1

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 477

Dubuque, Iowa 52001

3800 Arboretum DriveDubuque, Iowa 52001-1040

MEMBERSHIPS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!Our membership fees support many of the activities at the Arboretum Members receive the

Ground Cover newsletter as well as 10% discount on all purchases in the Gift Shop.

$25.00 Individual $50.00 Family $100.00 Supporting $250.00 Corporate

Renew your membership. Make checks payable to Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Donations and membership fees are tax deductible.

Return to: Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens3800 Arboretum Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 52001-1040

Membership is a thoughtful year-round gift for family and friends. Complete form below.

Name ______________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________

City _______________________________________________________ State ______ Zip _______________

Home Phone ___________________________________ Business Phone_______________________________

E-Mail: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Donor’s Name (if gift) ________________________________________________________________________

MISSION STATEMENT: To establish, preserve and maintain an arboretum and botanical garden to be a source of information, education, culture and beauty for all to know.

NO ADMISSION FEE. Guided tours are available upon request. Carts are also available for visitors with limited walking ability. Call the Visitors Center: 563-556-2100 for reservations. Fax: 563-556-2443. Email: dabg@qwestoffice.net.

GARDEN HOURS

BOARD OF DIRECTORSAdministrative BoardJack Frick, PresidentWylie Bledsoe, Executive V.P.Howard McLean, SecretaryMel Graves, TreasurerNorma DenlingerDennis HoyerJim TrannelSteve Ulstad

Operations BoardMilt AvenariusJim BarthMarlyn BausmanJudy CurnanFran HedemanClaire HermansonDennis HermsenMary ReulandJim SchwarzLloyd StreifDick WeitzJim Welbes

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sandi Helgerson

GROUND COVER EDITOR Bev Kolz

Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization supported by tax exempt gifts and contributions. All work is accomplished by volunteers…there is no paid staff. Every tree, shrub, plant and seed is gifted from arboretums and botanical gardens, nurseries, growers and friends from all over the world.

Ground Cover is published quarterly for the benefit of DABG members.

Fall Edition September 2013

BEYOND THE GARDEN GATEFROM THE PRESIDENTWe had wonderful crowds at our concert series this summer, averaging around 1,500 people per concert. Everyone seemed to really enjoy them.

Our flowers, annuals and perennials are still in full bloom and in their prime. We invite you to come out and enjoy them.

All our volunteers put in a tremendous amount of hours this summer, working every day of the week. Don’t forget to come to our Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, September 4, either at Noon or at 5:30 p.m. in the Packard Pavilion.On a sad note, we have lost one of our great volunteers, Gary Vogel. He will be remembered by DABG forever.~ Submitted by Jack Frick, DABG Board President

FROM THE DIRECTORI find it hard to believe that we are already getting towards the end of the summer season and our busiest time of the year. Our themed Monet gar-dens in lovely pastels look amazing right now. I am a proud volunteer of one of the AAS Annual Garden beds, along with two of my friends who are fellow Master Gardener interns with me this year. Once in a while, they let me get out of the office to get my hands dirty!

In our last issue, we talked about the main visions of the DABG Strategic Plan. We are not letting that gather dust as often happens. We are in the middle of creating new partnerships, developing a long-term marketing plan, and raising funds for a sustainable future.

We invite you to “Come Grow with Us,” our new motto.Submitted by Sandi Helgerson, DABG Executive Director

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Visitors to the Formal Herb Garden often remark on the vine rapidly

covering our arbor entrance. When we identify it as a Hop plant (Humulus lupulus), people immediately jump to the conclusion that we are preparing to make beer. Not so. Our dried female hop flowers, a cone-like growth called a strobile, are destined to become an ingredient in sleep or dream pillows. We only have one plant for viewing but hop is grown commercially around the world, one of the few herbs still grown on a grand scale today.

The majority of the crop is used in the production of beer. It was introduced into North America by the Massachusetts Company in 1629 but it was used for brewing in France and Germany as far back as the ninth and tenth centuries. It became an important ingredient when brewers discovered that it served as a preservative. In the USA, production started on the East Coast but after the New York fields experienced an epidemic of downy mildew in the 1920s, production moved west and today most of the US crop is grown in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Commercially, hop plants are grown on 18-foot high poles in fields called hopyards. The vines are trained on wires that run from pole to pole.

The hop has a long and deserved reputation as a sedative. It is said that simply resting one’s head on a pillow stuffed with this herb will induce sleep. People have asked me if it really works. I can’t offer any definitive proof but both Abraham Lincoln and King George are said to have used hop pillows and there have been reports that workers in hop fields tire easily. Although there have been no scientific studies conducted on humans, experiments with frogs, birds, and mice show that hops do depress the central nervous system.

Even if you don’t plan to make beer and have no problems sleeping, you could use hops to decorate a screen, arbor or pergola. However, be aware that the average plant can grow to a height of 25 feet and some have been known to reach 40 feet in a single season. The vines are very vigorous and sometimes grow 6 to 12 inches per day. No wonder I have trouble keeping our one plant from invading its neighboring lavender!

Thymely Information

Hop strobiles should be picked when they are amber brown in color and partly dry. Finish drying them immediately after harvest in an oven at a temperature of 125 to 150 degrees. Use as quickly after drying as possible. They should be stored in a dark, airtight container and used within 9 months. After 9 months 85 percent of their chemical vitality is lost.

The dream pillow mentioned in the first paragraph is actually a small, flat bag of herbs that one places inside a

pillowcase or pins near the head where you are sleeping. The bag should be made of cotton or muslin that has been washed with a mild soap to remove the sizing. Do not use fabric softener. The finished “pillow” should be about 3

inches across and 6 inches long. Fill with one half to one cup of herbs and sew up the open end.

__________

NOTE: Recovering alcoholics should probably not use hops in a dream blend. Jim Long reports that some who have done so have had dreams of drinking establishments! Do not use potpourri in sleep pillows.__________

REFERENCESDream Pillows and Love Potions by Jim LongThe Complete Book of Herbs by Andi Clevely and Katherine

RichmondRodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs edited by Claire

Kowalchik and William H. Hylton

~ Submitted by Fran Hedeman, Herb Society of Dubuque

To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question.

Sleep Pillow Here is a simple recipe for those who would like to try making their own sleep pillow.

Relaxing Dream Blend½ cup each dried Lavender, Mugwort & Sweet HopsMix all the ingredients together and set aside in a plastic bag

for 24 hours. Remove mixture from the plastic bag and fill your prepared bag. \ This is a restful, relaxing blend.Jim Long, a well-know herbalist, sells sleep pillows.

You may contact him at:Long Creek Herbs | P.O. Box 127 | Blue Eye, MO 65611

HAVE YOU REMEMBERED THE

DUBUQUE ARBORETUM & BOTANICAL

GARDENS IN YOUR WILL?

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He called us “you ladies” and liked to convey the impression that we needed to tell him what to do. “Whatever you ladies want,” he would say meekly, as though totally at the mercy of our whims.

The opposite was closer to the truth.

• What to do about mildew on the dahlias? Ask Gary.

• Is it time to plant the geraniums? Check with Gary.

• Golf cart stuck in the mud? Call for Gary!

Gary Vogel died on July 1. He had volunteered for the DABG for about 20 years, the last 15 or so working primarily with the Green Team, although his considerable skills were sometimes called into play for the Brown Team as well. In addition, he was a member of the Operations Board and helped with special events on the grounds.

Working with a gaggle of Green Team women had to be trying at times. But Gary met all situations with a big grin.

Over the winter he sterilized our potting soil, helped upgrade the seedlings in the greenhouse, and kept the growing plants watered, fertilized, and pest-free. In the spring he set up the Peter Rabbit and Billy Goat gardens and tirelessly roto-tilled all of the other beds before they were planted. Gary could get more leaf mulch on the end of a pitchfork than three other Green Team members combined, and he cheerfully delivered load after load wherever it was needed.

In his “spare time” over the summer, Gary weeded, watered, and grew tomatoes, pumpkins, and other vegetables outside the McAleece building. This was in addition to taking care of

his own plants at home. In the fall he dug up geraniums and bulbs and put them in storage for winter.

Gary could fix anything that needed fixing, and that included wielding a paintbrush when called for. He maintained the greenhouses and understood their delicate temperaments. He was fearless on the precarious catwalk of the big greenhouse; perhaps his 40 years of experience as an elevator repairman helped?

Gary had a solution for all pests, be they whiteflies in the greenhouse, moles in the flowerbeds, or coons in the bird feeders. He anticipated the tasks that needed to be done and completed many of them behind the scenes when nobody else was around. Coming to work on a snowy February morning, we would find the walkway to the greenhouse already shoveled for us. If we vowed to finally tackle our humongous pile of dirty flowerpots, we’d arrive the next workday to a mountain of freshly washed pots drying on the table.

Even though Gary was ill last winter, his truck still pulled into the parking lot most Tuesdays and Thursdays, the traditional Green Team workdays. He didn’t stay long and was a little slower than usual. But that didn’t stop him from climbing a high ladder or pushing around a heavy tub of soil whenever our backs were turned.

The Green Team is donating a brick for one of the DABG paths in memory of Gary Vogel. But that hardly seems enough. The real memorial is this: Not a Tuesday or Thursday goes by that a situation doesn’t crop up causing “we ladies” to wonder what Gary would do. Submitted by Kennie Harris, with thanks to the Green Team for their memories

Remembering Volunteer Gary Vogel

He was the only male member of the Green Team.

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Supporting MembershipsEdwin & Barbara BlinksMarsha AbbottHoward & Dorothy McLeanNick & Sandi HelgersonBill & Pat SkempDennis HoyerRonald & Charlotte SchopeLetha SplinterMary Jeanne AmbrosyGretchen Fuerste, MD & Mark

Liaboe, MDPaul EnstromShirley SheehanJan GradyJohn & Jack HessJack FrickSteve’s Ace Home & GardenClaire Hermanson

GrantsDubuque Racing AssociationDeere and CompanyDubuque Arts & Cultural Grant Program

Securing the Future CampaignEd & Susie Ritts, Long Shadow

Foundation

MemorialsIn Memory of:Viorene Husemann, given by Jennie &

Robert BurnsAudra Lehmann, given by Bob LehmannMary G. McMahon, given by Dan & Donna

Stehn, Shiela TranelKyle T. Lewis, given by Rich & Mary Lewis

- GrandparentsMabel Hartmann, given by Jane & Joseph

Bowerman, Kenneth Erickson, Linda & Goen Bodenhofer, Elsie Welsch-Doser, Dennis & Karen Paar, Genevieve Kiefer

Juanita Moberly, given by Don & Denise Reyerson

Bert Hillary, given by Kaye & Georg Running

Gary Vogel, given by Jack & Diana Frick, Jean & Wylie Bledsoe, Paul N. Exstrom, Mary Jane & Clem Steele, Jim & Elizabeth Schuler, Katherine Carothers, Bob & Barbara Snell, Robert & Judy Curnan, Howard & Dorothy

McLean, Carol A. McClenahan, Marilyn & Richard Heinisch, Rita Becker, Michael & Sheila Sisler, James & Shirley Chapman, Donna Weber, Joan B. Kessens, Marlyn & Joyce Bausman

Robert Kehl, given by Dave BlakeJohn White, given by Anne Lammers

In Honor of:Barb Bishop & Green Team, given by Alan

L. & Susan K. Hattel50th Wedding Anniversary of Dave &

Ann Gebhart, given by Janet & Paul Hemmer

BenchesIn Memory of:Bench on Hickory Hill: Paul T. Zwack,

given by Julia Holsclaw, Betty Zwack, Dan Zwack, Andrea Zwack, Mark Zwack, Dave Holsclaw, Bill & Rose Holsclaw

Granite Bench south of Packard: Frederick R. Beeler, given by Tari A. Beeler, Tari A. Von Ah Beeler

Japanese Garden Donation: Viorene Huseman, given by Jennie & Robert Burns

Bricks In Honor/Memory of:Mary G. McMahon, given by Eileen

McMahon Rick Crimmins, given by Margaret

CrimminsAnita & Ivan Wolf, given by Judy WolfMaddy & Mike Kuennen, given by Michael

KuennenJoe & Gaa Holdiman, given by Gaa

HoldimanHoward McLean, given by Howard

McLeanDorothy McLean, given by Howard

McLean Barry & Kathy Bromberg, given by Dan

Donovan/Wells Fargo AdvisorsDon & Hazel Offermann, given by Don

OffermannMike & Mary Klein 2012, given by Mary

KleinAllison R. Aydelotte, given by Marian R.

Walker

In-Kind Donations100 Feet of tubing by Paulson ElectricPotentilla bush & larkspur perennial by

Alice Hemphill“Taste of Home” cookbooks by Jan

RussellDiscounted cost of labor by Manders

Construction, Inc. (Iinstalled new French door)

Perennials by Hy-Vee #1160Perennials by Hy-Vee #1162Discount on sod cutting by Diamonds

Edge LandscapingHauling a load of breaker stone by Drew

Cook & Son’s Excavating, Inc.Birdhouse with copper roof by Carl

HeideschDonating and installing one Fairway Pro

tire by Weldon Tire30 perennials by Lowe’s Home

ImprovementTroy Model 15014S Chipper Shredder by

Tom PaisleyJohn Deere Snow Blower and assorted

tools by Wes Heitzman12 fleece pillows by Green Thumb Plant

Club

Cash GiftsAlice HafemanAnderson Weber ToyotaJoyce V. Hoover TrustWestmark Enterprises, Mark FalbKendall-Hunt Publishing Co., Mark FalbEdwin & Barbara BlinksKlauer Family Charitable FoundationHy-Vee Employees, Dodge StreetRiver Ridge School DistrictDiamond Jo, LLCDoris TurnmeyerBill & Pat SkempMetropolitan Lodge 49Scott GunnufsonRockwell Collins (matching Scott

Gunnufson)Main Street Cruisers

Thank you for giving generously… The following donations were received May 2013 - July 2013

HAVE YOU REMEMBERED THE DUBUQUE

ARBORETUM & BOTANICAL GARDENS IN YOUR WILL?

Photo taken by Steve Ulstad

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From the Gift ShopAs I began to focus on closing the DABG Gift Shop following another active and successful season, I discovered a bit of fun trivia.

Do you know that the DABG has its own Quartet of Queen “B’s”?Barbara Barton | Barbara Bishop | Barbara Blake | Barbara Bonnett

While Gift Shop personnel offer a cheerful “Welcome to the DABG” to new and returning visitors, over 300 “worker bees” continue to weave their skill within the tapestry of color throughout the Gardens.

Both inside and out the anticipation of Autumn is evident and you are encouraged to treat yourself to the colors of nature that await you. Please visit soon and often.

Submitted by Barbara Barton, Gift Shop Manager

GREENHOUSE ADDITIONThanks to a $15,000 grant award by the Dubuque Racing Association, we are in the middle of reconstructing the green-house attached to the McAleece building. The old greenhouse was 20 years old and was suffering from a roof that leaked both water and tar, a lack of proper ventilation, and heat that was difficult to control. The yellowing plastic that formed the roof and sides of the building did not allow for proper sunlight for photo-synthesis. There was also a safety concern by the Green Team volunteers who had to carry large trays of plants up and down steps to transfer plants between areas.

Our new and improved greenhouse construction is well underway. We are using the same footprint by reusing the foundation from the old greenhouse. We will also be using everything that was still in good condition for the new area. We have filled out the foundation so that the transition between the McAleece and the new greenhouse will be level. Our new polycarbonate walls will not yellow and will remain useful for years to come.

Submitted by Wylie Bledsoe

SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN’S PARTYAs we were setting up for the Children’s Party in May, we were a little nervous as it rained the whole time. But right before the event was scheduled to start, the sun came out!

Our theme this year was “Follow the Stars.” We had about 15 costumed characters. Children were asked to get autographs from the “star” characters as they walked through the gardens. When they had five signatures, they could turn them in for a prize.

As usual, we thank the Dubuque Senior High cheerleaders who dressed up and entertained the children. The two all-time favorites remain Elmo and Dora the Explorer. Cheerleaders also shared their face-painting talents for the kids and they were able to put together a “make and take” flower at our craft area. American Trust provided “Ernie the Eagle” who gave out free balloons. Another favorite was the real life fire engine that children could explore.

A special thank you goes to Kennie Harris who spent a great deal of time planning the event and to Luke Stumpf who de-signed our flyers and programs.

Submitted by Sandi Helgerson

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OUR WELL HAS RUN DRYThe drought of 2012 has unfortunately caught up with the DABG. After burning out two well pumps, we found out that our well has indeed run dry. This well is critical to maintaining DABG’s living museum of plants as it waters 90 percent of the gardens and feeds the Japanese Pond which is very popular for children who visit and want to feed the koi fish. The Japanese Garden is one of DABG’s most admired sites.

We are proposing to drill a new well to address the problem. Currently, the well that has run dry is in the Galena aquifer. The new well will go down 650 feet and tap into the Prairie

du Chien aquifer. We will connect a water and electric line to the current pump house.

The total cost of the well is estimated to be $38,000. If you are interested in assisting us financially with the cost of drilling a new well, we certainly would welcome your support. Please send a check with a note that it goes to the well fund or call Wylie, Jack or Sandi at 563-556-2100 with any questions.

HELP NEEDED!

WEEDERS: The Japanese Garden is a wonderful place to visit—so peaceful and so beautiful! It is also a large area that requires many hands to keep it looking neat and trim.

If you have time to adopt a small space in the Japanese Garden to weed, we could use your help. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes per week to keep a small area in shape.

Call the office, 563-556-2100, and leave your name and phone number or fill out a volunteer form the next time you visit the DABG. Thank you.

• • • • • • • •

FALL CLEAN-UP: Mark your calendars for Fall Clean-up here at the DABG on Saturday, October 19 and Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We could really use your help to put all the flower beds in order for the winter months. DABG will provide rakes and other tools. Just bring a good pair of gloves and be ready to work hard! Free lunch will be provided for all clean-up day workers. Contact the office at 563-556-2100 if you are able to participate.

• • • • • • • •

TOUR GUIDES: Have you ever wanted to show people around the DABG and highlight its magnificence? Tours around the DABG are in great demand and we continue to get increasing requests for guided tours around the gardens. We could use more volunteers to help us showcase the features and history of the DABG. Only a willing heart is needed —training will be provided! Please contact the office at 563-556-2100 and ask for Sandi to sign up.

Bluebird Watch SignsFive bluebird houses are located in the grassy, open areas of the DABG. All houses are visible on the right hand side of the main road entering the DABG. Near each active bluebird house is posted a “Bluebird Watch” sign.

Bluebirds usually arrive at the DABG mid-March to early April. Some never leave Iowa. My friend Carol has seen bluebirds at her home in Asbury during the winter months for years. They come to the feeder area during the winter just to hang out, not to eat.

The 2013 spring/summer season saw the following bluebird activity at the DABG houses:

HOUSE 1: located just after first turn in the main road—no bluebird activity

HOUSE 2: located just before the Japanese Garden parking area—5 fledglings in August

HOUSE 3: lost 5 eggs; nest intact in April; 5 fledglings in June

HOUSE 4: near kids’ play area; lost 5 chicks, perhaps to heat, in July

HOUSE 5: wrens took over; will relocate house

As of August 10, all houses were empty. Fledglings could be heard in the trees and flying in pairs near their houses. We wish them well on their journey for food.Submitted by Jeanette Callahan

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H e r b f e s t 2 0 1 3H E L D S U N D AY, J U N E 2 3

Many thanks are due to all who made Herbfest 2013 a huge success.As many of you know, the Formal Herb Garden was a part of the 2013 Master Gardeners’ Annual Garden Tour. The Herb Society of Dubuque offered educational tours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More than 225 people toured the garden. Our thanks to the Master Gardeners who served as hosts and kept track of our visitors. It was great fun to share historical and botanical information about our plants with all the visitors.

While some of us were conducting tours, other members of the Herb Society were busy preparing the Tasty Tidbits (food sampling) on the porch, setting up for the adult workshop, preparing for the children’s workshop, organizing the silent auction, and running our herbal items sale table.

• Michelle Jones, Sherry O’Toole and Mark Sand handled the food tasting. While we don’t have an exact count, we know that lots of visitors enjoyed sampling herbal breads, salads, spreads, toppings, and desserts prepared by members of the Herb Society. I understand the flower sandwiches were a big hit with all ages!

• Lidia Bertolinni and Chris Gibson were our awesome herbal sales personnel. They sold items ranging from comfrey salve to birdhouses to herbal vinegar to apple mint. Thanks to all the members who made items to sell.

• Jana Sheldon created our amazing silent auction baskets. The bidding was lively. We are thankful for Jana’s creative talents.

• Young gardeners enjoyed the Kid’s Workshop, planned and organized by Jess Olechowski with help from Sarah Smith and Barb Croghan. Who knew green clay and mushroom compost could be so much fun?

• The garden room set-up for the adult workshop on drying herbs was beautiful; the whole room was fragrant with herbs. Thanks to Chel Hellmer, Bev Kolz, and Kathy Sand for their exceptional work. Most of the 27 people who attended the workshop left with herbs to dry at home.

• Special thanks to Eileen Coursey for preparing and organizing signage for the Tasty Tidbits and the Herb of the Year display.

• Melissa Woodhouse served as our garden host and served cold mint water to our many visitors. Ron Barkow, Bev Kolz, and Chel Hellmer helped with the garden tours.

• The Herb Society is indebted to Jack Frick and Wylie Bledsoe for their Herbfest help. Jack provided great publicity via his weekly radio show and Wylie made sure our garden signage was up-to-date, our fountain was in good working order, an unsightly tree was removed, and that tables were ready for our various venues.

If you missed Herbfest this year, be sure to put Herbfest 2014 on your schedule next summer.Submitted by Fran Hedeman, Herb Society of Dubuque

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 477

Dubuque, Iowa 52001

3800 Arboretum DriveDubuque, Iowa 52001-1040

MEMBERSHIPS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!Our membership fees support many of the activities at the Arboretum Members receive the

Ground Cover newsletter as well as 10% discount on all purchases in the Gift Shop.

$25.00 Individual $50.00 Family $100.00 Supporting $250.00 Corporate

Renew your membership. Make checks payable to Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Donations and membership fees are tax deductible.

Return to: Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens3800 Arboretum Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 52001-1040

Membership is a thoughtful year-round gift for family and friends. Complete form below.

Name ______________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________

City _______________________________________________________ State ______ Zip _______________

Home Phone ___________________________________ Business Phone_______________________________

E-Mail: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Donor’s Name (if gift) ________________________________________________________________________

MISSION STATEMENT: To establish, preserve and maintain an arboretum and botanical garden to be a source of information, education, culture and beauty for all to know.

NO ADMISSION FEE. Guided tours are available upon request. Carts are also available for visitors with limited walking ability. Call the Visitors Center: 563-556-2100 for reservations. Fax: 563-556-2443. Email: dabg@qwestoffice.net.

GARDEN HOURS

1 April – 31 OctoberDaily, 7 a.m. to sunset

OFFICE HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

weekdays

1 Nov – 31 MarchOFFICE HOURS:

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays

GARDEN HOURS