|
Chair's Corner...
By Dennis Patton
Executive Committee Chair
 Spring is just around the corner and the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will soon be awash in colors. The signs of spring appear in the native woodland flowers to the prairie wildflowers and of course, the botanical plants gracing many of the gardens.
As you probably already know I love the entire arboretum, but the Monet Garden does hold a special place in my heart. The Monet Garden is maintained by the hard work of the Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners. My real job, which pays the bills, is the Extension Horticulture Agent for Johnson County and I have the esteemed privilege of leading the EMG volunteers.
The Monet Garden is full of color from mid-March through November with careful planning and a diverse plant palette. Just to give you an idea of what takes place in that one garden here are a few numbers. Arboretum volunteers will be growing 4,705 annuals for the Monet Garden in the greenhouse for spring planting. In addition the EMG volunteers will be planting an estimated 137 tubers, 291 perennials and more trees and shrubs in the Monet Garden. At last count they anticipate planting over 5,200 plants just in Monet this spring.
I am exhausted just thinking about all the work. Of course last year over 75 EMG volunteers donated over 4,000 hours of service to make the Monet Garden a showplace. Let's not forget that plants are not free, they have a cost. If you enjoy the Monet Garden or other attractions at the arboretum have you considered making a donation or joining the Friends group? The continued growth of the arboretum is up to us and private donations.
Currently we have a matching gift for the Train Garden development. A wonderful donor is matching private contributions up to $50,000. Please consider including the arboretum in your giving. If you need more information please don't hesitate to contact us.
Monet Garden Photo (above)
by Jim Van Hooser
|
Thanks to the great weather there has been lots of activity in the Train Garden. Our friends at Lowe's in Olathe and Shawnee came together to build our two ticket booths, perfect for children to play in and enjoy. Phase I of the garden will be operational in late spring.
 We need to raise $22,500 more for the $50,000 matching grant we have received. You can make contributions online or to make your gift by check, make payable and mail to Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, P.O. Box 26392, Overland Park, KS 66225. In the memo section, please write "Train Garden Match."
|
|
FOTA Chair Dennis Patton:
Dennis.Patton@jocogov.org
Volunteer Coordinator Phyllis Merrick:
VolunteerCoordinator@opkansas.org
FOTA Coordinator Suzie Swyden:
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com
Send photos and news to:
judy@springvalleynursery.com
|
The Arb / February 2012
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
1/2 mile west of Hwy. 69
at 179th & Antioch
913-685-3604
www.opabg.org
|
|
|
|
|
Winter Photo Contest Winners Named
Winners in the Winter Photo Contest have been selected. Angie Schenke's first place photo, "Just Float," was taken near the hiking trail in early November. The sun highlights the leaves floating on top of the water. The darker leaves that have fallen into the depths of water create a beautiful background and make the lighter colors pop. Angie said she takes great pride in capturing nature at the Arboretum.
 The second place winning photo (at right) was taken by Diane Beck when she and her husband visited the Arboretum for the very first time. She said she looks forward to visiting again in the spring when the plants begin to bloom. (Bring your camera and visit now, as there are already things happening in the woods and gardens if you look closely!)
Third place went to Katherine Taliaferro, who was visiting from Arkansas.
Youth winner was Lauri Hoedl, with a very colorful entry (below).
Spring is coming early this year, and so is the Spring Photo Contest, which began February 1 and runs through April 30. Entries can be submitted quickly and easily by email. Click here for complete contest rules. Note: several very nice entries had to be disqualified because they were date stamped.
The photo of the misty scene at the very top, left, was taken by new Photo Committee Chair Jim Van Hooser, and was a winner in last year's photo contest. The photo of the trees and blue winter sky at top right was taken by Mark Higgins.
|
|
Arboretum Bird Benefit Continues
A benefit for the bird feeding program at the Overland Park Arboretum, Music for the Birds, returns to the Sunset Grill on February 26. The Sunday events feature live entertainment from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
 Noel Scott, vocalist and saxophonist, will feature hits from the 1940s and jazz standards. A former radio personality, Noel has performed in numerous Kansas City nightclubs.
The benefit helps support an Arboretum area called the Bird Yard that features a small house with glass windows for spectacular bird watching. It is surrounded by many bird feeders, regularly refilled by dedicated volunteers.
Click here to order tickets online. Tickets will also be available at the door -- Sunset Grill, 14577 Metcalf ($5 suggested donation). Appetizers, wine and other beverages will be available for purchase. |
Upcoming Classes
February 22 Learn to Play the Native American Flute, Part 2, 10:30 am to noon, $25 per person
February 25 Birding as a Lifelong Adventure, 10:00 to 11:30 am, $10 per person
March 7 Butterfly Gardening: Add Flying Flowers to Your Garden, 1:00 to 2:30 pm. $10 per person
March 10 Kansas Native Plant Society Meeting, open to the public, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Free
March 13 GeoKids, 10:00 to 11:30 am, $5, age 7-12
 March 14 Nature at the Arboretum: Birding for Children (9-12) 10:00 to 11:30 am. $5, age 7-12
March 15 GeoKids, 10:00 to 11:30 am, $5, age 7-12
March17 Advanced Flower Photography, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. $25 per person
March 21 Growing Wildflowers from Seed, 10:00 am to noon. $10 per person
March 24 GeoArboretum, 10 to 11:30 am. $5 per person
March 31 Bird Chat: Welcoming the Nectar Drinkers, 10:00 to 11:30 am. $10 per person
For more information go to opabg.org and click on 2012 Schedule of Classes. You can sign up online by clicking on Class Registrations.
Photo by Tom Holle
|
Backyard Bird Count at the Arboretum
Laura Bosnak reports that twelve Bird Committee members participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count for an hour at the Arboretum Saturday morning and found 115 birds in 29 species (additional birds were not identified). The results have been sent to Cornell Labs. This was our best year so far! The breakdown is as follows:
6 Rock Pigeons
2 Red-headed Woodpeckers
5 Red-bellied Woodpeckers
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
5 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Hairy Woodpeckers
1 Pileated Woodpecker
3 Blue Jays
7 American Crows
12 Black-capped Chickadees
15 Tufted Titmice
4 White-breasted Nuthatches
1 Brown Creeper
1 Carolina Wren
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Eastern Bluebirds
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 American Tree Sparrows
1 Field Sparrow
4 Song Sparrows
1 White-throated Sparrow
2 Harris's Sparrow
3 White-crowned Sparrows
12 Dark-eyed Juncos
13 Northern Cardinals
2 Purple Finches
2 House Finches
3 American Goldfinches
1 House Sparrow
Female Northern Cardinal Photo by John Bosnak |
|
|
|
|
|
|
