Project BudBurst

During our gatherings of Leafing Through the Pages, the book discussion group of the Sterling Morton Library, we often discover and discuss various “citizen science” projects and activities. (“Citizen science is a term used for a project or ongoing program of scientific work in which a network of volunteers, many of whom may have no specific scientific training, perform or manage research-related tasks such as observation, measurement or computation.”) These volunteer groups observe, measure and count everything from monarch larva to dollar bills to earthquakes to roadkill! The scientific community benefits because research objectives are accomplished more feasibly than would otherwise be possible. Plus, an interested and engaged community is nurtured and developed. Descriptions of and opportunities to participate in some interesting current projects can be found at:

• Monarch Watch
• Journey North
• Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
• Christmas Bird Count, Audubon Society
• eBird
• Roadkill
• Where’s George?
• Did you feel it?

I recently read about a new project, Project BudBurst, started in 2007. A national partnership, this project will be monitoring primarily native tree, shrub and flower species. For selected plants, participants are encouraged to record phenological details such as:

• Budburst/First Leaf
• Full Leaf
• First Flower
• Full Flower
• End Flower
• Seed or Fruit Dispersal

The project benefit? Volunteers will help gather and compile valuable environmental and climate change information around the United States. The benefit to you? What a terrific opportunity to visit natural areas, make and record your observations and contribute to the understanding of our native flora!

Pruning resources in the Sterling Morton Library

This time of the year, a Midwestern gardener might feel caught between two worlds. The sublime and the very snowy, real world! Nursery catalogs and gardening publications present a bounty of images featuring new plants along with lots of tantalizing designs for the garden. Looking out the window at our recent snowfall, a gardener might feel that spring will never arrive!
A few days ago when we had some slightly milder temperatures, I was able to head outside and spend a few hours pruning in the garden. Late winter is a great time to prune certain plants. Without foliage, tree and shrub structure is easier to view. Reduction of disease transmission and more time for callusing over the pruned site are two reasons to consider late winter/early spring pruning. Plus, when spring finally arrives with all of its distractions, much of the pruning can already be finished. It is always a good idea to check when it is appropriate to prune the plant in question. Depending on when a plant flowers, it might be more appropriate to prune at a different time of the year.

As you prepare to sharpen your shears and file your Felcos, these are some resources in the Sterling Morton Library that will educate and inspire:

• American Horticultural Society pruning and training, 1996.
• Brown, George Ernest. The pruning of trees, shrubs, and conifers, c2004.
• Cutler, Karan Davis. Pruning trees, shrubs & vines, c2003.
• Gilman, Edward F. An illustrated guide to pruning, c2002.
• Hedge rejuvenation in Garden, December 2007, v. 132, #12, p. 831.
• Hill, Lewis. Pruning made easy, 1998.
• Hoyland, John. Time to chop and change in Gardens Illustrated, September 2007, #128, p. 72-75.
• Kujawski, Ron. Notes on pruning needled evergreens in National Gardener, Fall 2007, v. 78, #4, p. 43.
• Squire, David. Pruning basics, c2001.
• Three ways to prune in Fine Gardening, March/April 2008, #120, p. 52-53.
  

Leaflets from the Arboretum’s Plant Clinic
Pruning trees
Pruning deciduous shrubs
Pruning evergreens

Be sure to check out some of the Horticulture classes offered through the Arboretum’s Education Program.

45 is the new 20!

This week while preparing for a tour of the Sterling Morton Library, I realized the Library will be marking its 45th anniversary in 2008! The Reading Room of the Library, designed by noted architect Harry Weese opened in October of 1963.

Additional information about Weese including details of some of his significant commissions can be found at:

• Wikipedia entry about Harry Weese
  
• Chicago Architects Oral History Project – The Art Institute of Chicago
  
• Weese's obituary in the New York Times

In 1973, a 10 year anniversary article by Ian MacPhail in the Morton Arboretum Quarterly nicely detailed and illustrated the early history of this amazing resource and collection. In addition to the architectural features of the Library, Ian also described the Library’s genesis and early history. Please contact me if you are interested in viewing a copy of this article.

Visit the Library and revel in Weese’s remarkable design with curved bookcases, glass shelves, fireplace, large windows, clerestory and a ceiling that appears to float. During this year, the staff of the Sterling Morton Library will be developing several different opportunities and occasions to celebrate this significant anniversary!

Articles of note in the Sterling Morton Library : February's offerings

These are some recent articles that can be found within the journal collection of the Sterling Morton Library. Visit the Library to discover the incredible botanical and horticultural resources that await you! If you are unable to visit the Library and interested in reviewing one of these articles, I would be delighted to help you at rhassert@mortonarb.org.

Belyaeva, I. Typification of the names published by Edmond Boissier in Salix L. Candollea, v.62, no.2, p.131-140.

Bronaugh, Whit. Looking for Georgia’s lost Franklinia. American Forests, v.113, no.4, p. 30-33.

Clevely, A. The changing climate in your garden. The Garden, v.133, no.1, p.24-29.

Draper, E. Sensible or senseless pruning? American Nurseryman, v.207, no.4, p. 36-43.

Leicht-Young, S.A., N.B. Pavlovic, R. Grundel, and K.J. Frohnapple. Distinguishing native (Celastrus scandens L.) and invasive (C. orbiculatus Thunb.) bittersweet species using morphological characteristics. The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, v.134, no. 4, p. 441-450.

McClain, W.E. and J.E. Ebinger. Fire maintained, closed canopy barren communities in western Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, v.100, no.3-4, p. 209-221.

Packer, Jan. Beyond learning : exploring visitors’ perceptions of the value and benefits of museum experiences. Curator, v. 51, no.1, p. 33-54.

Wearing the Snow

We’ve had lots and lots of snow this winter at the Arboretum. As I walked through the Conifer Collection today, I was delighted to see all of the amazing pines, spruces and firs frosted by our most recent snowstorm. This walk reminded me of an article written by May Theilgaard Watts describing and illustrating the way various plants wear the snow. Written in January of 1945, Watts in her inimitable style and with her keen observation skills shares how different plants hold the snow.

They Wear the Snow with a Difference

“Weather is the Master of Ceremonies under whose showmanship plants take their turns in the spotlight. Each changing mood points out a specialist. The best performer in the dew is probably a lupine leaf; in hoar frost, it is ironwood; and in sleet, the beaded curtain of weeping willow twigs. In the wind the best performer is the white pine; but in a breeze it is the trembling aspen, or silver poplar; while in the thirsty wind of summer drought it is cottonwood, making the sound of rain on the roof. The place on which prevailing westerlies write their permanent record most plainly is a row of willows. A slow spring train makes the best blue-gray setting for the pale yellow of hazel catkins, but a fall rain achieves its triumph when it blackens the trunks of red oak in contrast with the brilliance of fall foliage.
But these are passing moods of weather compared to snow. In this winter of much snow we realize that it is well to be surrounded by those good companions that meet the winter with charm, as well as those that offer spring, summer, or fall display.”

-- by May T. Watts
Bulletin of Popular Information, v. 20, no. 1
January 1945

63 years later, the words and drawings of May T. Watts still resonate with us! Before you head out for your next snowy adventure at the Arboretum, be sure to savor Watts' complete text and illustrations at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/2056062/They-Wear-the-Snow-with-a-Difference. To view other issues of the Bulletin of Popular Information, stop by the Sterling Morton Library and peruse our collection!