fall 2008 the gardener newsletter, delaware center for horticulture

8/9/2019 Fall 2008 the Gardener Newsletter, Delaware Center for Horticulture

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GardenerThe VOL. 31, NO. 3 FALL 2008

In pre-colonial days Delaware was covered with a dense canopy of trees. As our populationgrew, this rich forest of maple, oak, beech and other varieties supported industry, agricultureand the environment. Eventually these mature forests were cleared. The mix of native treesand introduced species that remain in our cities and suburbs is known as our urban forest.

Today urban forests across the country are in decline. Trees are lost to new construction aswell as to factors such as inadequate tree care and replacement. Wilmingtons tree cover(also known as tree canopy) is well below the national average. Since 1990, urban land inDelaware has increased by 14%, leaving only 16% tree canopy cover in Wilmington and19% in the greater New Castle County metropolitan area.

With a population of 73,000, Wilmington is Delawares largest city. In recent years, significantsteps have been taken to improve the Citys environmental quality. In 2004 the WilmingtonBeautification Commission (WBC) was formed to recommend initiatives for enhancing theattractiveness of the urban landscape. Led by the Delaware Center for Horticulture, the

What's bloomingin this issue...

Save the date: 2009 RarePlant Auction I page 2

Partnering with Rotary I p

Introducing newboard members I page 4

Honoring volunteers I pag

Staff plant pick:Bugleweed I page 6

Meet Claire Hanavan I pa

A majestic view of the Wilmington

skyline beyond the canopy of trees in RockfordPark from the top of the historic stone water tower.

Trees for WilmingtonBuilding a coalition to improve our urban forest

continued on page 4

Delaware Center for Horticulture


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SAVE THE DATE!

29th Rare Plant Auction Saturday, April 25, 2009

Hundreds of plant lovers from across the nation plantheir calendars around this annual event. The RarePlant Auction is acclaimed for a premier selection ofunusual, newly-introduced or difficult to propagatespecimens. This gala evening at Longwood Gardensraises more than $150,000 each year for DCHcommunity greening and education programs. OurHonorary Chair in 2009 will be Kathy Andersen, afounding member of DCH. Jane Pepper, President ofthe Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will be ourCelebrated Plant Expert. We invite you to enjoy thepeople and plant event of the year!

These are interesting times, from the vigorous and sometimesbizarre election campaign to the tumultuous fallout of housingand financial markets. Leading DCH through a climate ofuncertainty, I am proud of a sound organization with strongmission, a fine staff, loyal supporters and dedicated volunteers.We will continue to improve Delawares green infrastructurewith passion and persistence, and will steer through thesestormy times.

Over 650 volunteers contributed to DCHs mission thisyear, each helping to strengthen greener communities.At our Annual Meeting we honored two remarkablevolunteers who have played leading and influential rolesat DCH. Dr. Richard W. Lighty has served DCH for over30 years and we honor him with our most prestigiousEmily du Pont Award. Hank Davis, plantsman formerlyof Northcreek Nurseries, Conard Pyle Nurseries, andWinterthur, follows in his mother footsteps DCH founderHelen Detchon. Hank is an outgoing Board member,assists in numerous roles for the Rare Plant Auction

and served as Chairman of the event for 2002 and 2005.

Contributing broadly and generously to the horticulturalcommunity, we honor Hank with the Mary Marsh Award.

We are very excited to have been selected by the RotaryClub of Wilmington from a pool of 37 applicants as its

2008-2009 service partner. Rotary members will assist existingfriends groups for parks with planting projects. Service projectswill include planting fall bulbs, assisting with communityoutreach, encouraging new Friends of groups and sponsoringresearch to study the economic value of public parks inWilmington. Studies on the impact of parks in other urbanareas have shown that an attractive park has many social,economic and environmental benefits. Healthy parksboost neighborhood morale, reduce violent crime, increase

property values, encourage physical activity and create morecitizen involvement in their community.

A growing list of partnerships is supporting our greeningefforts throughout the community. For instance, the$75,000 Home Depot Award we received in 2007 hasstrengthened our tree program and enabled us to workwith heads of City Departments to rewrite a draft ofWilmingtons tree ordinance. Public Works and theParks Department have also begun implementing ourrecommendations for streamlining and improving themanagement of Wilmingtons public trees. We look

forward to even greater collaboration with city leadersin 2009 on efforts to enhance our urban forest.

Long-term commitment and involvement within communities are what make democracy

survive. You cannot have democracy without engaged citizenry.

Tracee Reiser, Associate Dean, Connecticut CollegeGarySchwetz

2 The Gardener Fall 2008


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Rotary is the worlds first serviceclub, now a global network of over1.2 million business and professionalleaders in over 32,000 clubs in 168countries. Rotarians personallyvolunteer their time, expertise andfinancial support to worthy projects.The venerable Wilmington Rotary

Club includes more than 240members and recently introduceda new approach to maximize itslocal impact by focusing on oneorganization per year. This was adeparture from the previous practicein which the outreach was spread outto many different organizations.

DCH had partnered previously withsix Wilmington-area Rotary Clubs onthe Can-Do Playground at AlapocasRun Park near Blue Ball Dairy Barn.The first of its kind in the State of

Delaware, this award-winningplayground is designed tobe accessible by childrenof all abilities. TheDelaware Centerfor Horticulture designedthe entrance landscapingthat welcomes visitors

and worked with Rotarymembers in 2007 to install theplantings. One of the factorsthat convinced the Wilmington

Rotary Club to selectDCH as this yearshumanitarian serviceproject was research thatdemonstrates how publicgreen spaces can revitalizeurban neighborhoods

and reduce crime.The project has beennamed GrowingNeighborhoods.Several communitypartners will collaborate

with DCH and Rotary on thisinitiative, including the WilmingtonBeautification Commission ofthe Mayors Office and localcivic associations.

Rotary is also helping to pay for astudy commissioned by DCH toexamine the economic value ofWilmingtons parks. The resultsof this study in 2009 will providedecision-makers and residents withdata measuring the benefits of our urbanparks, and will be used to advocatefor more funding, enhancements andcommunity involvement.

This project is generating lots ofenthusiasm between the WilmingtonRotary Club and the Delaware Centerfor Horticulture, in part because ahigh level of cross-fertilizationalready exists between the twoorganizations. The DCH Board ofDirectors includes several membersof the Wilmington Rotary Club:Sherese Brewington Carr, NetaPringle and Steve Mockbee. PamSapko, our executive director, isalso a member of this Club and isspearheading the initiative. Rotarianson the DCH board who are membersof other clubs include Tim Peterson.All of these community leaders agreethat a service project with DCH is afabulous opportunity to enhance thesocial, economic and environmentalvalue of Wilmingtons parks andurban green spaces.

Partnering with Rotary to improve city parksGrowing Neighborhoods volunteer service project

The Delaware Center for Horticulture has been selected for a year-long service project by the

Rotary Club of Wilmington. Club members will help us improve city parks in economically

disadvantaged neighborhoods by planting trees and flowers, encouraging new Friends ofgroups and strengthening broad community support for parks.

The Gardener Fall 2008 3

Above right: Students from Howard HighSchools Interact Club, sponsored by theRotary Club of Wilmington, help with plantingsand clean up efforts in Kirkwood Park.

Above: Members of the Rotary Club ofWilmingtonget their hands dirty to improve city parks.From left to right: Sue Hastings, MichaelFriedberg, Pam Sapko and John Birmingham.


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Amy Watson BishAmy is Director of Marketing &Communications at Delaware TheatreCompany. She serves on the boards ofWilmington Jaycees and Act Out Theatreand promotes Wilmington as a member ofthe Council of Community Ambassadors(INbassadors). Amy is also pursuing acertificate in graphic design from theDelaware College of Art and Design.

Kirk Cameron AyarsKirk is an independent marketing consultantto the healthcare industry. She has spentmost of her professional years in marketingand advertising with Fortune 100 companiesand their agencies where she advocated forcorporate community partnership. She enjoysgardening and volunteering at WestminsterPresbyterian Church, substitute teaching andhelping at-risk youth through the RodneyStreet Tennis & Tutoring Association.

Jeffrey T. LankJeff is a Senior Project Manager withWachovia. He is also a life consultanindividuals and businesses. He serveHonorary Commander of the 512th

Airlift Wing Air Force Reserve UnitChairman of the Board of DelawareJaycees, National Vice President of United States Junior Chamber and amember of the Project Management

Institute. Delaware Today named himof 2008s Top 40 People to Watch.

W. Scott SimontonScott Simonton heads the Family WeaDivision at Wilmington Trust Companwhich manages $27 billion in assets. Hbeen involved with special gifts for theUnited Way Foundation of Delaware American Heart Association and serveThe Investment Visiting Committee. Halso chairs The Alternative InvestmenCommittee for the University of Delaw

WBC includes representatives fromCity Council, government agencies,community organizations andseveral environmental groups.

A model of community

collaborationWilmington relies on funds from ageneral operating budget to supporttree care functions through theParks & Recreation Department.Urban forest management is notconsidered as high a priority asother infrastructure needs, leadingto chronic under-funding andmaking these line items vulnerableto reassignment in lean budget years.

In 2005 DCH received a grant to createa coalition-building model for urbanforest sustainability and comprehensiveplanning. Trees for Wilmington waslaunched as a working group of theWBC. Trees for Wilmington (TFW)is composed of a variety of stakeholders,including city residents, policy-makers,

government agency representatives andmunicipal employees.

Establishing a sustainable urban forestis a long-term project. One of the firstacts of TFW was to draft a list of guidingprinciples. The group also began develop-ing a plan to address decades of deferredtree maintenance, educate leadersabout the benefits of trees and why theyare necessary to the vitality of the city,and propose strategies for sustainability.

DCH is contracted by the City ofWilmington to manage street trees. Weoften bump up against issues with thecurrent tree legislation and permittingprocess for planting, removal and

pruning. The TFW coalition recentlyhired a consultant to draft a new treeordinance. This proposed ordinancewould improve urban forest manage-ment and protection, create an urbanforest administrator position andestablish a Tree Commission that canadvise urban forest management policyand settle enforcement disputes.

In 2008 TFW also studied the municipalstructure under which Wilmingtonand other comparable cities placejurisdiction for the urban forest. Tohelp address management issues andcreate efficiencies, they facilitateddiscussions with department heads toreorganize urban forest management

Trees for Wilmington continued from page 1


Wilmingtons tree cover (also known as tree canoSince 1990, urban land in Delaware has increasedcover within the city limits. This map represents W

Welcome to our new board members


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responsibilities between citydepartments. These discussionsresulted in recommendations thatthe Parks Department maintain treesin city parks, but that Public Worksassume management of street treesand administration of the updatedtree ordinance.

Ultimately, the most important actionthat will improveWilmingtons urbanforest canopy is toplant more trees. TheTFW group has createdmaps that identifypriority areas in thecity for tree planting.In 2009 they will bereleasing specific

goals regarding howmany trees are neededto reverse decliningtrends and how muchit will cost. A city-wide tree plantingcampaign will belaunched to helpreach these goals.

The future of Wilmingtonsurban forestThe current state of our urban forestgives reason to be hopeful and reasonto take action. There are three mainthings that you can do to improveWilmingtons urban forest:

1. Make planting trees a priorityEach person can have a role inenhancing Wilmingtons tree cover.Whether you are a resident, avisitor, a business leader or agovernment agency representative you can join the growing effort toimprove our urban forest. Plant atree on your street, put trees inyour budget, include trees in yourlong-range planning or volunteerwith tree planting efforts.

2. Help secure adequate fundingDiverse and stable sources of fundingare necessary to create a sustainableurban forest. Add your voice to thosewho are working creatively to leverageadequate funding for increasedplanting and tree maintenance.

3. Advocate for better urban

forest policiesThe policies and structures we putin place today will determine thefuture health and sustainability ofour urban forest. Help us advocatefor legislation that will ensure moreeffective planning, managementand planting of trees.

Collaboration is the key

to successTFW is working to broaden publicsupport and making a strong case forpositioning the Citys tree resources onmore equal footing with other publicassets. The creation of a sustainableurban forest in Wilmington willdepend on the collaboration ofindividuals, organizations, businesses

and government. Only with a concertedeffort can we improve the tree coverthat beautifies neighborhoods andincreases the livability of our city.

For the latest updates or to learn

how you can get involved, visit

dehort.org.


the national average.only 16% tree canopyent urban forest.

More than 70 people enjoyed a catered reception and inspiring program at the

2008 Annual Meeting in October. Our keynote speaker was author Debra

Landwehr Engle. She delighted the crowd with stories shes collected from

across the country of exceptional gardeners and their community projects.

The evening also included presentation of DCHs most prestigious awards.

Hank Davis received the Mary Marsh Award in recognition of extraordinary

time and energy contributed to the horticultural world. His mother, Helen Detchon, was a founder of DCH and Hankhas been actively involved since 1981. He is a talented plant propagator and his career has included experience withWinterthur, Conard-Pyle Nurseries and North Creek Nurseries. A two-time chairman of the Rare Plant Auction, hehas also served on the DCH Board of Directors and a variety of committees. Hanks leadership, plant donations andgenerous contributions in memory of his mother have nurtured the growth of the organization.

Dr. Richard W. Lighty received the Emily du Pont Award in recognition of more than 30 years of outstanding serviceto the Delaware Center for Horticulture. Dick was an early leader in the formation of the Wilmington-based horticulturalorganization that became DCH. Accredited with inspiring the first Rare Plant Auction , Dick even acted as the auctioneer fora few years. He served as Board President during the exciting time when we moved from Market Street to Trolley Square. Hisvision set the tone for the landscaping we installed here and he still serves on our Landscape Advisory Committee. Dick hasincredible enthusiasm for plants and loves sharing his passion with others. In recent years he was instrumental in establishing

our Council of Advisors and continues to provide guidance as a member of that esteemed body.

Hank Davis and Dick Lightywin volunteer awards

Dr. Richard W. LightyHank Davis


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Ive received a fine informaleducation about flora bothexotic and native in mythree years at DCH. In theCenters back garden is agiant banana tree; in the

courtyard containers, tens of plants Ive never seen before:passionflower vine, mimosa vine, an unusual variety of redhibiscus. It seems almost impertinent to pick a banal little

groundcover as my favorite. But I love humble little AjugaReptans commonly known as bugleweed.

I have Burgundy Glow in my garden. The colors fascinateme during every season. Its crinkled little cabbage-yrosettes of leaves delight with hues of purple, cream,burgundy and bronze, and its flowers are bright blue.I would never have the nerve to decorate a room withthat combination of colors, but I love it in this plant!The flowers, floating on spikes above the plant in theearly spring, are such a bright blue that they seem to glowin the dark north shade. Its also evergreen in my garden.

I loved it so much in my last garden that it was one of thefew plants I chose to bring with me when I moved. Iplanted it on the shaded north side of my new houseunder a hulking, shallow-rooted tree that hogs all the soiland light it can. In the tiny pockets of dirt I could ruffleup between its roots, I set the cuttings I took from themother. In the two summers since then, each baby hasfluffed out to a purple puddle several inches wide. Nothingelse will grow under that tree.

It satisfies my well-known need for order by spreadingneatly and politely by stolons, clustering so tightly thatweeds dont have a chance under it. Every time I lookat it, it seems another cute little circle of leaves hassilently bubbled up. Some websites mention the invasivecharacteristic of this spreader, but Ive never had aproblem with it in dense shade and little water. Thestolons attach so lightly to the soil that I cant imagine itwould be difficult to

pluck them off if Iwanted to limit itsspread, but Ive neverwanted to.

It takes neglectand heavy tramplingwith a minimum ofsulking. Not being anexceptionally attentivegardener, thatsprobably why I like it.

I never water it. Ivestepped on it, clumsily rolled wheelbarrows and lawnmowers over it, and accidentally covered it for weeks witha corner of tarp and clods of heavy clay soil. Though itturns a little crisp in dry heat, it quickly springs back fromevery bit of bullying I give it. Rugged, but not rampant.Autonomous and attractive. This is one weed thatllalways have a place in my garden.


Anita Jimerson,

Office Manager and Development Associate

Staff Plant Pick: Ajuga reptansBugleweed

Staff Plant Pick: Ajuga reptansBugleweedAnita Jimerson,

Office Manager and Development Associate

PatriceSheehan


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Claire loves the camaraderie of thegroup as well as the opportunity to

learn. I joined the Greenhouse Gangshortly after the Center for Horticulturemoved from Market Street to TrolleySquare, says Claire. We have allbecome such good close friends andwere all so grateful to Lenny Wilsonand the other staff members for theexpertise they give us. Its a marveloushands-on experience.

During the winter months when theoutdoor gardens are dormant and lessplant care is needed, the group selectsa research theme and takes turns eachweek making a presentation. Topicshave included starting seeds, gardenpests and the economics of spices.One year the focus was vegetablesand included a luncheon where eachperson brought a dish to share madewith his or her chosen ingredient.Claires presentation on broccoli rabeincluded an evocative description of

cima di rapa laid out for sale in anItalian street market.

Claires intellectual curiosity and loveof botanical research predate theGreenhouse Gang. She first becameinvolved with DCH in the 1980sresearching plants for the Rare PlantAuction. For several years she alsowas a volunteer judge in the CityGardens Contest.

An adventurous souland world traveler,

Claire frequentlyparticipates in DCH-sponsored trips. Onone such visit togardens in Virginiashe was entranced byan elaborate pagodacovered in vines. Ahighlight of herWilmington gardentoday is a pale greenwooden arbor thatshe had built to echothe structure shed been inspired by.

Children and youth education hold aspecial place in Claires heart. Shealways enjoys sharing her passion forplants with them. At DCH she hasvolunteered with preschoolers in ourcommunity gardens and has generouslysupported programs such as H.E.L.P(Horticultural & Environmental

Leadership Program), our summercurriculum for at-risk adolescents.

Claire is known for meeting lifeschallenges with an upbeat attitudeand sense of humor. Despite her hearingimpairment, Claire still attends lecturesat DCH. To help her get the most outof the presentations, she will ask for thespeakers notes in advance or bring alongsomeone to help transcribe key points.

My greatest gift from the staff andvolunteers of DCH is how my horizonshave expanded over the years, Clairesays with her usual graciousness. Ivelearned so much and met so manywonderful people who helped meunderstand that Im just a small frogin a big pond!

Recently Claire made the difficultdecision to move to Stonegates, aretirement community in Greenville.It will be hard to leave my garden,she says as she looks around at hercarefully tended beds. But Im so gladthat Ill be able to take some of myfavorite plants with me especiallythe ones I bought over the years atthe DCH Rare Plant Auction.


The art of living, learning and gardening:Meet Claire Hanavan

Every Tuesday morning Claire Hanavan

can be found with a watering can andpruning shears in hand, tending to theplants at the Delaware Center for Horticulture.She is one of the core members of theGreenhouse Gang, volunteers who havebeen helping to keep DCH looking its bestfor more than 15 years.

G

arySchwetz


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fall 2008 the gardener newsletter, delaware center for horticulture

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