Volume 8, Number 3, 1999
UD alumni who work in gardens and arboretums are employed all over the bloomin' country.
If your summer travel plans include any of these states, you may want to stop in and say hello. And, if you're in the Delaware Valley, don't forget to stop by Longwood Gardens, which employs more than 50 Delaware alumni. Frederick E. Roberts, AG '71M, director, says Longwood's brick walkway, with its mixed border to summer annuals and perennials, is not to be missed. For more information on Longwood Gardens, visit <http://www.longwoodgardens.org/> or telephone (610) 388-6741
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham, Ala.
Telephone: (205) 879-1227
Web address: <http://www.bbgardens.org/>
Director Gary Gerlach, AG '70M, says camellias bloom from September to March and are often the backdrop for many outdoor "winter" weddings. There also is a 7-acre Japanese garden, and a special display, highlighting a specific culture, is set up on the grounds every March.
The Arboretum of Los Angeles County
Arcadia, Calif.
Telephone: (626) 821-3222
Web address: <http://www.aabga.org/memberpages/losangeles/>
David O. Loftgren, AG '76M, horticulturist, says not to miss the orchid greenhouse.
Descanso Gardens
La Cañada-Flintridge, Calif.
Telephone: (818) 952-4400
Web address: <http://www.descanso.com/>
Richard Schulhof, AG '90M, executive director, suggests a walk in the Camellia Forest, a 35-acre oak woodland planted with some 60,000 camellias that represent 785 species and varieties, said to be one of the largest camellia gardens outside China.
Bok Tower Gardens
Lake Wales, Fla.
Telephone: (941) 676-9412
Web address: <http://www.boktower.org/>
Iris Gestram, AG '97M, director of visitor services and education, says the garden's biggest asset is its serenity and beauty. A 57-bell carillon plays on the half hour, and there is a carillon concert each day at 3 p.m.
Anderson (Japanese) Gardens
Rockford, Ill.
Telephone: (815) 229-9396
Web address: <http://www.ameritech.net/users/digp/anderson_gardens.htm>
Executive director Julia Lo, AG 2000M, encourages visitors to pay particular attention to the garden's stone work. Each piece of stone in every display-from the pagodas to the five-story waterfall-is hand-picked and hand-placed.
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Boylston, Mass.
Telephone: (508) 869-6111
Web address: <http://www.towerhillbg.org/>
Karen Perkins Probst, AG '88M, coordinator of special events and interpretation, says this relatively new garden is well-known for its views, such as the sweeping vista of Mt. Wachusett and the Wachusett Reservoir.
Leila Arboretum Society
Battle Creek, Mich.
Telephone: (616) 969-0270
Web address: <http://www.remc12.k12.mi.us/resource/00001200.htm>
Director George Wise, AG '79M, says the society not only maintains a 72-acre arboretum, it also is responsible for other Battle Creek sites such as Quaker Park and the Community Flower Garden.
Powell Gardens
Kingsville, Mo.
Telephone: (816) 697-2600
Web address: <http://www.powellgardens.org>
Eric Tschanz, AG '77M, president and executive director, recommends the tranquility of the site and its splendid contemporary architecture designed by Fay Jones, an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn
Telephone: (718) 623-7200
Web address: <http://www.bbg.org/>
Trish Linderman, AG '94M, director of adult education and public programs, loves the summer's water lily display-one of the largest in the world. Administrators at the Brooklyn Garden who are UD alumni include Judith Zuk, AG '77M, president, and Robert Hyland Jr.,
AG '83M, vice president for horticulture and education.
New York Botanical Garden
Bronx
Telephone: (718) 817-8700
Web address: <http://www.nybg.org/>
Catherine Eberbach, AG '89M, director of exhibitions, highly recommends the new 12-acre Everett Children's Adventure Garden. Bruce W. Dryden, AG '75, horticulturist, recommends the conservatory. Michael Balick, AG '75, associate vice president and chair of research and training and director of the Institute of Economic Botany, also is employed at the garden.
Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Fayetteville, N.C.
Telephone: (910) 486-0221
Web address: <http://www.state.nc.us/EHNR/ee/eecntr/12.htm>
Director Gregory Nace, AG '83M, recommends the heritage gardens with old-fashioned, turn-of-the-century plants.
Holden Arboretum
Kirtland, Ohio
Telephone: (440) 946-4400
Web address: <http://www.holdenarb.org/>
James A. Mack, AG '89M, landscape operations coordinator, recommends the Butterfly Garden behind the visitor center. Sharon Marsee Graper, CHEP '92M, coordinator of school programs, likes the Stebbins Gulch natural area.
Kingwood Center
Mansfield, Ohio
Telephone: (419) 522-0211
Web address: <http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/search.cfm> Search for Kingwood Center.
Brian Barr, AS '92, head of agriculture, says the greenhouse and summer annuals are well worth seeing. The center's signature collection of more than 40,000 tulips blooms around the first or second week in May.
Morris Arboretum
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Telephone: (215) 247-5777
Web address: <http://www.upenn.edu/morris/>
Paul Meyer, AG '77M, the F. Otto Haas director, says the garden railway, a miniature display of
G-scale trains that runs around replicas of 30 historic buildings, is "hip for everyone." Other UD alumni employed are Bill Graham, AG '73M, outreach arborist; Robert Gutowski, AG '89M, director of public programs; and Elayna Singer, AG '95M, visitor programs manager.
Scott Arboretum
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pa.
Telephone: (610) 328-8025
Web address: <http://www.scottarboretum.org>
Clair Sawyers, AG '84, director, says visitors shouldn't miss the Scott amphitheatre where the landscape architecture is "magical." Other UD alumni who work at the Scott are Paul Eriksen, AG '81, horticultural crew supervisor, and Leonard (Lenny) Wilson, AS '82, garden supervisor.
Tyler Arboretum
Media, Pa
Telephone: (610) 566-9134
Web address: <http://www.netaxs.com/~mckenzi1/abouttyl.html>
Executive Director Richard A. (Rick) Colbert, AG '78, BE '86M, recommends the Tyler's newest exhibit, the 13-acre meadow maze, which includes the Butterfly River, a planting of more than 2,000 colorful flowers specifically designed to attract butterflies. Other alumni who work at the Tyler are Gerry Laferriere, AG '84, director of grounds, and Kathy Palmer, AG '94, a member of the grounds crew. The butterfly garden was designed by alumnus and former faculty member W. Gary Smith, AG '78. Erik Karlsson,
AG '77, made the technical drawings, and Shipley A. Allinson, AG '80, supervised the installation of plants.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Ft. Worth
Telephone: (817) 871-7686
Web address: <http://fortworth.org/local/botanic.htm>
Steven Chamblee, AG '97M, says without a doubt the Japanese Gardens are an outstanding attraction. Head right to them, he says, and enjoy 7-1/2 acres of tranquil serenity.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk, Va.
Telephone: (757) 441-5830
Web address: < http://sites.communitylink.org/nbg/>
This may be the only botanical garden in the U.S. that can be toured by train and boat. Executive Director Donald R. Buma, AG '77M, recommends the garden's airport overlook that gives visitors a chance to hear voices from the control tower of Norfolk International Airport next door. In the spring, a dazzling display of azaleas blooms. Michael A. Andruczyk, AG '93M, and Carol Kohler Chewning, AS '94, also work at the garden.
Green Bay Botanical Garden
Green Bay, Wisc.
Telephone: (920) 490-9457
Web address: <http://www.greenbay.com/
sports/botanical.html>
Patrick Larkin, AG '95M, executive director, says this relatively new garden has interesting landscape architecture, including the Belvedere, a gazebo-like structure on a ridge that provides a splendid view of the rose gardens and fountain. The Lusthaus, a Scandinavian summer house, also is a popular feature.
This list does not include the many alumni who work in parks, at museums or historic homes with accompanying gardens (when the home is the main attraction), at reserves, resorts or golf courses, nor does it include alumni who work at gardens currently closed for renovation. If we missed you, please let us know.