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Fall 2008 |
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News and Notes is issued three times a year, in January, May, and September, to stakeholder organizations to keep them informed about recent arboretum accomplishments and activities. Stakeholders are encouraged to use material from this document in reports to their members. Please send comments to: Thomas S. Elias, Director John Hammond, Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit
Leader Cori Grim, Acting Administrative
and Marketing Manager Nancy Luria, Education and Visitor Services Unit Leader |
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Research
Unit Releases New Viburnum
New Arboretum Posters Highlight Introductions With support from the Friends of the National Arboretum and design expertise from ARS’s Information staff, the National Arboretum created three full-color posters that feature some of its best woody plant introductions. Read more... China Garden Project Receives Green Light Earlier this year, Congress passed a comprehensive Farm Bill giving the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorization for all of its programs and activities. Read more... Arboretum Opens Power Plants and Hosts BEAD II Events The National Arboretum opened a new garden exhibit and hosted displays from universities and colleges working on energy issues during the Department of Agriculture’s second annual Bio Energy Awareness Days (BEAD) in June. Read more... Power Plants Exhibit Crops Reach Maturity Frequent rain and warm weather contributed to the rapid growth of nearly all the crops growing in the Power Plants—Farming Energy exhibit. Read more... Rare Oconee-bells Seed Collected by Arboretum Staff Gardens Unit staff Joan Feely, Christopher Upton, and Jeanna Ragsdale headed south to collect seeds of the rare Oconee-bells, Shortia galacifolia, in early June. Read more... New Wetland Created in Native Plant Collection In addition to new paths, Fern Valley’s improvements include a wetland plant habitat near the newly constructed entrance to the Native Plant Collection. Natural surface runoff will flow into the wetland where it will have a chance to infiltrate and replenish groundwater; and it will be cleaned of any sediment or pollutants. Read more... Gypsy Moth Damage Averted In early May, just under half of the arboretum’s 446-acre campus was sprayed for gypsy moths. Specially trained applicators sprayed Dimilin onto the tops of the trees from a helicopter. Read more... Woody Plant Advisory Group Meets at the USNA The annual Woody Landscape Plant Crop Germplasm Committee (WLPCGC) meeting was held at the National Arboretum this year.The WLPCGC is a national working group that provides analysis, data, and recommendations to the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System on genetic resources of temperate and tropical woody landscape plants. Read more... Service Groups’ Many Hands Accomplish Important Work When it comes time to tackle the removal of invasive vines or the spreading of large quantities of mulch, arboretum staff welcomes extra hands.While the arboretum’s dedicated force of regular volunteers helps keep the grounds beautiful on a day-to-day basis, large-scale, one-time projects are best accomplished by volunteer groups. Read more... Stakeholders Provide Valuable Funding for 2009 Interns Again this year, generous donations from several stakeholder groups enabled the National Arboretum to hire talented interns. The Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association, the National Capital Area Garden Club, Inc., and the Herb Society of America sponsored interns in the Dogwood Collection, the Friendship Garden, and the National Herb Garden, respectively, as they have for many years. Read more... |
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Last Updated October 14, 2008 11:25 AM
The
National Arboretum’s shrub breeding program introduced its 20th
new viburnum cultivar this summer. Called ‘Nantucket’—in
keeping with the series’ Native American names—the plant was
selected for its many outstanding features: large, mildly fragrant white
inflorescences; dark semi-evergreen narrow leaves; and upright relatively
compact growth habit. Maturing at 12 feet high by 7 feet wide, ‘Nantucket’
makes an impressive specimen plant. It is also suitable for hedge or mass
plantings, or as a backdrop in the shrub border.