Chair's Corner...
By Karen Haake
The heart and soul of the Arboretum are our volunteers. Dedicated individuals who give their time and talents to help make the Arboretum shine.
This year, FOTA was pleased to recognize Ken O'Dell with the Margie Engelkemier Volunteer of the Year Award. Ken and his wife Judy Moser have been dedicated volunteers for more than 10 years. His knowledge and expertise in horticulture have guided FOTA with the yearly plant sale since its inception. Ken was also instrumental in the building of the greenhouse and has taught numerous volunteers how to grow plants from seeds into beautiful, healthy plants.
Always cheerful, positive and a champion for new ideas, Ken continues to be one of the Arboretum's greatest assets.
Left to right, Ron Lomax, Karen Haake, and Ken O'Dell.
Ron Lomax was presented with the new "Sapling Award," given to a first year volunteer. Ron volunteered with the mantra "I have time, what can I do to help?" He has done it all, and then some. He has put his woodworking skills to use, as well as his great people skills. When not playing golf or traveling, he can be found at the Arboretum.
Congratulations and thank you to both of these men for their continued dedication and service.
Notes of interest: Whole Foods at 91st and Metcalf has a display wall of Arboretum photos in the food court as part of their CommUnity partnership. Photos will be rotated every two weeks, and in September, winning photos from the photography contest will be showcased. Photography awards will be announced August 30 at the Arboretum.
The Iris Garden is almost complete. Look for a dedication date to be announced soon.
Come, take a walk, explore the Arboretum, see the changes, and watch us grow.
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Volunteers
The following 40 individuals donated 100 or more hours in 2008 for a total of 18,174 hours. We salute these volunteers who give so much time to the Arboretum. 100 + HoursKay Allega Norma Erwin Jane Golub Sharon Justice Jane Luedke Dennis Patton Heidi Rutherford Charyl Singer Warren Thomas Dixie Wantoch 150 + HoursPatsy Arnold Barbara Brand Sue Davidson Carole Dean Larry Engelkemier Chuck Garrett Kathleen Hess Joan Langmack Hugh McCreery Virginia McKenzie Karen McNerney Phyllis Merrick Milton Noelkin Adair Winegart 200 + HoursKathy Alspaugh Bob Buehler John Kalal Rox Lomax 250 + HoursSue Bolan Judy Moser Mike Pooler Don Tetzlaff Karen Winn 300 + HoursMargaret Kalal John Steen 350+ HoursEd Barkley Ken O'Dell Teri Shields 650 + HoursKaren Haake 700 + HoursLeonora Wuattoux-Ray  Volunteers provide many, many services to the Arboretum. Pictured here is a dedicated volunteer, Karen McNerney, planting spring bulbs in the Monet Garden last fall. |
FOTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Karen Haake, Chair
Teri Shields, Vice Chair
Kathy Alspaugh, Secretary
Larry Engelkemier, Treasurer
Barbara Brand
John Kalal
Stacey Gilman
Dick Cromwell
Jim Holland
Margaret Maher-Williams
Shannon Corley & Nancy Yates,
ARFOP Liaisons to the Board
FOTA ADMINISTRATOR
Suzie Swyden
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com
FOTA VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Arts for Kids, Stacey Gilman & Gail Keller
Bird Committee, Sue Davidson
Bird Feeders, Bob Buehler
Eagle Scout Projects, Hugh McCreery
Garden Shows, Karen Haake
Greenhouse, Ken O'Dell
Greeters, Phyllis Merrick
Holiday Luminary Walk, Margaret Kalal
Membership, Barbara Brand
Photography, Carol Fowler
Plant Sale, Phyllis Merrick & Don Tetzlaff
Prairie Restoration, Chuck Garrett
Safety, Don Tetzlaff
Volunteer Tour Guides, Karin Winn
Weddings, Phyllis Merrick
FOTA eNEWSLETTER
Judy Moser, Editor
judy@springvalleynursery.com
ARBORETUM STAFF
Karen Kerkhoff, Supervisor
Kerry Williams, Horticulturist
Dianna Mahaney, Park Attendant
Jon Beuthin, Park Attendant
Phyllis Merrick & Cathy Lovetere,
Volunteer Coordinators
For additional information, call
the Arboretum 913-685-3604
Website: www.opabg.org
To rent an area of the Environmental
Education and Visitors Center,
Pavilion or Garden Areas, call
Leisure Services at 913-895-6390
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Open House on the Prairie
August 22, 11-2
Sign up now for this rare opportunity
 Big Bluestem, Partridgepeas, and Blackeyed Susans. Here's your chance to see it all--and much, much more--up close, in person, and guided by a special group of volunteers who love our tallgrass prairie.
On Saturday, August 22, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens prairie experts will take small groups on guided tours of the Prairie Restoration Project from 11 am to 2 pm. This event is FREE, but reservations are required.
Pictured above are prairie tour organizers Chuck Garrett, Ken O'Dell, Phyllis Merrick and Linda Ochs.
Join the dedicated group of volunteers who have been working since 2002 under the direction of Chuck Garrett to restore 160 acres of existing Arboretum land, south of Wolf Creek, into a native prairie. See what has been accomplished and hear about future plans. Learn how the prairie is managed through a three-year rotation of reseeding, haying and burning, which simulates grazing by wildlife and buffalo and wildfire burning. See the prairie native grasses, wildflowers in bloom, wildlife food plots and the Prickly Pear Cactus Glade.
 This will be a walking tour with stops along the way to learn about each area of the developing prairie. Please dress for heat, sun, wind and unpredictable weather with heavy boots (no tennis shoes or sandals), as the terrain is often uneven. Bottled water is recommended. No accommodations for mobility challenged individuals will be available. Tours will start every half hour beginning at 11:00 am with the last group at 2:00 pm. Each tour group is limited to 12, so please call 913-685-3604 to reserve a time. Adults only.
Parking for this event will be at the Prairie Old Home Site Entrance Gate, 0.8 miles south of 179th St., on the west side of Antioch Road. Follow signs at the gate entrance.
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Photo Contest Awards Event
Sunday, August 30
 Join us in the Visitors Center at 3 pm for the presentation of 2009 Photo Contest awards. View all the contest entries, as winners are announced for Best in Show, and First Place and Honorable Mentions in each category.
See more than 200 great photos that capture the beauty and serenity of the Arboretum, including flora and fauna, scenic views, and people enjoying all that represents the essence of the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
For more information call 913-685-3604 or visit www.opabg.org
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Exploring Nature through the Arts
For Kids 2 - 12
September 19-20, 11 to 4:30
Combine kids, the arts, and nature, and you have ARTS for KIDS, a unique event for children 2 to 12, their parents, and grandparents. This fun-filled event, to be held this year on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm, introduces children to the wealth of creative materials that nature provides, along with the pleasures of the Arboretum.
 ARTS for KIDS, in its eleventh year, will again be held in the Children's Garden in the spectacular Overland Park Arboretum. Adults and children create nature crafts, go on a hay wagon ride, learn about animals in their natural habitat, participate in a puppet show, listen to local musicians, play games and much more.
For an admission price of only $6 per person age two and over, it's a bargain that will help children learn to use common elements creatively. Leaves, pinecones, hedge apples and rocks, along with common household goods, are turned into small works of art.
 Sure to be a memorable highlight of this year's ARTS for KIDS, the popular children's music performer Dino O'Dell will present his captivating program on Saturday afternoon at 1:30.
Heartland Ringers Bell Choir will perform on Sunday at 2:30. Other local musicians will perform during both days in the music tent.
Dino O'Dell
There will be a special nature craft project on Sunday, led by representatives of the Nelson Atkins Museum.
The ever-popular hay wagon rides (for all ages) will wind through the natural woodlands and fields of the Arboretum. Children participate in the Woodlands Puppet Theater with head puppeteer, Mother Westwind, and listen to storytelling under the Storytelling Tree. A happy band of face painters will bedeck the children with their favorite nature motif. A treasure hunt and games provide a variety of activities to please everyone.
 Join us with your children or grandchildren for a wonderful day in the woods and gardens. The event is held rain or shine. If you would like to enhance your enjoyment by volunteering or sponsoring the event, please contact Phyllis Merrick at Volunteer Coordinator@opkansas.org or call the Arboretum, 913-685-3604.
For more information on these events and more, browse the Arboretum website: www.opabg.org.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND CLASSES
AUGUST
22 Bird Walk 8 am
Open House on the Prairie 11-2
29 Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden 10-11:30*
30 Photo Contest Awards Event 3-5
SEPTEMBER
19 William's Walk - SIDS Event 8 am
19 & 20 Arts for Kids 11-4:30*
23 Herbs - The Harvest 10-1*
26 Bird Walk 8 am
OCTOBER
11 Sculpture exhibit ends
24 Bird Walk 8 am
* There is a fee for these events/classes.
Frients of the Arboretum receive a 10% discount.
Learn more about upcoming events at the Arboretum website.
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Classes Continue into Fall
Learn, Listen & Identify the Birds
Saturday, August 22, 8:00 am
Bird Walks for families with children will begin at 10:30 am
Open House on the Prairie
Saturday, August 22, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Watch for more information on this event in August or check the 2009 Class Schedule link below for more information.
Attracting and Nurturing Butterflies in Your Garden
Saturday, August 29, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Learn how to recognize, attract, and protect these wonderful creatures in your own garden. Michelle Crozier's interest in herbs accidentally led her to a 6 or 8 year study of butterflies. Her curious and analytical nature allowed her to capture the magnificent transformations of caterpillars to butterflies and moths on film and video. Michelle has an MBA and has been a gardener and nature lover since childhood. Class fee $10 per person.
Herbs - The Harvest...Medicinal, Culinary, Aromatherapy
Wednesday, September 23, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm
A total review of past herb classes with Lenora Wuattoux-Ray, plus preparation of the herb garden for the fall-winter season. This includes a walk in the Herb Garden and instructions to prepare your herb garden for winter. Class fee $20 per person.
 Learn, Listen & Identify the Birds
Saturday, September 26, 8:00 am.
Bird Walks for families with children will begin at 10:30 am
Reservations are required. Contact Phyllis Merrick at 913-685-3604 or at volunteercoordinator@opkansas.org. 10% discount for FOTA members. Download and print the complete 2009 Class Schedule.
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If you are having any technical difficulties with this newsletter, or if you have comments or suggestions, please contact Suzie Swyden at
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com. Thank you.
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