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February 4, 2023

The Chestertown Spy

An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland

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Local Life Food and Garden Notes

Adkins Mystery Monday: What Native Grass has Seeds that Look Like Snow Flurries?

January 30, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday! What native grass has seeds that look like snow flurries?

Last week, we asked you about ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana)! Ironwood also happens to be our 2023 Native Tree of the Year! At Adkins, you’ll find ironwood in the understory, growing in and around the floodplains. Easily identified by its taut and rippled trunk, ironwood is known for its strong wood and has historically been used for tool handles and the like. Found throughout Maryland, ironwood is the host plant for a variety of butterflies, including the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), and many moths, including the American dagger moth (Acronicta americana) and banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris). In addition to feeding many lepidopterans, ironwood foliage and twigs are tasty fodder for deer and the nutlets are browsed by mammals and birds alike.
#adkinsarboretum #nativetree #mysterymonday #mysterytree #mysteryplant #hostplant #winterinterest

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

Spark Joy with “The Garden Electric!” on Adkins Arboretum Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show

January 26, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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A showcase of excellence that dates to 1829, the Philadelphia Flower Show is a top destination and a must-experience horticultural event. On Mon., March 6, join Adkins Arboretum for an unforgettable trip to this year’s show, “The Garden Electric!”

“The Garden Electric!” explores that spark of joy that comes with giving or receiving flowers. This year’s Flower Show returns indoors to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to amaze visitors with an unmatched floral experience: a dazzling array of colors, unique shapes and textures, rich fragrances of gorgeous floral displays and gardens, and feelings of excitement and celebration. This year’s theme brings the electrifying presence of today’s most dynamic designers of floral arrangements, landscapes and lush gardens to visitors from around the world.

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event. The show will be packed with a variety of flowers and plants at the peak of seasonal perfection. Visitors can expect spectacular floral and garden displays, educational areas, plant exhibits, shopping, a play area for families and plentiful food and drink options. Hundreds of spectacular native butterflies can also be experienced in the Butterflies Live! exhibit. The Arboretum group will be admitted to the show at 9 a.m.—a full hour before it opens to the public.

The trip is $145 for Arboretum members and $180 for non-members. The bus departs from Aurora Park Drive in Easton at 7 a.m. and will stop for pickups at the Rt. 50 westbound/Rt. 404 Park and Ride near Wye Mills and the 301/291 Park and Ride in Millington. Return time is 4 p.m. Advance registration is required at adkinsarboretum.org or by calling 410-634-2847, ext.  100.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum, local news

Adkins Mystery Monday: Do You Know What Native Tree Grows in the Understory

January 23, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday! Do you know what native tree grows in the understory and has a taut, rippled trunk?

Last week, we asked you about the Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana). Also known as scrub pine, this medium-sized tree tends to grow in old fields and poor soils. Here on the Eastern Shore, it tends to grow near loblolly pines and sweet gum trees. One of the easiest ways to identify this tree is to look at the needle bundles. The needles are paired in twos, with each needle slightly twisting. A good way to remember this is that the two needles resemble a “V” — “V” for Virginia. Virginia pine provides good cover for wildlife and often is one of the first trees to naturally regrow in mined or burned areas.
#adkinsarboretum #mysterymonday #mysterytree #nativetree #knowyourtrees #winterinterest

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

Calling All Crafters! Yarnstorming Returns to Adkins Arboretum

January 19, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Yarnstorming is back! For the fourth year running, Adkins Arboretum is partnering with the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore to bring an exciting visual experience to the Arboretum grounds. Local knitters and crocheters are invited to help create an exhibit that lends color and whimsy to the trees around the Arboretum Visitor’s Center.

Also known as yarn bombing, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting and graffiti knitting, yarnstorming is an art form that employs crocheted or knitted yarn to add temporary beauty in a fun and surprising way. Fiber artists are invited to craft pieces to adorn a selection of native trees with everything from pompoms to needle felted animals to branch and trunk wraps. The exhibit will be on view Sun., March 5 through Sun., April 2, with a public reception on Sun., March 12.

Photo: Kellen McCluskey

Yarn art will be installed Sat., Feb. 25 through Sat., March 4. All work must be safely reachable by an 8-foot ladder and must be free from glitter, wire, mesh, plastics, nails and tacks for the health of the Arboretum’s trees and wildlife. Work must remain on display through Sun., April 2 and be removed by 4 p.m. on Sun., April 9.

Interested artists should contact Assistant Director Jenny Houghton at jhoughton@adkinsarboretum.org to learn about trees available for installation. More information is available at adkinsarboretum.org.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 100.

Located in Denton, the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore is a destination for the area’s many quilt and fiber art enthusiasts, visitors, and residents to view historic and recent works by quilters and fiber artists from Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delmarva Peninsula. For more information, visit fiberartscenter.com or call 410-479-0009.

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum, Arts, Fiber Arts Center, local news

Adkins Mystery Monday: What Native Tree Has Twisted Needles?

January 16, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum 1 Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday! What native tree has twisted needles that come in twos?

Last week, we highlighted the devil’s walking stick (Aralia spinosa). Devil’s walking stick is in Araliaceae, the same plant family as ginseng and wild sarsaparilla. It is most easily identified by its stem (in any season), which has strong thorns wrapped around it. The leaves are heavily divided and can reach 3-4 feet long and wide (per leaf!). It produces prolific white umbel flowers, which attract pollinators of all kinds! Just walk by in the summer and hear the buzzing! #nativeplants #mysterymonday #adkinsarboretum #mysteryplant #mysterytree #knowyourplantfamilies #devilswalkingstick #winterinterest

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

Adkins Mystery Monday: What Native Plant has a Unique Spiky Stem?

January 9, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday! What native plant has a unique spiky stem?

Last week, we asked you about the Maryland state tree: the white oak (Quercus alba). Oak trees are some of the most beneficial trees to wildlife. According to Doug Tallamy, oaks host over 900 species of Lepidoptera and produce nutrient dense acorns that birds and mammals rely on. One of the easiest ways to identify the white oak in winter is its notable light grey furrowed and flaky bark. Did you know that most oak trees don’t produce acorns until they are 50-100 years old? That said, some specimen trees can bear acorns as early as 20 years old, given optimal conditions.
#mysterymonday #adkinsarboretum #nativeplant #hostplant #mysteryplant #winterinterest

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

Adkins Mystery Monday: Do You Know Your Tree Bark?

January 2, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday and Happy 2023! Do you know your tree bark? What stately native tree grows along many of the trails at Adkins Arboretum?

Last week, we asked you about the swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) seeds! Swamp sunflowers fill our Parking Lot Alive! gardens with golden hues in the fall, but they continue to offer great structure and interest in winter! These plants are hardy and versatile, growing well in wet and dry conditions. They spread easily by seed and are an important food source for a variety of birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects.
#adkinsarboretum #mysterymonday #doyouknowyourseedpods #doyouknowyourbark #mysterytree #nativeplants #winterinterest

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

Adkins Arboretum Offers New Winter Forest School

December 30, 2022 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Celebrate the wintry wonders of nature! New for 2023, Adkins Arboretum will offer Winter Forest School for students ages 5–10. Forest schools provide a student-centered approach to learning in which children’s innate curiosity and sense of wonder guide their experience.

In the Arboretum’s Winter Forest School, environmental educator Erin Harmon will set the stage for students to take a starring role in their own adventures. From building tree ring castles to peeking under moss in search of sleeping creatures, students will get up close to nature and learn to love chilly days.

Forest School is a drop-off program that meets Tuesdays, Feb. 7 to March 14, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The program is held completely outdoors and meets in all but the rainiest weather. Children should be dressed in warm layers. Caregivers are welcome to enjoy the Arboretum grounds and Visitor’s Center during class time.

The program is $90 for Arboretum members and $105 for non-members. A $10 sibling discount is available. Enrollment is limited, and advance registration is required at adkinsarboretum.org or by calling 410-634-2847, ext. 100.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 100.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum, local news

Adkins Mystery Monday: Do You Know Your Seed Pods?

December 26, 2022 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday! We can’t believe this is our last mystery for 2022! Do you know your seed pods? This plant is prominent in our Parking Lot Alive! gardens and provides beautiful winter interest.

Last week, we asked you about the American amber jelly fungus (Exidia crenata). This super fun fungus is also known as amber jelly roll (sounds like a holiday treat!). This jelly fungus is, well, jelly-like. It thrives in cool and humid weather and can often be found in the winter, especially after a chilly rain. This fungus has little dark wart-like structures on the fruiting bodies, which usually grow on fallen dead sticks and branches.

Thanks for following us this year — we look forward to seeing you in 2023!
#adkinsarboretum #mysterymonday #mysteryfungus #winterinterest #doyouknowyourseedpods

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

Adkins Mystery Monday: What Fungus Did We Find?

December 19, 2022 by Adkins Arboretum 1 Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday! These late autumn rainy days have made some fungi really happy! What fungus did we find?

Last week, we asked you about the false milkweed bug (Lygaeus turcicus). At first glance, this bug looks very similar to the large (Oncopeltus fasciatus) and small milkweed bugs (Lygaeus kalmii), as well as the box elder bug (Boisea trivittata). Fortunately, if you have time in the field or a good picture to work from, there are a few distinguishing features you can look for to identify the bug! Generally speaking, the milkweed bugs will be on milkweeds and other perennials such as asters. The false milkweed bug has what appears to be an overlapping “V” shape on its back. It is often found on oxeye sunflower and has been known to snack on the seeds. The large milkweed bug has a thick horizontal black band across its back and the small milkweed bug has a black heart shape on its back. The box elder bug is predominantly black, with some orange outlining and can be found on box elder, as well as maples and ash trees. It can take practice, but when you learn to look closer, there is so much more to see!
#adkinsarboretum #mysterymonday #mysterybug #mysterfungus #falsemilkweedbug #bugsarecool #learntolookcloser #autumnatthearboretum

Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.

Filed Under: Food and Garden Notes Tagged With: Adkins Arboretum

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