Signature Spring Fundraiser at Landis Arboretum, May 16 - 17

SCHOHARIE REGION (05/15/2009)(readMedia)-- The 37th annual Landis Arboretum Spring Plant/Book/Bake Sale Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, from 10 AM - 4 PM. There is no admission fee. Parking is free Plant Sale Weekend will take place rain or shine, and all proceeds will benefit maintenance and improvements at Landis, the Capital Region's arboretum.

Once again, the festive fundraising weekend will include a select group of regional artisans. Those interested in displaying their creative wares should contact the Arboretum before May 8. Details and application forms are available at www.landisarboretum.org

In addition, Susan and Jeff O'Handley of the Wildlife Learning Company (http://www.wildlearn.com/) will welcome guests and fascinate younger participants with Natural-born Critters from 1 - 5 pm on Saturday. May 16.

Abundance, Beauty, Cordiality Await

This year's highlights include a diverse selection of shade and ornamental trees and flowering shrubs.

Among them are resistant American elm cultivars, special fruit trees, specimen conifers, including the 'Cobra' spruce, and numerous flowering shrubs -- all of which are hardy in this area.

In addition to the large number of perennials normally available, the sale will feature an incredible selection of Echinacea, Japanese iris, and peonies. An assortment of climbing plants, unique annuals, heritage vegetables, and raspberries will round out the ever-growing list of plants available at the sale.

The annual Spring and Fall plant sales are an important source of income for the Arboretum. They offer an opportunity to acquire beautiful and unusual plants of many types -- while enticing participants to support the Arboretum as a dynamic outdoor classroom for its educational work.

For the convenience of customers, the Arboretum provides ample parking, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, the Bluebird Café snack bar, and the Acorn Gift Shop.

Bookies Enter Paradise

The natural splendors of the 548-acre Landis Arboretum is bound to be the destination of choice for book buyers, sellers, and collectors for the Used Book Sale scheduled in concert with the Arboretum's Plant Sale. Bibliophiles are always well-rewarded with thousands of titles in good condition to browse through and buy, while surrounded by the more than 6,000 trees, plants, shrubs, and perennials at the event. Regardless of the weather, the Annual Plant and Book Sale will take place; the books are under cover in the Arboretum's 1830s English barn.

The annual Book Sale is made possible through the generosity of the Arboretum's many friends and supporters who collect books throughout the year with the sale in mind. Dozens of volunteers clean and categorize the offerings. Categories include, but are not limited to, science and nature, gardening, reference, poetry, child, mystery, self-help, diet and nutrition. Donations of books in good condition are always welcomed. Please contact the Arboretum with information about book donations by May 8.

Greenhouse Open

The William T. Raymond Greenhouse at the Arboretum will once again play an important role in this year's offerings. Last year, the greenhouse at Landis offered a profusion of lilies for Plant Sale patrons.

About the Arboretum

The Landis Arboretum is a 548-acre public garden that straddles both Montgomery and Schoharie Counties. Landis includes eight miles of hiking and walking trails overlooking picturesque Schoharie Valley near Esperance, NY. Forty acres are developed with plantings trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The remainder of the property consists of natural areas, woodlands, and open fields reminiscent of the former farm of founder Fred Lape. Once one of the best kept secrets of the Capital Region and along scenic Route 20 corridor between Albany and Skaneateles, the Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions.

The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum's vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meeting house and parking field for sky-watching events.

Outstanding Specimens and Notable Trees and Shrubs

The Arboretum has a significant number of specimen trees and outstanding shrubs. A listing of thirty of these trees can be found in the "Notable Trees" brochure. Outstanding shrubs can be found throughout the Arboretum. Forty-one species of trees and shrubs growing at Landis are outside their hardiness zones. These species are not usually expected to survive in USDA Zone 5 and yet, they survive due to the many microclimates at the Arboretum and conditions specific to each site.

Perennial Gardens

In addition to woody collections, Landis provides outstanding collections of flowering perennials for visitors to enjoy from April through October. The Van Loveland and Quarry gardens include bulbs, perennials, shrubs and dwarf conifers.

Native Plants and Natural Areas

The natural areas of the Arboretum provide a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and study native plants and ecosystems, open field evolution, effect of undesired invasive species, endangered plants, and forest communities of the region. These areas are vital to the Arboretum as a study area for ecosystems of the Northeast. The various stages of succession and various ecosystems that exist on the property are significant in that a wide range of environments can be studied or researched at one site. Trails wind through mature and near mature forests and wildflower fields.

Old Growth Forest Beckons

Landis Arboretum is one of three arboreta in eastern North America that have old growth forests. The other two are the New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University. Among its two Old Growth Forests stand a widely diverse range of species that comprise the old growth forests. The dominant trees are white and red oaks, American beech, sugar maple, hemlock, yellow birch, and black birch.

The old growth forests are accessible to visitors by walking the Great Oak/Woodland Trail, starting in the corner of the field behind the Arboretum's greenhouse to the Great Oak. The route, approximately three miles round trip from the parking lot to the larger Old Growth Forest area and back, is clearly marked for visitors to the Arboretum.

Many native plants are labeled along the woodland trail. The Arboretum is developing a comprehensive native flora interpretive signage program that will greatly add to the enjoyment and understanding of these areas. The extensive natural areas at Landis is also makes it an outstanding location for wildlife viewing. This property is considered excellent for bird watching. Free bird walks are offered annually.

The Native Plant Collection

Along the half mile Willow Plant trail we have created a collection of woody plants, all native to New York state. The plants are grouped by families so that related species can be easily compared. Some plants with specialized needs are also planted in their favorite environment. We have a dry open location, an under-story location and a place set aside for wetland plants. Altogether we have most of NYS's native woody plants.

Native Plants Collection curator Ed Miller has also created a bog garden with most of plants of a northern peat bog. This garden is located at the beginning of the woodland trail and includes both woody and herbaceous plants nestled in a bed of sphagnum moss floating on a raft.

PlantCollections: Local Action, Global Gain ( http://plantcollections.pathf.com/)

The Landis Arboretum is among the select public gardens nationwide chosen to participate in the initial development of a database system for people looking for information about plant collections online.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, in collaboration with APGA, the University of Kansas, and 15 public gardens nationwide, developed PlantCollections, an international partnership of botanic gardens, arboreta, universities, governmental funding agencies and commercial database software developers. This 3-year project will strengthen relationships among the participating institutions and foster the sharing of information with the public.

This database system for web-based querying provides public access to information stored within plant record databases, thereby improving our understanding of plants and the natural world. For example, Landis has supplied DNA of our oaks to a research project and Buckleya queries from several gardens and from a perfume company (Buckleya is the only sandalwood species in North America.)

Educational Initiatives

The Arboretum offers classes, workshops, guided and self-guided nature study, and is working toward providing meeting space in its bucolic setting for special events, lectures, and demonstrations. Workshop subjects include hawks, moths, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and arthropods. Horticultural interests are the focus of classes in pruning, tree identification, daylilies, and plant propagation. Ancillary workshops have focused on photography, basket making, botanical illustration and landscape painting. A yearlong Calendar of Events is available at www.landisarboretum.org.

Easy Access

The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic US Route 20 in Esperance, NY. Exit #23 off I-88 and follow Route 30A (turn right on Route 20) or Route 30 (turn left on Route 20) toward Esperance.

From Esperance

Turn at the Town Hall onto Charleston Street which turns into Conover Road. There is a green sign for Landis on route 20 by this road. Follow for 1.5 miles. The road bears right 90 degrees at one point. Turn right onto Lape Road. Follow signs for Landis.

More? Call the Arboretum at 518-875-6935.

info@landisarboretum.org; http://twitter.com/Landisdirector

www.landisarboretum.org