8909 W. 179th St. · 1/2 mile west of Hwy. 69 at 179th & Antioch
913-685-3604 · www.opabg.org
February 2010
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 It's time to
Celebrate Spring!
The flowering bulbs - hyacinths, narcissus (daffodils), tulips, alliums and more - are getting ready to put on their springtime show. The numbers are astounding: more than five thousand bulbs planted by Master Gardeners in the Monet Garden alone. Eight thousand daffodils of 64 different varieties will soon be popping up in the Erickson garden.
Altogether there are tens of thousands of flowering bulbs for visitors to enjoy and, in addition, a rare opportunity to see and then choose your favorites to plant in your own garden this coming fall.
ORDER TOP-NOTCH BULBS
Staff members have selected 16 varieties that have performed exceptionally well at the Arboretum in previous years. Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA) will be taking orders for these top-notch, highly-recommended beauties. Why guess from a catalog?
Bulbs must be ordered by June 15 and will be available for
pick-up at the Arboretum in early October. Bulbs can also be shipped
within the USA.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
As part of Celebrate Spring! there will be many activities, classes and events - some of them brand new. There will be "stay-cation" activities for kids, woodland wildflower walks, cooking and herb classes, bird walks, painting demonstrations, flower arranging and photography classes, Earth Day activities, tree care classes, guided tours, and geocaching activities.
 SPRING PLANT SALE
And, of course, the ever-popular annual Spring Plant Sale, this year on May 7-8, with a FOTA members-only preview sale on May 6. (Join FOTA at any time during the sale and receive the 10% member discount.) Put this on your calendar NOW!
Detailed information on all these events, activities and classes is
available in the Visitors Center, along with bulb order forms.
Event, class and activity information is also available online. Credit card bulb orders will be taken online beginning in March. Watch for further information.
Photo by Mark Higgins
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Chair's Corner...
You would think that February is a slow and subdued time around the Arboretum. Quite the opposite is true, with all the planning under way. We have several new committees working on brand new events and activities. Other committees are gearing up for repeat events.
 Many new volunteers are leading and helping on these events and activities. The number of people and the hours that they give to the Arboretum are inspiring.
Some of the new activities around the Arboretum this year include birthday parties, GeoArboretum, Celebrate Spring, Fit to be Tied, classes and tours.
Our website is a great resource to keep up on all the happenings, new and old. I hope that you have had a chance to join us on Sunday afternoons for the new concert series. The music has been terrific.
We were given wonderful news for our future train garden. The Kansas City Woodworker's Guild has agreed to partner with us to build Old Town, a recreation of downtown Overland Park.
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The concert series continues, two more Sunday afternoons from 2 to 3 pm in the Visitors Center. Limited seating, tickets $5.00. Order online or call 816-820-7499.
February 21
Roger Wilder Jazz Quartet
February 28
Stephanie Laws,
Piano and Vocal Duo
Proceeds have already funded the purchase of a new Purple Martin house, and will also be used by the Bird Committee to buy food for the Arboretum's wild bird feeding program.
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FOTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Teri Shields, Chair
Jim Holland, Vice Chair
Kathy Alspaugh, Secretary
John Kalal, Treasurer
Larry Engelkemier
Stacey Gilman
Margaret Maher-Williams
Georgia Erickson & Russell Simmons, ARFOP Liaisons
Karen Haake, Past Chair
FOTA ADMINISTRATOR
Suzie Swyden
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com
FOTA VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Arts for Kids, Stacey Gilman &
Stephanie Battison
Bird Committee, Sue Davidson
Bird Feeders, Bob Buehler
Celebrate Spring, Karen McNerney & Judy Moser
Eagle Scouts, Hugh McCreery
Fit To Be Tied, Kari Wood & Karen Haake
Garden Shows, Karen Haake
Geo Activities, Charlie Loftus
Golf Tournament, Margaret Maher-Williams & Carol Martin Tracey
Greeters, Phyllis Merrick
Luminary Walk, Margaret Kalal
Membership, Suzie Swyden
Music Series, Russell Simmons & Suzie Swyden
Photography, Margaret Maher-Williams
Plant Sale, Phyllis Merrick & Don Tetzlaff
Prairie Restoration, Chuck Garrett
Safety, Don Tetzlaff
Tours, Cathy Lovetere
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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Lots of Ways to Volunteer
 GARDENERS
Do you enjoy the outdoors, smelling flowers, digging in the dirt, or all of the aforementioned? If so, join the gardening volunteers here at the Arboretum. Select a day that works for you: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or every other Saturday. Our gardening program begins in March and runs through the end of October. Workdays begin at 9:00 am and usually run three hours each day. This is a great opportunity to create something meaningful, beautiful, and enduring for the community while connecting with other volunteers in a personal way.
Please email Phyllis Merrick or phone 913-685-3604. If you are not a current volunteer, but want to garden, there is a new volunteer orientation class on Saturday, February 20 from 9 to 11 am.
TOUR GUIDES
Are you a people person who enjoys sharing your knowledge about places you like to visit? If so, why not become a tour leader here at the Arboretum. We do two types of tours: (1) group walking tours discussing the various gardens and history of the Arboretum, and (2) golf cart driving tours for those who are less able. We will provide you with training for both types of tours and you do not have to be an expert on flora or Arboretum history - you just need to know some facts and you will pick up the rest through training and mentoring. There is a tour leader training session on March 9 in the Visitors Center from 10 am to noon.
If you are not a current volunteer, come to the new volunteer orientation class on Saturday, February 20 from 9 to 11 am and complete the necessary paperwork and safety training. For more information or to pre-register, call Phyllis Merrick or Cathy Lovetere at 913-685-3604 or email Phyllis Merrick.
GOLF TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE
The annual Council President's Green Space Golf Tournament will be held this year on September 24 at St. Andrews Golf Course. We need volunteers for the committees responsible for putting the tournament together. Meetings will take place starting in March on late Monday afternoons, once a month until a couple months prior to the tournament, and then more frequently. Co-chair Carol Martin-Tracy will bring lots of experience from last year's tournament, when she was also co-chair. The tournament will benefit the Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA).
Email co-chair Margaret Maher-Williams or call 913-649-6745 if you would like to help.
(Photo above by Margaret Kalal)
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Class Schedule through March
Classes are held in the Visitors Center at the Aboretum. Proceeds go to support FOTA. There is a 10% discount on class fees for FOTA members. Cash or checks only. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.
To confirm reservations contact Phyllis Merrick at 913-685-3604 or at volunteercoordinator@opkansas.org. Complete class schedule at opagb.org.
Learn to Play the Native American Flute
Saturday, February 27
10:00 am to 12:00 noon $25.00 per person
The Native American flute is a very inventive, simplistic and often meditative sound. Because it is so easy to play, it lends itself easily as a meditative tool. Many people find it earthy and grounding. Others find it transporting and ethereal. In this experimental workshop, you will learn the basics of the native scale and how to create native style music from the heart. Everyone will have a flute to play with a plastic tube (for sanitary reasons). This class is facilitated by a music therapist and is very non-threatening. No prior musical training needed!
 Let's Talk Herbs & Herb Gardening
Wednesday, March 3
10:00 am to 1:00 pm $20.00 per person
You will learn about herbs-how to identifying them, how to use them, and where to plant them. Class will include theory, practical use, folklore and science, plus herbal refreshments, recipes and handouts of the topics covered. Come be inspired by the warmth, knowledge and humor of our herb expert, Lenora Wuattoux-Ray.
Geocaching and Letterboxing
Monday, March 15, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Basic instruction class for children on Geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices to locate outdoor hidden containers called geocaches. Fun for the entire family. FREE, but reservations are required.
Making Faerie Terrariums
Tuesday, March 16 and Thursday, March 18
10:00 am to 11:30 am $25.00 per terrarium
Terrariums are a great project for kids to learn about ecosystems while building their very own whimsical garden. Each child will learn basic gardening techniques while creating a terrarium decorated with faeries and colorful butterflies. All supplies and instruction are provided. Ages 5 to 10, parental supervision suggested. Reservations required, class size limited to 15.
 Celebrate Spring Guided Tours
Tuesday, March 23, 1:00 pm
FREE, registration required
Take a guided stroll through our gardens celebrating the spring blooming bulbs-hyacinths, tulips, narcissus and alliums. If any of the "staff pick" bulbs catch your eye, they may be ordered from the Arboretum during our "Celebrate Spring" months. Bulb order forms will be available in the Visitors Center and online in March.
Learn, Listen & Identify the Birds
Saturday, March 27
7:00 am - 9:00 am FREE, limited to 10 adults
Join Trent Reed, an avid bird enthusiast for many years, as he takes you on a walk through the Arboretum sharing knowledge about birds and how to identify them by their songs and calls. Dress appropriately.
Basic Flower Arranging
Tuesday, March 30
1:30 to 2:30 pm $10 per person
Join us for a session with our talented floral designer who will demonstrate floral arranging techniques that you can use when creating your own floral arrangements at home. Class includes refreshments.
Narcissus photo by Mark Higgins |
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEBRUARY
21 Music for the Birds 2-3 pm*
Roger Wilder Jazz Quartet
27 Learn to Play the Native American Flute 10-noon*
26-28 FOTA booth at the Johnson County Home & Garden Show
28 Music for the Birds 2-3 pm*
Stephanie Laws, Piano and Vocal Duo
MARCH
3 Let's Talk Herbs & Herb Gardening 10-1 pm*
15 Geocaching & Letterboxing 10-11 am
16 & 18 Faerie Terrariums 10-11:30 am*
23 Celebrate Spring! Guided Tours 1 pm (registration required)
27 Learn, Listen & Identify the Birds 7-9 am
30 Basics of Flower Arranging 1:30-2:30 pm*
* There is a fee for these events/classes. Friends of the Arboretum receive a 10% discount on educational programs.
Learn more about upcoming events at the Arboretum website.
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