Woody Plants, Climbers, Award-Winners Among Premier Offerings

ESPERANCE, NY (05/05/2008)(readMedia)-- The 36th annual Landis Arboretum Spring Plant/Book/Bake Sale Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, from 10 AM – 4 PM.

EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: Setup for the Arboretum’s Annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser takes place throughout the week prior to the event (Monday, May 12 – Friday, May 16 up until the 5 PM Members Only Preview Party. We invite you to visit the Arboretum, take pictures, conduct interviews and to see for your selves the abundance and diversity of offerings at this season’s sale.

Abundance, Beauty, Cordiality Await

Preparation for the Arboretum’s annual Spring Plant Sale fundraiser is at fever pitch! Connect the dots— the initial catch phrase of an article (below) by Trustee Jeff Schworm — has surfaced as the informal rallying cry for our staff and volunteers determined to overlap and interlink the many activities required to make this year’s signature event a success.

Once again, the festive fundraising weekend will include a select group of regional artisans on Sunday, May 18. Plant Sale weekend will take place rain or shine, and all proceeds from the event will benefit maintenance and improvements at Landis, the Capital Region’s arboretum. There is no admission fee. Parking is free.

Pots Join PoPs

By longstanding tradition, the Friday before the Plant Sale opens to the general public is designated as Pick of the Pots (PoPs), a members-only plant preview/sale. This year’s Pick of the Pots members-only preview party takes place on Friday, May 16, at 5 pm.

• Popular Schoharie County ensemble Wild Mountain (Jane Rogers and Gael Joyel (Summit, NY) and Barbara Nark (Warnerville, NY) will make their PoPs event debut.

• Ms. Cherie and her singing senior Hot Pots will return by popular request. The 13-member Hot Pots has worked together for more than three years, says Ms. Cherie Stevens. “We got together for the primary purpose of entertaining at hospitals and perform often at nursing and adult homes in Schoharie County and have appeared in Albany, Guilderland and Troy facilities". The Hot Pots favor the sounds of the 40s, 50s, and 60s and vow to add some senior sizzle to the PoPs!

The light evening fare of festive finger foods will be provided by Dottie Gallo’s Sweet Tooth Caterers (Esperance).

The PoPs event is “a privilege of membership,” says executive director Thom O’Connor. “The preview event is our token thank you to all who support the Landis Arboretum through membership. And, although all members are invited to participate in PoPs for the $15 admission, we are forced to limit the number of meals to the first 150 people who register.

Non-member friends, associates, and relatives who wish to attend the PoPs event can reserve and pay for membership before May 10. Admission for attendees who sign-up as members prior to the event is $60, which includes the PoPs Party and discounted one-year membership.

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 10.

Visitors can see for themselves – and greet friends and neighbors as well – at the 36th Annual Landis Arboretum Spring Plant/Book/Bake/and Artisans’ Sunday Sale!

Artisans’ Contribute Festive Flair!

Always responsive to members and visitors comments, the Arboretum will showcase the quality offerings of select area craft-specialists whose work will be for sale at Artisans’ Sunday, May 18, 10 AM – 4 PM in concert with the Plant Sale. Artisans interested in registering to participating in this event are invited to contact the Arboretum at 518-875-6935 by May 1.

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.

The focus of this annual rite of spring at the Arboretum, of course, on top-quality, rare, and unusual plants. The Plant Sale Procurement Committee aims to exceed expectations and committee member Jeff Schworm highlights this year’s offerings below (EXPLORING CONNECTIONS: SPRING PLANT SALE).

In addition to thousands of plants, highlights of the Spring Plant/Book/Bake & Artisans Sunday Fundraiser include:

Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, 10 am – 4 pm

• Bake Sale: Unusual and tasty homemade cookies, cakes, pies, and breads. Beverages including soda, water, and coffee will be available. Proceeds to benefit Landis’ perennial gardens.

• Book Sale: Bibliophiles and browsers 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. Categories include science and nature, gardening, reference, poetry, child, mystery, self-help, diet and nutrition, and many others. Regardless of the weather, the Book Sale will take place under cover in the Arboretum’s 1830s English barn.

Sunday, May 18, 10 am – 4 pm

• Artisans’ Sunday returns and this year and to a new location within Plant Sale for added convenience. . Select area artisans will showcase, talk about, and sell their wares. Interested in participating as an artist/craftsperson? Contact Vicki Hazzard at 518) 87506935, info@landisarboretum.og

In General

• At Your Service Volunteers from Arboretum-sponsored Boy Scout Troop 501 will be available to help those needing assistance in getting purchases to their vehicles.

• The William T. Raymond Greenhouse at the Arboretum will play an important role in this year’s offerings. Watch for signs and be pleasantly surprised.

• The Acorn Gift Shop will be open. Some popular items include polo and sweatshirts with our logo, high-quality pruning tools, animal puppets, nature games, and books. This year, the Arboretum will feature spectacular photographs by Arboretum member and award-wining nature photographer Bill Combs. Jr.

• Lunch. Food and beverages will be for sale on Saturday and Sunday.

• Starting times and dates for the sale are firm. Purchases may not be made prior to the sale.

• Arboretum plant experts will be available all weekend to answer your questions and to provide suggestions and advice on plant selection, site requirements, and proper planting and care techniques. We cannot take orders or set aside plants prior to the sale.

• Cars must be parked in our upper parking area next to the Meeting House.

• Limited handicapped parking and drop-off space is available. Please inform the parking attendants of your needs.

• Dogs are not permitted at the Plant Sale. (Dogs should never be left in cars because temperatures rise quickly inside vehicles.)

• Restrooms and picnic tables are available for your convenience.

• Please have your sales slip available to be hole-punched as you leave. Have your membership card handy for quicker checkout. (10% discount for members.)

• All purchased items must be removed by 4 pm, Sunday. Landis does not make deliveries and is not responsible for items left after 4 pm.

About the Arboretum

The Landis Arboretum is a 548-acre public garden that 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. The Arboretum may be 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.

Old Growth Forest Beckons

The Arboretum's most recent land acquisition, for example, almost doubled the size of the site and contains a horticulture bonanza. Last summer, a team of old-growth-forest experts surveyed the site and found species of trees ranging from 150 to 350 years old. One parcel of land near the Montgomery County line contains one of the oldest forests in the area.

This ancient forest is approximately 30 acres in size and is located in the northeast corner of the Arboretum. “This is a forest that has been untouched since the Revolutionary War,” said Bruce Kershner, an ancient forest authority and author of The Sierra Club Guide to Ancient Forests of the Northeast. The Landis Arboretum is now one of only three arboreta in eastern North America that have old growth forests. The other two are the New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University – neither of which can compare to Landis’ natural collection and pre-revolutionary flora.

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.

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 ¼ miles. The road bears right 90 degrees at one point. Turn right onto Lape Road. There is a sign for Landis and a dead end sign. The main parking lot is ¼ mile down on your left. Across the street from this parking lot are our offices, located in the Farmhouse; nearby are the barn, our library, and greenhouse.

EXPLORING CONNECTIONS: SPRING PLANT SALE

By Jeffrey Schworm (AKA Piceaman)

Connecting the dots. . . . We are more than the sum of our parts. The great thing about Landis is that there is no one great thing about Landis: there are many. I’ve been thinking about connections. . . connections between what goes on here and science . . . spirituality. . . world affairs . . . and there are many. Trees, shrubs, perennials, community, world: interconnection. We know that it’s a small world (or so we’ve been given to understand). Certainly, today’s technology shrinks distance and time into an almost meaninglessly small measure, but how does this shrinking affect our health and well-being? What shapes our picture of the world? and what can we do to improve the picture? I’m sure you’re thinking what I’m thinking: “plant a tree.” Of course. Plant a tree or a shrub or some Gaillardia. Sounds like something Ladybird Johnson might have said, but I can tell you that among stress relievers, planting just about anything is right up there!

A Greek proverb holds that “society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they will never sit beneath.” This is not meant to suggest that there are great numbers of gray hairs around here! I’m sure my mother never dreamed that her unwitting purchase of an Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium) on sale at Montgomery Ward’s would be the beginning of a 34- and-counting-year love affair and, well, wild ride for her son. The presence of that one interesting little plant with bright yellow flowers. . . . Connect the dots . . . a child’s game . . . great for kids . . . great for us.

One very entertaining aspect of the Arboretum is the perennial phenomenon of the annual Spring Plant Sale. As one of the more important fundraisers, it is a labor of love that in a few days transforms the place from tranquil to tumultuous. This year’s transaction will feature, among thousands of plants, a selection of the Perennial Plant Association’s “Plant of the Year” for every year since 1990, the first year of inception, including this year’s model, Geranium ‘Rozanne’. A few other nice plants to have achieved the distinction are: Perovskia atriplicifolia or Russian Sage; Salvia ‘May Night’; and Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’.

Perennials are always fun and a great attraction here, especially with the renowned VanLoveland Gardens in fine form. Our developing plant propagation program will hopefully begin to inculcate new excitement and interesting perennials into the sale. A few items clinging to life in the greenhouse are Astilbe ‘Ostrich Plume’; the tiny Lilium ‘Hope’; and a great collection of hellebores. Speaking of the Greenhouse, great things are being planned for the repair and upgrade of the Greenhouse . . . great opportunity to connect here!

As we continue our game (remember, we’re connecting dots), we discover a growing momentum around the Wanderland Garden project and a connection -- since the planned pergola connects perfectly with clematis. This year, the Plant Procurement Committee is very proud to offer nearly 50 named varieties of clematis, including several species and just about every color out there. Just to name a few: ‘Polish Spirit’ (blue); ‘Allanah’ (red); ‘Star of India’ and ‘Little Duckling’ (bicolor); ‘Joan Picton’ (purple); and Clematis tangutica (yellow). ‘Betty Corning’? You’ll have to come and see!

There will also be a number of other climbing plants like the Explorer rose, Rosa ‘William Baffin’. Speaking of connections, another great selection will be Rosa ‘Hope for Humanity’, a double red rose with 2” fragrant blooms above glossy deep green disease resistant foliage. Both of these rose selections are “own root,” which means no graft (connection . . . wow!) to worry about. As we plant, there is hope.

Amazingly, there is a gentleman with the surname “Trees” on the Procurement Committee, and somehow he starts getting a little excited about some TREE or another in the spring. This time, he may have outdone himself while also driving me to . . . well, connect the dots! Tulip Tree, Northern Catalpa, and Littleleaf Linden are high on his list, and we’re sure to have a couple of each hanging around the event. “Northern Catalpa?” I asked, but he points out that there are some great qualities about this tree, even if it is only fence posts for the future. The wood is highly resistant to rot. Littleleaf Linden is a little more up my alley with its very neat habit and shiny leaves. I’m not sure why Tilia cordata and cultivars we’ve had here in the past have been largely overlooked.

Although Scott (Trees) can’t quite decide which crabapple cultivar he likes (who really can?), he offers up Malus ‘Prairie Fire’ and the fragrant ‘Sugartyme’ crab. Both are great landscape performers, plus . . . who wants to crab about it?

While trying to connect myself to the Breglia vision, I came upon a really nice mid-size tree, large enough for shade in a few years, yet not so large as to scare your grandchildren. Assuming you would like me to hook you up, that tree is Sorbus alnifolia, or Korean Mountain Ash, and it is on the “Tough Trees for Tough Sites” list. It is widely regarded as the best mountain ash, and Dirr even wonders that it may not truly be Sorbus.

A few other newer mountain ash selections will be featured as well, including Russian Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia ‘Rossica’) and Sorbus americana ’Red Cascade’, a new nicely shaped small tree that will be a great attraction in a smaller yard. If you are looking for something special, please let us know. We strive to have knowledgeable and enthusiastic people milling around all during the event. It’s not just a sale -- it’s an adventure.

What? Did “Piceaman” disconnect? No way! There will still be a nice selection of conifers for the willing or the daring. Spruce, pine, fir, False-cypress and more. Ever smell a Concolor Fir, especially inside at during the holidays? Smells like a tangerine, right? How about a nice Abies concolor for your yard or for a future Christmas tree . . . or a gift to future generations . . . or just to make yourself feel good! You will recall that planting makes one feel good. Conifers, of course, are the “feel good” plants of the century. Lots of nice little starter plants in good variety and a nice selection of garden specimens too . . . bonsai . . . rock garden . . . garden railroad . . . or just low maintenance. A closely guarded secret to this point is the appearance of Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Miss Grace’. I have to play it very close to the vest around here. Some folks are very excitable, you know.

Fruit, flower, fun, color, texture, food, and friends, as well as a great view await your connection here amid Rhododendron, Daphne, Viburnum, Ninebark and yes . . . TREES. Connect with us at Landis to discover what tree you have fallen from . . . or, perhaps, what tree you’d like to have for someone to sit under.

Mr. Schworm is vice-president of the Arboretum’s Board of Trustees. In addition, he is the proprietor of The Nursery at Liddledale (Duanesburg, NY) and a member of the Arboretum’s plant sale procurement committee.

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Posted Monday May 05, 2008 at 08:45 am by Landis Arboretum