Summer 2024 Newsletter Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

Dear Friends of the Arboretum,

Summer is in full swing and things are a-buzz all around the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. Signs of life fill the air—from the sweet scents of the hydrangeas to the pollinator highways between flowers brimming with nectar and pollen. Nothing beats the excitement and tantalizing discovery of your favorite summer perennial full of flower buds on the brink of blooming.

While this heat and drought proves to be a challenge for many, the robust community of plants at the Arboretum, especially the native plants, boast of their resilience in the face of adversity. While their mechanisms for survival took some time to evolve to what it is today, there is still a lesson to be learned. Nature favors adaptability—the key to succeeding lies in the willingness to adapt to a challenge even if that means taking a step back to conserve resources for another day.

Your takeaway may be a little different, nonetheless, we encourage you to take stock of your summer challenges and blessings and take solace in the magical moments that the summer has to offer. We hope that, even in this heat, the Arboretum can provide you exciting and tantalizing discoveries that propagate great curiosity and fulfillment.

— Arboretum Staff

Updates from the Arboretum

From plants sales and garden bed development to the eradication of invasive plants....

Our landscaping crew have been diligently working throughout the season. Once it became apparent that we were in for a hot and dry one, our lead landscapers, Megan and Owen, shifted their focus from mass planting perennials to targeting and eradicating Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) — a highly invasive tree from Asia. This tree is a problem because of its rapid growth, its ability to inhibit the growth of other plants around it, and its role as the perfect host for an equally nasty invasive species called the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula).

If you've visited the Arboretum this summer, you may have seen these unwanted lanternflies hopping or flying from plant to plant. They suck the sap from their targets before moving onto the next, and in their wake is a sticky residue that has been known to encourage the growth of black sooty mold. While these critters aren't harmful to humans (they don't bite or sting), they do target native trees and food crops like grapes and cucumbers which can negatively impact food security in our communities.

What can you do to knock back the growing problem?

1. Control Tree of Heaven: Locate appropriate resources to cut and treat Tree of Heaven with herbicide. Blue Ridge Prism is an excellent resource to use if you would like to learn how to identify invasive species and how to properly treat them.
2. Kill the Spotted Lanternfly On Sight: This can be fairly tricky, because they are quick little guys with what seems like spidey-senses. They can be squished, sprayed with a soap & water mix, vinegar, or neem oil. However, vinegar should not be used near desirable plants as it will cause damage to plants.
3. Scrape Away Eggs: Females lay their eggs in September to then overwinter. To prevent an infestation later down the line, you can scrape off the eggs into a bag of alcohol solution.

For more information on the Spotted Lanternfly, please visit www.ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly

Something Old, Something New

Planting annual beds have been a long held tradition at the Arboretum, however, this will be the last year we plan annual beds; instead, we will be introducing perennials that will do much better stabilizing the soils. Our landscaping team is excited to plan for the future with sustainability in mind.

Honoring 16 years and 8 months of dedication and advocacy.

Jan Sievers Mahon has spent nearly two decades being a vocal advocate for the future of the Arboretum. Having retired in May of 2024, Jan finds herself finally enjoying the simple pleasures of her home garden and much needed rest and relaxation. The work she has done can be seen sprinkled throughout this woodland sanctuary and her impact will be felt for years to come.

August Art Exhibition

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Presents

Theresa Markiw

Theresa Markiw was born in Montreal, Canada of Ukrainian emigres and grew up in New Jersey. She began studying at the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the age of eight, followed by a decade at the Barn Studio of Art in Millville, NJ, with renowned marsh painter and mentor Pat Witt. While at "the Barn," Theresa studied with many visiting artists, including Morris Blackburn, Oliver Grimley, Chinese brush painter Phoebe Shih, and iconographer Piedman Shofronoff.

In 2006, Theresa left years of diplomatic service to join her university professor husband in Tennessee and devote herself full time to painting. In 2018, she and her husband moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where she continues to paint and exhibit. Throughout her career, Theresa has pursued a parallel life as a professional artist, exhibiting in over 80 solo and group shows in the US, Canada, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan.

Theresa's art exhibit can be found in the Frances Plecker Education Center until August 30th

Open Monday through Friday from 8 am - 4pm

GENERAL EVENTS

Evenings with Bats!

Next meeting on Friday, August 16 | 7:45 - 8:45 pm | FREE

Last dates for Evenings with Bats: September 6 at 7:15 pm & September 20 at 7 pm

Meet around the Pond

Members of our local chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists, in partnership with Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia, will be hosting Evenings with Bats by the Pond in the Arboretum.

Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before sunset to hear a brief presentation about bat conservation and behavior, followed by the opportunity to watch bats of the Arboretum emerge for their evening hunt. Master Naturalists and BCRV volunteers will also be hosting a bat call monitoring station as part of the evening, and visitors can watch and learn more about acoustic monitoring, and what it's telling us about the bats who live in the Arboretum.

Gratitude Walk

Sunday, August 18 | 10-10:30 am | FREE

Meet outside the Frances Plecker Education Center

Join Naturalist and Positive Psychology Practitioner, Anna Finch, on a brief but meaningful walk through the lovely arboretum grounds. You will be guided on a mindful journey filled with gratitude, heartfelt prompts, and questions to connect deeper to yourself and the natural world around you. Bring a journal if you would like to reflect along the way and share with others if you feel comfortable doing so!

Experience Sound Bathing

Tuesday, August 20 | 6-7:30 pm | $25 per session

Meet on the Ernst Tree Terrace (beside the Education Center)

Using gongs, crystal and Tibetan bowls, voice, drums, shakers, and chimes, Connie Magee will take you on a sound journey that will relax and de-stress you and bring your whole being back into a state of harmony on all levels; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Connie Magee is a multi-modality massage therapist, medicine woman, Yoga Instructor, and meditation teacher. Registration required.

Tai-Chi on the Terrace

Saturdays, August 24th - September 14th | 8-9 am | $15 per session

Meet on the Ernst Tree Terrace. In case of rain, meet at the Pavilion.

Tai chi, or Taijiquan, is an ancient Chinese martial art originally created for combat and self-defense. Tai chi has since evolved into a gentle, low-impact form of exercise that can improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Join Grayson Pritchard of Blue Heron Healing Arts as he guides you through the flowing motions and breath work of tai chi.

Grayson Pritchard, a certified instructor of Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan,and Qigong, is the owner of Blue Heron Healing Arts— a school of martial arts for children and adults, and energetic arts for health and healing. Visit his website at www.blueheronha.com.

Monarch Tagging & Release

Saturday, August 31st | 11 am - 12 pm | FREE

Meet on the Ernst Tree Terrace

We invite participants of all ages! Join butterfly enthusiast and Virginia Master Naturalist, Gail Napora, for our Monarch Tagging and Release. Gail will journey with you through the life cycle of the butterfly with images, trace the route of migration from all points north to Mexico, then share the details of tagging as attendees help hold the butterflies and then release them.

Bonsai Club

Next meeting on Tuesday, September 3 | 6-8 pm | FREE

Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center

Have you always wanted to explore bonsai as a hobby or are just curious about the art? Join presenters, Clark Driver and Simon Jilg, at Frances Plecker Education Center for a short lecture, bonsai displays, and door prizes! For questions and concerns please reach out to ShenandoahValleyBonsaiSociety@gmail.com

Shamanic Sound Bath & Holotropic Breathwork

Tuesday, September 24th | 5:30-6:45 pm | $40 per session

Meet at the Pavilion (near the Pond)

Join experienced musicians & Shamanic healers Connie Magee & Matthew DeRubertis for an unforgettable breathwork session with Shamanic sound healing, amid nature. Gong, chimes, guitar, ukulele, drums, singing bowls and many other instruments are used creatively to guide you into the deepest possible journey space- where emotional, mental, spiritual and physical healing can be accessed. Brainwave entrainment has been used for millennia in all cultures, for the healing of their people. Safe container, fully guided. Registration required.

Project Learning Tree: Explore Your Environment

Saturday, September 14 | 9 am - 3 pm | $11 registration fee

Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center

Pack a lunch, dress to be outdoors, and join us for a great day at JMU's Edith J Carrier Arboretum. At the completion of this workshop, you will receive a certificate of completion, an Explore Your Environment PLT guide, & have the confidence & skills to use PLT activities with K-8 students.

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)

MWEE is a multiday, investigative project that engages students in thinking critically about watersheds inside and outside the classroom. Last year all of the fourth-graders in Harrisonburg City had the opportunity to visit the Arboretum for a day, attending activities that explained issues like stormwater runoff, erosion, and pollution sources that impact watersheds. Before and after their visit to the Arboretum, students explore watershed concepts in class, which helps to solidify their understanding of the importance of watersheds and their impact on the ecosystem.

This October, the Arboretum will again host a MWEE for all fourth-graders in Harrisonburg! We are gearing up to create an unforgettable experience that can help foster connections between children and their environment—in hopes that they can become thoughtful stewards of the land. Following this, in November, we will host a pilot watershed day for Harrisonburg seventh-graders. We hope this pilot can serve as a launching pad for a future MWEE for all seventh-graders!