Events

Frederick Law Olmsted’s philosophy was to create parks for everyone, thus democracy, with a small ‘d’, in the program title. He believed that connection to nature in urban areas was restorative and conducive to mental and physical well-being. He saw the power of parks to bring people of every background together. Olmsted parks in New Jersey will be highlighted.

Anne ‘Dede’ Neal Petri holds a degree in American History and Literature from Harvard University and a JD from Harvard Law School. During the course of a varied and brilliant career, she served as First Vice President and then President of the Garden Club of America, and is now the President and CEO of Olmsted Network, the only national organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and restoring Olmsted parks and landscapes across the country. In April, Dede received the National Garden Club of America’s 2024 Distinguished Service Medal for her “tireless service on behalf of plants and the spaces created to showcase them”.

Light refreshments will be served.

This program is eligible for 1.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s.

For questions contact: mennist@arboretumfriends.net or lbencivengo@arboretumfriends.net

For All Levels, from beginners and beyond, with Ryder S. Wyatt, writer

Do you remember the first time you ran barefoot through the grass as a child? Probably not, but your body remembers. It remembers young and carefree days of playing tag on the lawn, the smell of the freshly cut grass- its bright emerald color in May, and the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Those sensory “memories” remain with you and when recalled, can whisk you back to images of  days you spent in nature throughout your life. 

In this workshop, you will be guided into  remembering those special places and settings, then shaping them into a cohesive narrative on the page.  

WHAT TO EXPECT: An hour and a half of discussion, guided writing with prompts, and feedback.

WHAT TO BRING: Pad, pen, or computer; water; -A photo or tangible item as a reminder of your favorite place or setting

Ryder S. Wyatt has been a writer for more than four decades. She holds  MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a member of the Somerset Hills Garden Club in Zone Four.  

For more information on Ms. Wyatt, click here: https://ryderswyatt.com/

Questions? Contact lbencivengo@arboretumfriends.net or mennist@arboretumfriends.net

8:30 – 9:15 AM – Registration, Coffee, Welcome

9:15 AM – Bruce Crawford

A Designer’s Love Affair with Trees

When we evaluate and contemplate our gardens, one plant that we often consider last is the tree. In reality, trees are the plants we should be considering first! Whether it’s for moderating the climate, carbon sequestration or soothing our souls after a hectic day, trees enhance and add value to our homes in ways we often fail to consider. Bruce will evaluate and discuss the many ways trees enhance not only our gardens, but our community and our health as well.

Bruce is the Manager of Horticulture, Morris County Park Commission. He has a degree from Bucknell University and studied Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Cook College, Rutgers University. For nearly 25 years he had his own design/build gardening business specializing in plantings for year round interest. From 1987 to 2020, Bruce was an instructor in the Landscape Architecture program at Rutgers University. From 2005 to 2020, he was the Director of Rutgers Gardens, the botanical garden for Rutgers University.

10:15 AM – Ted Hildebrant

Grafting Methods for Tree Propagation

Master grafter Ted Hildebrant will present an overview of grafting methods and how they relate to the propagation of trees. The presentation will include a brief description of some of the more common methods of tree propagation with a focus on grafting and shy it can be the method of choice. A live grafting demonstration will also be given along with a question and answer period.

Ted Hildebrant is a third-generation nurseryman and propagator who, with his life partner Elly Keyel, own and operate Coldwater Pond Nursery, a specialty woody plant propagation nursery in Phelps, New York. Ted enjoys plant propagation of all types and can be found periodically teaching woody plant propagation to both professionals and hobby gardeners as well as consulting for new and established nurseries. Coldwater Pond Nursery specializes in unique and rare nursery stock that is offered to gardeners, nurseries and garden centers throughout the eastern United States. Ted and Elly reside on their nursery and farm with their two cats and far too many deer, groundhogs, voles and rabbits.

Attendees will have the opportunity to shop at the Symposium for unusual small conifers from Ted’s diverse collection

11:15 AM – Dr. Jason Grabosky

Trees are Big, Spaces Can Be Small

This presentation will hit points on site carrying capacity, soils, and roots to describe how much space might be needed for a tree in a natural system and a designed system. There will be some discussion of how management influences growth in consideration of the previous points. The discussion will move on to the consideration of the tree/site linkage in species selection, or how your current species link to the site to inform your maintenance needs.

Jason is taxonomically described as a professor and serves as the John and Eleanor Kuser Endowed Faculty Scholar in Urban Forestry in the Ecology Evolution and Natural Resource Program at Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), New Jersey Agricultural Research Station.   He holds affiliations with the Plant Biology, Environmental Science Landscape Architecture programs as well as with the Engineering schools’ Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation.  He primarily teaches classes in and around urban forestry and has fun making students walk outside in lousy weather.  That was especially fun to watch when he was the Director of the SEBS General Honors Program working with the pre-med, biotech and pre-law students.  His research is more about where the students’ interests are going, so recent work has been linked to growth expectations for an urban context applied to silvicultural planning,  stocking guides of pitch pine in NJ,  genetics in the hard maple group, or tree root system architecture studies.  Basically, he is an easily distracted, scattered individual.  While he is currently on the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board of Directors, he has previously served as editor of the ISA Journal Arboriculture  & Urban Forestry and as president of the ISA Arboricultural Research  and Education Academy.  He has also chaired the Forestry Research Advisory Council to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack during the Obama administration.

12:15 PM – LUNCH – ASSORTED SANDWICHES

1:00 PM – Richard Buckley

The Trouble with Beech: Beech Leaf Disease

If it’s not one thing, it’s another! Invasive insect pests and diseases have wreaked havoc on ash, elm, chestnut, and many other trees, wiping some of them almost completely from American landscapes and forests. The recent emergence of a new nematode disease in Beech has the attention of all green industry professions. This one-hour session will cover everything we currently know about Beech Leaf Disease. Other diseases and insect pests of Beech will be included. Emphasis will be on proper identification, scouting and monitoring techniques, and integrated control strategies that include all cultural, biological, and chemical controls.

Richard Buckley is the Director of Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab. He received his BS in Entomology and Plant Pathology from the University of Delaware and MS in Turfgrass Pathology from Rutgers that led to his current position. In addition to his responsibilities as Director of the Lab, Mr. Buckley is an instructor in the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School and teaches courses in diseases and insect pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants. He is also a frequent lecturer and invited speaker on disease and insect pest problems in turf and ornamentals, plant problem solving, and disease and pest management techniques.

2:00 PM – Steven Kristoph

The Versatile Ornamental Small Tree

Ornamental small trees come in an assortment of shapes and forms. Most are grown for their ornamental flowers, but many offer other features such as attractive fruit display and vibrant fall foliage. In addition, several species and varieties possess wonderful bark which provides year-round interest, the shade offered by these trees functions in cooling the environment, long lived species help with carbon sequestration, and many species of birds utilize the intricate branching found on ornamental small trees to build their nests and raise their young. Steven’s discussion will include some of the most popular and important species with an emphasis on maximizing seasonal interest and functionality. Several native ornamental small trees will be included in the presentation.

Steven Kristoph received his Bachelor and Masters degrees in horticulture from Rutgers University. He owns and operates a nursery in Millstone Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey where he grows many types of ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. He’s also been an adjunct instructor at Rutgers for over 40 years. Steven is passionate about plants and likes to share this with others, plant walks with him are always an adventure. Taking time to smell all the roses is important to him and you can bet if there’s indumentum on a Rhododendron leaf close by, it is likely to get a gentle caress!

This program has been approved by the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts for 5.5 CEUs.

This program has been approved by the New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry Program for 5.0 NJUCF CEUs.

This program is eligible for 5.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEUs

For questions, contact: mennist@arboretumfriends.net or lbencivengo@arboretumfriends.net

Take some of the stress out of your holiday meal preparation by making some dishes ahead of time. Cynthia will share some of her tried and true recipes so that you can enjoy more time with family and friends.

This Cooking Demonstration is limited to 24 participants. Please register early.

For questions, contact: mennist@arboretumfriends.net or lbencivengo@arboretumfriends.net