The Landis Newsletter Volume 32, No. 1 2014
WHAT'S INSIDE . . .
Second Sunday Snowshoe From the Director's Desk - Dormant Pruning Portrait: Nancy Stuebner Spotlight: Sharon Springs Garage RAP: Another reason to join Book Review: Desert Solitaire From the Garden: Winter Interest Spring cleaning at Landis Our wonderful business members, sponsors, & allies 2014 Activities are now live on our website! Click here to see what's going to be happening. You can also register and pay using PayPal if you wish.
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SECOND SUNDAY SNOWSHOE! Winter-loving folks have their fingers crossed – so far, it looks as though more snow will be in the forecast this year. And you know what snow means at Landis: Second Sunday Snowshoe! We will be snowshoeing on February 9, and March 9 from 1–3 PM [Read more]
Location: The Farm House Members: $5/person, $15/family; Non-members: $10/person, $25/family Call the Arb at 518-875-6935 to register or register online using PayPal (small processing fee) |
From the Director’s Desk: Dormant Pruning ; -- Fred Breglia, Executive Director and ISA-Certified Arborist Pruning is probably the most routine maintenance procedure performed on our woody plants. The dormant winter season is a great time to prune most species. While the removal of dead or diseased wood can be done at any time, in winter the trees are no longer photosynthesizing and undergo less shock. In addition, pruning wounds close faster than at any other time of the year. There are many positive aspects of dormant pruning. [Read more] |
Want to learn more from Fred?
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LANDIS PORTRAITS: A SERIES ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLANTS AT THE ARBORETUM
-- Nolan Marciniec From her office in the Farmhouse at Landis, Nancy Stuebner has a unique perspective on past, present, and future. She remembered her first visit, when she was still in high school and living in suburban Albany. Nancy’s grandmother was visiting from rural Pennsylvania, and her mother thought that the Arboretum, with its gardens, its farm buildings, and its woods and open expanses might give her grandmother “a feeling of home.” And, even today, Nancy said, the view from the Farmhouse windows brings back memories of her grandparents. [Read more} Book Review: Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
-- Lee Lattimer, Landis Historian “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.” Edward Abbey (January 29, 1927 - March 14, 1989) was an American author whose works convey his love of the land and criticize policies regarding public land use. A prolific writer, he has been favorably compared to Aldo Leopold and Thoreau. Yet he didn’t consider himself a nature writer and wondered "why so many want to read about the world out-of-doors, when it's more interesting simply to go for a walk into the heart of it." [Read more] From the Garden: Winter Interest Along the Lape Trail
-- Erin Breglia, Landis Gardener Finding plants to provide landscape interest in the winter can be a real challenge. People are always asking me for suggestions. Ilex verticilata (winterberry holly) comes immediately to mind. Its bright red berries are colorful and serve as a food source for birds. Varieties of Miscanthus and the prickly Mahonia aquafolia (Oregon grape holly) are also good choices. But what else? I decided to venture along the Arboretum’s Lape Trail to see what other landscaping choices stand out at this time of year. Beginning at the base of the main parking lot, beyond the bed of perennial grasses, are some old Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar), now bearing many berries. The true-blue berries on this rough-barked tree really contrast with the white landscape and provide another winter food source for birds. [Read more] |
SPOTLIGHT ON SPONSORS:
SHARON SPRINGS GARAGE – Gail Browning Bob Spohn, co-owner of the Sharon Springs Garage, was first aware of the Arboretum when, many years ago, he sharpened tools and serviced equipment for the Landis Arboretum. At that time, he recognized that it was “a valuable . . . back-to-nature learning center.” [Read more] Reciprocal Admissions: One More Reason to Join
-- Wilma Jozwiak We often talk with people who visit our beautiful Arboretum about the benefits of Landis membership. These include the miles of trails, the curated botanical collections (such as the Ed Miller Native Plant Trail) the Old Growth Forest, and the crab apples that are so stunning in the spring. There are also the workshops and classes, the music and theatrical performances, and of course, our well-respected plant and book sales in spring and fall, as well as a whole host of other membership benefits. One of the membership benefits that we probably undersell is the Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP). [Read more] Spring Cleaning at Landis
--Louise Polli Early spring finds most gardeners with a to-do list to rival Santa's. At Landis, spring clean-up is no less daunting. This year's chores promise even more activity as Jeff Schworm embarks on a new project: an overhaul of the greenhouse and its surrounding outdoor space. Jeff, former Board member and Horticulture Committee chair, is putting his expertise in wholesale nursery operations, landscaping, and all things horticultural to good use at the Arboretum. He has already upgraded our capacity to water greenhouse plants and has provided winter care to the current stock, including plants he has donated. [Read more] Call for Articles The quarterly Landis Arboretum Newsletter publishes articles of interest to its members. These articles typically deal with horticulture, the environment, events, and Arboretum volunteers and sponsors, but we have also, on occasion, published creative writing and reviews of relevant books or films. Articles should be no more than 500- 750 words in length and submitted by e-mail to the Communications Committee chair, Nolan Marciniec ([email protected]), as a Word document. It’s important for writers to know that, if accepted, their manuscripts will be edited for length and clarity. Writers will see an edited version and will be able to respond to those changes. We do not pay for submissions.
If selected, articles will appear in the newsletter, as part of a Constant Contact mailing, or on our website or Facebook page. |
A Cold Night Sky
Louis Suarato, a Landis Trustee, is also one of our most talented photographers. Here, he caught the moon over the Schoharie Valley, creating a hauntingly beautiful image that is familiar to many who frequent our Public Star Parties.
Volume 32, Number 1
THE LANDIS ARBORETUM NEWSLETTER
is published quarterly for its members.
The Arboretum’s mission is to foster the appreciation of trees and other plants and their importance in our environment.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Erin Breglia, Gail Browning, Sue Gutbezahl,Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, chair; Louise Polli, Ambika Sambasivan
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Erin Breglia, Fred Breglia, Gail Browning, Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, Louise Polli,
PRINTER
Miller Printing and Litho
Amsterdam, NY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jim Paley, President
Wilma Jozwiak, Vice President
Nolan Marciniec, Secretary
Carolyn Edwards, Treasurer
Jason Castle, At-large
Mariesa Jozwiak, Louise Polli, Ed Radle, Earl VanWormer, and Ed Zuchorski
ARBORETUM STAFF
Fred Breglia, Executive Director
Nancy Stuebner, Office Manager
Erin Breglia, Gardener
Eric Roberts, Groundskeeper
We value your input. Please address correspondence to:
Newsletter Editor, Landis Arboretum
P.O. Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066.
Phone: 518-875-6935
Fax: 518-875-6394
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.LandisArboretum.org
The Arboretum is located at 174 Lape Road, Esperance, NY. It is one and one-half miles north of Route 20 in Esperance. Follow the signs from the village to Lape Road. The Arboretum is one-quarter mile straight ahead. Visit our website for more information and directions.
THE LANDIS ARBORETUM NEWSLETTER
is published quarterly for its members.
The Arboretum’s mission is to foster the appreciation of trees and other plants and their importance in our environment.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Erin Breglia, Gail Browning, Sue Gutbezahl,Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, chair; Louise Polli, Ambika Sambasivan
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Erin Breglia, Fred Breglia, Gail Browning, Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, Louise Polli,
PRINTER
Miller Printing and Litho
Amsterdam, NY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jim Paley, President
Wilma Jozwiak, Vice President
Nolan Marciniec, Secretary
Carolyn Edwards, Treasurer
Jason Castle, At-large
Mariesa Jozwiak, Louise Polli, Ed Radle, Earl VanWormer, and Ed Zuchorski
ARBORETUM STAFF
Fred Breglia, Executive Director
Nancy Stuebner, Office Manager
Erin Breglia, Gardener
Eric Roberts, Groundskeeper
We value your input. Please address correspondence to:
Newsletter Editor, Landis Arboretum
P.O. Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066.
Phone: 518-875-6935
Fax: 518-875-6394
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.LandisArboretum.org
The Arboretum is located at 174 Lape Road, Esperance, NY. It is one and one-half miles north of Route 20 in Esperance. Follow the signs from the village to Lape Road. The Arboretum is one-quarter mile straight ahead. Visit our website for more information and directions.
Our Wonderful Business Members, Sponsors, and AlliesWe are blessed with a wonderful community, from which come our Business Members and Sponsors. Our Allies come both from our proximal community, and from a larger community of like-minded organizations. We hope you will patronize and support these businesses and organizations - they support us, and you, through the donations they make and the work they do!
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About George Landis Arboretum
The Landis Arboretum is a public garden comprising hundreds of acres overlooking historic Schoharie Valley near Esperance, New York. Arboretum founder Fred Lape began the work of developing the Arboretum in the 1950's on Oak Nose Farm, his family homestead. With the support of a bequest from friend and colleague George Landis, Fred aimed to grow every species of woody plant from temperate regions around the world that would survive in the hills of Schoharie County.
Forty acres of the Arboretum are developed with plantings of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The remainder of the property consists of natural areas, woodlands, wetlands, more than 8 miles of trails, and open fields. Among the Arboretum's horticultural features are a labeled collection of nearly all the trees, shrubs and vines native to New York State, as well as collections of notable trees, flowering ornamental trees and shrubs, tough trees for tough sites, conifers, and oaks. Two old growth forests and additional natural areas representing various stages of succession await visitors. The Van Loveland Perennial Garden at the old farmhouse and the recently restored Quarry Garden are seasonal favorites. Interpretive signage aids visitors in their enjoyment and understanding of the collections and ecosystems of the Arboretum.
Now beginning its second 50 years, the Landis Arboretum is a "Garden of Trees and Shrubs" in New York's Capital region. The Landiis Arboretum is a valuable cultural and scientific resource that increases each year in scope and community impact.
Sincerely,
Fred Breglia, Executive Director
The Landis Arboretum is a public garden comprising hundreds of acres overlooking historic Schoharie Valley near Esperance, New York. Arboretum founder Fred Lape began the work of developing the Arboretum in the 1950's on Oak Nose Farm, his family homestead. With the support of a bequest from friend and colleague George Landis, Fred aimed to grow every species of woody plant from temperate regions around the world that would survive in the hills of Schoharie County.
Forty acres of the Arboretum are developed with plantings of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The remainder of the property consists of natural areas, woodlands, wetlands, more than 8 miles of trails, and open fields. Among the Arboretum's horticultural features are a labeled collection of nearly all the trees, shrubs and vines native to New York State, as well as collections of notable trees, flowering ornamental trees and shrubs, tough trees for tough sites, conifers, and oaks. Two old growth forests and additional natural areas representing various stages of succession await visitors. The Van Loveland Perennial Garden at the old farmhouse and the recently restored Quarry Garden are seasonal favorites. Interpretive signage aids visitors in their enjoyment and understanding of the collections and ecosystems of the Arboretum.
Now beginning its second 50 years, the Landis Arboretum is a "Garden of Trees and Shrubs" in New York's Capital region. The Landiis Arboretum is a valuable cultural and scientific resource that increases each year in scope and community impact.
Sincerely,
Fred Breglia, Executive Director