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UC Davis Arboretum
Volunteer Newsletter
December 2011 |
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With Appreciation... |
...We Savor 2011 Memories
Dear Volunteers,
The month of November flew by in a blur, and we skipped our monthly issue of Florabundance in favor of time off and Thanksgiving with family. I hope it was a good month for you all.
December has arrived, bringing with it the upcoming winter solstice and more holidays, along with cool, blustery weather. We have time to reflect on the events of the past year, including celebrations for the 75th Anniversary of the Arboretum and the 40th Anniversary of the Friends of UC Davis Arboretum - milestones you helped us both to achieve and to commemorate.
You've planted new beds and tended existing collections, offering the UC Davis community and all our visitors memorable encounters with nature they will carry with them for a lifetime. You've hosted hundreds of Arboretum guests on engaging tours and events.
You've increased nursery production under the protection of a new Potting Pavilion (gifted by one of our volunteers and her husband). You've helped host six major plants sales and other special shopping events, inspiring thousands to create more sustainable residential landscapes, and helping to support the financial needs of the Arboretum.
Some of you are new volunteers, while others have added another year to decades of service. We've said grateful goodbyes to some who have moved on to other endeavors or new communities.
To each of you, we say thank you for the time and effort you have given so generously to the UC Davis Arboretum in 2011. We look forward to working together in 2012.
Margaret Kralovec
Community Outreach Manager | |
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Volunteer Spotlight | |
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East End and Central Gardeners: (back row) Pat Greene, Bruce Watros, Cory Lopez, Ryan Deering, Katharine Bronwen, Philip Freshwater, David Showers, Mark Kane
(front row) Dorothy Brandon, Doris Yano, Mike Lopez, Ann Denvir, Jeannette Pleasure, Marty West
Photo by Martha Rehrman |
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East End Team Staff Leader Ryan Deering and Dr. Eric Conn led the October Acacia Grove planting.
Photo by Martha Rehrman |
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East End and Central Gardener teams collaborate on fall plantings
By Martha Rehrman, East End Volunteer
The Tuesday East End and Central Gardener Teams partnered on two occasions on work days in the Arboretum. The first collaboration was a major undertaking: planting over 100 plants on a previously bare hillside adjacent to the new Law School addition. Led by Ryan Deering, Theresa Goman and Mary Gibson, the two teams planted and mulched an array of Arboretum All-Star plants including California fescue, California fuchsia, Heuchera 'Rosada', and evergreen currant. The result is a bountiful display alongside the creek pathway in the shade of a beautiful valley oak.
Later, the two groups again met in the Acacia Grove to do a fall clean-up and plant several new species of acacia trees. Two new acacia seedlings are particularly noteworthy. These are Acacia conniana, a small acacia named after Dr. Eric Conn, for whom the Acacia Grove is also named. These seedlings were grown by the Arboretum's nursery staff from seeds sent from Australia by the researcher that named the tree after Dr. Conn. Joining us for the workday, Dr. Conn, a longtime professor on campus, got to assist in adding his namesake Acacias to the collection, continuing his generous legacy of research and love for the Arboretum. |
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Volunteer News Briefs | |
Did You Know?
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Please Note Holiday
Schedule
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Volunteer Terry Davison's
Community Favorite choice will appear on the Arboretum website.
"I love the cute little red "hat" that tops the delicate orange flower. It grows quickly and fills in a shady spot."
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The Shields Oak Grove Meadow is now sprouting native grasses after being prepped and seeded this fall.
See Shields Grove Conversion at the Public Garden website.
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Arboretum Volunteer Teams take a pause for the holidays. Please check with your volunteer team leader to confirm your team's work schedule in the coming weeks. The Arboretum offices will be closed December 26, 27, 30 and January 2. Happy holidays, everyone!
Fall Plant Sale Volunteers are gathering on December 15 to celebrate a successful fall season and to discuss ways to improve customer service and the volunteer experience at future plant sales events. If you participated in Fall 2011 plant sales but have not yet received an invitation to this event, please contact Margaret Kralovec for details.
75 Favorite Plants for 75 Years Program lives on!
Watch for the 75 Community Favorites plants, chosen by volunteers and others in honor of the Arboretum's 75th Anniversary to appear on the Arboretum website, arboretum.ucdavis.edu, in the coming weeks!
UC Davis Arboretum Library catalog available online!
Yolo County Librarian, Arboretum Volunteer, and Friends Board member Nyla Wiebe created a searchable listing of Arboretum library holdings. Fantastic, Nyla! A link to this list is now available on the UC Davis Arboretum homepage and membership website pages. Enjoy!
Just so you'll know
You can keep abreast of progress on projects in the Arboretum and the Public Garden at UC Davis at the website publicgarden.ucdavis.edu. You'll find a variety of topics that may interest you, and a source of information for questions that may come your way, as an Arboretum volunteer, from visitors and friends.
New volunteers join our teams
Please welcome new volunteers Patrick Steinmetz (Thursday Propagators) and Malcolm Howard (Wednesday East End Gardeners and Putah Creek Parkway). We have several more new people who are in the midst of the volunteer application and placement process.
Safety First!
Be sure to report any work-related illness or injury to your volunteer supervisor right away. Every volunteer must have a current Workers' Compensation Volunteer Information form and Emergency Information form on file at the Arboretum Office.
Contact Margaret Kralovec to verify or to update these forms.
The December-January UC Safety Spotlight features emergency preparedness planning for your home and family. Check it out! |
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Volunteer Opportunities |
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Plant sales are a family affair. Come join the effort to help out! |
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Under the Redwood Canopy, Public Tour, Saturday, December 17. 2 - 3:30 pm, led by Roger Willmarth.
Much Ado About Nothing
Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, Saturday, December 17, 8 pm, Putah Creek Lodge. General admission: $10. Buy tickets online, or call the DSE box office at (530) 802-0998, or e-mail the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble.
Save the Dates!
Mark your calendars now for the Friends of UC Davis Arboretum spring plant sale season at the Teaching Nursery. We can use all hands on deck. Contact Margaret Kralovec if you can help.
March 10: Members Sale, 9 am - 1 pm
Live music, children's activites, first choice on plants this spring! If you are not a Friends member, join at the door so you don't miss out on the fun.
April 14: Public Sale, 9 am - 1 pm
Featuring 3 B's: Birds, Bees, and Beneficials to consider when making plant purchases.
May 19: Public Sale, 9 am - 1 pm
Some Like It Hot: Summer Bloomers and Sizzling Clearance Deals
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