Arboretum News.

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We are Unified!

e are unified! The
Arboretum will now be
jointly run and managed by
the California Arboretum
Foundation and the County of Los Angeles.
The Operating Agreement between both
parties has been signed and approved by the
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The Supervisors made the decision to
abolish the Department of Arboreta and
Botanic Gardens in 1993, and incorpo-
rate the administration of The Arboretum
under the Department of Parks and
Recreation. During this time program-
ming has expanded, problems of deferred
maintenance have been addressed, and
exciting new events have been instituted.
What has been lacking however, was.a
unified approach to serving our constitu-
ency - the residents of Los Angeles
County, surrounding communities and the
many other visitors.

Although those of us who are closely
associated with The Arboretum - CAF
Trustees, employees, and the many volun-
teers - are familiar with The Arboretum
Mission Statement, I would ask our

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following in

order to recall who we are and why we are:
MISSION STATEMENT

The Arboretum of Los Angeles County
is a botanic garden and historical site
comprised of 127 acres that is supported
through the cooperative efforts of the public
and private sectors. Its mission is to enhance
the quality of life in Southern C. alifornia
oe botanic research and education,

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of early California history

associated with the site. The

Arboretum accomplishes its

mission by:

* maintaining a living collection
of plants under scientific
management

* introducing, testing and
improving plants adaptable to
Southern California

* presenting educational
programs concerning the
propagation, and value of
plants in daily life

* providing a center for garden-
ing and horticulture that
displays unique and attractive
plant life for planting in
Southern California

* serving as an oasis and site of
historical interest for the enjoyment of
the public

* maintaining a horticultural library and
herbarium

¢ publishing bulletins, books and
pamphlets of horticultural, botanical
and historical interest

* preserving and displaying early Califor-
nia buildings and historical gardens

¢ serving as a bird sanctuary

This statement is an integral part of
the new Operating Agreement. The
contract spells out the organization and
procedures that the CAF and the County
of Los Angeles will follow to accomplish
this mission. Anyone who would like to
read the Agreement is welcome to come
by the Foundation office and read it in
full, but the salient points are as follows:

FOUNDATION

¢ The functions of the CAF and Los Angeles
County shall be integrated in the manage-
ment and operation of The Arboretum.

¢ They will be directed by a Chief
Executive Officer of The Arboretum.
This is a new position funded by both
the County and the CAF.

* This CEO will report to the Joint
Executive Committee comprised of the
Director of Parks and Recreation and the
President, CAF Board of Trustees,

* The Arbiter, if needed, will be the
County of Los Angeles Chief Adminis-

trative Officer.
* The County will commit resources at
the 1996-97 fiscal year levels |
($1,060,000) subject to the County’s
annual budget process.
Continued on page 2 |

Continued from front page

* The CAF will commit resources to the
extent feasible to operate programs at a
first class level, to increase attendance
revenues and private support for The
Arboretum.

¢ The term of this Operating Agreement is
to be for 20 years.

Now that the Operating Agreement has
been completed we are preparing to look to
the future with a mutual sense of relief and
anticipation, At all times both parties to the
contract have had the best interests of The
Arboretum at heart. We are now able to en-
joya synerey which will allow us to continue

n vm tard }
our elt ciently and

make Siture Siusithe more effective.

Our first task is to hire the new CEO.
A joint committee of three representatives
of the CAF and three from the County is
charged with this task and has already held
their first meeting. We are proceeding
with all due speed on this front.

Concurrently, we are reviewing
development plans, and other studies in
our recent archives, in order to assess their
relevance to our Current Mission State-
ment. As soon as we have completed the
review, we will prioritize these concepts.
Although our new CEO will certainly be
the driving force in any implementation,
in order to attract a person of the highest
caliber for this position we need to re-
establish our focus.

This year as we celebrate the fiftieth
anniversary of the CAF we are reminisc-
ing about the history of The Arboretum
and those outstanding individuals who
had the vision and dedication to found
this 127-acre botanical institution. We
will be celebrating the beginning of our
second half-century and entering the next
millennium. Our faces will be the ones in
photographs studied in 2048. Let’s be
worthy successors to our founders! 2

Donivee Nash

President, Board of Trustees

California Arboretum Foundation

Se ae Sieh ens Se ee OMe Re ani Leia ee ec ae ea SE RT oe A” See

Linearity vs Systems Thinking

by Becca Hanson

here is no such thing as “before”
or “after” - there is only “while at
the same time.”

The question has. been posed: Should
physical master planning occur before or
after strategic planning? The following
thoughts should help set the story straight.

It is very comforting for us to think
that we can accomplish one task, the
conclusion of which inevitable leads to the
accomplishment of the subsequent task, and
so forth, ad infinitum. The reality of the
situation is quite different, whether the
situation involves planning for our institu-
tions or planning for our family’s vacation.
Rarely are individual tasks and results
arranged in linear, continuously reinforcing
sequences - much as our logical minds
might cry out for such a scenario. So rather
than try to create processes that depend
linearity, why not take a step aback and see
if we can’t set up systems that invite

serendipity, continione ; and

the cross-fertilization of ideas?

I have strong opinions about whether
or not physical master planning should
precede strategic planning. I believe that
not only should the former not precede the
latter, but that a third element, interpretive
planning should be added to the equation.

Physical Master Planning deals with
the reality of the bricks and mortar, the
utility infrastructure and waste stream, the
plants and pathways, and the need to get
people (staff, deliveries, and visitors) to
flow seamlessly through our facilities,
delighted, and comfortable. It opens up
the possibilities of special design
elements and programming options.

Strategic Planning involves
answering the question: What will it take
to make this plan and this institution
successful? It deals with issues of timing

and organizational framework, funding

ARBORETUM NEW S

/

PAG P27. 8 6

sources and fund-raising tactics. It opens
up the possibilities of partnerships and
communications planning.

Interpretive Planning is about identi-
fying what your visitors know and what
they need to know, determining the crucial “
areas of information for the future, and
inventorying the collections and the insti-
tution to develop approaches to informa-
tion exchange that provide thoughtful and
stimulating communication. It opens up
the possibilities of special design elements
and communications planning.

Each of these incremental pieces of
the planning continuum encompasses
pieces that influence each of the others.

Becca Hanson ‘is a Principal with The
Portico-Group. Reprinted by permission
from AABGA (American Association of
Botanical Gardes and Arboreta) from
Public Gardens, October 1997.

Interpretive Planning:
Why we are UNIQUE...
The Arboretum of Los prseles C “ate

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animals, and iainians Sioa pre-Columbian
times. The garden as a whole is a living
laboratory, green oasis for visitors, and
microcosms of wildlife. It is an environ-
mental museum. It has an eas mene

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GREEN SIDE UP BROWN SIDE DOWN

The Role of Garden
Blenders and Weavers

by Jan Smithen, a regular contributor
to the Arboretum News

o you ever look at your flower

borders and see holes and gaps

where the bare earth shows

through? Do you wish for
something to skirt the bare legs of a shrub
rose to anchor it into neighboring shrubs
and perennials? Do you hope that when
June comes along, the border will overflow
with the feeling of abundance? Will
flowers and foliage ever lap out over the
edges of lawns and walks, then trail up
through background shrubs and around the
edges of perennials?

This is the role of the blenders and
weavers of the garden. These are annuals
and perennials that reach out to-wind and
twine, billow out, or fill gaps, then retreat
or die back at season’s end. Now is the
time to find and plant them so they’ll fill
in and show off by June.

In my garden, the cranesbill geraniums
are some of the best for this supporting
role.. Their flowers are small and quiet;
their foliage is soft. Many of them bloom
on long arms that reach out as they grow.
Geranium oxonianum *A.T, Johnson’ is an
example. In winter, it is just a clump of
shining apple-green foliage. When weather
warms, branching wands of dime-size pink
flowers begin to extend. These continue to
grow and bloom throughout the spring and
summer filling in ugly gaps. They also
stretch back up into any adjacent shrub or

rose. I can trim back these “arms” where

not needed at any time and new ones-will
grow, blooming all the way. Geranium
wallichianum ‘Buxton’s Blue’ will do the
same for a shade garden. A loose wan-
derer, it blooms all summer with pale blue
cup shaped flowers weaving together
Japanese anemone foliage, ferns and the
dark straps of liriope.

I like Geranium x ‘Stanhoe’ at the foot
of any pink rose, Its round and scalloped
leaves are the color of cafe au lait, Its small
pale pink flowering strands will reach up
into the rose, winking out magically
between the rose blooms. Give ‘Stanhoe’
rich moist soil, and these-basal leaves can be
five inches across, lapping out over path and
lawn edges. The new Geranium x ‘Ann
Folkard’ has even more of a wandering
habit. Its golden foliage becomes lime
green in light shade. The lengthening arms
will weave four or five feet through dark
leafed companions during summer, then
return to base at the end of the season. ‘Ann
Folkard’ has deep magenta blooms with
dark eyes, sexy for bees!

Many violas can stretch and climb if
they have a supporting neighbor. They ~
will continue to bloom into summer if
given light shade and regular water. Two
bred from the perennial Viola cornuta are
‘Maggie Mott’, a soft lavender, and
‘Etain’, pale lemon with violet edges.
Vigorous and long blooming, try either
under the north side of a shrub rose. Give
them the idea and little help up into it.
You'll be surprised with their weaving
abilities. My favorite, the species itself,
Viola cornuta will do the same but is

harder to find. A true perennial, it often

lives over the summer if given enough
moisture. Its blooms are pure white with
very narrow petals, giving them a “startled
jackrabbit” look. But poking up among
your shady ground covers, Viola cornuta
will bloom and grow out two to three feet.
If they start looking tired, I just cut them
back to the base, fertilize and soak. Back
they come and bloom all the way.

A weaver and blender I have found ©
useful in my Mediterranean garden is
Convolvulus mauritanicus. Its dark green
rounded foliage is a good background for
its two-inch lavender-blue morning glory
shaped flowers. Often called “Ground
Morning Glory”, this low spreading plant
blooms heavily in spring, then less in
summer. It also reaches out with bloom-
ing arms that encircle my lavenders,
salvias and cistus. Climbing up inside a
small clipped Arizona cypress, it pokes its
blue glories out until they are shaved off.
It now is hoisting itself up into the base of
the pale yellow climbing rose, Maréchal
Niel. Never a nuisance, it serves me well
as the plant that ties the garden together.
Convolvulus mauritanicus thrives in hot
sun as well as part shade and is moder-
ately drought resistant, once established.

Another one of my favorite gap fillers
for sun or light shade is one of the trailing
varieties of nasturtium, Tropaeolum 2
majus. Its lily-pad leaves look good
swirling around the base of any shrub,
post or wall. Try.a few scrambling around
under your birdbath. Just poke five or six
seeds into the soil during one of our spring
rains ‘and see how fast they fill in. The
variegated leaf nasturtium lights up a
shady corner so well, you'll not care
whether it blooms or not. Nasturtiums die
out with the heat and-dryness of summer,
but always leave behind self-sown seeds
to volunteer with next winter’s rain.

These are all easy and happy
companion plants. They fill in the
garden and make it comfortable. **

ARBORETUM NEWS {PAGE THREE

Festival of Plants

hapter Twenty-Eight, in the
entertaining and ever successful
saga of Baldwin Bonanza
Weekend, a tradition at The
Arboretum since 1970, is titled Festival

of Plants. Festival of Plants: continues
the Baldwin Bonanza tradition-with
unique garden exhibits and special
attention to plant selection. 1998 salutes
collections, with such captivating
commodities as the Bonanza Salvia
Collection, Bonanza Lavender Collec-
tion, Bonanza Herb Collection, the
Baldwin Penstemon Collection and much
more to entice the Festival of Plants guest.
Theme gardens such as the Moonlight
Garden, Sunset Garden, Shade Garden and
Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden will

be on hand along with plants that
are considered “off the beaten

path.” Also new this yéar is
the Baldwin Bonanza
XXVIII Pavilion
featuring garden
accessories to enhance

your garden design.
A partial list of plant
societies joining the
Festival of Plants celebra-
tion by providing plants for
the sale are the Southern
Clematis Society and the
California Rare Fruit Growers
Society.
Carolyn Otto, a member of the
CAF Board of Trustees is Chair
of the Baldwin Bonanza Guild for
Baldwin Bonanza XXVIII.

|

t ,
ARBORETUM-NEWS Fo PAGE FOUR

ae a as ey 6 a ace

Baldwin Bonanza XX VIII

Members of Los Voluntarios and the
California Arboretum Foundation make up
the various committees for the annual plant
sale and Festival of Plants Preview Party.
What else? Festival of Plants
Preview Party is Friday, May 1, from
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. For those who have
enjoyed the Preview Party in the past, and
for those who haven’t, come sample the al
fresco dining. . This, combined with the
privilege of being first to view and
purchase from the Collections, and bid on
new and traditional favorites at the
Baldwin Bonanza XXVIII auction,
creates an evening to remember. Invita-
tions in the. mail by March 13, but make
your reservation at $35 per person by
calling 626/447-8207. The CAF Mem-
bers Only Sale is Saturday, May 2, from 7
to 9 a.m., membership cards are required!
Festival of Plants opens to the
public on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Arboretum admission fees apply. **

Members and friends have the
opportunity to make a tax.
deductible donation of garden
accessories for the Baldwin
Bonanza XXVIII Pavilion:
Some ideas might be planters,
. decorative items, statuary,

stepping stones, ornaments and
trellises. Bring your donations

to the CAF office.

1998 Baldwin Bonanza XXVIII
Festival of Plants

Steering Committee

CHAIR Carolyn Otto
| | . Jim Anderson Whilma Holcombe
| Marcia Bent Kathleen Liu

Marilyn Brumder Timothy McCarthy
Don Christensen Carol McVay

Bill Crosson Barbara Moorehead
Carol Cupp Margo (Niki) Nikoloric
Donald Deise Peg Rahn

Suzanne Deise ~ Billie Reynolds

Jane Dick Fred Schoellkopf
John Foley - Elena Shoch

Suzanne Haller Laney Techentin

Pris Hoecker

BALDWIN BONANZA XXVIII
Festival of Plants

FRIDAY, MAY 1
Baldwin Bonanza Preview Party
4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$35 per person

SATURDAY, MAY 2
CAF Members Only Sale
(enter at Ayres Hall gate)
7-9 a.m.

CAF Membership Cards Required

_ Public Sale
9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Arboretum Fees Apply

Remember to bring your
wheelbarrows and wagons
for easy plant shopping!

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ARBOR ET UMN EWS Ss PLAGE. PR EVE

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199s Les GARDEN SHOW

1998 Los Angeles Garden Show:

ANGELES

“Gardens of the Silver Screen,” has
been announced as the theme of the
fourth annual Los Angeles Garden Show

(%
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Y a

a

by Donivee Nash, President of the
California Arboretum Foundation.

The dates of the Show, Thursday,
October 8, through Sunday, October 11,

are earlier this year to allow for a longer

Los Angeles

day at the Show. Extended hours are 9
a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The date change
also provides more and easier parking at
Santa Anita Park for Garden Show

guests.

“Gardens of the Silver Screen” is
GARDENS « FLOWERS

LECTURES « MARKETPLACE reflected in the Style Garden designs for

large and small areas. Other traditional

Gardens of the Silver Screen, October 8-11

favorites taking their ideas from
cinemaland are the Robinsons*May Floral
Pavilion and the American Society of
Interior Designers (ASID) Tablescapes.

Look for the Lectures and Demon-
strations, the Los Angeles Times Cooking
Pavilion, the PlantMarket, and the
MarketPlace to feature some surprises
from the best days of the silver screen.

New features include Children’s
Garden Playhouses, a Garden Birdhouse
Display and a Flower Festival.

Tickets are $6.50 for group presale
of ten or more, $8 general admission and
$6 for California Arboretum Foundation
members. Children 11 and under are free. *

Summer Concert
Season Returns

Foundation members have a special

to Earl Ross

Earl Ross is retiring after a long

opportunity for this summer’s California and dedicated career as curator of the

Join Us and Say Thanks

Philharmonic Orchestra concert series at
The-Arboretum. Members are offered a
20% discount off the face value of an
individual ticket. To place your order,
please phone 626-844-6600, mention that
you are a Foundation member and enjoy
this benefit. This summer’s season includes
seven Saturday performances starting at
7:30 p.m. under the baton of Victor Vener.
Summer Season Performances:

July 4 “All American”

July 18 “Very Viennese”

August I “Movie Magic”

August 15 “Obviously Opera”

August 29 “Mostly Mozart”

September 12 “Basically Broadway.”
_ September 26

“Totally Tchaikovsky”

Orchid Collection at The Arboretum:
In celebration of his remarkable —
contribution, we are hosting an

informal gathering on Friday, March

20th, in the newly refurbished Lecture
Hall from 2 to 4 p.m. If Earl-has touched
your own interest in orchids either
directly or indirectly, please join
us on March 20th and RSVP to
the CAF office at 626-447-8207.
We are also putting together a
Memory Book for him and would
welcome your own written note for
_inclusion. If you are unable to attend the
gathering, you may still send your note
to the CAF office prior to March 20th. 2

ARBORETUM NEWS tf) PAGE SIX

EJ Benefactor Member ($1 ,000/year)
(| Affiliate Member ($500/year)

|_| Sponsor Member ($250/year)

|_| Sustainer Member ($100/year)

(| Garden Member ($55/year)

(| Individual Member ($40/year)

|_| Golden Garden Member ($35/year)

$_____. ___ Membership

$ - ___—sdT have enclosed a donation
to benefit The Arboretum

Se Total Payment Enclosed

ALTADENA NURSERY
1968 N. Lake Avenue, Altadena
BURKHARD NURSERIES, INC.
390 N. Orange Grove, Pasadena
DESERT TO JUNGLE NURSERY
3211 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello
FOUR SEASON ORCHID
823 S. San Gabriel, San Gabriel
GARDEN VIEW NURSERY
12901 Lower Azusa Road, Irwindale
LAS TUNAS NURSERY
1155 E. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel
PLANT SYSTEM

2552 Hyperion Avenue, Silverlake

Spring is the season to become a Member
of The California Arboretum Foundation

Mr. and Mrs./ Ms./Miss/Mr./Mrs.

Address

City, State and Zip

( ) ( )

Phone: Home Office

(_] Check enclosed payable to CAF

[_} Mastercard [_] Visa
(| American Express

Card #

Expiration Date

Signature

Date

Mail to: Membership Manager
California Arboretum Foundation
301 N, Baldwin Avenue _
\ Arcadia, CA 91007-2697

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS BLOSSOM IN YOUR GARDEN

JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING PLANTING ... all members of the Foundation also
receive a 10% discount at the following nurseries:

PRESENT PERFECT

140 S. Kinneloa Avenue, Pasadena
ROGER’S GARDENS

2301 San Joaquin Hills, Corona del Mar
SAN GABRIEL NURSERY

632 S. San Gabriel Blvd, San Gabriel
SMITH & HAWKEN

519 S. Lake, Pasadena

SOUTH PASADENA NURSERY
1507 El Centro, South Pasadena
STEWART ORCHIDS

3838 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City
3376 Foothill Blvd, Carpenteria **

THANK YOU...THANK YOU

Thank you to the following members
who donated financial support
from October 15, 1997 through
January 26, 1998

Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Ames, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Hancock Banning III
Mr. M.L. Bauders

Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Beauchamp

Mr. and Mrs. William Bedford
Mr. Richard M. Bressler

Mr. Bruce Chan

Mr. and Mrs. Che Jen Chen

Mrs. Winifred M. Conklin

Mrs. Charlotte Cowan

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene W, Cowan
Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. De Stefano
Mr. and Mrs. John Engman

Mr. W. Fidler

Mrs. High Goodhue

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Hammond
Frank and Marlina Hanafi

Mr. and Mrs. Willard Heise

Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Held

Ms Carole Hossan

Mrs. Elliot D. Jones

Mrs. Nancy Kasnicka

Mr. and Mrs. Anton Killian

Ms. Frances S. La Mar

Ms. Kathy Lima

Dr. and Mrs. John List

Mr. and Mrs. John R. MacFarland
Mr. John Mohme

Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Mollenhauer
Ms. Kazuko Nakamura

Miss Satsuki Nakao

Paraid

Mr. George F. Pendered

Mr. and Mrs. Claude Rademacher
Mr. Harry Rose

Santa Anita Foundation

Mrs. Phillip Saurenman

Ms. Veda L. Schmidt

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Schryver
Ms. R. Gabrielle S. Silten

Mr. Walter L. Slavik

Mr. William M. Tilley

Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Tyler, Jr.
Mr. Trinidad Veyna

Mr. and Mrs. Hubert M. Walter
Ms. Chiyoko Yamashiro

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Yamashita

Mr. David Zuccaro

ARBORETUM NEWS | PAGE SEVEN

How Plants Get Their Names
L.H. Bailey

A basic introduction to botanical nomenclature which shows the
fun and advantages of a sound, scientific approach. This book
introduces the reader to the rules of nomenclature with easy

explanations of Latin roots plus plant identification. Paperback,

Gardener’s Latin

Bill Neal

A beautifully illustrated book representing a
“glossary” of botanical names and the lore
acquired down through the centuries.. A book
of special importance to the gardener for its
listings of species, genus, and horticultural
variety. Hardcover only, $14.95.

New Pronouncing Dictionary
of Plant Names
A handy reference
booklet to aid the
average reader in
gaining a fuller
understanding of
the pronunciation
and spelling of
plant names.
Paperback,
$3.50.

= California Arboretum =
A non-profit corporation benefitin 5
THE ARBORETUM of Los raat County
301 North Baldwin Avenue * Arcadia, CA 91007-2697
; (626) 447-8207

Gift Shop: (626) 447- 8751 Open to the public 10-Spm

inte een oe: = (626) 294-2059

sakes ull td erecsen i tevasiitd with cha’ pera acct beth Se
CAF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Judith S. Morse, Executive Director

Have you received your February, March

_ Calendar of Events? If not, call us!

Look for your next calendar toward the end of March.

Non Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage

PAID

Arcadia; CA
No. 528

&® Dated Material