The Brenton Arboretum

Quiet Enjoyment.

2012-01-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

For those that were vacationing or visiting in far away places these past months, here is a sample of the happenings at the Arboretum. This article was printed in the Des Moines Register just a couple weeks before the Christmas holiday. I invite you to read and to reflect on your favorite places. What are they? Will you share them with us in the comments section, below?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011312090026

An Evening for Volunteers

2011-11-23T08:57:00.001-06:00

On a recent evening, I joined a dozen or so delightfulpeople at an informal dinner hosted by Lynn and Andy and Lee (the Arboretum’sprofessional staff) to celebrate The Brenton Arboretum volunteers.

The first thing I noticed was that our new meeting, tonightdining, room is almost finished, with its stunning window views overlooking thelandscape, its big-screen audio-visual installation, and its architectural excellence. We gathered at 5:00 in the evening, asthe sun was beginning to set. Fornearly an hour, while mingling with the other guests, I watched a beautifulsunset over the arboretum grounds and the surrounding farmlands. The Brenton Arboretum buildings sit onthe top of a hill, providing a panorama of Iowa beauty.

My day had been filled with the normal mixture of tasks. Itwas cleaning day for my office/study/technocave, and I had a self-assignedwriting task to complete; I had been shopping (Why do we seem to need and giftso many things that we don’t really need?), visited a professional office thathad mishandled my records, tried at least half a dozen times to complete aphone call to an automated “service” number, tried to change the ink cartridgeon my printer without getting ink on my fingers, and read too much disturbingnews in the Des Moines Register andthe online New York Times. My day was not unusual; I simply experienced many of themodern day stresses that so occupy our lives.

How nice it was to finish the day peacefully at The Brenton Arboretum. At dinner, I sat between to a man who likes to mow the walking trails and a woman who measures Arboretum trees and charts their growth. How nice to watch the sun set over the arboretum and “talktrees” with folk who work for the sheer joy of being here.

I began, for the nth time, to think about the simplequestion, “Why trees?” Some answers:

Trees are fundamentally important to the well being of ourplanet,

· We make fires, shelters, rubber, cork, and paperfrom trees. We use wood products to make furniture and all sorts of usefulthings.

· We eat and drink from tree fruits and nuts andleaves.

· Insects and birds and mammals depend on treesfor both food and shelter.

· Trees are the lungs of our planet, absorbingcarbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They even help to reduce global warming.

· Trees reduce soil erosion and waterpollution. Their shade helps toreduce air and water temperatures.

· Many pharmaceuticals and healing products comefrom trees.

and trees are fundamentally important to our personal wellbeing.

· Trees add beauty and grace to thelandscape. We enjoy new growth inthe spring, summer greenery, fall colors, and snow-covered winter branches.

· Trees provide recreational opportunities.

· Artists, poets, and musicians are inspired bytrees.

· We can sit beneath a tree to connect with natureand to reflect on our beliefs and values.

· Many of us find joy in the planting andcaring for trees or simply watching them grow.

My evening at The Brenton Arboretum helped add beauty andperspective to my stressful day. The Brenton Arboretum is about trees (and shrubs): growing them, studying them, andenjoying them.

Come join us.

Light The Fire!

2011-11-08T15:52:00.000-06:00

Light the fire! There is a story to tell! The landscape islike a book (I thank our Journal Author, Albertus, for this perspective) artfullycrafted and unlike the common books we pull from the shelf. It exists in layersof history. Some of these layers are even hidden to the point of invisibility(to most of us). What a great mystery novel!

When we take a more discerning look at the land formationsbefore us, we might obtain a hint of the history predating us. The land is fullof rolling hills and valleys here; the remnants of a river that has carved thelandscape and softened its edges. Indeed, much of central Iowa was once a greatwetland area full of small rivers, marshes, fens, ponds, and small lakes.

Andy lights a backfire for a controlled burn.

The back fire leaves a large cared boundary that the head fire cannot cross.

The short history gives me a clue of what kind of flora andfauna I might find. Of course, we have altered the landscape since thesewetlands abounded, and I will certainly find the same Canadian thistles, willows,and cattails that exist everywhere else. Accompanied by these weeds (Definedhere as plants too aggressive to maintain the desired ecosystem balance at thegiven location) we will find plentiful common rodents and birds such as fieldmice and European starlings. However, might we find something uncommon when wethrough back the veil of man-driven ecological disturbance?

The fire will reduce competition between weeds and native plants.

This scene will be different in the Spring. We hope for more prairie forbs.

This is the reason for the burn. It’s true that the weedsand desired prairie are both scorched, stressed and set back by the blaze. Thenative prairie is able to handle it. Most of these plants are adapted to fireand have deep roots that facilitate regrowth. Plants not historically nativeoften lack these adaptations and are more severely set back. We have notleveled the playing field; We have turned the table and given the nativeprairie the home-field advantage. I will be happy to entertain any questions orcomments that you wish to contribute on this subject.

All "smokers" are extinguished before leaving the burn site, but we are still happy for the rain!

As this is a fall burn, alas, we must wait to see what wehave uncovered. The mystery will be revealed in the Spring. Stay tuned for theresult…or better yet, don’t rely on my bias as to what is newsworthy – Come seeit for yourself!

A Fall Visit

2011-11-02T13:59:00.000-05:00

We wake up one morning and summer is gone. Fall in Iowa. Most leaves have blown away and most green flora have turned brown. There are a few colorful trees, especially the maples, but summer verdure has vanished. And yet, the sun is bright; the air is clear. It feels good to wear a sweater. It is time for another walk in The Brenton Arboretum.

One way to see a landscape is to capture it photographically. This time I will "read" with my camera. If a picture is worth a thousand words, let me save you nearly seven thousand.

Fall is a time to walk and think and read and photograph the landscape. A good walk is much better than this virtual tour. I plan to visit The Brenton Arboretum at least once each week.

A Recent Morning Visit to Brenton Arboretum

2011-10-18T10:06:00.001-05:00

A landscape is like a book: you certainly cannot judge it by its cover; and before you can judge it at all you must read it very carefully, considering its context, its parts, and their relationships. Robert Sayre (ed.), Take This Exit: Rediscovering the Iowa Landscape.

As a retired educational psychology and philosophy professor, I know much more about books than about landscape, but I went out one recent morning to “read” The Brenton Arboretum. My reading involved a quick stop at the entrance Information Kiosk to sign the visitor’s log and pick up a fresh copy of the Trail and Feature Map. Looking over the several trail outlines, I thought I would start by driving slowly along the Main Road, past Lake Homestead and Overlook Pond to the Pavilion parking lot, then walk the Native Iowa Collection Trail.

For over an hour I slowly walked the Iowa trail, noting with some disappointment that a beautiful patch of stream and woodland lay just outside the northern arboretum border (behind a marked “electric fence”). Why, I wondered, had that mature and natural bit of landscape not been included within the arboretum fences? Perhaps it was not part of the original Brenton properties? I would have to find out.

I quickly forgot about my missing woodland when I decided to take the Oak Collection Trail down into the little valley that surrounds Lake Homestead. My eyes were drawn to patches of yellow sunflowers, and I spent some time admiring their color and hardiness. There were hundreds of flowers, but I found special pleasure in examining a few flowers and seed clusters.

At this point, I managed somehow to smudge my camera lens,and since I had not brought my camera bag with cleaning materials, I took nomore pictures. Instead, I wonderedon down the trail, crossed a grassy area and took the Lake Homestead Trail downto the Water Deck. I willdefinitely come back and take some pictures here. The deck, made of a non-wooden, non-weathering compositefeatures several benches and an umbrella. I chose a bench close to the water and in the sun, for it was a clearand cool day and the sun warmed my skin. The water was a bit muddy with green algae growing on the side of thelake, but it was naturally beautiful and there were healthy water lilies and anice view up the hillside toward the Crabapple Collection.

I sat at the Lake for twenty minutes or so, thinking aboutnatural Iowa landscape and about this man-made arboretum. The Brenton Arboretum is little more than tenyears old. Its plantings areimmature and somewhat sparse. Itis “in the making.” When it ismature, it will offer varieties of experience and multiple examples offlora. It will be a wonderfulretreat and educational site. Butwhat about now, I thought. It isinstructive and rewarding to see a landscape “in development.” How often can one see a young tree inthe whole, standing within a few feet of one’s own height, examine it in itsminiature entirety? This growingplace is a fine chance to see and understand how a landscape becomes alandscape.

There is much more to see at the arboretum than I looked atthis morning, but two hours had already given me enough thoughts and photos andpossibilities to fill the rest of my week and more. Part of a good experience is reflecting and building upon itafterward.

Before leaving, I drove the rest of the Main Road, took thenew extension across the south end of the arboretum, and the east road up tothe Administration and Service Area. I wanted a look at the new education center under construction. As I got out of my car, a woman cameout of the new building. Since Ihad recently learned of the new Education and Outreach Director, I asked “Areyou Lee Goldsmith?” “Yes,” she said.

Lee and I talked for about ten minutes. She showed me the new facility, nownearly completed. It has awonderful classroom/visitor room with wide windows overlooking the landscape,and two modern rest rooms. Verynice.

I talked with Lee about volunteer and educationalopportunities. Just last week, Leeinvited me to begin contributing to the Arboretum Blog. This is my first post. I look forward to working with Lee andto learning about the Brenton Arboretum, botany, ecology, and more. I want to learn to read the landscape,consider its context and its parts, and perhaps contribute to its developmentand to peoples’ understandings.

Favorite September Performer

2011-09-22T16:26:00.000-05:00

As you may have experienced, favorites come and go; Some hold that title for a long time, like chocolate, and others only for a short while, like television shows. As this is the case, I no longer bestow such a grand title to just anything, so I am surprised when I am faced with a competition for a "favorite". When I found Catalpa trees I was certain that the large, handsome trees covered in fragrant white flowers would, unquestionably, remain my favorite of all trees. How can any other tree compete with the Catalpa, which matches my criteria for hardiness, tolerance, strength, beauty and a native plant?! Well just the other day...

Sometimes the best opportunity for a photo is during less-than-ideal weather. It was beginning to grow cold in Iowa as the Autumn is on its way. The day was partly cloudy and windy when I hiked out along the Native Iowa Walk in the Arboretum's northwest corner. Then...enchantment! Juglans cinerea, the butternut tree was the star of the show. This tree (pictured) stood nearly alone on the hillside dancing in the wind. Who knew such a stout, well-built tree with large, soft, pinnate leaves could put on such a fine ballet? I have a competitor with Catalpa speciosa for my #1 spot...the outcome is not yet decided.

J. cinerea is a member of the walnut genus. This handsome tree even produces a large nut, like the other, more familiar black and Persian walnuts. It can grow up to 50 feet tall and at least as wide, creating excellent shade. The U.S. Forest Service notes that it is found in northern Iowa, along the Mississippi River, but that it is uncommon. I am happy to have it reside at the Arboretum.

Catalpa Trees

2011-06-03T15:24:00.000-05:00

The flowering of the catalpa trees, Catalpa speciosa, signals the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The large, orchid like clusters of flowers, huge heart shaped leaves and long "Indian bean" seed pods make the catalpa one of the most recognizable trees in our Iowa landscape.

One of the cautionary characteristics of catalpa trees is their ability to get way too big for their allotted space. Take a drive around your neighborhood during the first part of June and you might find an impressive catalpa tree in full bloom; they are very striking trees. While some may see a large tree as a liability, others see an opportunity to add an impressive landmark to the neighborhood.

The catalpa is not native to Iowa. It was brought to Iowa, (or sold door to door), for use as fence posts and timber. In the mid-1800's farmers planted or bought 10 acres of timberland for every 80 acres of farmland. This practice introduced not only the catalpa, but the Osage orange tree. It also accounts for the small sections of "woodlots" that still divides much of Iowa's river timber areas.

While not a true Iowan, the blooming of the catalpa fits right into the procession of spring into summer. When I see the flowers of catalpa, I know that it's time to stop planning and planting; Strawberries are ripe with Juneberries and raspberries ready to pick soon!

It's time to enjoy the first fruits of the year.

Setting out the Osage orange collection

2010-06-03T15:06:00.001-05:00

Today Andy Schmitz, the Arboretum's horticultural director and his crew, planted 27 Osage orange trees to their new permanent location. The Osage orange collection will now display 16 cultivars; mostly thornless and fruitless selections that have been propagated by hardwood cuttings.

We hope that in 5 years, we can demonstrate that these newly rediscovered cultivars are suitable for planting in an urban setting. The Osage orange is known for having glossy leaves, beautiful, yellow fall color with good disease and pest resistance - characteristics that may bring this tree to the forefront as the emerald ash borer moves through the country.

While most of what was planted to day were fruitless, we did add the cultivar 'Cannonball' and hope to add another 'BB.' Something big, something small to discover in the future.

Spring Conifers

2010-05-19T16:18:00.000-05:00

Amidst the chaos of blooms in spring, the most interesting to me are the “blooms” of conifers, or evergreen trees. While not technically flowers, the two obvious reproductive parts; the small banana or worm shaped pollen cones and the tiny, green, unripe seed cones are among the best displays of spring.

One of my favorite spring flowering conifers is the Korean Fir, Abies koreana. Every May I check to see if their beautiful cones have appeared. The immature cones appear first with lavender scales rimmed with pale green. As they mature, the cones become even more attractive, turning a dark, majestic bluish purple.

The Korean Fir was introduced to the U.S. from the volcanic island of Chju, South Korea in 1917 by Ernest Wilson, a renowned U.S. plant collector, although a French monk claimed to have first discovered the tree in 1907. There has always been stiff competition in the business of finding and introducing new conifers and there still is.

The Korean Fir is one of the most successful conifers in the Brenton Arboretum's conifer research project. Seemingly tolerant of central Iowa's heat, humidity, winter warm ups and unexpected frosts, the Korean fir maintains its attractive form and good winter color.

We expect the firs to grow 20 feet tall with a 12 foot spread. Our 6 year old trees are a little over 6 feet high, but with its silvery foliage and beautiful cones, these young Korean Firs are among the most attractive conifers at the Arboretum.

Remodeling the Tall Grass Prairie

2010-03-22T16:35:00.000-05:00

Jon Judson, owner of Diversity Farms Inc, a prairie seed and nursery company located near Dedham, Iowa, came out this morning to frost-seed new prairie flower seeds over our existing prairie area. So begins a 2-year project to improve and diversify our large tall grass prairie at the Arboretum.

Originally alalfa and bromegrass, the original 12 acre tall grass prairie reconstruction was planted in 2001 with seeds from Dorothy Baringer. Over the last 10 years, the prairie has been regularly burned and the weeds were either mowed or removed by hand. While the prairie would be considered by some to be successful and fairly flowerful, we decided to give the prairie a remodel, and asked Jon for help.

The seeds planted include 12 species we are not growing in our prairie; alumroot, dotted and rough blazing star, mountain mint and prairie sage name a few. Another 12 species of flowers needed a boost; we wanted to see more lead plant, culvers root, compass plant and rosin weed.

With the seeds distributed, we are looking for a nice downpour to settle them into the ground. Hopefully, we'll have rain before the first of April, an ideal time to burn. Over the next 2 seasons the entire prairie will be mowed giving the seedlings room and sun to thrive.

I know the shorn prairie will be a shock to many visitors that are used to seeing wildflowers and grasses covering the hillside. The Arboretum's large tall grass prairie is one of our best and most beloved conservation features. Full of birds, butterflies and wildflowers, this prairie has distinguished the Arboretum as a public garden with a strong conservation ethic. With this project we look to prolong and improve its beauty.

Snow Storm Window Watching

2010-01-26T14:33:00.000-06:00

If I had to be confined inside and could only view one big tree through the window, I think I would prefer to look out on a sycamore tree, more than any other. The sycamore tree just doesn't sit there looking beautiful, it's a tree with things to do; peeling bark, exploding seed balls and dropping twigs. All that plus unusual blossoms, great leaves and two-toned bark. It is a great tree to watch.

These characteristics put the sycamore on the "dirty" list for many plant designers. But I am not the only stubborn gardener willing to plant this tree; I find two of three for sale every spring at the nursery. For me and a few others, all that peeling and dropping adds character and interest to the landscape. And yes, I wouldn't mind going outside to rake leaves and pick up twigs and bark.

The downside to planting a young sycamore is that this tree is very susceptible to anthracnose, a defoliating fungal disease that can be fatal to young trees. Count yourself lucky if you have a mature tree in your landscape; a bout of anthracnose might effect an older tree during wet, humid weather, but the tree will rebound the following year. These older trees are often remnants from the past when the sycamore was the most popular tree in fashion and planted in rows along streets and boulevards around the country.

Here at the Brenton Arboretum, we have a good looking group of young sycamores some of them now 12 years old. We have both the American sycamore or planetree, Platanus occidentalis, and the London planetree, Platanus acerifolia. We have had to replace some of these trees a few times to get them established, but now filled out and growing quickly they will make an outstanding grove in a few years, offering a sycamore sanctuary for people like me who love to watch a busy tree.

A Really Old Osage Orange Tree

2010-01-14T12:26:00.000-06:00

Last month, we received a message from Guy Sternberg with an urgent appeal to contact the city of Kewanee, IL to stop the planned removal of an 180 year old Osage orange tree. The tree hangs over a city street near downtown and was considered a hazard.

After an outpouring of requests from all over the country, the Kewanee city council accepted the free services of a well known arborist to prune the tree. There is some thought that the tree will in all likelihood be removed at a later date, but the plight of this tree has brought attention to the care and treatment of historic trees.

Andy Schmitz, the horticultural director of the Brenton Arboretum has offered to start cuttings of the Kewanee Osage Orange tree next winter. If the tree is removed, another sturdy Osage Orange can be planted to take its place.

You can see interesting pictures of this tree on the Everydaygardeners BHG blog
http://www.bhg.com/blogs/everydaygardeners/2009/12/03/a-tree-still-grows-in-kewanee/

Winter Plums

2009-12-15T15:11:00.000-06:00

American Plum
Prunus americana

The American plum thicket at the Arboretum just gets bigger and thicker every year. Most folks love the loads of fragrant flowers that are the first to bloom in spring, but I think the plums are beautiful in winter when the entire thicket is covered with snow.

Wild plums are true American natives. They are not cultivated plums gone wild; they were here long before the colonists and are found in 44 states and 5 Canadian provinces. Almost everyone has had the pleasure of trying to eat the astringent fruit right off a wild branch. Although many of the big thickets have been cleaned from the cropland fence lines, you can find enough wild plums to make wild plum jelly and jam.

For most small animals, insects and birds, a large plum thicket is a miniature wildlife preserve. As I walked by the Arboretum’s plum thicket after last week’s snow storm I flushed up 2 pheasants, saw 2 other species of birds and the tracks of raccoon, rabbits and mice. For these critters, the thicket is a warm, protective place to nest and hide; safe from predators and bad weather.

Looking at the remains of four bird’s nests and the multiple tracks leading into the plum brambles, I wondered if a wild American plum thicket might be just the woody plant I am looking for in my big yard. I have a neglected, partly shady corner with lots of room for a spreading thicket. Perhaps a miniature wildlife preserve is just what the neighborhood needs.

Tall Grass Prairie Flowers in Bloom

2009-07-03T08:19:00.000-05:00

Walking through the prairie yesterday afternoon, I looked up and saw the waxing moon, a few more days to the full moon. The changing of the moon seems to coincide with the transitions I see in the prairie. The pale purple coneflowers heads are dark with seeds and the flowering spiderwort, thimbleflowers, larspurs and baptisias are now more a study of seeds, not petals.

With the fading of the early wildflowers, new summer wildflowers are getting my attention and the prairie grasses are starting to take their rightful place. Prairie clover, one of my favorite prairie flowers is now in bloom and echinacea purpurea the stiffer upright coneflower is just starting another purple show. Prairie coreopsis, lead plant, wild quinine and a few Mexican hats (Ratibida columnifera) join the new list of flowers I keep at my desk.

Walking back through the prairie, I notice some a few new flowering balls emerging from a Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium. What a great plant! This time I was lucky enough to have just enough battery in my camera to catch a picture of the small flowers that bloom hidden, nestled inside their prickly bracts.

A Lesson in Tree Identification

2009-06-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

Andy Schmitz, the Arboretum's general manager came into the office yesterday chuckling over a list of trees he made while weeding under our weeping crabapple trees. He had a list of 11 different species of tree and shrub saplings under the 5 Louisa crabapples we have in our collection. These weeping crabapple trees touch the ground and provide a nice cover for the seeds left by birds.
The list includes:
Black Cherry
Hackberry
Dogwood
Cranberry Bush Viburnum
Mulberry
Cat Briar
Eastern Redcedar
Cottonwood
Multiflora Rose
Tree of Heaven
Poison Ivy

As I tell the kids; What's a weed?
A plant growing where it is not wanted.

Second Friday Nature Club

2009-06-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

For the last year, a homeschool group has been visiting the Arboretum the second Friday of each month. We started in July and went on a prairie flower walk looking for pollen. Over the next 10 months we have watched those flowers go to seed and become winter food for birds.

We have discovered muskrats, slid on ice, watched the trees bud and watched the Arboretum come into bloom again. It has been an extremely rewarding experience and given me a new perspective on what is good environmental education.

We are expanding the 2nd Friday Nature Club over the summer to include an evening group. Let's take advantage of the long evenings to walk and enjoy all that nature has to offer. You know the old adage about stopping to smell the flowers? Let's stop and look for pollen, or find caterpillars and examine dragonflies.

Current scientific evidence indicates that frequent, positive experiences in nature benefits children. This is true for adults as well. You wouldn't think twice about not taking kids to the library regularly, perhaps it's time to schedule a regular trip into nature.

2nd Friday Nature Club
6:00 PM until 7:30 PM
June through September
The group will decide on a winter weekend meeting time.
The nature club is free for a one time trial. To join for the year, please become a family member.

The Afternoon group keeps a nature blog of their walks and other discoveries they make on thier own. Check it out- http://heednature.blogspot.com/
For more about the expanding popularity of Nature Clubs and Nature play visit Richard Louv's (Author of Last Child in the Woods) website; http://www.childrenandnature.org/

Good Weather Day

2009-05-05T16:29:00.000-05:00

With dire predictions of rain and thunderstorms, it was a relief to see the sun shining brightly this morning. Eighty kindergarten and first graders from Rolling Green Urbandale School were scheduled to visit the Arboretum and rain would have been an unwanted wet experience for these first time visitors.

Kori Lawson, Nancy Kunce and I had a great time with this school group. Kori took the kids to the "V" bridge to learn about tree leaves, Nancy explored the prairie comparing the burned prairie areas to those areas with last years grasses. The kids and I examined plum tree flowers to learn about fruits and seeds.

The kids were very knowledgeable about flowers and plants. One group named the grasses brushing against their legs, "ticklegrass" they were having such a good time.

All four classes enjoyed lunch at the pavilion. After the morning group left, we led the afternoon students on the planned walks and activities. Everyone enjoyed the warm afternoon sun, budding tree leaves and dandelions. By the way, do you like butter?

Earth Day Play Day Rescheduled

2009-04-20T11:56:00.000-05:00

Looking at the gray, cloudy day and the predicted chance of scattered showers, we postponed the Earth Day Play Day for Sunday, April 26th at the same time 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

After deciding to postpone the activities, I stayed at the Arboretum just in case some folks showed up. By 2:00 PM 8 kids were here enjoying the mostly sunny, but cold windy afternoon. We ended up having a good time creek walking and we built a fairly good willow house. I got some promises to come back next week.

Earth Day Players:
Nancy "Soggy Waffle" Fuscoe - Compass led treasure hunt
Kori "Crawdaddy" Lawson - Creek Critter adviser
Kary "String tangler" Haglan - Kite Guy
Kay "Twig-bender" Meyer - Willow house architect

An Early Spring Investigation

2009-03-20T13:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, 3 girls, a mom and I took our nets to Lake Homestead and the stream to see if there were any invertebrates in the cold water. We found lots of damselfly larvae, a rat-tailed maggot, caddisfly larvae, 3 mini bluegills, a minnow, water spider and lots of scuds.

The girls managed to get their pants wet, even though they were wearing good boots. We really appreciated the warming power of the sun

There were also around 50 ducks on the pond, joining the noisy red-winged blackbirds that have returned.

Pruning Crabapple Trees

2009-02-25T13:03:00.000-06:00

The subject for this spring's Arboretum pruning class will be crabapple trees. Overgrown watersprouts, unhealed pruning cuts and crossing branches are hidden most of the year by blossoms, leaves and fruit but, left to grow, they shorten the life of any tree.

Because of the beauty they provide the landscape all year, crabapples trees are one of the most popular trees planted in many neighborhoods. Un fortunately, they are often not pruned. With proper care, a large, older mature crabapple tree can become a landmark. I have seen older trees with incredibly large canopies of flowers and fruits, they were truly beautiful trees.

The crabapple pruning workshop will be held from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 14th. Participants will learn how to make curative pruning cuts, get information about good tools and get hands-on practice.

The class is free and open to the public, so forward the information about this class on to others. Preregistration is required.

Pruning Trees

2009-02-20T11:22:00.000-06:00

I am not a good pruner of trees. I stand there looking at a tree needing pruning, trying to conjur some vision of what this tree will look like in 5 years and I just never see it.

I remember once watching a sculptor work on a carving - it was not the understanding the artist had of the final shape, it was his knowledge of what to remove that was remarkable. So it is with pruning trees.

In this photograph, Andy Schmitz, who prunes the trees at the Arboretum, has pruned one branch from a cluster of branches on this Shingle Oak tree. If you look closely, you can see that 4 branches competed for the same place on the main trunk or leader. The one he removed had one growing above and another to close. This type of clustering leads to many problems.

You can also see that the leader in this tree became weak and one of the branches was looking stronger. Andy pruned the original leader the year before this photo and the new leader seems to be doing well.

The University of Floriday has a good online resource for pruning information.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/treestructuremain.html

Outdoor Work

2009-02-10T16:26:00.000-06:00

A February Warm Spell

2009-02-10T14:47:00.000-06:00

The warm weather enjoyed over these last few February days has got us outside pruning. On Saturday, a volunteer and I pruned the dogwood shrubs by Lake Homestead. Out with the gray wood, out with crossing rubbing branches and anything laying on the ground.

It was a great day, sunny and warm and we transformed a snarly nest into some rather nice looking shrubs.

Telling Snow Stories

2009-02-10T14:31:00.000-06:00

While the best winter tracks to find at the Arboretum are River Otter, but every animal track you find tells a story and I often stop and wonder at the tracks in the snow. Tiny bird tracks, the marks of wings and bigger bird tracks - hmmm - I bet a bigger bird chased the smaller away. Of course, I never know what the real story is, it is nice just to ponder and wonder.
In this photo, an assortment of deer, rabbit and mice share a water hole in the stream. Are they all friends and did they stop to chat like in Thornton Burgess's Peter Rabbit stories?

More Winter Visitors

2009-01-28T17:45:00.002-06:00

A young visitor enjoyed a snow day out of school by visiting the Arboretum. The day started with an ice and snow storm, but the afternoon weather turned sunny and warm - perfect conditions for building a snowman.

When the weather warms a bit, we find the tracks of birders, skiers and other hikers. No matter how often you check weather.com or listen to weather reports you never know if tomorrow will be a great time to go outdoors. You just have to be ready to go.

Who Visits the Arboretum in Winter?

2009-01-21T12:54:00.000-06:00

Seven common Redpolls (an arctic bird that thinks Iowa is a southern destination) have settled into the European Alder trees in the draw by the creek.

They were first spotted during the December 20^th Christmas bird count and seem to be content with Alder tree seeds, a little open water and the nearby prairie. Messages on various birding websites have brought out visitors interested in spotting and photographing these unique little birds.

Photographing birds is a true art - one that I don't think I will master. To catch a good photo of a bird is a mixture of technique, equipment and luck. The photo here is mine - I managed to have some luck and a good zoom-in tool.

The Hawthorn

2008-10-30T11:04:00.000-05:00

During a presentation to the Botanical Center's Herb Group, someone asked about the Haw tree. Every group I talk to someone asks about the status of the Hawthorn tree or has a fond memory of our native Iowa Haw or what my grandmother called wild May apples.

Here in Dallas County, the Hawthorn has disappeared from roadside fence rows, but the tree can still be found in scrubby woods and brushy areas.

We have three species of Hawthorn trees at the Arboretum, part of our Native Iowa Collection. They are small trees, not particularly attractive, often plagued with cedar rust and other apple blights.

The photo above is of the Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) known for it's intense spurs. The Red Haw (Crataegus mollis) and Fleshy Hawthorn (Crataegus succulenta) are also part of the Hawthorn collection.

We sometimes ask ourselves why we have dedicated a place for the lowly, plain Hawthorn and its cousin the Iowa Crabapple (Malus Ioensis) until someone remembers and asks. Its good to be able to say yes, it's right here.

September

2008-09-09T13:41:00.000-05:00

September brings us the beginning of Autumn. Native people refer to this month as the Yelllow Leaf Moon. Have you noticed any yellow leaves in the trees or on the ground? As I glance out my office window, I can see them, little yellow flags waving to to end of summer. It is the signal to pay attention to trees as we enter the season of glorious colors, falling crunchy leaves and the last of the days to spend time outdoors without coats or gloves.

With the falling of the first yellow leaves, I start picking up leaves that catch my eye. They are the leaves that have remained big, perfect or are just too beautiful to let go. Once in my hands I seem unable to put them down and soon leaves are scattered on the dashboard of my car, wedged in books or place gracefully on my desk.

Each leaf is the last save of the year, a treasure to remind me of the time I have spent outdoors.

This Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)was found taking a daytime nap in the yellowing leaves of Carpinus carolina, an American hornbeam tree.

A visit from Olmsted 2nd Graders

2008-05-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

47 Olmsted 2nd graders visited the Arboretum today. The weather was quite nice, maybe it was a little windy, but we did see some sunshine peaking out through the clouds now and then.

The kids learned about tree fruits and everyone looked for the very small baby plums hidden in plum flowers. Nancy took the class through the native prairie and found a mallard ducks nest with 6 eggs! While exploring the lake, kids found tadpoles, fish, caddishfly, dragonfly larva, a water scorpion, several snails and a frog. Thanks to Wren!

Perhaps best of all were the dandelions!

Crabapple Watch

2008-05-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

I took a quick walk out to the Crabapple collection today and the flower buds were not open, yet. The weather has warmed in the last few days, opening the flowers of service berries, wild plums and our ornamental pears.
The crabapples should be looking great by Mothers day, May 11th.

May 3rd Bird Walk Report

2008-05-05T12:43:00.000-05:00

Hi, Andy,

You didn't miss much at the Arboretum bird walk. It was darn cold, but it did end up being sunny. Most birds were in the sheltered timber areas.

The highlights were:

2 Yellow Warblers

Another Lark Sparrow

Sedge Wren

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers

Many Savannah Sparrows

Sora

2 Common Yellowthroat

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

John Bissell

Crabapple Watch

2008-05-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

Although this year’s lingering chilly weather has postponed the blossoming of flowering trees and shrubs, we missed the brutal freeze of last year that froze many flower buds before they blossomed. A walk through the crabapple collection today revealed many flower buds ready to blossom.

It is hard to guess when the crabapple collection will be in the peak display of color. The weather forecast for the next two days calls for rain and cold temperatures. My thinking is that the blossoms will stay tight until there is a day of sun and warmth. Perhaps, the flowers will open a few at a time everyday.

If you are interested in knowing when the crabapples are looking their best, check back to this journal, I will post photos and other information as the spring flowering of trees and shrubs continues over the next few weeks.

Earth Day Play Day

2008-04-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, April 2oth, nearly 30 kids (and their parents) visited the Arboretum to celebrate Earth Day.

This year I decided that there had been enough Earth day speeches, displays and lessons. So I planned a day of smiles and fun - a play day.

We flew kites, searched for tadpoles, ran through the grass and built prairie grass houses. It was one of the best days of the season so far and everyone enjoyed being outside in the warm sun.

Nature Play Workshop

2008-04-20T22:34:00.000-05:00

Nine teachers participated in the Arboretums first Nature Play: How to Lead Children into Nature workshop. During the two-Saturday workshops, the class learned how to plan, prepare and lead successful trips outdoors with children. The course focuses on providing children with positive experiences in nature - not environmental education.

One of the things I will remember from the class is the time we spent using binoculars. After learning to adjust and focus, we counted how many "black" birds were in the tree, discovered robins have yellow beaks, counted the stripes on a couple of ground squirrels and watched the robins eat worms. At the end of the session I noted that we had spent the time not learning the names of birds or their specialized behaviors, we had just enjoyed exploring nature close up.

Heartland AEA offers one license renewal credit for this course and the 15 hour class is worth one graduate credit through Drake University.

Is it Spring Yet?

2008-03-21T12:11:00.000-05:00

Last week, the first day of spring came with four 2^nd grade girls who came out to the Arboretum with a mom who was watching them for the day. It was a great, sunny warm day.

They went looking for clues that would tell them that it is really spring. What do you think they found?

Lots of birds singing
Little sprouts of plants and grasses
Bubbly running water
New green plants growing in the water
Dragonfly larvae
Little fish

The next time you go outside (even in your yard) make a list of things you think you will find that are signs of spring. Then go look to see what you can find.

Here is a list someone made;

2008-03-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

Spring Birds

2008-03-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

The early migrant birds have been seen at the Arboretum over the last few weeks, and it is always great to be able to see some of the more uncommon ducks that stop by. Andy spotted a canvasback duck the other day – a first time sighting at the Arboretum. We know that we probably have had canvasbacks at the Arboretum before, but this is the first time they were sighted. Just another case of being at the right place at the right time.

A pair of buffleheads kept a group of Canada geese company for a few days, then a pair of ringtails were spotted.

Although the weather seems a little rough for these early migrants, there seems to be young green plants in the lake and some small fish available.

Another Week of Winter

2008-03-07T16:34:00.000-06:00

It has been another wintry week at the Arboretum; more snow and more cold. The March 1^st

pruning class was postponed and reschedule

d for tomorrow, March 8^th, but the weather conditions are about the same. We still plan to go ahead with the class – we will prune any shrub not covered in snow or froze to the ground.

Although everyone is fed up with the prolonged cold weather, we all know that spring could arrive any day – and then snap! We would be in t-shirts and shorts. While we look longingly out the window here are a few ways to measure the progress of spring:

Anytime the temperature is above 40º, the sap in Maple, Box Elder and Willow trees will flow.

When the temperature is above 50º look for the Mourning Cloak butterflies, they are drawn to the wet sap; it is a source for food.

When it is more than 50º for two days, listen for the sound of the early spring frogs.

Pruning Class Rescheduled

2008-02-26T12:45:00.000-06:00

With the shrubs buried in deep snow drifts and a possible snow shower in the forecast we decided to postpone the work and learn shrub pruning workshop until next Saturday, March 8th. We will meet at the same time and after some directions and demonstrations, we will prune the shrub beds near the pavilion.

If you plan on attending, bring gloves, a pair of loppers or small pruning saw (if possible) and dress for the weather. A vegetable soup lunch will be provided, so please pre-register.

Propagating Osage-Orange Trees

2008-02-23T15:11:00.000-06:00

Andy began propagating hardwood cuttings of osage-orange trees this week. While well-known for being mean looking thorny trees with a large messy fruit, there are around 14 selections that are fruitless and thorn-less. Whiteshield, K-2 and Wichita are just a few of the selections that have been found, grown and propagated by horticulturists over the last 30 years.

During a visit to the University of Kansas in Wichita last fall, Andy found a number of these attractive thornless and fruitless osage-orange trees growing at the John C. Pair Horticultural Center. With no plans to enlarge their collection, the horticulture staff agreed to send us hardwood cuttings so we could propagate and grow these trees.

The osage-orange tree can be a lovely tree with glossy green leaves, bright yellow autumn color and a unique history. It is our plan to enlarge our current osage-orange collection by including these new selections. We hope to demonstrate the use of these trees as a valuable addition to a diversified landscape.

Making a List of Trees

2008-02-19T15:57:00.000-06:00

We are working on a new brochure that will include a list of all of the trees and shrubs and a map of where to find them. I have been working on a new map, and Megan Wiley the Tuesday intern, has been working on the a list of the Arboretums trees and shrubs.

We had decided to list the trees by common name, and it turned out to be an ongoing task to determine the common names to use, then sort the list in alphabetical order. You can visit website for the complete list for all of the botanical names of our trees and shrubs including species, varieties and cultivars.

We tweaked and rewrote the list until it looked the way we wanted. There are just a few living things that just refuse to sit in a solitary category. The sassafras may be a tree in Illinois, but it will only grow to be a large shrub in central Iowa. Everyone knows the sycamore, but the old common name, planetree, was hard to leave out.

Ultimately, we wanted the list to be simple for any curious visitor who, for any reason, might be looking for a particular tree.

You can check out the tree list here.

Prairie Bird Feeder

2008-02-08T14:08:00.000-06:00

I went for a walk to look for mammal tracks today. We've had several inches of fresh snow and I went to look for little mouse and shrew tracks. I usually find them running into or under the snow. Maybe, I would be lucky enough to find beaver tracks by the creek or pond. What caught my interest this time, though, was how the prairie serves as a natural bird feeder.

It made me smile to find a bird feeding mess in the tall grass prairie. On the fresh clean snow, it was easy to spot the messy remains of frost asters and little blue stem seeds left scattered around. Like the bird feeder near my office window; juncos, chickadees and sparrows seem to make a mess whenever they find tasty seeds.

I did find tracks; every place there was seed stuff scattered around, I found small, sparrow sized bird tracks. Whether it was just two birds having a dance, what kind of birds they were or where they came from, someone else would have to tell me, I don't know much about bird tracks.

As I walked on, I found frost asters and little bluestem messes throughout the prairie. Other prairie plants didn’t seem to have any seeds left, or maybe some seed heads waiting to open. The next time I go for a prairie walk I want to see what other seeds become available as winter warms and spring comes.

But, you know what I will find on my next walk - outstanding mammal tracks.

Why the rabbit track stopped

2008-02-08T07:14:00.001-06:00

rabbit tracks stop
Originally uploaded by The Brenton Arboretum

As I walked across the walking bridge yesterday, I came across these tracks in the snow: It looked like a rabbit had been under the bridge and when he came out he went hop, hop, hop, then - whoosh! A hawk picked him up. Maybe it was an owl or eagle, I can only guess. All I really saw were some tracks in the snow.

It's not just kids that are left indoors

2008-02-06T09:34:00.000-06:00

An article in this week’s Scientific American reports on the research published by the National Park Service and the National Academy of Sciences.
The research reveals a 16 year decline in visits to national, state and local parks and in the number of fishing and hunting licenses purchased throughout the United States.

Finding a Short Eared Owl

2008-01-29T11:54:00.001-06:00

We received an email from John Bissell today reporting his sighting of a Short-Eared Owl at the Arboretum. He also sent 3 great pictures of the owl, looking like he is patiently posing for his portrait. Seeing a short-eared at the Arboretum is rare and getting a great photograph of this Owl is a treat.

Short-eared Owls migrate south from Canada during winter and prefer grasslands, sloughs and pastures for hunting and nesting. Owls are more often spotted in February, when they hoot, bark, whistle and make swooping, fancy moves to attract their mate.

John is a regular birder at the Arboretum. He also maintains our bluebird nesting boxes and leads our bird walks. These photographs were taken in the conifer collection on the west side of the Arboretum.

Identifing Trees in Winter

2008-01-28T13:54:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all of you who attended the January 26th class, Identifying Trees in Winter. I hope you learned a new way to look at trees.

When you look closely at a tree in winter you can see things you can’t see any other time of year. Colorful twigs, strange tree buds and the scars left after a leaf falls; these unique features tell us something about trees and the way they grow and live.

If you happen to have a book about trees that contains a key, or a way to identify trees by looking at leaves or bark, see if it has a winter key with definitions or drawings that define the different parts of a twig. Leaf scars, buds and lenticels come in a wide array of colors, patterns, smells and textures and are unique to each species or variety of tree.

Using a botanical key can be frustrating at first. Sometimes, I find that it is easier to write down a description or better yet, take a photograph when I see something I want to identify. I find it is easier to go through a key at home rather than try to rummage through a book while I’m on a walk or hike.

I hope that you will take a closer look at trees that next time you go on a winter walk. I am sure you will find something new and interesting. Last week, I discovered that the leaf buds of the Kentucky Coffeetree are extremely small and are sunk into the twig - they don't stick out at all. These leaves are some of the biggest you will find in Iowa, averaging over 100 leaflets per leaf!

As always, if you find a tree that you can't identify, let me know - I would be more than happy to help.

January Quote

2008-01-25T15:49:00.000-06:00

To know trees as familiar friends, one must call them by name. Appreciation of the native woods and ornamental plantings in this region becomes tenfold richer and deeper because of a knowledge of the differences, relationships and special characteristics of the trees.
Ida Iversen, Our Friends-The Trees

Living Under the Covers

2008-01-23T09:03:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid I used to take my favorite stuffed animals and play under the blankets. It was such a warm comfortable place to play; especially in winter. Even now, when it is cold outside and chilly in the house, I will grab a flashlight and current reading book and relax under the covers.

I was thinking about how comfortable I would be home in bed, while I was out hiking in some very cold, cloudy weather. It had snowed over the weekend, and the prairie was covered with a new layer of fluffy snow. I found a few new deer tracks, maybe a coyote or dog track, but cold weather keeps many animals curled up in the warm places that they make or find in winter.

As I walked down to the creek to see if it had finally frozen, I was starting to think I was the only living thing outside on such a cold day when I saw a tunnel made right under the surface to the snow. While big mammals like us have to manage walking on top or through the snow; voles, deer mice and shrews have learned to enjoy winter under the snow.

If you get down and look carefully you will find many places in the prairie where the snow never touches the ground. There are many gaps, hollows or caves that provide a warm, winter home to these small mammals. In early spring, after the snow melts, a walk through the prairie will reveal a maze of tunnels, nests and food stores that give us a glimpse of the busy life that occurs under the cover of snow.

I followed the tunnel into the prairie where it disappeared into the grasses. I found and followed a few more. Small animals need a lot of food to keep them going, so the best guess is that they were out looking for food. "Let's see, where did I put those tasty seeds I found last summer?"

By now, I was getting cold. I tightened up my hood, zipped up everything to the top and shoved my hands into my pockets and started back to the car. How nice it would be to be able to walk freely through the prairie in winter, under a warm, toasty blanket of snow.

Still ice and plenty of crunch

2008-01-15T21:19:00.001-06:00

The few days of thawing weather we have had this month cleared most of the main road through the Arboretum, but left enough ice on the road to keep the "closed" sign posted at the kiosk. A few hardy souls have parked near the entrance to go birding or winter hiking, but mostly it has been a quiet beginning to the new year.

2008 Bird Species List

2007-12-30T07:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a list of birds spotted at the Arboretum this year. We will post bird species as we see them. So come back and check what is here during the season.

Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Ring-necked Pheasant
American Coot
Franklin’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Short-eared Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

For a list of birds sighted at the Arboretum over the last 5 years use this link - check list of birds

A New Years Resolution

2007-12-28T10:45:00.000-06:00

My new year’s resolution is the same every year – spend more time outside with kids. There is nothing more rewarding, satisfying or delightful than rummaging around in the woods, wading through a shallow creek or creeping around a grassy prairie with a couple of kids. It is something I have done my entire adult life and is an extension of my childhood that was spent playing outside in Iowa.

Like most people, I need more exercise, a better outlook on life and I want to do more for the environment. As I was walking back from my last outdoor excursion with some kids, I realized that I had just spent 2 hours doing all three; I had walked, jumped, balanced and climbed; found beauty in hoarfrost and snow crystals; and gave a child the opportunity to discover that the outdoors is a wonderful, beautiful place.

I read recently that this will be the first generation of children totally disconnected from nature. Ouch! The way I see it, we are always trying to do more for our environment; but if our children are disconnected from nature we will fail in the end. Look at it this way; if Iowa had the best outdoor environmental education program in the United States, we wouldn’t be arguing about which rivers should be clean enough for children’s play.

I encourage everyone to introduce a child to the outdoors in 2008. We should all resolve to take kids outdoors to play, run, get muddy and watch the clouds. Sound like something you would like to do? Try it. It could be the best thing you do for a child this year.
And don’t forget - you get to play, run and watch the clouds too.

Common Name Tree and Shrub List

2007-12-19T15:52:00.000-06:00

Ice and Snow Treasures

2007-12-18T21:57:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's icy and cold but there are great ice treasures to discover outside in winter. The pond at the Arboretum is covered with beautiful smooth ice - perfect for ice sliding. Next time we visit we are bringing our ice skates!

It's great to walk around the pond to look inside the cattail reeds to look for red-wing blackbird nests. We also made a snow tag circle, but I think it is to slippery to play tag on the ice - I fell about 3 times.

We went on a walk through the prairie, glittering with ice. The ice covered everything, even grass stems and the old flowers. We carefully collected the fragile pieces of ice, many with cool intricate designs. We even manage to pull the ice out of the insides of a milk weed pod. They looked like little ice wings. Unfortunately, these ice treasures are to fragile to take home. We took some pictures and left the ice on top of a sign post for someone else to discover.

Forecast for ice storms

2007-12-13T20:47:00.000-06:00

Another snow and ice storm swept through the Midwest this week leaving the Arboretum with a shiny coat of ice. It is a wonder to hear the trees squeak and chatter when the wind blows through the icy tree twigs. Ice can damage trees if the tree branches become heavy with snow and ice or if it is very windy. The trees at the Arboretum are kept in good shape and healthy, so they should be fine if we have another ice storm.

A reporter came from the Dallas County Newspaper to interview Andy about how to care for trees for winter. Really, there is not much you can do to help once a tree is covered with ice and snow. Trees need to be planted correctly in good soil, pruned for strong limbs and watered. Just like people; if you want to withstand adversity, you have to be strong and healthy.

Bird Checklist to Use

2007-09-15T14:16:00.000-05:00

Visit the birding page on our website for a handy checklist to keep track of the birds you find on your walks and hikes

Arbor Day

2007-04-29T22:35:00.000-05:00

April Prairie Burning

2007-04-25T19:57:00.000-05:00

After snow, rain and lots of wind we finally had a dry still day to burn some of our prairie areas. The light wind shifted from northeast to southeast throughout the morning kicking up smoke devils.

2007-03-17T23:30:00.001-05:00

The Hoary Redpoll left during a bit of warm weather, right before two weeks of blizzards covered the Arboretum with heavy snow and ice. The Identifying trees in winter class was cancelled twice because of storms. The Pruning Crabapple class was also cancelled because the road through the Arboretum was impassible. Although damage to the trees at the Arboretum was minimal, Arboretum horticulturalist and General Manager, Andy Schmitz, who was to present these classes, is now overwhelmed with pruning responsibilities. These classses may have to wait until next year, this is the time of year when an incredible amount of work needs to get done and next months classes are right around the corner.

Help us lead kids to nature

2007-03-02T09:36:00.001-06:00

Last year, nearly 1,000 kindergarteners, first and second graders visited the Brenton Arboretum from April and June. This is our fifth year and I’m again looking for adults to lead small groups of 8 to 10 kids in simple nature activities, usually with at least one other adult from their school. You are with each group for 30 to 45 minutes.

We provide the training, materials and everything needed to give kids a fun, memorable experience. These part-time positions pay $10 an hour. We would need you between 10 to 20 hours a week, with our greatest need coming in May.

If you are interested, give me a call. I can work with flexible schedules, maybe one day a week works best for you. Sharing nature with children can change lives, including yours!

If looking for bugs with kids sounds like fun to you - give me a call:

Kay Meyer, Director of Education and Outreach
515-992-4211
kay@thebrentonarboretum.org

Here's an example of one of our group leaders, Nancy Kunce, in action:

The Hoary Redpoll, a rare feathered visitor

2007-02-12T18:28:00.000-06:00

The hoary redpoll that has been living in the Alder trees at the Arboretum for the last 2 months has become more active. It's now harder to find; hanging out with sparrows and finches, flying here and there throughout the Arboretum. This activity sometimes indicates that a migrating bird is getting ready to travel. It's one of many small changes that we will see in the next few weeks as the season turns to early spring.

The next tree class, How to Identify Trees in Winter, will be held on Saturday, February 24th from 10:00 AM until noon. If the weather cooperates, this is a good time of year to get outside and get a "bare bones" look at the trees. It's great to be able to walk with Andy Schmitz (the arboretum general manager) and have him point out different leaf buds, leaf scars and twig color. To me, the landscape colored with the soft hues of twig color in early spring is just as beautiful as the color of leaves in autumn.