Winter 2011/2012 Newsletter

Hoyt Arboretum Winter Newsletter
Notes from the
Executive Director
At the end of the year we
reflect on some of the
accomplishments that
Hoyt Arboretum Friends
has made in support of
the Arboretum in 2011.
Thanks to your contributions to HAF 45 plants
and trees were added to the Arboretum.
200 seedlings were propagated that will be
celebrated at our Baby Shower on April 7
and nurtured in the Arboretum over the next
two years before planting. We held our first
annual Holiday Sale Event in the Visitor Center
Nature Store, hosted a scientific delegation
from the Chinese Lushan Botanical Garden
and established an herbarium to store
pressed plant and tree matter for research and
education.
Currently, our most ambitious project is
our way-finding initiative. Design plans
are underway as we develop unique trail
signage for the Arboretum that is on track for
installation this summer. The new system will
improve directional signage and streamline
trail names for consistency, clarity and
simplicity.
Our members, donors and volunteers make
these important initiatives happen. You are
the foundation of HAF and your generous
gifts of time and treasure have enabled us
to accomplish these goals. We thank you for
your generosity and we look forward to a very
exciting 2012 with your support.
We wish you happiness, good health and
prosperity in the New Year.
Peggie Schwarz
2011 Fall Color Tour:
On a sunny fall day
in October, 65 people gathered at the Hoyt Arboretum
Visitors Center for a free tour, lead by our curator,
Martin Nicholson. This fall, the Arboretum showcased
stunning fall color, rivaling the Eastern United States.
Favorites include the American smoke tree, Cotinus
obovatus; Tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica and Acer campbelii.
Martin will be leading a similar tour on April 29th
designed to showcase spring color - don’t miss it!
Be a Part of Hoyt
Arboretum’s Legacy
Include Hoyt Arboretum
Friends in your planned
giving through
your will, stock, life
insurance, retirement
plans or as a beneficiary.
Curator, Martin Nicholson, leads Arboretum visitors on the 2011 Fall Color Tour
Help HAF Celebrate Its 25th Anniversary With A Gift!
Our year-end appeal makes up almost half of the annual contributions for Hoyt
Arboretum Friends. Your gift is critical to the success of our mission to support
Hoyt Arboretum with special projects that nurture the Arboretum and enhance
the visitor’s experience. We know you care about the Arboretum as an urban
oasis for education and relaxation for you and for future generations. We also
know there are many good causes asking for your support and we hope you will
include a gift of any size to HAF. Your gift will help us continue our programs of
classes, tours, improvements and plantings for the next 25 years.
Please use the enclosed envelope, call us at 503.865.8733 or visit our website at
www.hoytarboretum.org.
Thank you for your generosity and continuing support.
Happy Holly - Days!
There has been some discussion recently
amongst land management professionals about
the invasive nature of holly. The species in
question is Ilex aquifolium, or English holly.
I would think that if you are a visitor of our
Portland natural areas, you would see that there
is no question about its potential to become
invasive. The red fruits of the female tree are
easily spread by birds and the plants tend to air
layer (branch touches ground and roots) and
create dense thickets as they colonize an area.
Ilex opaca, in the Hoyt Arboretum
Holly Collection
The question then, is which hollies are invasive and what are their alternatives? Of the 400-plus species of holly in the world, only the species
Ilex aquifolium is invasive. Chances are, the variegated forms and hybrids of this species, do not produce viable seed, therefore they are not a
concern. If you have English holly, in the plain green wrapper though, we advise you remove the tree, especially if it has red fruit (indicating it
is the female tree). At Hoyt we have an extensive collection of alternative holly species which are at home in the PNW garden. A fine choice is
Ilex opaca ‘Canary.’ This is a cultivar of the North American native, Ilex opaca, though in this case with yellow fruit.
This compact grower is evergreen and very easy to maintain. The specimen at Hoyt has not been
Martin Nicholson
pruned or shaped and is a 3 ft. x 3 ft. shrub at 8-years old. Stop by and check out the diversity of this
Curator, Hoyt Arboretum
wonderful genus with just one bad egg – nog!
Portland Parks & Recreation
Postage
Block
4000 SW Fairview Blvd.
Portland, OR 97221
To: Hoyt Arboretum Friend
Inside this Issue:
• Winter Class Schedule - NEW!
• Curator’s Plant Pick
• HAF Celebrates 25 Years
• Notes from the Executive
Director
Hoyt Arboretum Friends
Celebrates 25 years!
• 2011 Fall Color Tour
Favorites
A Museum of Living Trees
New Titles Arrive at the
Hoyt Arboretum Nature Store
Gearing up for ideas on spring hiking? Stop
by the Hoyt Arboretum to pick up the latest
in outdoor reading. Recent additions to the
store include:
Wild in the City - Mike Houck
100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest
Washington - Bill Sullivan
Oregon Trips & Trails - Bill Sullivan
60 Hikes within 60 Miles - Paul Gerald
I Can Name 50 Trees Today - Bonnie Worth
www.hoytarboretum.org
•
503.865.4213
Winter Classes at Hoyt Arboretum
Planning an Event?
Book your 2012 event at Hoyt Arboretum
beginning January 4th!
For more information, pricing and how to reserve:
www.hoytarboretum.org/events/book-an-event/
•
January 19th
7-8:30pm
How to create wildlife habitat in your yard: Backyard Habitat Certification
Program
Gaylen Beatty, from the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, will lead a class
outlining goals, techniques and strategies for developing critical habitat in your
own back yard.
• $25 for HAF members, $30 for non-members
January 28th &
February 4th
10am-2pm
March 3rd
9am-12pm
Thank You Volunteers!
Landscape Photography Workshop
Professional photographer Dean Berry will lead a two part class including
classroom discussions and field outings to photograph in the Hoyt Arboretum.
Beginners to advanced. Dress for the weather, limit 12 people.
• $45 for HAF members, $55 for non-members (fees include both sessions)
Oregon Native Trees; Identification and Landscape Uses
Hoyt Arboretum Curator, Martin Nicholson, will lead the first session of a three
part series on Oregon native species. This class will be part indoor instruction, and
part field work.
• $27 for HAF members, $35 for non-members (fees include this session, only)
For more information, please visit us on the web at:
http://www.hoytarboretum.org/events/upcoming-events/
As the year 2011 draws to a close, HAF would like to thank all of our wonderful
volunteers who donate their time and expertise to enhance the Arboretum.
Throughout the year, our generous volunteers have donated over 3,500 hours
of their time. Thank you! Our individual 2011 volunteers include:
Ron Adley
Rick Kahn
Des Murphy
Stephen Adelman
Cindy Korstad
Roger Nibbler
Gail Burzynski
Margaret Krausse
Linda O’Connor
Peter Carr
Ed Kushner
Kathy Pollock
Terra Crampton
Jack Lane
Nancy Robinson
Peter Dewing
Sally Lambert
Dave Rudman
Donna Dull
Dick Lukins
George Storm
Chris Edwardsen
Irmgard Lutz
Martha Van Dyke
Laura Finney
Phylis McIntosh
Richard Walker
Cleve Friedman
Larry McLaughlin
Shay Wallace
Brice Hammack
Jessy Mombell
Ruth Williams
Annie Harworth
David Mullen
For Volunteer Opportunities apply online at
www.hoytarboretum.org
Spring Happenings at Hoyt Arboretum
We’re excited to announce our lineup for late winter and
spring events at the Arboretum. Check out this list below
and save the dates. We’ll see you there!
March 3rd Oregon Native Tree and Plant Day
April 7th Hoyt Arboretum New
Plant Baby Shower
April 29th Annual Spring Color
Tour with Curator
Martin Nicholson
and Hoyt Arboretum
Friends Annual
Meeting