Hahn Horticulture Garden

Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden - A Total Delight!

2011-03-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Whimsical, wild, refreshing, creative, innovative, un-expected. All words I would use to describe Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden in Lexington, Va. I was expecting manicured grounds surrounding an old private residence, but what I found was much more interesting. A rambling yet intimate, delightfully un-manicured garden filled with giant-sized furniture, interesting garden art, and other gnarly, wooden garden creations. A garden truly seeming to have been created in the spirit of 'going with the flow' of nature rather than trying to control and manage it. When roaming through this interesting space, with the help of colorful, handmade signage, it felt like I was getting a VIP tour by the garden's creator, showing me all the little particular beauties and secret sweet spots of this little parcel of land. I felt like a kid again. I wanted to build a fort, make some mud pies in an earthen kitchen, and explore all the many secret hideaways behind trees and under bushes. And, this is how I felt traveling through the "adult" section of the garden! The children's garden, The Play Trail, was off -the -chain! Forts galore, a tunnel, a true mud kitchen complete with pots and pans for creating muddy delicacies; it looked so FUN! I think Boxerwood really hit the nail on the head with this children's garden. Kids can really be kids there(...and so can adults;). Check out this video to see some of the Play Trail's visitors in action:

Plant Sex

2011-01-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

I began my Dendrology laboratory this past Wednesday and we touched on the concept of monoecious and dioecious. Generally speaking, monoecious plants have unisexual flowers( seperate male and female flowers) that occur on the same plant. Dioecious plants also have unisexual flowers but they occur on separate plants, as in male flowers on one plant and female on another. However, Despite all the different times I have heard this, I still get a little confused. Michael G. Simpson does a nice job of explaining this concept and the different variations that occur on this monoecious-dioecious spectrum in his textbook, Plant Taxonomy:

Click twice on the image to view:)

Tropical Escape

2011-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

Brassavola Little Stars

Despite the fact that there is a bit of snow on the ground here in Blacksburg, Va., we still have a few things blooming around here. There is a Brassavola Little Stars blooming just inside the front doors of the garden pavilion. Come visit it late in the day and you will be able to smell its sweet fragrance. Also, blooming right next to it is Begonia dregei (syn. B. richardsiana). Unlike any Begonia I have seen before, it is mini-sized and develops a swollen, bulbous, stem base (caudex) as it matures. Because of its habit and toleration of dry conditions, it apparently lends itself to Bonsai. If you check out the Logee's website, there is a picture of it grown in this way. Very Cool!
http://www.logees.com

P.S. I am a little bit confused on the nomenclature of this plant. I have seen it listed a bunch of different ways, B. 'Richardsiana', et. al., but went with B. dregei because the USDA GRIN (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?6645) website lists it as such, with B. richardsiana as a synonym. If you know otherwise, please let me know!

Begonia dregei

Winter!

2010-12-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

Fall!

2010-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Permeable Pavers

2010-07-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks! If you've visited the garden lately or read the summer edition of The Garden Leaflet, you know that, with the help of a lot of talented folks, the garden now features a fabulous new hardscape constructed out of permeable pavers, more specificallyTecho-Bloc's "Permea" permeable concrete paving system. For many reasons, we are so excited about this new space. For one, it creates a larger, more welcoming entrance to the garden that more in scale with the rest of the garden. The old one was too tiny...the garden outgrew it. This larger space is also more handicap-friendly and connects the parking lot with the path system throughout the rest of the garden. Additionally, the permeable pavers are ADA compliant. Finally, because we intend to use some of the patio space for containers, the permeable pavers will allow for container run-off(water and minimal fertilizer) to percolate back through the patio and into the earth. Though our patio is a relatively small application of this type of paving material, it is suitable for large-scale projects like parking lots, driveways, boat ramps, and areas that get light residential traffic. Another added benefit, permeable concrete pavers are eligible for LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits through both the U.S. and Canadian Green Building Councils' specifications.

So, you may be asking yourself, what makes a paver permeable? Well, it's all about the joints and the base, baby. First of all, the pavers have lugs on all sides that interlock with the lugs of neighboring pavers, creating approximately a 7/8" space inbetween all the pavers. This joint is then filled in with a small gravel, #8 aggregate to be specific. This gravel-filled joint space is part of the reason why water permeates so easily through this surface. The second reason why this system is so permeable is because of the base construction. It is excavated by at least 12". That is what we did. For larger scale projects, a deeper base might be spec'd. Then we covered the bottom of the hole with a geo-textile fabric. This keeps the soil and patio fill from settling and seeping into one another. Next, approximately 7" of 57 stone, a coarse gravel, was added on top of the geo-textile (compacted in a series of level lifts). Then, another layer of geo-textile was added. Then came 2" of the #8's to serve as a setting bed for the pavers. The pavers were set in and their joints filled with the #8's. Finally, the whole patio was compacted with a vibratory plate compactor. Voila! There you have it, a permeable patio.

So, that's the quick and dirty of it all. Techo-Bloc provided us with some nice technical materials that I referenced in writing this little tid-bit. See picture below, from said materials, which gives a nice cross-section of a standard permeable patio. Also, check out the link below for some pictures of the kiosk patio being built.

One more thing...if you would like to check out the materials we used for yourself, you can go by Chandler Concrete of Virginia, Inc., located in Christiansburg. They carry the Techo-Bloc pavers as well as the Grotto Hardscapes weathered parapet blocks used for the wall.

Copy and paste into brower, then click 'Play Slideshow'
http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2328013020/a=1591487020_1591487020/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

January Beauties

2010-01-14T06:42:00.001-08:00

It has been bloody cold this January in Blacksburg, Virginia. However, even with the unforgiving weather, there are still some plants that look wonderful this time of year. So, there is no excuse for not visiting Hahn Horticulture Garden when it is cold, or any public garden for that matter, because you will always see something shining:)

Probably my favorite plant doin' its thang
right now is Mahonia aquifolium, Oregon grape-holly. Its lustrous leaves turn a beautiful burgundy about this time of year and it is stunning! A very underrated plant in my opinion.

Most evergreens look nice this time of year anyways but Platycladus (Thuja) orientalis 'Aurea Nana' is looking especially nice, taking on a beautiful burnt orange color. A nice winter surprise!

The always lovely Nandina domestica is in its full-berry glory right now. Even with all the new, fun stuff on the market, don't forget about the classics!

And, keep your eyes out for grasses this time of year. Many retain their vertical form throughout the winter and take on lovely, wheat-y colors. Check out the photos of Panicum virgatum 'Nortwind' and Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues' below.

And one more thing, don't forget to appreciate the structure and bark of many wonderful deciduous plants. And, as our woody plants curator, Dr. Alex Niemiera, would suggest, don't be afraid to stroke the bark of any sexy tree you see!

Enjoy the winter people. There is beauty in every season.

Waiting for my orchid to bloom is like...

2009-12-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

...being a kid again, waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. It takes FOREVER! Finally, it happened. I returned home to Blacksburg to find my Brassavola x 'Little Stars' at full tilt boogie. The past few years, I wasn't giving it enough sunlight, so no blooms. However, I happen to have some sunnier windows in my current apartment and, TADA, three flower stalks this year! It is so exciting! And, the the blooms are night fragrant so in the evening when I get home from work I am greeted by a sweet, sweet smell.

Unfortunately, one of the three flower stalks up and died on me, but hey, I'll take what I can get. After a few years of no blooms, this is great. If anyone knows why this happens, please share!

P.S This is where I got this little guy: http://www.floradise.com/
P.P.S. For all you geeks out there, I believe this is a hybrid of B. nodosa, a Central and South American native and B. cordata, a Jamaican native.

More ID!

2009-11-23T14:33:00.000-08:00

Well, I still haven't identified the plants from the previous post but was able to identify some others from the vault:

This one on the left is Chimaphila maculata, spotted 0r striped pipsissewa. According to Alan Armitage, the leaves are quite refreshing when chewed! Interesting. That is probably why it has another common name of striped wintergreen (not to be confused with the other wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens).

The other photo is of a terrestrial orchid, Goodyera pubescens or downy rattlesnake-plantain. Some folks thought the beautiful white venation on its leaves was reminiscent of markings on rattlesnake skin and the persistent flower structure reminiscent of a rattler's tail. There is evidence indicating its past use as a remedy for snakebites yet my cursory research suggests
G. pubescens was most likely given this indication based on its appearance solely.

For more info on these plants, check out the links below:
http://www.biol.vt.edu/digital_atlas/index.php?do=plant&plant=2620&search=Chimaphila
http://www.biol.vt.edu/digital_atlas/index.php?do=plant&plant=131&search=goodyera
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GOPU
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CHMA3
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/Dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=426

A Walk in the Woods

2009-11-11T06:15:00.000-08:00

Every time I go hiking in the woods, I realize just how much I don't know. My camera is loaded with pictures of plants I cannot identify. So, maybe you readers out there can help me. I am going to start posting more images of mystery pants and if you know what they are, feel free to share.

Let's start with these two images. They must be fairly common as I have encountered them almost every time I have ventured into the woods. Looking forward to getting to know them! Happy Hunting!

aaaa....aaaaa....ACHOOOO!!!

2009-10-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

So, as it turns out, the mystery plant previously posted is Ambrosia trifida, giant ragweed. Many thanks to Tom Wieboldt, Curator at Virginia Tech's Massey Herbarium, for help on the ID! To all of you allergy and hay fever sufferers out there, this plant is your worst nightmare!

Check out the links below for some additional infomation:

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AMTR
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/giant_ragweed.htm
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=amtr
http://www.biol.vt.edu/digital_atlas/index.php?do=plant&plant=530&search=+trifida

Name that Plant!

2009-10-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone? I am stumped.

Holy Smokes!

2009-07-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

Check out the double rainbow that appeared through the clouds at the garden's first "Music in the Garden" concert. A spectacular event made truly unforgettable. Thanks Mother Nature.

P.S. After this photo was taken, the crowd quickly dispersed to find the four pots of gold at the ends of the rainbows.

P.P.S. No word on the booty.

Garden Thievery

2009-07-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

To my horror, I discovered that someone lifted some Sempervivum out of one of the garden's hypertufa planters. Two different kinds are missing; I am particularly sad about the disappearance of a 'Cobweb' -y looking cultivar called 'Forest Frost'. Shame on you, thief.

We don't really have a big problem with disappearing plants. The last plant I can remember disappearing was a Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost', back when it had just come out on the market. Hopefully, we won't have any more sticky fingers in the garden for a long while!

Stroke That Plant, Part Deux ... Finally!

2009-07-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

If you are still wondering about those stroke-able leaves and did not check out the "comment" section where Dan Benarcik, horticulturist/plantsman extraordinaire at Chanticleer garden in Wayne, PA, solved the mystery, those leaves belong to (drum roll please.............) Veratrum viride!

Totally strokeable leaves, but will most likely make you vomit (or worse!) Check out this abstract from the FDA 's Poisonous Plant Database:

AUTHOR(S): Crummett, D.; Bronstein, D.; Weaver, Z. III
TITLE: Accidental Veratrum viride poisoning in three "ramp" foragers.
YEAR: 1985 CITATION: N C Med J, 46(9), 469-471 [English]
FDA #: F05735
ABSTRACT: Conclusion and Summary: As with all foraged foods, ramps must be carefully identified, preferably by an experienced person, prior to ingestion. Identification will be aided by the strong odor of leeks. Mistaken ingestion of Veratrum viride can have serious conmplications including first and second degree atrioventricular block, significant hypotension, respiratory depression and even death. With "ramps" gaining increasing popularity, western North Carolina physicians should be suspicious of accidental Veratrum viride poisoning in patients appearing toxic after the ingestion of "ramps". GRIN #: 41142
COMMON NAME:
STANDARD COMMON NAME: American hellebore
FAMILY: Melanthiaceae
LATIN NAME: Veratrum viride
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Veratrum viride Aiton

Don't think I'll nibble on this!

Some more links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veratrum_viride
http://www.delawarewildflowers.org/bucktoe.php (scroll down to see another image)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VEVI
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/Plantox/Detail.CFM?ID=6385

Stroke That Plant! Part One

2009-05-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

While taking the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway home to Richmond a few weekends ago, I stopped along the side of the road to check out this little woodland wetland. This is what I saw...

Wowsers! I only wish I could identify this for you right now. Alas, it is past 9:30 p.m. I am tired and do not want to go digging for the answer this very moment. Tune in later for the scoop on this sexy plant.

Mr. Frost Nailed It

2009-04-22T09:23:00.001-07:00

In honor of springtime in Blacksburg...sleet, temperatures in low 40s, winds at 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph... but we'll all forget how miserable it was today as we frolic in the sun on Saturday...

“The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.”

- Robert Frost
Excerpt from “Two Tramps in Mudtime"

Muscari latifolium - no fuss, no muss.

2009-04-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

The more common Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth) has delightful wee grape-cluster flowers, but all that FOLIAGE...it's like a green mop (physiologically speaking, that's an awful lot of leaves to produce such a little flower).

May I introduce you to Muscari latifolium - cute two-tone flower, and just one leaf per flower stem. Now that's efficient. You can get 500 of them for $140 at Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Or 10 for $4.30. Eh, go for the 500.

Stephanie at work helping get kid's butts off the sofa

2009-04-14T13:43:00.000-07:00

Badly worded title, but you get my drift. By working with teachers-to-be through the national Project Learning Tree program, she's influencing future educators, who will in turn make a difference in how a child perceives and interacts with the environment.
Program's motto "Helps you learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment."
Good stuff.

Long time no post!

2009-04-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Our posting drought endeth NOW. Sorry for interruption. Spring's been a bit busy around here, but we don't want to lose our loyal blog readers (all five of them!)

Spring is coming, dang it!

2009-02-10T05:21:00.001-08:00

Just a quick post to let you know what's blooming in the Garden:

Some Helleborus foetidus located along the Trident Maple Allee...

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane'
located near the small pond...

and some more Witchhazel, located under the pines in the Meadow Garden.

Check back for more soon!

Ripley Garden at Smithsonian Sustains Damage from Inauguration Crowds

2009-02-02T05:24:00.000-08:00

Some unfortunate news from the good folks at Garden Rant regarding the Ripley Garden in D.C. - the lovely domain of upcoming Hahn Horticulture Garden Winter Seminar speaker Janet Draper (Feb. 26).
Follow this link to the Garden Rant blog.

Below: spiny Solanum quitoense at the Ripley, one of Janet's favorite "annuals from seed".
photo h. scoggins

The Myriad Benefits of Gardening

2009-01-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

A cross-post from my favorite gardening blog "Garden Rant"...
They came across an article in the U.K. Telegraph referencing a study that found "Gardening Boosts Men's Sex Lives..."
Well, duh! Here's Joel helping me build YET ANOTHER bed at our place (note his golf clubs leaned optimistically against the truck). I am, of course, very grateful for his assistance. Voilà!

The article further states "Some people have become so obsessed about their garden that there are worries that people are getting addicted to the pursuit just like they would to gambling or drugs." Yes, but the outcome is soooo much better, don't you think?

Trade Show Tidbits

2009-01-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

Green industry trade shows feature acres of hot new plants and products from all around the world. This is a B2B environment - wholesalers selling to retailers, landscapers, garden centers, etc. Lots of orders are placed; much wining and dining occurs between client and vendor. Many gardeners would give their eye teeth to walk the floor of these behemoths to see the latest and greatest; it's actually not that hard to get in - I've given tips on this before in various seminars and talks. The bummer is you can't "shop" the show per se; nothing can leave the floor until the trade show closes. But if you're willing to hang around, you can buy an entire booth of product at wholesale prices - trees, shrubs, perennial plugs, etc., because the vendor's really not interested in lugging it back to wherever.

Here's a few cool things I saw last week at MANTS - the Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, held in the Baltimore convention center (not to be confused with PANTS - the Pennsylvania show). Virginia Tech always has a great presence there - tons of our alumni exhibit at the show, and we always represent with some faculty and staff from Horticulture and CALS.

A flock of Aloe, all in perfectly synchronized bloom just for the tradeshow. From the fabulous Carolina Nurseries, way down near Charleston.

A whacky little thing called Synogonanthus chrysanthus 'Mikado'. Cute but apparently fussy - moderate temperatures, lots of moisture but not water-logged = certain death on my windowsill.

A gorgeous new coleus from the Ball Seed empire - this one's 'Henna'. The darned sales guy would not move away from it long enough for me to brush up against it and...well, never mind.

TIMBER!

2009-01-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday night, a powerful windstorm swept through Blacksburg and wreaked a bit of havoc in the garden. Two trees went down: our Picea glauca in the front corner of the garden and some kind of fir ( I think!) bordering the food science parking lot, which took out the tree-form Euonymous directly in front of it...so I guess that makes three down!

Check out some pictures of the carnage...

Ancient Plants of Pandapas Pond

2009-01-02T09:58:00.001-08:00

On a recent trip to Pandapas Pond, I strayed off the beaten path and found a little colony of this plant, what I have amateurishly identified as Lycopodium digitatum in the family of Lycopodiaceae, one of the three families occuring within the group, the Lycophytes (The other two are Selaginellaceae and Isoetaceae).

What is so interesting about these little, easy-to-miss plants, you may be asking yourselves... Well, I think of these little plants as time-travel plants. More specifically, whenever I encounter a plant like this, I feel like I just traveled WAY, WAY back in time. The Lycophytes emerged approximately 400 MILLION years ago, although it is thought that most of the extant species within Lycopodiaceae emerged about 80-90 million years ago...still pretty old to me! These ancient plants impart the same profound feeling as when I see an old, beautiful tree; its history and spirit are impossible to ignore!

Other interesting facts about the Lycopodiaceae family per Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach:

[The] oily, highly flammable compounds in the spore wall ignite rapidly into a flash of light and were used by magicians and sorcerers in the Middle Ages, as a flash in early photography, and in the first (experimental) photocopying machines. The spores have been used as industrial lubricants and formerly were used to prevent rubber cohesion in condoms and surgical gloves.

P.S. I wasn't sure whether my old Plant Systematics textbook would ever come in handy, but it sure enough did! Interesting stuff!

What Big Hips You Have...

2008-12-23T07:11:00.000-08:00

The ONLY time it's safe to say that and not get slugged is when one is referring to a Rose...
Here's our Rosa rugosa doing its winter thing.

Please note this was taken November 21 - we received a couple of inches of snow PRIOR to Thanksgiving. The high yesterday (Dec. 22) was 20 F. Looking like it's going to be a cold winter here in the 'burg. So keep warm out there, and Happy Holidays to all!

Whoooo did you see in the garden?

2008-11-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

The other day as I was heading out to do some work in the garden, I heard the incessant cackling of a large group of crows. They seemed to be going after something, so I set my stuff down and started to follow the ruckus. Turns out, the crows were chasing a solitary owl. A large, beautiful owl, that we later identified as a Barred Owl. So, I called Stephanie Huckestein, our Education and Outreach Coordinator, to come out to watch this sight with me. I figured it was too good of a wildlife sighting to not share with anyone. We ran around, from tree to tree, following this whole winged drama. Finally, the owl made its way to a large Norway Spruce, Picea abies. Poor thing was getting mauled by the crows, so we started to make what we decided were owl sounds, and lo and behold, the crows left. We stood guard of the owl for a while, hooting, whenever the crows made an attempt to return. He stayed there in the spruce for a spell, probably enjoying the quiet, until I tried to get in a little too close for a picture. Ooops. Still got a pretty good one. Anyways, a pretty exciting afternoon, I must say!

Later, we came to find out that owls prey on baby crows and so perhaps the crows were just protecting their young. Oh well, the owl was so outnumbered it was hard not to take his side!

UT PROSIM

2008-11-18T05:04:00.001-08:00

That I May Serve...

A motto I am proud to be associated with and words I strive to live up to. Part of a public garden's mission is to serve its visitors as a place providing respite, education, and many other wonderful things. I am proud to say that our asphalt pathway is just about finished! It is already creating much wonderful traffic through the garden, and allowing for new traffic that we previously have not been able to host, like wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.

I 've heard a number of people express their dismay over the choice of asphalt as the material for the path. To be honest, I used to feel similarly. But, as I have had time to reflect on the purpose of the pathway and its ability to open the garden for so many new visitors, I have become its largest fan. So, to the asphalt haters, take a moment to think of this new pathway system with Virginia Tech's motto in mind and you too will see the beauty of it all.

P.S. Ut Prosim aside, on a purely aesthetic level, I think the pathway is looking quite nice! Come check it out!

Titan Arum Blooms in Milwaukee

2008-11-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

An Amorphophallus titanum is about to bloom! Just follow the media frenzy and associated hyperbole "...a terrible stench that can be smelled for miles." Oh please.
But the webcam is cool...

Garden Seminar

2008-10-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is a "must see" seminar! Dr. Olsen is extremely knowledgeable and a total woody plant guru.

Thursday, February 12 6:00-8:00pm at Fralin Auditorium

"Great Woody Plants for Blue Ridge Gardens: New Favorites and Old Friends"

Dr. Richard Olsen, Research Geneticist, US National Arboretum "New plant introductions, whether as novel species or new forms of old favorites, continue to fuel the excitement of gardening in the twenty-first century. Dr. Olsen will share his new favorites as well as old friends from travels around the U.S., Europe, and Japan that are deserving of greater attention. Including many that have gone unnoticed in the collections of the U.S. National Arboretum, where he directs the urban tree breeding program."

‘The Forgotten Annuals….. what happened to growing plants from Seed?’

2008-10-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

This blog is a great way to keep you informed of garden events! I will post events as they are scheduled and any special notices regarding events. Check out our website to see a complete listing of Garden Walks and educational seminars and workshops. Our monthly Garden Walks are a one hour walk through the garden with various experts discussing seasonal topics. And they are FREE to all, so join us! We also have great workshops and seminars coming up to keep you in that gardening spirit throughout the winter months.

To register for events, download a form from our website www.hort.vt.edu/hhg, send me an email vtgarden@vt.edu or call me 540-231-5970.

Information on the most recently scheduled seminar is below. We can't wait for Janet to visit! She is full of energy and horticultural knowledge!

Thursday, February 26, 2009 6:00pm Location: Fralin Auditorium

Janet Draper, Horticulturist, Smithsonian Institution, will give an entertaining presentation on “The Forgotten Annuals” which will remind us that annuals are wonderful and easy plants to include in our garden and encourage us to rethink how we can incorporate these amazing beauties in our landscapes. Ms. Draper earned a degree in Horticulture from Purdue University and went on to several internships including Mt. Cuba Center for Native Piedmont Plants in Newark, Delaware; Staudengartnerei Grafin von Stein-Zeppelin (Perennial Nursery of Countess von Stein), Laufen, Germany; and Beth Chatto Gardens, Elmstead Market, England. Ms. Draper has been a horticulturist with the Smithsonian Institution for the past eleven years and is currently in charge of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden

Hope you can join us!

Stephanie

Fascism in the Garden?

2008-10-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

So...there is all this buzz in the industry about creating naturalistic gardens. To some it may be a novel idea. To others, a resounding DUH! would be spoken upon the suggestion of such an idea. Nevertheless, many professional designers are declaring that mimicking nature is THE way to create a successful garden. In my humble opinion, I say, maybe it is just A way to create a successful garden. Think about how boring it would be to go to the National Gallery of Art and only see landscape paintings by Claude Lorrain. ZZZZZZZ...What about the works of Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Paul Cezanne, and all the other wonderful artists I failed to mention? We may not get it, or personally choose to create in that fashion, but the fact of the matter is, that piece of work was lovingly, probably painstakingly, created by someone who interpreted their inspiration in that manner. And it is beautiful. The freedom to exercise one's creative spirit in whatever way it manifests is a beautiful thing.

CAUTION! Very obscure reference to follow...

Kevyn Aucoin, a very famous makeup artist who painted some of the most famous faces to grace the catwalk, offered this response to someone touting the "correct" way to pluck an eyebrow (or something...) he said, " Makeup should be fun, not fascist." I think the same is true for gardens. It should be fun. It should be what speaks to our own sensibilities, and we should have the freedom to interpret what we see without having to follow some prescribed, stringent path to success. Whether we want to plant 500 Sporobolus heterolepis, Prairie Dropseed, or just one, we should do so without fear of breaking some gardening law.

All that being said, if I decided to throw out a bunch of that orange mulch and plant only Japanese hollies in the name of artistic freedom, I might be looking for a new job very soon. But hopefully, you readers catch my drift...

"You have to break a few eggs..."

2008-10-20T10:07:00.001-07:00

[If Paul says that one more time I'm gonna...]

But it's true. Growing pains can be, well, painful. Bulldozer noises are stressful. Broken irrigation lines are upsetting. But all for a good cause.

Our latest adventure is the installation of a perimeter pathway in the older part of the garden. Part of the Master Plan created way back in 2001, accessible pathways will provide a smooth, safe surface for foot traffic, wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, crutches; all the ways people get around in our garden. Having attempted to push my own mother through the garden in a wheelchair, I can vouch for how challenging it can be. The trident maple allee has closed up to the point we cannot sustain grass in that level of shade, so it's been hardpan for most of this season (or mud on the three days it actually rained). We had the opportunity to piggyback this project on another - VT Facilities and Parking Services are paving the little pavilion parking lot, so for minimal additional cost, the same company will do the path paving.

Estimated completion date for both projects is the end of October.
Progress!!! [ouch]

David Pippin - Floral Design Celebrity (and Friend of the Garden)

2008-10-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

David does the Mansion!

Richmond floral designer and educator, creator of beautiful gala arrangements, AND long-time Friend of the Garden, Mr. David Pippin is in charge of Christmas decor for the Governor's Mansion! According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch article by Julie Young:

"Betty Moore didn't know she would be doing homework for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine when she enrolled in a horticulture class at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Moore and nine fellow students in David Pippin's Christmas florals class are working with horticulturist Shannon Smith at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to create natural holiday ornaments and arrangements for the Executive Mansion.

Virginia first lady Anne Holton wanted this year's official tree to replicate one Smith did last year for the Ginter library as part of the GardenFest of Lights celebration. The tree was covered with botanical ornaments Smith made out of materials gleaned from Ginter gardens and dried by the staff.

"I saw their all-natural tree at the botanical garden last year and was wowed by its beauty and creativity," Holton said. "The natural materials were extraordinary and highlighted so well."

Amy Bridge, director of the Executive Mansion, told Pippin that Holton's only directive was "no artificial flowers." "But other than that," Pippin said, "we could do whatever we wanted. We did laugh and talk about inflatables on the lawn."

Inflatables...we're so proud!! Read more about David's project here.