The Landis Newsletter |
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The Arboretum remains open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. We hope to see you here soon!
The Arboretum remains open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. We hope to see you here soon!
Inside this issue . . .
Click on the title below to read the entire article, or scroll down to sample the issue.
Hello, Puddle! Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review
Anita Sanchez, illus. by Luisa Uribe. Clarion, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-358-38144-0 A poetic text delves into the intricacies of a puddle’s ecosystem in this buoyant picture book by Sanchez, which introduces a child who watches a local puddle over the seasons, observing its visitors, which include bats, birds, insects, mammals, plant life, and toads and tadpoles. In-depth facts append each lyrical line: “Swallows loop the loop,” reads one spread, portraying four swallows sweeping around the puddle, which is surrounded by verdant plants. Smaller text beneath reads, “Barn swallows grab a beakful of mud. They’ll raise their babies in a dried-mud cradle.” Intricate, thin-lined spreads by Uribe clearly mark the changing seasons and weather in harmonious color palettes studded with sweetly stylized creatures. A curiosity-stoking exploration of the way even the smallest bodies of water sustain life. Back matter includes an author’s note and suggestions on making one’s own puddles. Ages 4–7. (Mar.). Mark Your Calendars for the
Spring Plant, Book, and Bake Sale As the winter winds down, many gardeners are eager to find out what plants will be featured at Landis’s popular spring plant sale – hundreds of perennials, shrubs, grasses, and trees for a range of conditions, including many unusual varieties. Gardeners return year after year to our spring and fall sales for for strong, vibrant plants — and expert advice. Books and baked goods too. Check our website and Facebook page for updates. See you there! See the poster below for details. Spring Ephemerals and Spring Flowers at Landis
- Anne Donnelly It’s mid-winter as I write, but the days are lengthening bit by bit, and the colorful seed catalogs are arriving. Spring is in the air, and I love trudging about on my snowshoes, knowing that under the snow dormant bulbs await. Spring ephemerals and spring flowers in general are a powerful incentive to visit Landis during the season of renewal. [Read more] Arts at the Arb - Chandra Burkhart
In the fall of 2021, Landis added yet another sculpture, “Bracing Stone,” by local artist Kristen DeFontes-Wells, to its collection. This sculpture, made of limestone, steel, and reclaimed lumber, sits near the Meeting House, majestically overlooking the Schoharie Valley. [Read more] |
From the Director's Desk: Q & A with Fred Breglia, Part II
- Fred Breglia, Executive Director Managing our landscapes, forests, gardens, and landscapes is a challenge that many people enjoy. It can be a wonderful way to enrich our lives and connect with nature. Unfortunately, pests and diseases, as well as natural environmental conditions and sometimes even planting practices, frustrate our best laid plans. Even folks blessed with ‘green thumbs’ encounter problems. I wanted to continue our discussion about some of the most frequently asked questions that have been addressed to me. [Read more] Babes in the Woods - Anita Sanchez
As you might know if you happened to have glanced at my last zillion or so Facebook posts, I’ve recently become a first-time grandma! And so even as I walk the Arboretum trails these days, my thoughts are all about babies. Tender newborns, delicate and frail, just starting to grow. So many possibilities lie ahead, so many challenges, so much potential. There are babies everywhere, scattered underfoot: the plump, round shapes of acorns.[Read more] From the Garden: The Rainbow Connection
- Erin Breglia, Garden Manager The color green is one of the most welcome signs of spring, followed closely by the return of the red-breasted robin, bright yellow forsythia, and fragrant purple hyacinth in bloom. Colors spark feelings and trigger inspiration – especially for the gardener. It's no wonder our planet is so full of colorful life: color in nature always serves a purpose. Color can help a species to either “stand out from the crowd” and attract pollinators or to provide a protective camouflage from enemies. In human beings, color --and color combinations -- have a powerful effect on one's mood. [Read more] The Landis Calendar for 2022 is Ready!
We've planned lots of fun and educational events and workshops for 2022. You'll find activities that will intrigue kids and families, gardeners, naturalists, and music lovers throughout the 2022 season. Because we are in the midst of shifting to a new and improved website, only activities through March are active for online registration currently; as soon as we have made the switch we'll let everyone know through our Constant Contact emails and on our Facebook page. In the meantime, click here to see what's planned. We'll be adding more information on music performances and a few more activities throughout the season. We hope to see you at Landis this year! Keeping Time at Landis - Geoff Miller
No garden is really complete without a solar timepiece. Early sundials were important tools for determining planting and harvest dates, as well as providing time-of-day. The perfect blend of science and art, sundials connect us to the heavens in a quantifiable way. [Read more] Landis Portraits: A Series About the People Behind the Plants at the Arboretum. - Nolan Marciniec
Floyd A. Guernsey III remembered tagging along when his father pointed out a dwarf hemlock, developed and grown at their nursery, planted at the Arboretum. He was just a boy then, but that was his first of many visits to Landis over the years. [Read more] New Man in Town - Lee Lattimer, Landis Historian
Well, to be accurate, it’s not “in town”, it’s at the Arboretum. And I’m not exactly new to the Arboretum. But I do have a new position. For several years I have had many roles here: historian, Board member, Communications Committee member. And for even longer I have been a volunteer. You probably have seen me at the plant sales, 5Ks, and other events. In my capacity as one of several “traffic controllers” at plant sales, I might even have told you where to “park it”! And now, as of last October, I have served the Arboretum as office manager, taking over the position from Nancy Stuebner, who held the position for 10 years. [Read more] Let's Get Sowing! A Quick Tip for Growing from Seed
- Erin Breglia, Landis Garden Manager I often find myself looking through my small library of store bought packets and randomly collected seeds. Just looking at my seed collection inspires me. I think about the upcoming season and all the plants I hope to grow. Over the years, I have learned that, if stored properly, seeds can have a much longer shelf life than most gardeners expect -- especially if you are as hopeful (and as frugal) as I am. [Read more] |
Second Sunday Snowshoe: A Chance to Explore and Learn
- Morgan McClary
Courtney Little’s goal was to learn how to snowshoe this winter. The Alabama native moved to New York State in August and is currently experiencing her first “actual” winter. She was interested in finding an outdoor activity to enjoy during the colder months. Courtney and David Sampson, who also moved from Alabama, saw road signs for the Arboretum and decided to visit during the Second Sunday Snowshoe on February 13. [Read more]
Our Business Members, Sponsors, and Allies
We have good friends in the community that help the Arboretum in a number of ways.
Please consider patronizing our Business Members, Sponsors, and Allies!
We have good friends in the community that help the Arboretum in a number of ways.
Please consider patronizing our Business Members, Sponsors, and Allies!
Amazon Smile donates a percentage of your sale to Landis when you click on this icon to shop!
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.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Fred Breglia; Erin Breglia; Gail Browning; Chandra Burkhart; Wilma Jozwiak; Lee Lattimer; Morgan McClary; Nolan Marciniec and Louise Polli, Co-Chairs
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Erin Breglia, Fred Breglia, Chandra Burkhart, Anne Donnelly, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, Geoff Miller, and Anita Sanchez
NEWSLETTER WEBSITE MANAGER
Wilma Jozwiak
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; Chandra Burkhart; Karl Gustafson; Amy Howansky; Ed Radle; George Steele; Sue Tricario; and Earl Van Wormer
ARBORETUM STAFF
Fred Breglia, Executive Director; Lee Lattimer, Office Manager; Erin Breglia, Garden Manager; Russell Glass, Groundskeeper
We value your input. Please address correspondence to:
Newsletter Editor, Landis Arboretum, P.O. Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066.
Website: www.landisarboretum.org
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