Bickelhaupt Arboretum Annual Report - 2004

HIGHLIGHTS OF YEAR 2004 The mission of The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is to serve as a connection between people and plants through a better understanding of horticulture by developing and maintaining a well-documented collection of landscape plants adapted to this region for education and enjoyment. BOARD - Our Board of Directors has provided extraordinary support in 2004. The family has given the financial as well as experiential input. Ed Hasselkus, as our consultant, has made many of the major decisions throughout the year; Chub Harper has advised us on insurance, plant data base and maintenance challenges; Jeff Iles has given us advice on community projects; Ed and Jeff presented the program "Brunch with the Professors" and tour for the Annual Volunteer Recognition and Chub, Ed and Alan have helped with plant materials. The ROOTS Board has volunteered community resources ranging from teaching classes to spur of the minute advice and from guiding tours to donating hardscape, plants and library books. Our Annual Meeting/Ribbon Cutting of the Hosta Display Garden was held in April with Jeff Iles being named to the Board of Directors. COLLECTIONS AND GROUNDS - This was planned to be the year of catching up: labeling, mapping/computer records and photographing the collections. Also included was updating the Book of Memorials/Celebrations and the Taxidermy records. The largest labeling project was in the Heartland Collection where the plan to complete all labels to reflect the common names of the plants has begun. Second was the labeling of the hosta, with more than 42 additions, as well as labeling denoting the "hosta of the year" for the past decade. Other collections were also designated with hallmark plants labeled. This is all with a goal to "maintain a well documented collection of plants for education and enjoyment." Dave Horst reported: "The placing, planting and labeling of more than 157 new accessions was achieved this year." The annual review of plant names to update our records is always a challenge and this year was no exception. Mapping was done of the Country Garden, Mercy Hospice Herb Garden and Hosta and Roses Collections. A new project of measuring the plants for the computer records to chart the growth rate has begun Photographs were made for the web page that has been developed to feature the collections and Plant of the Month. It has been estimated that since the completion of the preliminary work, the volunteer spends in excess of ten hours a week on the updating and development of this outreach. All the equipment was photographed for insurance purposes. Jerry Widel, with volunteer help, updated the records, rated and cleaned the specimens in the Taxidermy cases and met the DNR representative for our inspection and renewal of license. An important diversion on the path of catching up included sharing scions from the Heartland Collection with people from six states, as well as general maintenance of sodding, planting, raking, weed eating, treating/fertilizing turf, shipping, dividing, servicing, enlarging, watering, weeding and edging, in addition to pruning, fencing, mowing, reshaping, shrinking and aerating. Annually, we work on the control of Japanese beetles, coons, rabbits, deer, chipmunks and groundhogs, resulting in fencing, taping and other means of control. We are strengthened by support from Roy Klehm, Iseli Nursery and Clinton Trees Forever. The waterfall garden was designed and planted by our summer staff. COMMUNITY RELATIONS/EVENTS - We continue to collaborate with Clinton County Extension ISU, Clinton Community College, Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau and Clinton County Conservation. Locally, we are members of Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Clinton Trees Forever, Isaac Walton League and Rotary. Professional horticulture associations include: American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, American Hemerocallis Society, American Horticulture Society, American Hosta Society, Conifer Society, Garden Writers of America, Midwest Regional and Mississippi Valley Hosta Societies. Displays at the Bridal Fair, Eagle Watch, Clinton County Fair and Martin Luther King Celebration and presentations at Clinton Trees Forever Third Grade Planting, Bi-State Retired Federal Employees, DeWitt Lions Club, Second Reformed Church, Visually Impaired of Clinton Country and Clinton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute were part of our off-site outreach. We supplied the greens for the Downtown Christmas display as well as the Master Gardener wreath classes. Our Visitors Center and grounds were used for numerous groups. Many had meeting/tour combinations: Arboretum ROOTS Board, ISU Growing in the Garden classes, Master Gardeners Advisory Board, George M. Curtis Victorian Garden committee, Clinton Trees Forever, Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society, Geneseo Garden Club, Rockford Garden Club, Charlotte Garden Club, Lost Nation Gardeners, Habitat for Humanity committees, Clinton Lions Club, PEO Chapters, clients of NelsonCorp, YWCA Staff, Family and Staff Together, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Skyline Mental Health employees retreat, Clinton National Bank retirees, Xi Gamma Rho, committee meetings for Grand Excursion, RAGBRAI and Sesquicentennial, Quad City Art League, DeWitt Artist Association, formation meeting for Clinton Birding club, Lyceum study group, Center Point Book Club, Morrison "Smilers," Henry County Farm Bureau Employees, DeWitt Red Hat Society, Morrison Red Hat Club, Republican Women's Club, Bickford Cottages, Amber Ridge Nursing Home, Christ Episcopal and First Presbyterian church services, Women in Theology, Faith Lutheran Women, Methodist Joy Circle, Women of the Episcopalian Church, Clinton High school Class of '54, nine sessions of YWCA summer camps, groups from the Clinton School District: Horace Mann, Jefferson, Washington, Bluff and Elijah Buehl, Zion Lutheran Super Wednesday students, Media Night Balloons in June and the Hospice Remembrance Service. We collaborated with fund-raisers of the Symphony Orchestra, American Heart Association and Information and Referral making donations of plants. As a resource, we were called as an advocate to save one of the largest specimens of Liriodendron tulipifera in the area. EDUCATION/TOURS - Each visit to the Arboretum is seen as education, so each Community Relations listing is "a connection between people and plants through a better understanding of horticulture for education and enjoyment." Classes/Events held in collaboration with Clinton Community College and ISU Clinton County Extension included: Terrariums, Water Gardens/Ponds, Gourds, Rock Gardening, Attracting Birds, Wreath Making, Indoor Plants and Organic Gardening. Other events included: SeptemberFest, Garden of Hope for children, Winter Solstice and Herb Fair. We co-sponsored a tour to Chicago Botanic Garden and Gary Whittenbaugh's FranMara Garden. We assumed a leadership role in the Clinton Trees Forever conference and began a weekly column, The Green Scene, in the Clinton Herald. Of special note this year was the curriculum developed for the After School Programs and the Reflection Walks. Both projects have led to new volunteers and are educational for more specific groups. A goal of our education programs and tours is that the teachers/leaders who attend will assume the leadership role in return visits of the class/troop/group. Volunteers led fall and spring tours every Saturday and Sunday and volunteers responded to questions twice weekly during the growing season through the Plant Partners program. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS - We are ever grateful as we recognize the major contribution from Frances and Bob to cover the day-to-day operations of The Arboretum. Other financial contributions were received through donations for Frances' book (A Private Couple Creates a Public Garden), from tours, postcards, weddings on the grounds, thanks for special information received, gifts and from memorial/celebrations. We thank the following: Anonymous donations, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bielema, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Browning, Mr. and Mrs. Shane Burden, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Campe, Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce- RAGBRI 2004, Mr. and Mrs. Cary Determan, Larry Foltz, Mary and Ed Howes, Carol and Dan Jefferies, Dwight Johnson, Shannon Kooi, Shawn Hill-Lamb, Laurete Gamma Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mannix, Midwest Regional Hosta Society, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Miller, Mississippi Valley Water Garden Society, Nelsoncorp Wealth Management, Mr. And Mrs. Robert J. Nielsen, Jr., Christine Rich, Al Ritchey, Second Reformed Church Willing Workers, Dorothy A. Staack, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Striley, Anthony Struve, Susan Thomsen, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Tyznik, Wa-Tan-Ye Club of Clinton and William Wink, Jr. In honor of Bob Bickelhaupt's 90th birthday: Shawn and Jim Lamb. Memorial to Mary Jane Case: Barbara J. Wildberger Bieber, Maxine S. Boardway, T. Anthony and Linda L. Brooks, Barbara and Clark Christian, Janet and Gary Cross, Todd Fitzgerald, Dr. and Mrs. Robert German, Mary Howes, Arlee Kabrick, Nancy and Thomas Koehler, Paul Lowham, Bruce Lutz, William P. Maloney, Sally and Mark McCullough, Jeanne and Dan McKenzie, Rhonda and Kevin Meyermann, Margaret and Robert Platner, Renee Schafer, Wallace and Cindy Williams and Mrs. John B. VanAllen. Memorial to Leland Farley: Gerald Kinkaid Family. Memorial to Harvey Suehl: Ruby Matthew and Mary Tyler. GIFTS AND SERVICES CONTRIBUTIONS - Contributions of services, plants, books for the library and discounted goods are listed as in-kind donations from the following: Aim Computers, Arbor Village, Jo Aulick, Donna Barto, Beaver Creek Nursery, Beckwith Commercial Roofing Incorporated, Bentler Equipment Rental, Bob Betsinger, Blaine's Farm and Fleet, Margie Bossen, Carver Ace Hardware, Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Clinton Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Clinton Herald, Clinton Historical Society, Clinton Printing Company, Community Reformed Church, Corner Deli, Linda Cornelius, Alan Craig, Discovery Center, Marie Dudley, Family Video, Foley's Tree Care, Ken Franke, Fulton Seamless Gutters, Linda B. Galanis, Graphic Arts Technology Center - Clinton Community College Community Education, Clinton Community College Technological Drafting and Computer Aided Design Department, Fulton Corporation, Graphic Connections, Barb Hagenson, Hansen Sign Company, Justin "Chub" Harper, Ed Hasselkus, Cynthia Haynes - Iowa State University, Heartland Gardens, Hermsen Nursery, Shawn Hill-Lamb, Scott Hoag Photography, Mitzi Hook Photography, Sandy Hughes, Hyponex Organic Business Group, Isaak Walton League, Iseli Nursery, Joanne and Irwin Johnson, KROS-Radio, KMAQ-Radio, Arlo Krabbenhoft, A. L. Lieferman Photography, McLane Office Equipment, Mar-Gee Plastics, Ruby Matthew, Mercy Healthcare Foundation, Cal Michaelsen, DeEtta Montgomery, Carolyn and John Mulholland, Virginia Mumm, Mike Nass, Nelson Auto Electric, Kay Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. John Notman, Evelyn Palm, Pennock's Garden Center, Quad City Times, Quality Ready Mix Concrete Company, Bill Rathje, Mrs. R. Reif, Rick's Taxidermy, J. Frank Schmidt Nursery, Vicki Shontz, Song Sparrow Nursery, Sunnyfield Nursery and Greenhouse, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mrs. John B. VanAllen and Wildwood Farms. PERSONNEL - Staff and the summer worker took a field trip to the Quad Cities: the gardens of Chub Harper and also DeEtta Montgomery, VanderVeer Park and Quad City Botanical Center. Staff was represented at: ISU Shade Tree, Iowa Public Garden meeting, Clinton Garden Walk, Winter Scientific Hosta meeting, and Conifer Rendezvous. Dave attended the regional Conifer Society meeting. I serve on Iowa State University Citizen Advisory Council, Local Awareness Committee of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Clinton Trees Forever PR committee and also served on the Clinton County Agricultural Council nominating committee. VISITORS - The Arboretum had an increase in registered visitors of 25% to 20,149 in 2004. Among visitors from many states and countries, many other gardens and nurseries, tourists and local residents, it is still evident that about 30% enter without signing our Guest Registry. Web visits increased 26% to 24,696 visits in 2004. VOLUNTEERS - Our volunteer base has increased from 27 volunteers in 2001 (which included the Board of Directors and the ROOTS Board membership), to 37 volunteers in 2002, 64 active volunteers in 2003 and 86 volunteers in 2004. We now offer opportunities in maintaining collections at display condition, coordinating weddings, making and checking labels, reviewing slides, library cataloging, general maintenance and repairs, after school programs, web development, camps and children's tours, as well as special opportunities: monitoring the blue bird houses and data entry on collections. Total recorded hours for 2004 was 3577 an increase of 25% over 2003 statistics, with a total of 964 hours credited to five volunteers: Donna Barto - rose garden, tours and weddings; Al Bowers - replacement of labels and tours; Bill Cornelius - web site development and photography; Dick Johnson - mapping, measuring, labeling and plant propagation; Ruby Matthew - office, general support and Joyce Ollie - ROOTS Board member, tours, Reflection Walk and curriculum development. The Points of Light Foundation states: "The Dollar figure of $17.19/hour is generated from the average hourly wage for non-agricultural workers, as determined in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, then increased by 12% to account for benefits." This is categorized as an in-kind donation of volunteer hours of more than $61,488.63 to the Arboretum. Iowa ranked second in the nation in a study of volunteers, with 40.8 percent average of people aged 16 and above who volunteer. LOOKING AHEAD - The Fourteenth Street Project was begun with rock removal from the border and plans made to move plants, haul rock and grind stumps. This project will open up the grounds to visitors on South Fourteenth Street and relocate some of the crowded plants in the Heartland Collection. Junipers were removed from the site of the new Rock Garden, to be planted in 2005. With an eye towards more education, we are collaborating with Clinton Community College, Clinton Trees Forever and ISU Clinton County Extension in a conference for Winter 2006. We will continue to be active with the "Public Gardens of Iowa" visitor publication. Francie B. Hill, Executive Director Prepared for June 3, 2005 Annual Meeting