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From the Director's Desk: The Right Tree for the Right Site
- Fred Breglia, Executive Director Trees are often regarded as strong plants that will survive almost anywhere, but this success actually depends on choosing the right tree for the intended site. Because every species has specific requirements, selecting the right tree for the location and climate zone is critical to its long-term survival. The basic growing requirements include the proper light, water, soil, and space. Drainage, soil texture (sand or clay), and soil pH are also factors to determine prior to planting. Other considerations are wind, reflected heat, road salt, and area wildlife. Although it is possible for some trees to acclimate to a variety of conditions, they will always be happiest when planted where the environment closely matches where they grow in the wild. [Read more] |
SAVE THE DATE!
Landis Signature Fall Plant, Book, and Bake Sale Royal Beauty:
Marie Antoinette . . . and Poison Ivy? - Anita Sanchez Poison ivy is, quite possibly, the most hated plant on earth. So it’s hard to imagine that poison ivy was once an admired and sought-after garden plant. Yes, a garden plant—I’m not kidding. There was a time when poison ivy seeds were almost worth their weight in gold. Poison ivy wasn’t grown for its beautiful flowers (delicate white blossoms) or its berries that are popular with wintertime birds. It was grown for its late summer regal colors when the leaves turn from nondescript green to gold, scarlet, and purple. [Read more] From the Garden: Volunteers in the Garden, Human and Otherwise
- Erin Breglia, Garden Manager Volunteers are the backbone of Landis Arboretum, offering a helping hand in the Arboretum gardens since the early 1950’s. George Landis and Levon “Van” Loveland, friends of Fred Lape, spent hours designing, planting, watering, fertilizing, and mulching the areas that now feature three seasons of perennial bloom, and our volunteers continue that effort today.
Other volunteers have been hard at work keeping the gardens blooming and looking good. These volunteers are much smaller and quieter and perhaps more often unnoticed. [Read more] A Message and An Invitation
- Jim Paley, President: Landis Board of Trustees The Landis Arboretum is a unique collection of trees, plants, and shrubs. But it’s also important to recognize that our arboretum is a unique collection of people. Our volunteers are a very diverse group who come from many walks of life, each bringing unique interests, skills, and backgrounds. By donating their time and commitment, they not only help plants and trees grow, they also help the Arboretum and its mission flourish. Like any family, what we share unites us. Our family of volunteers join together to preserve the special place that is the Arboretum. [Read more] It's a Summer Picnic at Landis!
August 20, Saturday, 2:00 - 5:00 PM - Wilma Jozwiak Members and volunteers know what a great place Landis Arboretum is. Now you have an opportunity to introduce your friends and family to Landis so that they can learn more about membership benefits and volunteering opportunities. Join us for a lazy late summer afternoon at the Meeting House overlooking the beautiful Schoharie Valley. Everest Rising, a regional favorite band, will provide the entertainment while you and your guests enjoy your favorite picnic foods. While here you can meander the trails or take advantage of a guided tour in a golf cart. Arboretum staff and members of our Board of Trustees will be on hand to converse and answer questions. This is a FREE event, but we’d appreciate an advance registration so that we can plan for food and beverages. For more information or to register, call us at 518-875-6935, email us at [email protected], or use the online registration form located here. We’re looking forward to seeing you there! Attracting Attention - Lee Lattimer
Many people discover the Arboretum when they notice the signs for Landis on Route 20 in Esperance. Recently our reach has been extended to Route 88. Whether you are driving east or west, just before Duanesburg the Attractions signage now includes a bright white emblem stating "George Landis Arboretum" with the "I (Heart) NY" logo. Smaller images of the same sign appear on or at the end of the ramp (pointing towards Route 20) and at Route 20 pointing right (pictured). These not only attract new visitors, but also make it easier for those coming to our scheduled events. |
Landis Portraits: A Series About the People Behind the Plants at the Arboretum - Nolan Marciniec Darcy and Chet Zink attribute their time spent at the Arboretum to “the energy of volunteering.” Both agree that meeting people with a shared passion for the environment has been “contagious” and rewarding, while confessing that new plants for their garden are definitely an added bonus! [Read more] Memorial Trees
- Fred Breglia, Executive Director With a memorial tree you can remember a loved one or celebrate a birth, anniversary, or other significant event or person in your life. Choose from the Arboretum's list of trees we want to acquire. Your message will be printed on a gold 5x7 inch photo-metallic sign in black text. The fee of $1500 covers ongoing care for the tree, including replacement, if needed. I planted a memorial maple tree in honor of my late father, Ferdinand M. Breglia Sr., who passed away 14 years ago. The tree continues to grow and is in excellent health. It brings me joy to see my children beneath it!
Bake Sale Faves: Gluten-Free Carrot Cake - Wilma Jozwiak There is something about a bake sale that sweeps away all dietary reservations – and that can be challenging if one is trying to cut way down on gluten. I approached the bake sale at our Spring Plant, Book, and Bake Sale assuming I would be filling only my husband’s wish list. When I saw the cream cheese icing on a loaf of carrot cake that was gluten-free, I had to take a chance on it, and I was very glad I did. Even my skeptical husband liked it – a lot! [Read more] From the Meeting House Deck: A Birder's View
- George Steele Every spring for twenty-five years, I’ve done a spring hawk watch at the Arboretum, usually from the Meeting House. It sits on a promenade overlooking a bend in the Schoharie River, which flows north to south. The river valley serves as a corridor for hawks in their spring migration, and this location affords a nice viewing area. Hawks are late risers, what with the first of the morning being taken up with hunting for food. As the day progresses, the sun heats up the land, creating thermals and wind movement. The hawks make use of these phenomena to conserve energy needed to fly north. The star of the show is not, as you might think, the bald eagle. It’s the broad-winged hawk. It’s not a hawk you’re likely to see along the interstate roadways -- that’s the red-tailed hawk. The broad-wings migrate from the forests of northern South America to summer in our northern woodlands. Over the years, we’ve had great views of these hawks, some just at tree-top level. [Read more] Volunteer Appreciation Party - September 25, Sunday, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Wilma Jozwiak If you have volunteered here at Landis, you are part of a wonderful group who have helped us weather and survive bad economies and changing demographics – and you probably had a good time to boot. We appreciate you, every day of the year, and want to recognize and thank you with a volunteer appreciation party in our beautiful Meeting House with the million dollar view. Just bring yourselves: we will provide delicious starters, homemade soups, salads, and crusty breads, and, of course, wine and beer, as well as plenty of non-alcoholic libations.
We would appreciate an advance registration so that we can plan the food. For more information or to register, call us at 518-875-6935, email us at i[email protected], or use the online registration here. |
New Arboretum Gate Policy
We have begun locking the gates at Landis after hours and during the day when no staff are on site to prevent the entry of motor vehicles during those times. You are still welcome to enter the Arboretum between dawn and dusk by circumventing the ends of the gate on foot. If you have difficulty with mobility, please contact us to make certain that staff will be present and gates open at the time you wish to visit.
We have begun locking the gates at Landis after hours and during the day when no staff are on site to prevent the entry of motor vehicles during those times. You are still welcome to enter the Arboretum between dawn and dusk by circumventing the ends of the gate on foot. If you have difficulty with mobility, please contact us to make certain that staff will be present and gates open at the time you wish to visit.
Creature Creations - Larger Than Life - at the Arboretum
-Wilma Jozwiak
If you've visited the Arboretum lately, you may have noticed some interesting new denizens. There's Percy, the tortoise, lumbering toward the pond, Friskie, the slavering dog, straining at the chain attached to a fireplug, trying to get at Peaches, the cat, precariously perched in a metal hoop - these and others are the imaginative work of Edwin Falk, a sculptor who repurposes pieces of machinery and other bits and pieces to create whimsical statuary.
Those of you who have admired the wonderfully oversized works artist Sam Bates placed in the fields around the Arboretum will also be delighted by a third installation, completed this spring.
All the sculptures are for sale. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
A dinosaur is also lurking, joining the other creatures as soon as his refurbishing is complete!
-Wilma Jozwiak
If you've visited the Arboretum lately, you may have noticed some interesting new denizens. There's Percy, the tortoise, lumbering toward the pond, Friskie, the slavering dog, straining at the chain attached to a fireplug, trying to get at Peaches, the cat, precariously perched in a metal hoop - these and others are the imaginative work of Edwin Falk, a sculptor who repurposes pieces of machinery and other bits and pieces to create whimsical statuary.
Those of you who have admired the wonderfully oversized works artist Sam Bates placed in the fields around the Arboretum will also be delighted by a third installation, completed this spring.
All the sculptures are for sale. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
A dinosaur is also lurking, joining the other creatures as soon as his refurbishing is complete!
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What's Been Blooming This Year at Landis
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; Anne Cushing; Wilma Jozwiak; Lee Lattimer; Nolan Marciniec, chair; Laura Paris; Louise Polli; and Ambika Sambasivan CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Erin Breglia, Fred Breglia, Joan C. Dyer, Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Latimer; Nolan Marciniec, Jim Paley, Anita Sanchez, and George Steele PRINTER Miller Printing and Litho, Amsterdam, NY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jim Paley, President; Wilma Jozwiak, Vice President; Nolan Marciniec, Secretary; Carolyn Edwards, Treasurer; Louise Polli, At Large; Ann Bevins; Karl Gufstason; Mark Hay; Jeanne Post-Sourmail; Ed Radle; and Earl VanWormer ARBORETUM STAFF Fred Breglia, Executive Director; Nancy Stuebner, Office Manager; Erin Breglia, Garden Manager; Corey Haynes & Eric Roberts, Groundskeepers 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. |