October - UT Gardens - The University of Tennessee
October - UT Gardens - The University of Tennessee
October - UT Gardens - The University of Tennessee
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Volume 14 No 7 <strong>October</strong> 2007<br />
16 th Annual Membership Meeting<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Friends <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong><br />
Monday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m., <strong>University</strong> Visitors’ Center<br />
Silver Anniversary<br />
Friends Committee<br />
Posey Congleton, Chair<br />
Dr. Joe Johnson &<br />
Mrs. Deborah DiPietro,<br />
Honorary Co-Chairs<br />
Anonymous<br />
Faye Beck<br />
Sandi Burdick & Tom Boyd<br />
Joe & Posey Congleton<br />
Sandra & Henry McIlwaine, Jr.<br />
Dr. Jesse Poore<br />
Kenneth Shepard &<br />
Mary Collins-Shepard<br />
Dr. Alan Solomon &<br />
Andrea Cartwright<br />
Mary & Joe Spengler<br />
Coming Dec. 1:<br />
Gifts & Talents<br />
Issue<br />
Guest Speaker: Robert E. Grese<br />
Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Landscape<br />
Architecture and Director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Matthaei Botanical <strong>Gardens</strong> and<br />
Nichols Arboretum at the <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Michigan, Ann Arbor<br />
Robert Grese will talk about distinguished<br />
landscape architect Jens<br />
Jensen and the design <strong>of</strong> three gardens<br />
in Knoxville, which is one <strong>of</strong> only two<br />
locations outside <strong>of</strong> the middle region<br />
<strong>of</strong> the country where Jensen designed<br />
many famous and enduring gardens<br />
and landscapes in the late 19 th<br />
and early 20 th century. Of the three<br />
gardens in Knoxville, the former Van<br />
Deventer Garden is the best preserved<br />
and has now been documented by<br />
graduate student Terumi Watson in<br />
connection with her master’s thesis.<br />
<strong>The</strong> acknowledged authority on Jens<br />
Jensen, Grese is the author <strong>of</strong> Jens<br />
Jensen: Maker <strong>of</strong> Natural Parks and<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> (Johns Hopkins <strong>University</strong><br />
Press, 1992) and numerous other<br />
publications on landscape design,<br />
restoration and management that<br />
respects the cultural and natural heritage<br />
<strong>of</strong> a region.<br />
Social hour begins at 6 p.m. at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> Visitors’ Center (formerly<br />
the Faculty Club) on Neyland Drive,<br />
with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar<br />
followed by the program at 7 p.m.<br />
Mr. Grese’s appearance is sponsored<br />
by Mrs. (Herbert) Carter Van<br />
Deventer Slatery Jr., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong><br />
Architecture (Emeritus) J. William<br />
and Eileen Rudd, and Dorothy and<br />
Caesar Stair, with additional funding<br />
for research costs from Melissa and<br />
Tom McAdams and Helen and Sandy<br />
McNabb. Thank you!
<strong>The</strong> Friends are a<br />
800-member 501(c)(3) non<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>it founded in 1992.<br />
Our mission is to advocate,<br />
promote, and raise funds for<br />
the <strong>Gardens</strong> from citizens on the<br />
university campus, in our community<br />
and across the state.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> will celebrate their<br />
25th anniversary in 2008.<br />
Editorial Board<br />
Bettie Corey<br />
Carolyn Dean<br />
Steve Row<br />
<strong>The</strong> Garden Post publishes eight<br />
issues in February, March, April,<br />
May, June, September, <strong>October</strong><br />
and December, plus occasional<br />
special issues. <strong>The</strong> deadline for<br />
submissions is the first day <strong>of</strong><br />
the previous month. Questions<br />
for “Q&A” are also welcome.<br />
P. O. Box 51394<br />
Knoxville, TN 37950-1394<br />
Infoline: 865-525-4555<br />
friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu<br />
www.friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens.org<br />
Leadership transitions<br />
With growing work and added family<br />
responsibilities, past president<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin has been looking for<br />
someone to succeed her as executive<br />
director for some time. After<br />
many discussions with several potential<br />
candidates over the last two years,<br />
she and the co-presidents have found<br />
a true gem for the Friends, to begin<br />
Oct. 1: Elizabeth Burman. Elizabeth<br />
is the first program coordinator for<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tennessee</strong>’s Marco<br />
Institute for Medieval and Renaissance<br />
Studies. <strong>The</strong>resa will continue to work<br />
with the co-presidents to build relationships<br />
and develop long term funding in<br />
her position as past president and will<br />
complete the Plaza project in cooperation<br />
with the East <strong>Tennessee</strong> Research<br />
and Education Center director and<br />
crew. She has also worked with<br />
Elizabeth during much <strong>of</strong> the month <strong>of</strong><br />
September and will continue to help to<br />
ensure a smooth transition.<br />
New executive director Elizabeth<br />
Burman is jumping right into the<br />
Friends’ activities and will head the<br />
Blooms Days Committee for 2008.<br />
Mary Collins Shepard will continue to<br />
serve as advisor and work on sponsorship<br />
for Blooms Days and in collaboration<br />
with the Silver Anniversary Friends<br />
Committee. An insert celebrating the<br />
25 th Anniversary <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong> is<br />
planned for 2008 in the Knoxville<br />
News Sentinel. This project will allow<br />
for a number <strong>of</strong> special opportunities<br />
for individuals and Business Patrons,<br />
Sponsors and Friends to express<br />
support and advertise at the same<br />
time.<br />
Melissa Ferguson, secretary <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Friends, must leave her post at the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> this year because her schedule<br />
will change to require her to work at<br />
her Knox County Library Branch on<br />
Monday evenings. Before she leaves the<br />
Friends’ board, Melissa will work with<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin to assemble archives for<br />
the Friends that can then be accessed<br />
in Pendergrass Library. <strong>The</strong>y will also<br />
clean out the Ellington “cell” <strong>of</strong> old and<br />
extraneous material so that the seven<br />
foot stack <strong>of</strong> materials in <strong>The</strong>resa’s<br />
home <strong>of</strong>fice can be transferred. An<br />
archival copy <strong>of</strong> all sample publications<br />
will be retained and organized in<br />
a notebook.<br />
Melissa deserves deep thanks for her<br />
assiduous work on the minutes for all<br />
<strong>of</strong> our meetings. <strong>The</strong>y have been a<br />
tremendous help.<br />
Sandra Leach will also be leaving<br />
the board after nearly seven years<br />
<strong>of</strong> continuous service in a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
capacities—membership chair, treasurer,<br />
vice president. She will focus<br />
her energies on the critical task <strong>of</strong><br />
participating in the search committee<br />
for the Director <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong>.<br />
Other leadership news<br />
We are delighted to have Posey<br />
Congleton chair the new Silver<br />
Anniversary Friends Committee. We<br />
are also very appreciative that Dr. Joe<br />
Johnson and Mrs. Deborah DiPietro<br />
have agreed to serve as honorary<br />
co-chairs.<br />
Co-President Mary Spengler has<br />
already been hard at work with<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin and Posey Congleton<br />
in meeting with longtime supporters<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Friends and <strong>Gardens</strong> to<br />
encourage their participation as<br />
Silver Anniversary Friends to mark<br />
the 25 th anniversary <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong>.<br />
Discussions to date have been<br />
very rewarding. If we have not yet<br />
contacted you and you would like to<br />
speak with us, please call the Infoline<br />
at 865-525-4555 or email<br />
friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu.<br />
Co-President Faye Beck also chairs<br />
the Friends’ Educational Programs and<br />
Plant Sales Committee. She is already<br />
hard at work on plans for those in<br />
2008. If you have ideas for workshops<br />
we should consider <strong>of</strong>fering, or wish<br />
to volunteer for this committee, please<br />
call the Infoline at 865-525-4555 or<br />
email friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu.<br />
Lucy Gibson, chair <strong>of</strong> the Secret<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> Committee, is working with her<br />
committee to finalize plans for those<br />
community fundraisers in 2008. If you<br />
would like to host a party, have a good<br />
suggestion for a candidate garden, or<br />
wish to serve on this committee, please<br />
call the Infoline at 865-525-4555 or<br />
email friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu.<br />
Carolyn Crowder, vice president and<br />
administrative services coordinator,<br />
has been responsible for arrangements<br />
for the Annual Membership Meeting<br />
Nov. 5. If you would like to help<br />
Carolyn at the meeting, please call<br />
the Infoline at 865-525-4555 or email<br />
friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu.<br />
From the Outgoing Friends Executive Director<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin<br />
My copy for <strong>The</strong> Garden Post deadline was due the same<br />
day that I was committed to play the newly refurbished and<br />
enlarged pipe organ in a beautiful historic church in downtown<br />
Knoxville, the Church Street United Methodist Church.<br />
Usually I write quickly, but I had been struggling for weeks<br />
with how to leave a few words—scrapping reams <strong>of</strong> paper—<br />
that would adequately express my gratitude for the many<br />
people I have had a chance to work with and learn from in<br />
the last few years <strong>of</strong> association with the Friends.<br />
As I listened to the two sermons at the two services that<br />
day, it occurred to me to think about: A group <strong>of</strong> Friends in<br />
heaven. With many recent developments in my life, it has<br />
finally occurred to me that I cannot do all I want to do on<br />
earth and that my family and I won’t live forever, waiting for<br />
me to stop trying to do it all. So, I have recently started to<br />
assemble in my mind’s eye the Friends I want to serve with<br />
in heaven. Please bear with me, but they are, first names<br />
only: Ginna, Lisa, Maggie, Mary, Mary, Mary, Faye, Carolyn,<br />
Carolyn, Sandy, Sandi, Lucy, Dennis, Steve, Kathleen, Jacki,<br />
Jenny, Gary, Donald, Donald, Tom, Eileen, Bill, Kenneth,<br />
Will, John, Jim, David, Janice, Deborah, Barbara, Terumi,<br />
Katie, Robin, Bessie, Martha, Angie, Bill, Tom, Mike, Joe,<br />
Joe, Joe, Joe, Jack, Jack, Jeff, Carrie, Sarah, Amy, Amy,<br />
Nancy, Caesar, Dorothy, Tom, Sherri, Karen, Dee, Bee,<br />
Jean, Harriette, Alice, Alice, Martha, Margaret, Warner, Rita,<br />
Kenneth, Posey, Bettie, Bruce, John, Jesse, Maggie, Paddy,<br />
Nicole, Lise, Andre, Janie, Henry, Ellen, Kim, Cynthia,<br />
Frances, Amy, Helen, Sandy, Karen, Debbie, Jim, Natalie,<br />
Miriam, Allison, Sarah, Alan, Teenie.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> these people barely know me, but they have been<br />
an inspiration nonetheless. Most <strong>of</strong> them don’t even know<br />
each other, but they would be my ideal assembly <strong>of</strong> Friends<br />
nevertheless. <strong>The</strong>y’d be capable <strong>of</strong> recreating heaven on<br />
earth or earth in heaven. In any event, they’d make a difference<br />
for the good. Over and over again, they have changed<br />
my attitude or thinking, made me do better, brightened my<br />
day, “given me refreshment” as the old psalm says, or just<br />
kept me going in my life and work in the Knoxville community.<br />
I am very, very grateful.<br />
2 3
New Executive Director<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>of</strong> the Friends <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> are pleased<br />
to introduce Elizabeth<br />
Burman as new executive<br />
director, succeeding<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin. Elizabeth is<br />
the first program coordinator<br />
for the <strong>University</strong>’s Marco<br />
Institute for Medieval and<br />
Renaissance Studies. She furnished their <strong>of</strong>fices<br />
and classrooms, built their Web site and organized<br />
and managed all publications, facilities,<br />
scheduling, special events and conferences.<br />
Before coming to <strong>UT</strong>, she worked at the international<br />
headquarters (in Canada) <strong>of</strong> a non-pr<strong>of</strong>it<br />
organization, where she edited their newsletters<br />
and trained volunteers. Her pr<strong>of</strong>essional writing<br />
and editing experience includes the researching,<br />
writing, editing and production <strong>of</strong> directories,<br />
manuals, articles, newsletters, book-length manuscripts,<br />
grant proposals, market surveys, budget<br />
reports, and educational materials.<br />
Elizabeth has led financial management seminars,<br />
was a founding member <strong>of</strong> the Knoxville’s<br />
Mother’s Center, and is a trained group facilitator.<br />
She has also written and produced four plays.<br />
She attended Smith College in Massachusetts and<br />
Whitman College in Washington, where she graduated<br />
with a B.A. with honors in English, with an<br />
art minor. She is married to Thomas Burman,<br />
Lindsay Young pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> history and interim<br />
head <strong>of</strong> <strong>UT</strong>’s Department <strong>of</strong> History, where he<br />
specializes in the history <strong>of</strong> Muslim/Jewish/<br />
Christian relations in the Middle Ages. Her son,<br />
David, is a high school senior with a passion for<br />
history, German, and Tintin books; her 11-year<br />
old daughter, Erin, reads books in trees and<br />
recently took up the tuba.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Friends enthusiastically welcome Elizabeth to<br />
our organization.<br />
From the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Director<br />
Dr. Susan Hamilton<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> the new Friendship Plaza, we will<br />
be able to add to our various collections in the<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong>. I have designed a planting plan for the<br />
new entrance with lots <strong>of</strong> input from Friends<br />
members and pr<strong>of</strong>essional horticulturists. I recently<br />
was able to travel to the Pacific Northwest and visit<br />
many <strong>of</strong> the notable nurseries, and as a result, I<br />
was able to order numerous select plants that will<br />
really bolster our collections—everything from ornamental<br />
grasses and perennials to trees and shrubs.<br />
<strong>The</strong> plan is to plant this new area <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong><br />
starting this month through November. Be sure to<br />
check out the many new and exciting selections we<br />
will be adding.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>UT</strong> semester and classes are in full swing and<br />
because the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> serves as an outdoor classroom<br />
and laboratory, the <strong>Gardens</strong> are abuzz with<br />
students. You’ll see students in the woody tree<br />
and shrub course and our herbaceous plant identification<br />
course studying plants in our different<br />
collections. You might see plants with flagging<br />
tape indicating this is a class test plant. We also<br />
Student from Greenway School in Knoxville drawing plants for their class lesson.<br />
Student from Greenway School in Knoxville drawing plants for their class lesson.<br />
have many school field trips visiting the <strong>Gardens</strong>.<br />
A notable recent visit was one by the Knoxville<br />
Greenway School, which teaches only sixth through<br />
eighth grade. I found the adolescent students and<br />
teachers from this school spread out all over the<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> as they each sketched drawings <strong>of</strong> different<br />
plants and labeled the different plant parts. <strong>The</strong>n<br />
the class was to get together and integrate various<br />
academic disciplines into their garden lesson. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />
teacher indicated they would be discussing Latin<br />
plant names, history, science, and math as part <strong>of</strong><br />
their garden visit and plant study. This plant-based<br />
education is what school gardens are all about<br />
and it thrilled me to see this unique middle-school<br />
taking advantage <strong>of</strong> this valuable resource in our<br />
community.<br />
Speaking <strong>of</strong> education, I had a great learning experience<br />
on a recent trip I took to visit one <strong>of</strong> our<br />
alumni who is now the director <strong>of</strong> the Columbus<br />
Botanical Garden in Columbus, Ga. Nicole Sanchez,<br />
who graduated from <strong>UT</strong> in 2001, went to work at<br />
Callaway <strong>Gardens</strong> as director <strong>of</strong> the butterfly conservatory<br />
and then as interim director <strong>of</strong> the gardens.<br />
Just this past spring, Nicole became the first<br />
director <strong>of</strong> the new botanical garden in Columbus.<br />
I met with several <strong>of</strong> Nicole’s board members and<br />
learned about how they are preparing a master<br />
plan for their 200-acre garden. Only two acres are<br />
developed right now, but a wonderfully restored<br />
turn-<strong>of</strong>-the-century farmhouse has been developed<br />
as the visitor and education center. Nicole has<br />
already grown membership to about 200 and has<br />
developed a monthly newsletter and educational<br />
programs for the year. It was rewarding to see how<br />
well Nicole is doing and learn <strong>of</strong> the exciting plans<br />
she has to grow their garden.<br />
Nicole Sanchez , director <strong>of</strong> the Columbus GA Botanical Garden<br />
We wrap up our summer annual plant evaluations<br />
this month and look forward to sharing the results<br />
<strong>of</strong> our 2007 trials with you in the March 2008 newsletter.<br />
It was not an easy summer to be a plant<br />
or a gardener. Despite the challenging heat and<br />
drought, we still had numerous standout selections.<br />
I commend all <strong>of</strong> our student interns, graduate<br />
student Beth Willis and Betty Tipton for keeping<br />
all <strong>of</strong> our plants growing and for collection <strong>of</strong> our<br />
performance data.<br />
4 5
From the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Curator<br />
Good News<br />
James Newburn<br />
Now that the temperatures are cooling and there’s a<br />
fall nip in the air, the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> again come alive<br />
with color. Against the brilliant blue autumn sky,<br />
nature’s rainbow <strong>of</strong> color gives us one last show.<br />
In the perennial border the asters are the royal<br />
ladies donning the purple. Whether it is the delicately<br />
flowered light purple <strong>of</strong> the sturdy stemmed<br />
Tatarian Aster, Aster tataricus, that reaches up to<br />
five to six feet tall, or the deeper hued and more<br />
low-growing New England Asters, A. novae-angliae,<br />
these richly colored late bloomers are a must<br />
have for any fall landscape. Also in the perennial<br />
border White Doll’s Daisy or False Aster, Boltonia<br />
asteroides ‘Snowbank,’ is a mass <strong>of</strong> snowy white<br />
blooms about four feet tall while Solidago rugosa<br />
‘Fireworks’ is an explosion <strong>of</strong> golden-yellow goldenrod<br />
about the same manageable size.<br />
Throughout the <strong>Gardens</strong> you will notice our collection<br />
<strong>of</strong> Japanese maples brightly displaying their<br />
fall colors <strong>of</strong> gold, yellow and red. My particular<br />
favorite is Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku,’ or Coral<br />
Bark Japanese Maple, which is aptly named for its<br />
rich coral to red stem color. In many areas we have<br />
paired these with choice conifers—for instance, a<br />
blue spruce, Picea pungens, and Deodar cedar,<br />
Cedrus deodara, in the lowest garden room next<br />
to Neyland Drive, where the blue and grey-green<br />
needles <strong>of</strong> the conifers showcase even more the<br />
beauty <strong>of</strong> the maple’s bark and foliage. You might<br />
try this combination in your garden.<br />
Finally, in the herb garden you cannot miss the brilliant<br />
yellow <strong>of</strong> the asparagus with its mass <strong>of</strong> finely<br />
textured delicate foliage that is about four to five<br />
feet high. Swamp sunflower, Helianthus angustifolius,<br />
is probably one <strong>of</strong> the plants we get the most<br />
questions about in the fall because <strong>of</strong> its prolific<br />
blooming. Keep an eye out as well for the Tree<br />
Dahlia, also with a very appropriate botanical name:<br />
Dahlia imperialis. This majestic plant can reach<br />
10-12’ tall here and only blooms if we don’t get<br />
an early frost. If it is not nipped, its beautiful light<br />
purple blooms droop high overhead and provide<br />
one last spectacular flower display before winter<br />
sets in.<br />
I think fall is the best time <strong>of</strong> year, though, to focus<br />
on the garden as a whole. Take the time either<br />
here or in your own garden to step back and look<br />
at the panoramic landscape. Enjoy the view that a<br />
well blended garden <strong>of</strong> a variety <strong>of</strong> colors, textures,<br />
heights, and forms provide when an effective<br />
combination <strong>of</strong> deciduous trees, conifers, shrubs,<br />
annuals, grasses, and herbs are utilized.<br />
Well blended fall garden. clockwise from top center: Nuttall Oak, Eucalyptus,<br />
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, Asparagus, European Hornbeam.<br />
Membership in the Friends stands at nearly 800 in<br />
late 2007, an increase <strong>of</strong> nearly 500 members from<br />
late 2004.<br />
<strong>The</strong> numbers <strong>of</strong> members supporting at much<br />
higher levels has also increased substantially. In<br />
late 2004, the Friends had no Benefactors and<br />
no Patrons, four Sponsoring Friends, 17 Business<br />
Friends, 10 Garden Clubs/Societies, and 26<br />
Contributing Friends beyond the entry levels <strong>of</strong><br />
Family and Individual memberships.<br />
News Briefs<br />
Officers and new board members will be elected at<br />
a brief business meeting before the lecture at the<br />
Annual Membership Meeting Nov. 5. A postcard<br />
will be mailed to all Friends two weeks before the<br />
meeting with slate and reminder re the meeting.<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> director Dr. Susan Hamilton reports that<br />
500 more <strong>of</strong> the trees and shrubs in the <strong>Gardens</strong>’<br />
collection now are marked with new rodent-resistant<br />
anodized aluminum labels, bringing to more than<br />
1,000 the number <strong>of</strong> trees and shrubs with permanent<br />
botanical labels. <strong>The</strong> <strong>UT</strong> Experiment Station<br />
has financed these new labels to enhance the<br />
appearance and interpretation <strong>of</strong> the tree and shrub<br />
plant collection. Friends co-president Faye Beck,<br />
graduate teaching assistant Andy Pulte, and undergraduate<br />
Tony Clark worked with Dr. Hamilton on<br />
correct plant nomenclature for the labels.<br />
In August, the Friends board made a donation<br />
to Camp Hart Scholarship in memory <strong>of</strong> Willie<br />
Hart, whose company Ritchie Tractors has been a<br />
supporter <strong>of</strong> Blooms Days for many years. Mr. Hart’s<br />
son, Dr. Willie Hart, is on the faculty at <strong>UT</strong> and has<br />
also been <strong>of</strong> great assistance at Blooms Days every<br />
year. Friends who would like to add their individual<br />
contributions can do so by sending memorials to<br />
By 2007, we have 10 Silver Anniversary Friends,<br />
seven Benefactors, six Patrons, six Business Patrons,<br />
one Business Sponsor, 27 Business Friends, 24<br />
Sponsoring Friends, 15 Garden Clubs/Societies,<br />
seven Student Friends and 124 Contributing Friends.<br />
Thanks to all <strong>of</strong> you! You have made it possible<br />
for the Friends to do much more in a much more<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional manner to grow the Friends and<br />
convert our support for the <strong>Gardens</strong> to a more<br />
sustainable enterprise.<br />
Galeux d’Eysines Squash<br />
the Washington County Extension Office, 206 W.<br />
Main Street, Jonesborough, Tenn. 37659-1320.<br />
Recently seen at a farmer’s stand at the Knoxville<br />
Market Square: Galeux d’Eysines Squash just in<br />
time for Fall celebrations. This “creepy crawler”<br />
giant squash (C. maxima) was first seen at the<br />
Pumpkin Fair in Tranzault, France, in 1996 from<br />
seed collected by Amy Goldman from La Ferme de<br />
Ste. Marthe, Cour-Cheverny, France. Sweet, moist,<br />
orange flesh, great for baking and in soups. Fruits<br />
weigh 10-20 pounds and should be harvested<br />
before overly mature (90 days) because the peanutlike<br />
warts continue to grow and will cover the entire<br />
fruit. Beautiful enough for table centerpieces.<br />
Creepy enough for Halloween. Rightfully called<br />
“bumpkins” by clever children. A sure seller for farm<br />
and market stands.<br />
Photo by Allison Roberts<br />
6 7
Longtime Friend Dr. Alan Solomon, a researcher<br />
at the <strong>UT</strong> Graduate School <strong>of</strong> Medicine, has been<br />
awarded a five-year renewal <strong>of</strong> a grant from the<br />
National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health’s National Cancer<br />
Institute. Dr. Solomon is pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> medicine and<br />
director <strong>of</strong> the Human Immunology and Cancer/<br />
Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyloid-Related Disorders<br />
Research Program. He has devoted 42 years to<br />
the study, diagnosis and treatment <strong>of</strong> cancer and<br />
amyloidosis. <strong>The</strong> grant is one <strong>of</strong> the longest active<br />
NIH grants in NIH history and is the longest running<br />
NIH grant in <strong>UT</strong> history. Originally awarded to Dr.<br />
Solomon in 1965, the grant has been renewed<br />
continually for the past 42 years and has provided<br />
more than $12 million to fund Dr. Solomon’s work<br />
at <strong>UT</strong>. Congratulations Dr. Solomon!<br />
A new book collects 132 gardening columns <strong>of</strong><br />
Elizabeth Lawrence. Beautiful at All Seasons:<br />
Southern Gardening and Beyond is edited by Ann<br />
L. Armstrong and Lindie Wilson. Ms. Wilson has been<br />
the owner and steward <strong>of</strong> Lawrence’s former home<br />
and garden in Charlotte, N.C., for 20 years. <strong>The</strong> new<br />
book showcases Lawrence’s vast knowledge, her<br />
intimate, conversational writing style and her lifelong<br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> gardens and gardening. For more<br />
information visit www.elizabethlawrence.org.<br />
In September, 68-year-old self-taught topiary<br />
artist Pearl Fryar visited Knoxville as guest <strong>of</strong><br />
the Knoxville Museum <strong>of</strong> Art and the Knoxville<br />
Botanical Garden. Fryar was discovered in<br />
Bishopville, S.C., by Polly Laffitte, then curator<br />
<strong>of</strong> art for the South Carolina State Museum. Ms.<br />
Laffitte is now associate director <strong>of</strong> development<br />
for the College <strong>of</strong> Arts and Sciences at <strong>UT</strong>. She<br />
also directed photography for the documentary<br />
“A Man Named Pearl,” which showed at Downtown<br />
West in early September for a limited but well<br />
received run.<br />
Virginia Tech will establish a terrace garden at the<br />
Hahn Horticulture Garden in memory <strong>of</strong> Jocelyne<br />
Couture-Nowak, a victim <strong>of</strong> the April 16 shootings<br />
and the wife <strong>of</strong> Jerzy Nowak, head <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Horticulture Department at Virginia Tech. She was<br />
an avid gardener and a French instructor at the<br />
college.<br />
We are always happy to include news about<br />
members and gardening-related events. Please send<br />
contributions to friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu.<br />
Letters<br />
From Kerrie Wetzel Bradford, a <strong>UT</strong> 1999<br />
alumna from Ornamental Horticulture and<br />
Landscape Design who is now a teacher <strong>of</strong> agriculture<br />
in Kingsport. She recently wrote eTorch,<br />
the online alumni newsletter, along with many<br />
other <strong>UT</strong> alumni to praise their best teachers.<br />
Her choice was Dr. Don Williams:<br />
“It was a real privilege to be a part <strong>of</strong> Dr.<br />
Williams’s class. He was true to his pr<strong>of</strong>ession<br />
and fair in the classroom. He expected us all<br />
to work as equals, even us girls in his landscape<br />
construction class. He not only inspired<br />
me pr<strong>of</strong>essionally, but personally as well,<br />
when he would open his home and family<br />
life to us each semester for a department<br />
social at his home. Because <strong>of</strong> him, I chose to<br />
pursue teaching agriculture as a career, and<br />
I strive to touch at least one person’s life like<br />
he did mine. His passing was a true loss for<br />
<strong>UT</strong>.” It was, indeed.<br />
From new Sponsoring Friend Connie Gonzalez:<br />
“<strong>The</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> have been transformed since<br />
I visited them a year ago. I did not realize<br />
I could become a Friend <strong>of</strong> the Garden but<br />
from now on my husband and I will be<br />
contributors.”<br />
From <strong>UT</strong> President Emeritus Dr. Joe Johnson<br />
to executive director <strong>The</strong>resa Pepin:<br />
“Pat and I had a wonderful time on Sunday<br />
afternoon, June 24, at the current year’s<br />
Blooms Days Event. You, Mary Spengler,<br />
Mary Collins-Shepard, John Hodges, Susan<br />
Hamilton, and other fine volunteers <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Friends <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong> did a grand job, even<br />
though you had to work around the much<br />
sought after new and impressive entrance.<br />
Pat and I wandered, looked, appreciated<br />
and enjoyed the beauty <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong>. We<br />
shopped and bought two items and had cones<br />
<strong>of</strong> ice cream. Thank you and your associates<br />
for great and important work and leadership.”<br />
Friends’ <strong>Gardens</strong> Reports<br />
<strong>The</strong> Friends email inbox and listserv received<br />
several comments from members about their<br />
experiences in this year <strong>of</strong> the “frozen fries”—the<br />
Easter Sunday freeze and the interminable<br />
drought and heat that followed:<br />
From Peggy Tippens, master gardener and owner<br />
<strong>of</strong> Garden Bouquets & More:<br />
In the last five months, we have had really weird<br />
weather—a zapping freeze in April followed by<br />
extreme summer heat and drought. Leaves now fall<br />
on parched ground weeks before autumn is due to<br />
arrive. Rain is scarce and seems to miss our street<br />
when it does come. We experience patience and<br />
perseverance when dealing with Mother Nature. But<br />
there is good news. Nothing in our yard died. Yes,<br />
the freeze nipped foliage on some roses, hydrangeas<br />
and Japanese maples, but others came through<br />
with no damage at all. Most trees, shrubs and perennials<br />
were fine. We live on a hill with open exposure.<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> our two acres is in full sun. It is hard<br />
to understand why two blue ‘Nikko’ hydrangeas<br />
had to be pruned back but two others produced<br />
beautiful blossoms on schedule. <strong>The</strong> ‘Limelights,’<br />
‘Annabelle’ and ‘Snowflakes’ are a bit late blooming<br />
but snubbed their noses at the freeze. ‘Pee Gee’ and<br />
‘Snow Queen’ appear healthy but blooms scarce.<br />
Our collections <strong>of</strong> hollies, viburnums, nandinas<br />
and magnolias were unaffected by the cold. Only<br />
one ‘Sieboldi’ magnolia and one Viburnum ‘shasta<br />
tomentosa’ were stressed. Both are still fighting to<br />
recover due to brutal temperatures.<br />
I believe two factors were involved in successful<br />
recovery from the stress on plants <strong>of</strong> extreme cold<br />
followed by extreme heat: First, WATER. If healthy<br />
plants were well hydrated before the freeze, they<br />
were quicker to recover. Pr<strong>of</strong>essional experts<br />
immediately advised not to prune back damaged<br />
plants, to wait until the plant was no longer in<br />
shock. Also, water well and continue watering as<br />
needed while plants recovered. That factor worked<br />
for us. With a small garden business, Richard and<br />
I were already doing our scheduled irrigating and<br />
maintenance chores.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second factor is placement or exposure in<br />
the landscape. It is interesting that neither protective<br />
fences, trees nor the house served as barriers<br />
from the freeze. Some unprotected plants were<br />
not affected while some with less exposure got<br />
zapped. Richard thinks the success or failure <strong>of</strong> a<br />
plant is in its genes. Who knows? We are fortunate<br />
that, although blooms were a bit late, everything is<br />
alive and coping. <strong>The</strong> gardens are a joy so we are<br />
counting our blessings.<br />
From Laura Kreuzer, community calendar volunteer<br />
for the Friends:<br />
I live in a condo and garden in large tubs and lots<br />
<strong>of</strong> big pots. I also have several water gardens that<br />
have become very popular with the local bird population.<br />
My regular customers are wrens and a dove<br />
or two. But this summer I had everything from huge<br />
crows to cardinals, robins and lots <strong>of</strong> hummers<br />
taking advantage <strong>of</strong> the water supply. Quite a few<br />
butterflies, too, along with ground squirrels and<br />
regular squirrels.<br />
I keep several big clay saucers filled with water and<br />
those seem to be the most popular for bathing. A<br />
small fountain that drips streams <strong>of</strong> water down<br />
several levels is popular with the hummers. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
hover and drink from the streams. Thanks to<br />
the birds, I have no bugs this year and no slugs,<br />
because the birds usually stick around for a<br />
free meal after getting a drink. I run a full service<br />
bird spa!<br />
From Sandi Burdick, owner <strong>of</strong> a large garden in<br />
South Knoxville and chair <strong>of</strong> the Secret <strong>Gardens</strong><br />
2007:<br />
Every crape myrtle in our yard, whether it is a<br />
giant or one <strong>of</strong> the dwarfs, has bloomed more<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>usely this year than ever. Although they all<br />
suffered some dieback from the Easter Sunday<br />
freeze, the blooms below the dead limbs are<br />
smothered in gorgeous, colorful flowers. I only<br />
recently cut the dead limbs <strong>of</strong>f.<br />
8 9
From Elizabeth Burman, new executive<br />
director for the Friends:<br />
We built a new raised-bed vegetable garden<br />
this year (good) but had yet to install any<br />
kind <strong>of</strong> irrigation system (bad). I now<br />
believe that bean plants could survive a<br />
nuclear war, but alas they chose self-preservation<br />
over providing us with many beans.<br />
We did make good use <strong>of</strong> our rain barrel<br />
(there’s also no water spigot near the new<br />
garden--double bad) but even rain barrels<br />
need, well, RAIN.<br />
Friendship Plaza update<br />
Basic work on the Friendship Plaza was completed<br />
in September, with special features to be added<br />
as funding is designated by patrons and the Silver<br />
Anniversary Friends Committee. <strong>The</strong> marble donor<br />
wall allows us for the first time to permanently recognize<br />
major gifts to the <strong>Gardens</strong>. Special features will<br />
also allow for enduring naming opportunities.<br />
We are grateful to the many suppliers and contractors<br />
who have made partial or complete in-kind<br />
donations for this project during the course <strong>of</strong> its<br />
three phases. <strong>The</strong>y will be recognized on a separate<br />
bronze plaque in the new Plaza: Belgard<br />
Hardscapes, Big Rock Building Products (An<br />
Oldcastle Company), Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick,<br />
Custom Marble & Design, WASCO Inc., General<br />
Shale Brick, Kenneth Pace Builders, Cortese Tree<br />
Specialists, Blue Ridge Architecture, Claiborne<br />
Hauling, Sequatchie Concrete Systems, Sand<br />
Products and the Knoxville Metropolitan Planning<br />
Commission. We hope to have furnishings for the<br />
new Plaza funded through a Campus Beautification<br />
Grant Program and are awaiting final approval for<br />
that proposal from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tennessee</strong>.<br />
Donors who may be interested in naming opportunities<br />
for special features should contact the Infoline at<br />
865-525-4555 or friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu and<br />
we will be happy to tell you about remaining work<br />
to complete design proposals for the shade sails, a<br />
performance space, artisan ironwork and a possible<br />
fountain or other water/cooling/shading features.<br />
From <strong>The</strong>resa Pepin, outgoing executive<br />
director for the Friends:<br />
Somebody asked me the other day how<br />
my garden fared, and I said that its best<br />
“blossom” this year was the orange tape<br />
I had strung on every plant that we were<br />
trying to save with hand watering among the<br />
many others I was leaving to fend for themselves.<br />
With no irrigation on our rocky one<br />
acre, I am compelled to drag hoses to individually<br />
marked plants as I see them start<br />
to go over the line from wilting to expiring.<br />
(Evergreens are particularly tricky in this<br />
regard.) I recruit help by stopping people<br />
on the street to hold a hose. (After all, who<br />
needs to walk or run in this heat when they<br />
can water below the shade <strong>of</strong> stressed, giant<br />
trees instead?) Seriously, the best blossom<br />
has been the native passion flower. <strong>The</strong> best<br />
surprise has been the astoundingly architectural<br />
and beautiful spider webs seen in early<br />
morning and late afternoon slanted light. <strong>The</strong><br />
best benefit <strong>of</strong> hand watering individual specimens<br />
turns out to be that I can blast the<br />
spider mites <strong>of</strong>f the foliage they’re trying to<br />
gobble. I had to let go a field <strong>of</strong> ostrich ferns<br />
a couple months ago. Sadder has been to<br />
see a mature yellowwood girdled by chewing<br />
wildlife hungry for something succulent.<br />
Nature gives and Nature takes away.<br />
Adam Sneed and Ben Rossen<br />
Bruce Bennett <strong>of</strong> Custom Marble & Design looking on as San Diego and Charlie<br />
Solomon put final touches on the marble donor wall<br />
Photo by Allison Roberts<br />
Charlie Solomon doing finish work on the marble donor wall<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin laying brick<br />
Photo by Allison Roberts<br />
Photo by Allison Roberts<br />
Detail from one <strong>of</strong> the ironwork concept sketches<br />
Water feature could be a fountain or other proposal.<br />
10 11
Secret Garden Parties 2007<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Osmandia<br />
<strong>The</strong> last Secret Garden Party <strong>of</strong> 2007 coming up<br />
in <strong>October</strong> is a tribute to the imagination <strong>of</strong> Lewis<br />
Carroll and particularly invites children to join in our<br />
series <strong>of</strong> garden parties. A limited number <strong>of</strong> tickets<br />
may still be available for this party by the time <strong>of</strong> this<br />
newsletter’s mailing. Purchase your tickets as soon<br />
as possible, so you will not be disappointed.<br />
DATE: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2-4 p.m.<br />
COST: $30 per parent/adult; $15 per child<br />
(suggested ages 6-12)<br />
Alice, the March Hare and Dormouse invite parents,<br />
friends and children to join them in exploring the<br />
charmingly eccentric gardens <strong>of</strong> Osmandia. Guests<br />
will delight in the fantasy conjured by a remarkable<br />
world <strong>of</strong> whimsy, rumpled exuberance and<br />
child-sized rambles amid the bounty and beauty <strong>of</strong><br />
nature on a brilliant autumn afternoon.<br />
Just as the settings do in Lewis Carroll’s writing,<br />
this garden stirs the imagination <strong>of</strong> all who visit.<br />
If you are a devotee <strong>of</strong> the garden writing <strong>of</strong><br />
Mirabel Osler—and particularly her “Gentle Plea for<br />
Chaos”—you will be immediately enchanted by this<br />
unique setting in West Knoxville.<br />
Children can make a hat at the Mad Hatter’s Hat<br />
Factory or bring a favorite <strong>of</strong> their own. Riddles, readings,<br />
music and costume contests add to the fun <strong>of</strong><br />
a very special tea party on the sheltered lawn <strong>of</strong> this<br />
antebellum farmhouse that is on the National Historic<br />
Register. All are encouraged to come costumed as a<br />
character from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,”<br />
but not in best finery, as children will very much want<br />
to explore the nooks and crannies <strong>of</strong> the Mad Hatter’s<br />
wild kingdom and get to know the resident creatures.<br />
All children must be accompanied by adults. If you’re<br />
still young at heart, you’ll want to come, too.<br />
Hosts:<br />
*Pam and Alex Osmand, Terumi and Ian<br />
Watso, <strong>The</strong>resa Pepin and Kenneth Pace,<br />
Nicholas and Elizabeth Anderson, Jonathan<br />
and Debra Dean<br />
Special thanks to our 2007 Secret Garden Parties<br />
sponsors: Mrs. Charles (Lane) Hays, Home<br />
Federal Bank, Cortese Tree Specialists Inc.,<br />
Ellenburg Landscaping and Nursery and Mary<br />
and Joe Spengler.<br />
Tickets may be ordered online at<br />
www.friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens.org, or you can<br />
send your check to Friends <strong>of</strong> the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong>,<br />
P. O. Box 51394, Knoxville, TN 37950-1394. Call<br />
865-525-4555 if you have questions about specific<br />
availability.<br />
Secret Garden Parties Reports:<br />
Plant Collector & Sculpture Garden<br />
By Pam Reddoch<br />
<strong>The</strong> Plant Collector and Sculpture Garden Party<br />
was held on two perfect days in early June. Gentle<br />
breezes and lots <strong>of</strong> shade provided garden guests<br />
with ample opportunity to sit in the garden <strong>of</strong><br />
Angela and Greg Ellenburg and study the variety<br />
<strong>of</strong> trees, shrubs and perennials. Many guests were<br />
busy taking notes and asking questions <strong>of</strong> this<br />
husband and wife team. Guests were treated to<br />
bowls <strong>of</strong> fresh fruit, wonderful muffins and other<br />
pastry treats as they explored the many paths to<br />
secluded spots. Among the many sculptured pieces<br />
in the garden was a newly acquired “life size” black<br />
bear, carved from a single piece <strong>of</strong> wood and<br />
weighing in at 700 pounds.<br />
Special thanks to Angela and Greg Ellenburg for<br />
their generous support <strong>of</strong> the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong>. We<br />
would also like to thank our garden party volunteers:<br />
Sandi Burdick, Carolyn Crowder, Joy Fels,<br />
Judy Griffith, Meg Kranaskas, Henry McIlwaine,<br />
Joan McMullen, Darby Parker, Chelsea Shultz and<br />
Becky Stout.<br />
Secret Garden Parties Reports:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Friendship Garden<br />
By Christine Griffin<br />
In East Knox County two 100-year-old maple trees,<br />
lovingly planted and sited for someone’s old home<br />
place, captured Mae Sim’s imagination. She lived<br />
nearby. She told us she could just see a new home<br />
on the knoll and a circular drive going up behind<br />
them. When the property came up for sale, she<br />
acted on that vision. And it made the perfect shady<br />
gathering place for the Friends’ Secret Garden<br />
Party June 2.<br />
Calendar Reminders<br />
Books & Blooms continues in <strong>October</strong> and<br />
November in the <strong>Gardens</strong>. <strong>The</strong> programs will be full<br />
<strong>of</strong> enchanting Halloween and harvest stories with<br />
some fun fall crafts. Many participants also pack a<br />
lunch for a picnic afterwards. Dates coming up are<br />
Thursdays Oct. 11 and 25 and Nov. 8. <strong>The</strong> storytime<br />
starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public at<br />
no charge. If you would like to volunteer as a storyteller<br />
for this event, or to sign up for our mailing list,<br />
please contact Terumi Watson at tsaito@utk.edu, or<br />
974-7256.<br />
<strong>The</strong> last set <strong>of</strong> Lunchtime & Twilight Walks led by<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong>’ Staff will be at 12 noon and 6 p.m., respectively,<br />
Tuesday, Oct. 16. This is your best chance<br />
to get expert answers to questions about plantings<br />
in the <strong>Gardens</strong> by the staff who plant and care for<br />
them, not to mention the pleasure to stroll about<br />
the beautiful grounds while the weather is cool, too.<br />
Friends volunteers and board members <strong>of</strong>fer hospitality<br />
and light refreshments at these walks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Knoxville Garden Club presents Mary Palmer<br />
Dargan Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at Second Presbyterian<br />
Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, who will talk about<br />
<strong>The</strong> long, deep border with its little rooms tucked<br />
inside—fun to explore—and the koi pond with its<br />
trained, good sized fish were a real treat. <strong>The</strong> pond<br />
looked like it had always been there, perfectly done<br />
with a view <strong>of</strong> peaceful hay fields. But the best part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the summer afternoon was meeting Mae and<br />
Ray, who are so welcoming and enthusiastic about<br />
gardening. Some pass-along plants got passed on,<br />
and valuable tips on how to rescue a headless<br />
statue. We sat under the maple trees, munched on<br />
delicious home made cookies and enjoyed the day.<br />
Special thanks to volunteers Debbie Allen<br />
and Sandi Burdick, who provided exceptional<br />
refreshments and treats, and Nancy Rennie,<br />
who helped by being on hand to give botanical<br />
information.<br />
landscaping and design. <strong>The</strong> talk is open to the<br />
public at no charge. Dargan, a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
American Society <strong>of</strong> Landscape Architects and<br />
author <strong>of</strong> Timeless Landscape Design: <strong>The</strong> Four-<br />
Part Master Plan, is based in Atlanta and has been<br />
featured on HGTV, CNN and Southern Accents. See<br />
her work at www.dargan.com.<br />
Ijams Nature Center has a new program in <strong>October</strong><br />
for 6- to 8-year olds called “Elementary Explorers.”<br />
Ryan Gainey will also speak at their Fall Plant Sale<br />
Oct. 14. Call 865-577-4717 for more information.<br />
<strong>The</strong> journal Horticulture sponsors Smaller<br />
Garden/Big Ideas seminars at various Southeastern<br />
and Mideastern locations in <strong>October</strong>. For example:<br />
Oct. 18 in Wheaton, Md.; Oct. 20 in Raleigh; and<br />
Oct. 21 in Akron, Ohio. Register at 877.436-7764 or<br />
visit www.hortprograms.com.<br />
<strong>The</strong> American Horticultural Society presents<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Amazing World <strong>of</strong> Plants: New Trends in Plant<br />
Selection and <strong>The</strong>ir Influence on Garden Design”<br />
at Crestwood, Ky., Oct. 4 and 5, hosted by Yew Dell<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong>. Visit www.ahs.org for complete details.<br />
12 13
Friends courses at <strong>UT</strong><br />
Dig and Divide<br />
How <strong>of</strong>ten does someone invite you to come and<br />
learn how to dig treasures out <strong>of</strong> the<br />
yard? This is your opportunity to dig in the <strong>UT</strong><br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> and take home a load <strong>of</strong> plants<br />
for your own use, too. We will learn how to divide<br />
plants in the perennial beds throughout the<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong>, replant one section <strong>of</strong> a plant, and put<br />
the remainder in the course pool for participants to<br />
select from when the digging is completed. Tools<br />
will be provided, but if you have favorite digging<br />
tools and hand pruners, bring them along. Also,<br />
dress comfortably and be prepared to get dirty and<br />
have a good time.<br />
Date: Saturday, Oct. 13, l0 a.m.-12 noon<br />
Location: Friendship Plaza <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong>, Agriculture Campus<br />
Instructors: <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Staff assisted by master<br />
gardeners from the Friends <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong><br />
Course # 281620<br />
Fee: $49<br />
Space is strictly limited for this class.<br />
Registration deadline is Oct. 5.<br />
Plants Alive! Keeping <strong>Gardens</strong> and Containers<br />
Awake in Winter<br />
Fight those winter blues and blahs. Learn how to<br />
maintain winter interest in the garden, including<br />
a review <strong>of</strong> plant material to use for winter and<br />
early spring containers. Also, design strategies for<br />
selecting plant material as well as techniques for<br />
grooming the winter garden will be discussed and<br />
demonstrated.<br />
Date: Saturday, Oct. 20, l0 a.m.-12 noon<br />
Location: Friendship Plaza <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong>, Agriculture Campus<br />
Instructor: Karen Petrey. With degrees in ornamental<br />
horticulture and plant and soil science from <strong>UT</strong>, Karen<br />
has extensive experience as a garden designer in East<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong>. She is also a past president <strong>of</strong> the Friends.<br />
Course #: 281605<br />
Fee: $39<br />
Beyond Dogwoods and Azaleas – Less Common<br />
Trees and Shrubs for the Home Garden<br />
Searching for distinctive trees and shrubs beyond<br />
the usual spring pretties? Explore some <strong>of</strong> the less<br />
commonly used woody plants suitable for our area.<br />
After a slide presentation, we will stroll through the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> to see some <strong>of</strong> these unusual<br />
specimens first hand.<br />
Date: Saturday, Nov. 3, l0 a.m.-12 noon<br />
Location: Room 128 in <strong>UT</strong> Ellington Plant Sciences<br />
Building on the Agriculture Campus<br />
Instructor: Nancy Rennie A graduate <strong>of</strong> the <strong>UT</strong> ornamental<br />
horticulture and landscape design program,<br />
Nancy has extensive experience as a consultant and<br />
garden designer in East <strong>Tennessee</strong>.<br />
Course #: 281606<br />
Fee: $39<br />
Holiday Wreaths with Greenery from the <strong>Gardens</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no substitute for fresh greenery and woody<br />
plant material plucked directly from the wide selection<br />
at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> under the guidance<br />
<strong>of</strong> a master designer. Course members will<br />
have the option <strong>of</strong> constructing a wreath or centerpiece<br />
arrangement. <strong>The</strong>re will also be a demonstration<br />
<strong>of</strong> how to fashion a “kissing ball.” Participants<br />
are encouraged to bring material from their own<br />
gardens to use and to share.<br />
If you plan to make a centerpiece and have a<br />
special container you want to use, please bring it.<br />
Also, bring your own hand pruners. All other materials<br />
will be furnished, and a $10 materials fee is<br />
due to the instructor at the class.<br />
Date: Saturday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-12 noon<br />
Location: <strong>UT</strong> Greenhouse 11, Agriculture Campus<br />
Instructor: Nancy Robinson<br />
Course #: 281600<br />
Fee: $39<br />
Space is strictly limited for this class.<br />
Registration deadline is Dec. 1.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Friends <strong>of</strong>fer educational programs through <strong>UT</strong><br />
Outreach & Continuing Education Pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
& Personal Development. Call 865-974-0150 to<br />
register or order a catalog, or see www.outreach.<br />
utk.edu/ppd to register or for additional details.<br />
Nyssa sylvatica<br />
Black Tupelo, Black Gum or Sour Gum<br />
By Andrew Pulte<br />
Around the year 1735 the first member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
genus Nyssa was described and given the name<br />
Nyssa aquatica. Nyssa is a derivation <strong>of</strong> Nysa,<br />
the mythological water nymph. Later (around<br />
1750) this plant was discovered to be related to<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the Eastern Seaboard’s most beloved native<br />
trees: Nyssa sylvatica or Black Gum. <strong>The</strong> scientific<br />
name “sylvatica” means “<strong>of</strong> woods,” which<br />
by all accounts would make Black Gum the water<br />
nymph <strong>of</strong> the woods. This makes sense, because<br />
you <strong>of</strong>ten find this tree along stream banks<br />
throughout the eastern half <strong>of</strong> the U.S. However,<br />
it’s not isolated to stream beds; it’s also quite<br />
ubiquitous in the Southeast in both lowland and<br />
upland areas. In the wild you will find Black Gum<br />
in large groups as well as mixed with other hardwood<br />
trees. <strong>The</strong> common name Black Gum is<br />
somewhat <strong>of</strong> a misnomer, because the tree is not<br />
known to produce latex or gum <strong>of</strong> any kind.<br />
<strong>The</strong> wood <strong>of</strong> Nyssa has been used for centuries<br />
for implement handles, skid poles and even floors.<br />
Black Gum could possibly be one <strong>of</strong> our most<br />
underused native trees. It is adaptable to both wet<br />
and dry sites and is relatively immune to almost all<br />
insects and disease.<br />
This tree is also interesting during all four seasons.<br />
In spring a beautiful flush <strong>of</strong> shiny green leaves<br />
appears with s<strong>of</strong>t greenish yellow flowers. This<br />
is followed by a late summer crop <strong>of</strong> small blue<br />
and red berries that are quickly eaten by wildlife<br />
as they ripen in late September. Fall is when this<br />
tree really comes into its own, as its leaves show<br />
their charm in shades <strong>of</strong> florescent yellow, orange,<br />
scarlet and deep purple. Black Gum is by far one<br />
<strong>of</strong> the most consistent in its fall display and never<br />
seems to disappoint those looking for a tree with<br />
fall personality. When the brilliance <strong>of</strong> fall is past,<br />
the gray-brown, broken and thick irregular bark<br />
Nyssa sylvatica, or Black Gum, is interesting in the landscape during all seasons,<br />
but fall is when this tree comes into its own. Photo courtesy <strong>of</strong> Michigan<br />
State <strong>University</strong>.<br />
stands out and complements the different forms <strong>of</strong><br />
this tree, which can range from pyramidal in youth<br />
to oval at maturity.<br />
Nyssa sylvatica is a great size tree for many<br />
urban yards. It matures to between 30 feet and<br />
50 feet high and spreading around 20 feet or 25<br />
feet. Typically only the straight species <strong>of</strong> this<br />
tree is planted; however, some noteworthy cultivars<br />
can be found in the nursery trade. <strong>The</strong> <strong>UT</strong><br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> proudly displays the common species <strong>of</strong><br />
Nyssa sylvatica along with Nyssa sylvatica<br />
‘Zydeco Twist’ a new contorted variety, and Nyssa<br />
sylvatica ‘Dirr’, a variety chosen by plantsman<br />
Michael Dirr from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Georgia. You<br />
may also want to look out for the variety ‘Wildfire’<br />
chosen specifically for fall color and ‘Autumn<br />
Cascades’ which has a graceful weeping habit.<br />
14 15
<strong>The</strong> Perfect Hardy Annuals: Pansy & Viola<br />
By Dr. Susan Hamilton<br />
If you are looking for the perfect flower to enliven<br />
your winter landscape, then pansies and violas<br />
ought to be your choice. In the South, both bloom<br />
non-stop from fall through spring, providing<br />
cheerful color in a time <strong>of</strong> the year when you least<br />
expect it. <strong>The</strong> name pansy sure doesn’t do justice<br />
to this durable and winter-hardy plant either, in<br />
that it can withstand the harshest <strong>of</strong> elements and<br />
continue to bloom.<br />
If you wonder what the difference is between<br />
pansy and viola: <strong>The</strong> history <strong>of</strong> the pansy is linked<br />
forever to the viola, its ancestor. Viola is a large<br />
genus containing around 500 species. <strong>The</strong> hardy<br />
but delicate viola was cultivated by the Greeks for<br />
herbal medicine and much later inspired William<br />
Shakespeare to write <strong>of</strong> romance. <strong>The</strong> pansy’s transition<br />
from the small viola wildflower to the beautiful,<br />
large-flowered pansy resulted from the dedicated<br />
efforts <strong>of</strong> an English gardener in the early 1800s. As<br />
a result, the pansy gained popularity rapidly in North<br />
America. In an 1888 mail-order catalog, the pansy<br />
was described as the most popular <strong>of</strong> all flowers<br />
grown from seed, with pansy seed sales exceeding<br />
100,000 packets a year. In the last 50 years, much<br />
<strong>of</strong> the innovative pansy breeding has been in<br />
Germany, the United States and Japan.<br />
Today, violas (or Johnny-Jump-Ups, as they are<br />
sometimes called) have proved to be more winterhardy<br />
and durable in the landscape than pansies.<br />
However, they don’t produce as large or as showy<br />
blooms as the pansy. Both can put on a spectacular<br />
show, but in the end, it is the pansy that is<br />
more dramatic. <strong>The</strong> name pansy comes from the<br />
French word pensée, which means “thought.” This<br />
name was given many centuries ago, for the French<br />
believe that pansies could make your lover think <strong>of</strong><br />
you. <strong>The</strong> three colors <strong>of</strong> the original pansy (purple,<br />
white and yellow) were thought to symbolize memories,<br />
loving thoughts and souvenirs. Both the leaves<br />
and flowers <strong>of</strong> pansies and violas are edible and<br />
are high in vitamins A and C. <strong>The</strong> flowers impart a<br />
strong flavor and have been used to make syrup,<br />
flavor honey and tossed in a salad. Both the leaves<br />
and flowers can be used as a garnish, such as on<br />
cold fruit or cream soups. <strong>The</strong> flowers are also<br />
useful as a dye.<br />
<strong>The</strong> pansy has one <strong>of</strong> the widest color ranges <strong>of</strong><br />
any garden annual. Colors include red, purple,<br />
blue, bronze, pink, black, yellow, white, lavender,<br />
orange, apricot and mahogany. Blooms may be<br />
a single color or have two or three colors with a<br />
face. Pansy flowers have one <strong>of</strong> three basic color<br />
patterns. Blooms can be a solid, clear color, such<br />
as yellow or blue. A second pattern is a single color<br />
having black lines, called penciling, radiating from<br />
its center similar to viola markings. <strong>The</strong> last type <strong>of</strong><br />
flower is probably the one most familiar to home<br />
gardeners. <strong>The</strong> bloom <strong>of</strong> this type has a dark blotch<br />
or center called appropriately called a face.<br />
When selecting plants for your garden, choose<br />
plants that are stocky with dark green foliage. <strong>The</strong><br />
ideal plant is one with just a few blooms but many<br />
buds coming on. Pansies and violas thrive in moist<br />
but well-drained soil which is rich in organic matter.<br />
As for location, pansies and violas prefer full sun<br />
to partial shade. Planting in September through<br />
November is ideal to ensure that plants get established<br />
before cold weather really sets in. Be sure<br />
to fertilize at planting time as well, as pansies need<br />
plenty <strong>of</strong> food while they grow during the fall and<br />
again as spring arrives. A granular or timed-release<br />
fertilizer can be incorporated into the garden soil<br />
as you plant. Be sure to mulch these cold weather<br />
annuals to give them added protection to endure<br />
harsh weather. Any composted hardwood bark is<br />
fine, but pine needles are an ideal mulch for overwintering<br />
pansies and violas, because they are not<br />
heavy and provide great insulation.<br />
Pansies and violas can be used in a variety <strong>of</strong> ways<br />
in the garden. Nothing is more impressive than<br />
when they are planted en masse. However, if you<br />
use pansies in such a manner, make sure your<br />
spacing is correct. Because pansies and violas are<br />
small plants growing only 8 to 10 inches tall and<br />
wide, they should planted 6 to 8 inches apart.<br />
Spacing plants further apart may be cheaper, but<br />
it will detract from the desired effect. Pansies and<br />
violas are impressive when used in containers or<br />
window boxes, too. <strong>The</strong>y look great if used alone or<br />
in combination with other cool temperature-loving<br />
plants, such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, snapdragon<br />
and dianthus. If you want to have a truly<br />
impressive spring garden, consider inter-planting<br />
tulip or daffodil bulbs with your pansies and violas<br />
both in the landscape or container. Planting the<br />
bulbs between such hardy annuals will bring a<br />
surprise burst <strong>of</strong> color in the spring. And when the<br />
fading bulb’s foliage begins to wither, the pansies<br />
and violas are so colorful that one barely notices<br />
the bulbs’ yellowing foliage. Combining so many<br />
plants into one garden certainly is not the cheapest<br />
garden you’ll ever plant but well worth the price <strong>of</strong><br />
spring enjoyment.<br />
Hundreds <strong>of</strong> varieties <strong>of</strong> both pansies and violas are<br />
on the market, but I recommend you shop for the<br />
series or varieties we have selected from our university<br />
evaluation studies. Results from our winter<br />
trial garden tell us which pansies and violas are the<br />
best for our <strong>Tennessee</strong> gardens. Out <strong>of</strong> 29 different<br />
series <strong>of</strong> pansies and violas tested for landscape<br />
performance and appeal, nine were selected as<br />
outstanding and definitely worth using in your<br />
landscape.<br />
Those selected include:<br />
Pansy series<br />
Matrix<br />
Crystal Bowl<br />
Panola<br />
Fanfare<br />
Viola series<br />
Ultima<br />
Penny<br />
Rebel<br />
Rocky<br />
Sorbet<br />
Be sure to visit our winter variety trail garden just<br />
planted this month. If you find that you are truly taken<br />
and passionate about pansies and violas, you may<br />
want to get involved with the National Viola and Pansy<br />
Society. You can check them out on the Internet at<br />
http://www.sweetviolets.com/nvpspage.htm.<br />
Ultima Radience Red<br />
Panola Deep Blue Blotch<br />
16 17
What you learn<br />
from a walk in<br />
the <strong>Gardens</strong>...<br />
<strong>The</strong> interview protocol at these walks has made<br />
for some very interesting results so far.<br />
On one summer day, almost all <strong>of</strong> the<br />
attendees were new to Knoxville and almost<br />
none <strong>of</strong> them had joined the Friends yet. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
were enthusiastic about getting involved in<br />
the Knoxville community and gardening activities.<br />
One person had moved to Knoxville upon<br />
retirement from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Michigan and<br />
said she was sorry to leave from there only<br />
because she would like to have continued<br />
volunteering at the Arboretum.<br />
One attendee at a walk spoke highly <strong>of</strong> Sandi<br />
Burdick from her acquaintance with her at a<br />
Secret Garden Party and said she’d come to the<br />
<strong>Gardens</strong> because Sandi encouraged her to go<br />
“check them out.”<br />
Another attendee said she’d thought the Plaza<br />
was a bad idea at first, but now she thought<br />
it was turning out to be wonderful when she<br />
finally came to see herself.<br />
Several came to see the passion flower in<br />
bloom … and they were.<br />
One came all the way from Maynardville and<br />
another from Athens. We had people from out<br />
<strong>of</strong> state who happened to hear the WUOT spot<br />
on their way through town and stopped by.<br />
Attendees expressed appreciation for the<br />
student interns, Robin Yeary and Stephen<br />
Wolfe, who led the walks that summer day and<br />
gave out lots <strong>of</strong> information.<br />
Business<br />
Marketplace<br />
Please show your appreciation and support by<br />
patronizing these places <strong>of</strong> business!<br />
ERINʼS MEADOW HERB FARM<br />
<strong>The</strong> Best Selection <strong>of</strong> Herbs in East <strong>Tennessee</strong>!<br />
Organic Gardening Supplies<br />
Nature-Inspired Gifts and Accessories<br />
Herbal Products, Dried Organic Herbs<br />
Classes and Workshops<br />
132 England Lane, Clinton, TN 37716<br />
865-435-1452<br />
erinsmeadowherbfarm.com<br />
New & Renewing Members and Donations<br />
Members<br />
Silver Anniversary<br />
Friends ($2,500+)<br />
Dr. Jesse Poore<br />
Benefactors ($1,000+)<br />
Garden Study Club<br />
East <strong>Tennessee</strong><br />
Hosta Society<br />
Patrons ($500+)<br />
Dorothy & Caesar Stair<br />
Business Friends ($250+)<br />
Modern Design Landscaping<br />
Sponsoring<br />
Friends ($250+)<br />
R.C. & Connie Gonzalez<br />
Sherri Parker Lee<br />
Mr. & Mrs. W. R. McNabb<br />
Garden Club and<br />
Society Friends ($100+)<br />
Gardeners’ Forum<br />
Tellico Village Garden Club<br />
Contributing<br />
Friends ($100+)<br />
Eli & Catherine Fly<br />
Anna T. Ford<br />
Mary Donnet Johnson<br />
Marian Oates<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin<br />
Mary Ann & David Piper<br />
Patty Powers<br />
Dr. & Mrs. John Rodgers<br />
Robbie Nelson &<br />
Tammy Stoneberger<br />
Lynn Venafro<br />
Family Friends<br />
Bob & Betty Braden<br />
Michael & Heather Floan<br />
Mary Laura Koella<br />
Susanne Levi<br />
Catharene & Jim Petty<br />
Individual Friend<br />
Julia Christenson<br />
Glenda Clark<br />
Pat Dent<br />
Mary Frances Drak<br />
Melissa Ferguson<br />
Marsha Flanigan<br />
Barbara Garret<br />
Judy Griffith<br />
Janet & Rob Herman<br />
Marie S. Hogan<br />
Lois Hoskins<br />
Martha Lionberger<br />
Janet Lundy<br />
Joanna Montgomery<br />
Linda Rogers<br />
Fran Scheidt<br />
Jeanie Shover<br />
Jennifer Stokes<br />
Debbie Way<br />
Martha J. Williamson<br />
<strong>The</strong>a Yoder<br />
Donations<br />
Adopt-a-Garden Gold<br />
East <strong>Tennessee</strong> Hosta Society<br />
Friendship Plaza Project<br />
Melinda Davis<br />
Lane Hays<br />
Linda Yates<br />
In honor <strong>of</strong><br />
Dr. Bruce Avery by West Hills<br />
10 o’clock Gardeners<br />
Frances Lothrop by the<br />
Gardener’s Forum<br />
Mary Spengler by<br />
Deborah Whitson, Diane Gross,<br />
Elaine Powell, Ann Shelor,<br />
Lynn Wardley and Marnie Page<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin by Kanunsita<br />
Garden Club<br />
<strong>The</strong>resa Pepin by<br />
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. McNabb<br />
Angela and Greg Ellenburg by<br />
Joe Fuhr<br />
Faye Beck by Sunrise Garden Club<br />
In memory <strong>of</strong><br />
C. Tony Jeffries by Lucy Gibson<br />
Frances McAmis Lothrop by <strong>The</strong> Knoxville Garden<br />
Club, Suzanne Stowers, Virginia Rogers, Faye<br />
Beck, Mary Collins Shepard, Mary Gillespie,<br />
Connie and Clayton Greene, Marty Russell,<br />
Sandi Burdick, Edward S. Albers, Jr., Dick and<br />
Jean Bowen, William and Marian Broome,<br />
Dr. James and Jerry Burdette, Daniel and Ellyn<br />
Cauble, Dr. William and Gertrude Gardner,<br />
Elizabeth Lee, Dan Mayo, Ellen Mitchell, Lloyd<br />
and Nancy Montgomery, Dr. Tom and Ellen<br />
Morgan, Margaret Newton, Don and Nancy<br />
Preston, John and Mary Rayson, Robert and<br />
Carol Schmid, Betty Schmid, James and Mimi<br />
Smith, Joe and Mary Spengler, Lillie Wallace,<br />
Julia Webb, William and Betsy Wright, Hallie<br />
Galyon, Alex and Mary Belle Harkness, James<br />
and Marilyn Dick, Mrs. Floyd Goodson, Jr.,<br />
Robert and Julia Schriver, Dr. A. Michael and<br />
Cammy Glover, Shirley Heinsohn, Richard and<br />
Angelyn Koella, John and Sandra Butler, Karen<br />
Petrey, Tom and Melissa McAdams, George<br />
Wilson, Townsend and Conni Collins, Kim<br />
McMillan, James and Melinda Ethier, Ann and W.<br />
C. Adams, Thomas and Anna Ford, James N.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>fitt Jr., Whitney Dunford, Carter V. Slatery,<br />
Jennifer and Christopher Jones, Pr<strong>of</strong>fitt &<br />
Goodson, Inc., Dr Robert and Helen Ferguson,<br />
Ed and Susan Adams, Richard and Lee Whitson,<br />
Martha Williamson, Joanne Stephenson,<br />
Veterinary Referral Surgical, and Jane and<br />
Robert Smith.<br />
Modern Design Landscaping generously<br />
donated proceeds <strong>of</strong> its Pond Tour to the Friends<br />
in July 2007.<br />
Gift memberships were given by Susanne Levi<br />
and Debbie Mayfield.<br />
All annual memberships and donations at the level<br />
<strong>of</strong> $250 and above are listed on the annual giving<br />
board in the <strong>Gardens</strong> prepared for the Friends Annual<br />
Report in late December.<br />
Silver Anniversary Friends at the level <strong>of</strong> $2,500<br />
and above in 2007-2008 will be permanently<br />
recognized on the new marble donor wall in the<br />
Friendship Plaza.<br />
18 19
Coming Up On <strong>The</strong> Calendar:<br />
Thursday, Oct. 11 ......IN THE GARDENS ....Books & Blooms 10:30 a.m.<br />
Saturday, Oct. 13 ......... COURSE .......Dig and Divide in the <strong>Gardens</strong>, <strong>UT</strong> PPD #281620<br />
Sunday, Oct. 14 ...........EVENT . . . . . . .Secret Garden Party, <strong>The</strong> Mad Hatter’s Tea Party<br />
Tuesday, Oct. 16 .......IN THE GARDENS ....Lunchtime Walk 12 Noon, Twilight Walk 6 p.m.<br />
Saturday, Oct. 20 ......... COURSE .......Plants Alive! Keeping <strong>Gardens</strong> & Containers Awake in Winter<br />
<strong>UT</strong> PPD #281605<br />
Monday, Oct. 22 ............ ..........Board meeting 7p.m., Fourth budget quarterly report<br />
Thursday, Oct. 25 ......IN THE GARDENS ....Books & Blooms 10:30 a.m.<br />
Thursday, Nov. 1. .........DEADLINE ......December newsletter (Gifts & Talents Issue)<br />
Saturday, Nov. 3 .......... COURSE ......Beyond Dogwoods & Azaleas: Less Common Trees & Shrubs<br />
for the Home Garden, <strong>UT</strong> PPD #281606<br />
Monday, Nov. 5 ............. ..........Annual membership meeting, Guest speaker Robert E. Grese<br />
Thursday, Nov. 8. ......IN THE GARDENS ....Books & Blooms 10:30 a.m.<br />
Saturday, Dec. 8 .......... COURSE. ......Holiday Wreaths with Greenery, from the <strong>Gardens</strong><br />
<strong>UT</strong> PPD #281600<br />
Volume 14 No 7 <strong>October</strong> 2007<br />
865–525–4555<br />
friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens@utk.edu<br />
www.friends<strong>of</strong>theutgardens.org<br />
In this Issue:<br />
Annual Meeting Guest Speaker – pp 1<br />
Leadership transitions – p 2<br />
From the Outgoing Friends Executive Director – p 3<br />
New Executive Director – p 4<br />
From the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> director – pp 4-5<br />
From the <strong>UT</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Curator – p 6<br />
Good News – p 7<br />
News Briefs – pp 7-8<br />
Letters – p 8<br />
Friends’ <strong>Gardens</strong> Reports – pp 9-10<br />
Friendship Plaza update – pp 10-11<br />
Secret Garden Parties – pp 12-13<br />
Friends courses at <strong>UT</strong> – pp 14<br />
Best & Beautiful – pp 15-17<br />
What you learn from a walk in the <strong>Gardens</strong> – p 18<br />
Marketplace – p 18<br />
New and Renewing Members and Donors – p 19<br />
P.O. Box 51394<br />
Knoxville, TN 37950–1394<br />
Non–pr<strong>of</strong>it Org.<br />
US Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Knoxville, TN<br />
Permit No. 204<br />
THE GARDEN POST<br />
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