University of Minnesota Libraries’ exclusive Garden, Landscape & Horticulture database.

If you have a design in mind but have yet to find all of the plants on your list, visit the library to get information on where to order your seeds or plants. With one of the largest collections of seed and nursery catalogs in the country – dating back to 1614! – you can look through hundreds of 2021 catalogs to plan your garden orders. Staff are also here to help you find where to purchase unusual plant varieties.

More information about AHL and its resources is available at lib.umn.edu/ahl.

their stories – as well as testimonials from members on why they love the Arboretum. In addition, you can learn about some exciting new digital resources that will be rolled-out – just for members!

You can visit arb.umn.edu/support/ membership any time for updates or to download digital backgrounds, postcards or the coloring book for the kids – exclusively for members. Don’t forget your Arboretum Membership grants you access to all sorts of other adventures at botanical gardens and arboretums around the country. Watch your email for daily reminders of just how much we appreciate your support – and we’ll ‘see you’ Feb. 1-5 for the on-line member celebration.

Thank you for your support!

2021 ARBORETUM TRAVEL

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

ATTENTION: We are planning Arboretum Garden Tours for 2021. However, some or all

tours are subject to cancelation or postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this uncertainty, we’ve made special arrangements to have you sign up with no deposit until we know that the trip can take place safely. When that is assured, we will then ask for a deposit.

We encourage you to sign up now to hold your place for the trip you wish to take.

Kingdom of Monarchs, Mexico. Feb. 3 – 12. POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2022.

Contact Renee Davies: renee@knowmadadventures.com or 612-315-2894 x105 if you wish to have a place held for you.

Texas Hill Country. April 8 – 14. Explore San Antonio, its Botanical Garden and the River Walk. See Fredericksburg and the Lady Bird Wildflower Garden, LBJ Ranch and a private garden. Enjoy the bluebonnets in bloom. Host: Peter Olin. Contact Lynde Vespoli: destinationsandtours@gmail.com or 440-840-6334.

Coastal Maine. June 2 – 9. Stops are made in Kennebunkport, Portland, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland and Bar Harbor. Enjoy lighthouses, gardens, historic villages, Acadia National Park and Coastal Maine Botanical Garden – even a nature cruise on Frenchman’s Bay. Host: Pete Moe. Contact Jenny Woodson: jenny@skadstravel.com or 952-927-7311.

For information on all Arboretum tours, go to arbtravel.umn.edu or contact Peter Olin, olinx002@umn.edu.

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TECH NOLOGY FOCUS

MAPPING OUT WINTER ACTIVITIES

NEW DIGITAL MAPS AND LAYERS ENHANCE YOUR VISIT! NICK KREEVICH ARBORETUM CARTOGRAPHER/PLANT RECORDER

FIND THE LAYER LIST HERE

To plan your visit during the winter months we’ve added new winter

TRAILHEADS ARE MARKED WITH BLUE ICONS

activity options to our digital map, which can be found at z.umn.edu/arbmap or on the Arb’s website homepage. The digital map includes new information regarding our cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails and trees with particular winter interest. As a light refresher – and for new users – the following information will guide you through the steps to plan your winter adventure using the Arboretum’s digital map.

Since reopening in the spring, this digital map has provided details on the one-way walking paths and which facilities are open. This information will continue to be included alongside our offerings of winter activities in the digital map’s layer list. To access the layer list, click the icon that looks like a stack of paper in the upper right hand corner of the application (see photo top left). This allows you to choose what information you would like displayed on the digital map, which includes two new winter activity layers. (The checkboxes turn a layer on and off.)

The image top right shows the Winter Trails layer turned on. This layer shows you the cross country-ski trails and their difficulty (green is easy, blue is intermediate, and red is difficult). Snowshoe trails are designated as yellow, while the blue icons show the trailheads for both types of trails. The images below right show the Winter Interest Plants layer. The icons, which are blue evergreens, are clickable and show information such as botanical name, common name, and a short description of the plant.

TURN A LAYER ON OR OFF BY CHECKING THE BOXES

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE WINTER TRAILS LAYER TURNED ON EASY - CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS INTERMEDIATE - CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS DIFFICULT - CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS SNOWSHOE TRAILS

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE WINTER INTEREST PLANTS LAYER TURNED ON

Remember, once flowers begin to bloom this spring, the What's in Bloom layer will go live again – something else to look forward to!

The digital map offering not only allows you to plan your visit to the Arboretum, but it can also be used while onsite. This application works on smartphones and can be used as a navigational device to help you find your way throughout the Arb by allowing it to access your current location. More information about the digital map can be accessed by clicking the info icon next to the layer list in the top right corner of the application.

CLICK ON THE BLUE EVERGREEN ICON TO SEE MORE PLANT INFO

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HORTICULTURE

Winter Pruning for

Fraxinus mandshurica - before pruning

Fraxinus mandshurica - after pruning

JEFFREY L. JOHNSON LANDSCAPE GARDENER - WOODY PLANTS SPECIALIST

BEFORE

Acer x freemanii - before reduction cut detail

AFTER

Acer x freemanii - post reduction cut detail

READ MORE

A great resource on pruning, available through special order from the Arboretum Gift & Garden Store, is An Illustrated Guide to Pruning, 3rd edition,

by Edward F. Gilman.

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Photos by Jeffrey Johnson

A common question from visitors to the Arboretum in any season is: “What do Arboretum gardeners do during the winter to keep the trees and shrubs so beautiful all year long?”

Believe it or not, protection from deer and rodent damage is at the top of the ‘to-do’ list. Great effort is invested in thwarting ravaging critters that feed on trees and shrubs in the desolate winter. We install and check protections of various kinds in the fall.

However, these must be monitored and repaired as necessary throughout the winter. Breaches can have devastating consequences.

Entire areas are fenced off from deer. Also, individual fencing is often needed around specific plants when area fencing is not practical. In addition, we install trunk protections from deer antler rubbing – four vertical rods in a box with three strands of wire around the box. Gardeners also install “hardware cloth” for mouse and vole protection at the base of individual trunks.

Pruning is an ongoing process, but the best time for tree and shrub pruning is wintertime. Disease and insect pressure is low and structure is well exposed with deciduous plants losing their leaves.

I focus pruning on five principles: Sanitation, Structure, Framing, Clearance, and Balance. Proper pruning allows woody plants to seal wounds.

Cutting outside the branch collar, making the smallest wounds possible without leaving stubs, reduction pruning to a significant branch (greater than 1/3 the diameter of the cut stem), and leaving the plant looking “unpruned” when done are excellent guides. Also, this optimizes the function of the plant in the landscape.

Flowers, fruit, stem color, bark-interest, form and habit are important attributes of woody plants.

An example is pruning flowering trees and shrubs.

My goal has been to fill the volume of the tree with flowers, not just on the outside, by opening windows into the interior and avoiding ‘lion’s tail’ pruning (i.e., leaving branches along main trunks that will flower).

These are just a few important activities the dedicated and passionate horticulture staff perform in the winter to keep the Arboretum a sacred space.

Calendar At-A-Glance Due to ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and updated requirements from both the State and University of Minnesota, please find the latest calendar information at arb.umn.edu

NATURE SKETCHBOOKS FINDING SANCTUARY IN WINTER FEB. 18 & 25

COOKING CLASS SOUP DU JOUR SATURDAY, FEB. 20

ONGOING EXHIBITS REEDY GALLERY

“Breakout Creations: The Graffiti Art of Peyton Scott Russell” • Through March 14 “Chroma” Minnesota Watercolor Society Spring Exhibition • March 18 through April 15 (See page 16.)

EVERY THURSDAY

STORYTIME AT HOME

New StoryTime recording every Thursday: arb.umn.edu/storytime.

AVAILABLE ONLINE ON DEMAND BEGINNING MARCH 1

MARCH IN THE MAPLES: SWEET JOURNEY FROM SAP TO SYRUP Free for all ages, "click in" to this free interactive online experience as we show you how to turn sap into syrup! Visit the Arboretum Maple Collection (or a maple tree near you) and follow along online for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Arboretum's maple operation, a "sappy" taste test, and a step-by-step tree ID guide. A combination of videos, quizzes and activities teach you how to identify a maple tree to tap, why we get sap from maple trees, and the difference between maple sap and maple syrup.

z:umn.edu/arboretummaple

SUNDAY, FEB. 7

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

10-11 a.m., taught by Yoga Bella arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

THURSDAY, FEB. 11

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP: PRETTY PRIMROSE (2 DAYS)

10 a.m.-1 p.m., $69/$84, online via ZOOM, also includes Friday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Learn to paint luminous flower petals through step-by-step instruction and helpful demonstrations. Practice glazing to build depth and color saturation, observe edges and valves and learn to make refinements to your work.

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HOMESCHOOL NATURE JOURNAL ACADEMY: EVERGREENS, CONES & BIRDS

THURSDAY, FEB. 18

Suggested for ages 5-12, together with an adult. Practice scientific skills like observation and data collection as you go on a pre-class nature walk, draw and observe evergreen needles and cones, explore the connections between birds and trees, try a simple pine cone experiment and practice making predictions.

10 a.m.-2 p.m., (also Feb. 25), $79/$99, Oswald Visitor Center

10-11 a.m., $20/family, online via ZOOM

WINTER BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

6:30-8 p.m., $30/$35, online via ZOOM Learn techniques for photographing birds in winter, insights into their behavior, equipment needs, and how to build a backyard bird photography studio. Add on an optional in-person photo shoot to practice your skills at the Arboretum (see Saturday, February 13).

SATURDAY, FEB. 13

WINTER BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY ADD-ON: ON-LOCATION PHOTO SHOOT

9-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., or 1-2:30 p.m., $49/$64, Arboretum outdoor locations Put what you’ve learned at the Winter Bird Photography class (required prerequisite: See Feb. 11) into practice at this exclusive opportunity to photograph birds at the Arboretum! Your instructor will be available to answer questions and offer tips throughout your practice time. Very small group size to ensure sightlines to our feeders and safe social distancing.

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2021

NATURE SKETCHBOOKS 2-SESSSION WORKSHOP: FINDING SANCTUARY IN WINTER Learn how to draw from life with careful observation. Collect impressions that help capture your subjects for later exploration or contemplation. Become inspired by new tips and techniques using very few tools.

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

Noon-1 p.m. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

SATURDAY, FEB. 20

DRAWING WITH PASTELS WORKSHOP: CROW

9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $59/$79, online via ZOOM Explore chalk pastels: a portable, versatile medium with a dynamic, painterly quality akin to oil painting, but without the need for harsh chemicals. Demonstrations, exercises and instructor feedback will teach you about shape, form, layering and blending with pastels as you create a drawing of a crow that balances line, form, color and composition. Conveniently order any/all supplies to be shipped right to your home.

CREATIVE SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY: SHOOTING & COMPOSITION

9 a.m.-noon, $40/$45, online via ZOOM Learn to take beautiful photographs with any mobile phone. Discuss the 10 rules of composition, smartphone settings, techniques and tips. (See page 7.)

Photos by (left to right) Pam Luer; Miyao at Shutterstock

FEBRUARY-MARCH PROGRAMS & EVENTS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

Arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx CLASS REGISTRATION: 612-301-1210 EVENTS, EXHIBITS, GENERAL INFO: 612-624-2200 PAINT & SIP: TULIPS AT THE ARBORETUM THURSDAY, FEB. 25

COOKING CLASS: SOUP DU JOUR 9-10:30 a.m., $20/$25 per household, online via ZOOM

Photos by (left to right) composite: Ann Soyst & Vectorfusionart at Shutterstock; Reba Luiken; Mike Shaw

Cook along in real time from your kitchen or simply watch and enjoy. Learn to make homemade stock and then add vegetables, meats and/or beans. Explore flavor and texture combinations. Menu includes cream of mushroom soup, your favorite vegetable soup and the best chicken noodle soup.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25

PAINT & SIP: TULIPS AT THE ARBORETUM

6-8 p.m., $39/$59, online via ZOOM Pour yourself a beverage and join this fun, interactive online workshop that will guide you step-by-step as you turn a blank 11x14" canvas into your own lovely Arboretum tulip scene using acrylic paints! Conveniently order any/all supplies to be shipped right to your home.

SUNDAY, FEB. 28

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

10-11 a.m., taught by Good Vibrations Yoga Arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

CREATIVE SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY: LIGHT & PORTRAITS 9 a.m.-noon, $40/$45, online via ZOOM

Discuss lighting concepts, light temperature and direction, and discover techniques for modifying portraits and touching up your work on the phone. (See page 7.)

HOMESCHOOL NATURE JOURNAL CLUB MAPPING MAPLE SYRUP THURSDAY, MARCH 11

POWER PLANNING FOR NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHY SUNDAY, MARCH 28

SUNDAY, MARCH 7

THURSDAY MARCH 18

10-11 a.m., taught by Good Vibrations Yoga Arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

Noon-1 p.m. arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

YOGA IN THE GARDENS

SUNDAY, MARCH 21

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10

YOGA SPRING RETREAT

Noon-1:30 p.m., $100/$145 (also Apr. 14, May 12, Jun. 9, Jul. 14, Aug. 11), online via ZOOM

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

BOOKS IN THE GARDEN: NATURE “RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW”

Join other lovers of literature for six sessions of thoughtful discourse on nature-related writing. This session we will discuss: "Snowbound" by John Greenleaf Whittier.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11

HOMESCHOOL NATURE JOURNAL ACADEMY: MAPPING MAPLE SYRUP

10-11 a.m., $20/family, online via ZOOM Suggested for ages 5-12, together with an adult. Practice scientific skills like observation, predictions and data collection as you go on a pre-class nature walk, learn how maple sap becomes maple syrup, make a landscape drawing, and make drawings that help identify trees.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16

IPHONE PHOTO EDITING MADE EASY

6:30-9 p.m. AND 6:30-9 p.m. March 18, $40/$45, online via ZOOM

9 a.m.-4 p.m., ticketed event arb.umn.edu/content/yoga-gardens

COOKING CLASS: ARTISAN BREAD FOR YOUR INNER ARTIST 9-11 a.m., $20/$25 per household, online via ZOOM

Explore different types of artisan breads!

Discuss starters including sponges, sourdough starters, and yeast; quick breads versus raised breads; flavor and texture additions, bread machines and ethnic influences. Class menu includes focaccia, English muffin bread, whole-wheat beer bread and the best quick breads formula.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28

POWER PLANNING FOR NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHY

2-4 p.m., $35/$40, online via ZOOM Learn how to harness the power of a personal digital photography assistant (your cellphone!) to plan photography of moonrises/moonsets, Milky Way images, meteor showers, time lapses and more.

Learn to edit your smartphone photos using the Snapseed app, including how to adjust contrast, brightness and saturation, add vignettes and remove blemishes and crop photos. (see page 7.)

A R B O R E T U M M AGA Z I N E // FEB RUA RY • M A RC H 2021

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TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318-9613

General Information . . . . . . . . 612-624-2200 Andersen Horticultural Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1239 Auxiliary Event & Membership Info . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9865 Trail Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-9793 Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1263 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1210 Gift and Garden Store . . . . . . . 612-301-7619 Facility Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-7600 Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1257 Memorials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1263 Volunteering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1203 Yard & Garden Help Desk. . . 612-301-7590

or extension.umn.edu Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-301-1274 Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arboretum.umn.edu

A publication for members and friends of the Arboretum

Due to ongoing limited operations because of COVID-19, please visit arb.umn.edu for hours and programming updates.

HOURS GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

ADMISSION Visitors: $15 for ages 16 and up Members: Free Children 15 & under: Free Arboretum Memberships start at $60 (Arboretum.umn.edu/newmemberships.aspx)

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The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. ©2020 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

ART AT THE ARBORETUM

Delight in the beauty found indoors in the Oswald Visitor Center. Art is available for sale through the Gift & Garden Store, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Arboretum.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to ongoing limited operations because of COVID-19, please visit arb.umn.edu for Art Gallery exhibit updates.

REEDY GALLERY EXHIBITS Alpha

Epsilon

Related Class at the Arboretum: If you’d like to make your own graffiti art, consider joining Peyton at the Arboretum in Fall 2021 for an 8-week series specifically designed for students 60+. This program, supported by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and designed for beginners, will allow students to integrate elements of the Arboretum grounds and natural environment into their own art pieces as they practice a variety of art-making techniques including traditional art elements and design principles.

“Chroma” Minnesota Watercolor Society Spring Exhibition • March 18 through April 15 This annual spring juried show features many of the most accomplished water media artists in our region and will be judged by artist and professor Carl Oltvedt.

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.

Art by Peyton Scott Russell

“Breakout Creations: The Graffiti Art of Peyton Scott Russell” • Through March 14 Solo exhibition of Peyton Scott Russell (aka Sprayfinger). Russell became the first “graffiti artist” in Minneapolis creating multiple graffiti murals while celebrating graffiti art and culture. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about graffiti as a fine art form, movement, source of communication and enhancement to communities. You will enjoy his vibrant imagery reflecting his fine arts training fused with societal and personal reflections.