Dear Friends of the Arboretum,
All of the signs and sounds of summer have joined the symphony of summer. Fireflies and bull frogs, night flying bats, shimmering hummingbirds, and fresh plump berries at your fingertips signal that wonderful hot days with loads of sunshine are singing their tunes now. Please join in this sensory delight here at the Arboretum as you step onto the trail to stroll or sit, to wonder and discover; to simply breathe and be.
Staff and volunteers planted 1000 wildflowers this spring (10 different species) and, though now dormant, Arboretum staff look forward to these plants resurfacing next spring with a bounty of color with their delicate spring show signaling returning life.
The Arboretum stream and pond was newly planted at the end of spring with hundreds of new riparian plants designed to secure the stream and pond banks with fast-holding root systems. We have our fingers crossed that we continue to avoid large water-bearing storms that forcefully move across the Arboretum stream and pond banks. So far, so good. The weekly rains have continued thus far without any major flooding. The floating gardens are once again floating on the pond now and work all season long to keep sediment and algae levels low, reduce pollution leaving the Arboretum, provide food and shelter for fauna, above and below water, and offer a lovely resting place for the eye while enjoying the activity of the pond.
We continue to celebrate the Arboretum's 30th Anniversary all summer. Please join us for our annual Brown Bag lunch series with 5 sessions starting the last week of June through July. Attend and pick-up your free Arboretum window decal, bookmarks, and tree saplings, plus a chance to win a raffle prize of various items you would enjoy taking home with you from our gift shop.
Come for a visit and discover that the Arboretum is the coolest place in town this summer! May a forest trail lead you to find your inspiration in this treasured woodland sanctuary.
Jan Sievers Mahon, Arboretum Director
Rockin' Salvias
Contributing Writer | Kyle Kirby
Two of the most recent breeding successes from Proven Winners, these salvias are sure to enchant you. The foliage of the Rockin’ Deep Purple variety winks from underneath its aptly named flowers, while the dark green hues of Rockin' Fuschia’s leaves bounce off its vivacious blooms. Many have called Rockin’ Fuschia a ‘breakthrough’ in salvia bloom color. The spires can reach up to 36 inches with this variety, and up to 40 inches with Rockin’ Deep Purple. Combined with their more compact, darker green leaves, these beauties make an excellent container or landscaping plant.
Like many of the tropical salvias, these are lovely to look at but are not the best-suited for culinary use. Although, the salvia genus as a whole has a rich history of medicinal and spiritual benefits. Their name comes from the Latin word ‘salvere,’ which means ‘to be well.’ In historic Mediterranean cultures, salvias have also been associated with increased perception and wisdom.
In much warmer zones these plants grow as perennials, but here in Virginia they cannot survive frost, and thus exist as annuals. However, their temporary lives should not detract from their other excellent qualities. Rockin’ Fuschia and Rockin’ Deep Purple are both deer resistant and therefore blissfully ignored by these common garden pests. They are also quite heat tolerant which, paired with their vivid blooms, makes them ideal for a bit of consistent flair during a blazing Shenandoah summer.
These illustrious plants will certainly wow any visitors to your garden, and they’ll also keep you happy month after month with fantastic blooms. Both Rockin’ Fuschia and Rockin’ Deep Purple are sterile salvia hybrids, which means they will flower continuously throughout the season. And because they continue to flower until frost the nectar continues to feed the pollinators that show up for the abundant season-long buffet that this powerhouse provides. Their bright petals, nectar and pollen are famed for their ability to attract a multitude of pollinators, most notably hummingbirds. These beauties are veritable hummingbird magnets! One can easily picture these tiny, iridescent birds fluttering amongst the salvia flower spires on a warm June evening. And every gardener growing them receives the added bonus of continued daily visits by the hummers into October. When you're rockin' bright flowers and hummingbirds all season long these salvias will continue to satisfy your love of gardening.
New Arboretum T-Shirt Design!
We're pleased to introduce the new Arboretum t-shirt design, drawn by our Marketing & PR staff member, Morgan Paixao. Visit the education center and choose from four colors of short sleeve T-shirts. This illustration incorporates 8 native plant species and we've also turned it into an educational coloring sheet! You can find it on our website here:
Explorer Camp Recap!
With our third year of Explorer Camp having come to an end, we are happy to report that it was a smashing success! This was the first year camp was offered as a full-day session and with an added second week. The first week offered for ages 5-7 and the second for 7-10 year olds. Campers explored hands-on learning through butterfly releases, owl pellet dissections, birding walks, and wilderness survival activities. Each camp week wrapped up with an action-packed field trip. The first week's campers tested their climbing skills at the UREC Climbing Wall, and the week two campers explored the river ecosystem of Riven Rock Park. With the campers being gone, the Arboretum seems a little too quiet, so we can't wait for next summer to start the fun of camp all over again! We hope you'll join us!
Thank you for your kind words!
A peaceful nature haven in the middle of the city. ~ Sarah
Exceptional serene spot. We stopped by on our way home from Washington DC, and we still keep talking about it. You can go relax, walk, meditate, or read a book. I know where in Virginia I will be taking a break on my future road trips. ~ Abdelbaset
Breathtaking in the spring! ~ Megan
Congratulations to our Photo Contest Winners!
In celebration of our 30th anniversary, each month's winner will receive a classic Arboretum t-shirt in the size of their choice! To submit to our contest, message us through Facebook with up to 3 high resolution images taken in the Arboretum during the current month. Entries will be voted publicly and winners announced at the beginning of the following month!
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Brown Bag Summer Lecture Series
Wednesdays | July 10 | July 17 | July 24 | July 31
12 - 1 PM | Arboretum Pavilion unless noted | Free events
July 10 - Creative Flow Sound Bathing Unleash your creative energy, surrounded by celestial gong, chimes and Tibetan singing bowls. Bring your current project (drawing, painting, writing- easy setup/clean up) and enjoy a silent process with others, as Connie Magee raises the vibration and inspires your creative flow.
July 17 - Blacks Run Forest Farm Blacks Run Forest Farm is a riparian nursery and folk school rooted in love and living soil. These roots grow out as agroforestry, watershed health, and restorative justice. Learn about their community-centered mission, where to buy plants, and consultation services.
July 24- Invasive Species | Blue Ridge PRISM The Blue Ridge PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to reducing the negative impact of nonnative invasive plants on the health of the natural and agricultural environment in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Learn about the services they offer and recent updates on invasive species management in our area. **Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center.
July 31 - Small Mammals of the Arboretum | Dr. Katrina Gobetz Learn about Dr. Katrina Gobetz’s research on small mammals and the species that inhabit the Arboretum! **Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center.
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Storytime in the Understory
2nd & 4th Tuesdays | July 9 & 23 | Aug 13 & 27
11 AM - 12 PM | Free Event | Meet at the Stage Garden
Stories come to life for young children with animated readings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month this summer, June through August. Young story enthusiasts will develop an understanding of the importance of nature and how healthy environments support health and variety in plant and animal life from children’s literature selections. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic lunch to enjoy after our Storytime.
On days when the sun is shining and the temperatures are warm Storytime is outside at the Jurney Stage Garden! In the case of inclement weather, Storytime comes indoors.
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Forest Bathing
July 10 | 10 AM - 12 PM
Forest Bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a form of preventative medicine with many scientific studies confirming its beneficial impacts on our sense of well-being and physical health. Experience some of the mindful and multi-sensory exercises that make forest bathing an enjoyable and beneficial nature therapy. Join Annette Naber of Emerald Mountain Sanctuary and Jan Sievers Mahon, Arboretum Director, in this guided walk.
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Sound Bathing
July 11 & August 8 | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | $20/Session
Join Sound Healer and Yoga & Meditation Teacher Connie Magee for an etheric journey in the forest. Trees provide healing medicine for the soul, and the otherworldly tones of two large gongs and chimes provide a magical soundscape that dances within the sounds of nature. Find a comfortable spot on your yoga mat or lawn chair, settle into a guided mind-body meditation, and drift away. You'll notice the birds and woodland creatures connecting to the vibrations, while you deeply relax and tune in simultaneously to the forest. Meet outside the Frances Plecker Education Center.
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Wine on the Tree Terrace
Let's talk forests! | Dr. Joan Maloof, Founder of Old-Growth Forest Network
A gathering to discuss what our forests do for us and what we can do for them
Friday, September 6 | 5 - 7 PM | $20/Guest
Registration includes 1 drink ticket & hors d'oeuvres
In this informal talk Dr. Joan Maloof will discuss the overall condition of planet earth's forests. She will discuss the critical role forests play in biodiversity, the water cycle, and the carbon cycle. She will explore the health benefits of forests as well as their aesthetic qualities. After this celebration of the forests she will share information about their condition and the the misleading information regarding forest management. In conclusion Maloof will discuss the Old-Growth Forest Network -- a project she started to create a Network of never-logged publicly accessible forests across the country. Maloof is a Professor Emeritus at Salisbury University, and the author of four books about forests.
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Fall Plant & Bulb Sale
Friday, September 27 - Wednesday, October 2 | 9 AM - 3 PM
**Not open on Sunday**