Winter - The Holden Arboretum

A PUBLICATION OF the holden arboretum
Winter
2011-12
Winter 2011-12
1
leaves
Winter 2011-12
Cait Anastis, Editor
editor@holdenarb.org
Jackie Klisuric, Graphic Design
administration
Clement W. Hamilton,
President and CEO
Interim Director of Research
Jim Ansberry,
Director of Finance
cyndi konopka
David A. Desimone,
Director of Guest Relations and Communications
Roger Gettig,
Director of Horticulture and Conservation
Brian Parsons,
Director of Planning and Special Projects
Stephen H. Sedam,
Interim Director of Development
Paul C. Spector,
Director of Education and Information Services
Nancy Spelman,
Director of Human Resources and Safety
board of directors
contents
features
4 A New Leaf Project
6 The Chamberlains
8 Volunteers
12 Plant This, Not That
Invisible
14 The
World of Soil
Throated
Blue Warblers
16 Black
A Garden with Stories to Tell
Holden Partnerships
Holden’s Good Fortune Since 1931
Burning Bush
Jackie klisuric
departments
10 Plant Profile
Bird Bio
11
Annual Members
Photo Exhibit
18 15th
19 Shorts
Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch)
Blue Jay
Joseph J. Mahovlic, Chairman
Paul R. Abbey, Vice Chairman
Jonathan E. Dick, Vice Chairman
Robert R. Galloway, Vice Chairman
Sarah L. Gries, Vice Chairman
Leslie W. Jacobs, Vice Chairman
C. W. Eliot Paine, Vice Chairman
Stephen J. Knerly, Secretary
Barbara Brown
Christopher A. Cullis
Simin Gharib-Naraghipour
Peter S. Hellman
Arlene M. Holden
Michael C. Marino
Cynthia A. Moore-Hardy
Ellen W. Jones Nordell
K.K. Sullivan
Timothy L. Swanson
Michael T. Victor
Ann T. Whitney
directors emeriti
Constance Norweb Abbey
Ralph W. Abelt
Miriam N. Gale
Jeanette Grasselli Brown
Henry R. Hatch
T. Dixon Long
Henry L. Meyer III
William J. O’Neill Jr.
John Sherwin Jr.
Penelope Theis
Alton W. Whitehouse
honorary directors
Anne M. Clapp
Mary Groves
Alison C. Jones
Thomas W. Seabright
Volume 10, Number 1
©The Holden Arboretum
Leaves (ISSN 0518-2662) is a class
and events magazine published
quarterly by The Holden Arboretum
for $10 per year for members
(included in membership fee) and
$50 per year for nonmembers
Leaves
2
On the Cover: Conifer Collection
by Jackie Klisuric
Postmaster:
Please send address changes to
Leaves: The Holden Arboretum,
9500 Sperry Road,
Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5172
One program that establishes
Holden as a first-tier public
garden is our scientific
research. Founders of
great gardens – such as
Kew, Edinburgh, the Arnold
Arboretum, the Missouri
Botanical Garden and the
Morton Arboretum – knew
that their mandate had
to extend well beyond
displaying plants beautifully
for visitors’ enjoyment. They realized that their common
task of conserving plant diversity and of fostering
healthy communities required sound knowledge about
plants, and that outstanding gardens must contribute
new knowledge. So, too, for The Holden Arboretum.
As you know by reading Leaves, in the past several years
Holden’s research has blossomed to an unprecedented
degree. Our tradition of horticultural research continues
with the work of Steve Krebs, whose studies of genetics and
disease resistance in Rhododendron directly underlie his
breeding and selection of new, superior cultivated varieties.
More recently, David Burke and Kurt Smemo have led
Holden’s work in forest ecology and management, focusing
particularly on soils. Our scientists’ research, in conjunction
with that of collaborators from institutions like Case Western
Reserve, Ohio State, Kent State and Ohio universities, as
well as the USDA-Forest Service, have positioned Holden
as a major contributor of new and significant knowledge.
Some find it remarkable that there still is so much to
be learned about trees and forests, even after centuries
of study. Why don’t we know it all already? The answer
relates, in part, to nature’s complexity: each answer
lays the foundation for new questions. Another factor is
that there are aspects of tree science that have received
comparatively little attention over the years; Burke and
Smemo and their colleagues, for instance, are in their
own “age of discovery,” with each year revealing new,
basic information about how soils function, particularly
John Evelyn’s Silva: or, A Discourse of Forest-Trees
their organic communities and chemistry, especially in
the face of powerful anthropogenic disturbances like
climate change, biological invasion and acid rain.
Holden has another window on knowledge concerning
trees and forests, the Special Collections of the Warren
H. Corning Library, whose titles include herbals dating
from the late 15th century, botanical and horticultural
monographs, tracts on forestry, floras from throughout
the temperate world and works of stunning botanical
art. One of my favorites is a 1786 reissue of John Evelyn’s
Silva: or, A Discourse of Forest-Trees, first published in
1664 and one of the most influential books in the history
of forestry. In fact, that book is credited with spurring the
17th- and 18th-century reforestation of England. What is
fun about the 1786 edition is that its editor, a physician
named A. Hunter, annotated Evelyn’s great work with
notes on subsequent advances in knowledge, from such
scientific luminaries as Carl von Linné, Stephen Hales and
Henri Louis Duhamel du Monçeau, which demonstrate
a rapid flowering of knowledge in those times.
Today’s new research provides the foundation for wise
conservation and management of trees, forests and
communities. Holden is proud to play its important role.
Winter 2011-12
Periodicals postage paid at Mentor, Ohio
from the president
Clement W. Hamilton, PhD
President and CEO
3
end of the spectrum, to the sustainable use of
these plants in community landscapes, at the
horticultural end of the spectrum,” Hamilton said.
The exploration garden will cost $2.1 million
to complete. Cost includes site preparation,
installation of infrastructure including soil drainage
systems, and the construction of the garden.
One of the first steps in preparing for the garden
was to study what is already growing on the site
and determine which trees will stay to become
part of the new garden’s landscape, said Charles
Tubesing, plant collections curator. These trees
are being protected during construction.
home owners to become more knowledgeable, said
Clem Hamilton, Holden’s president and CEO.
The new garden will have three specific stories
to tell guests. First, it will introduce them to the
diversity of rhododendrons and of the heath
family, which also includes blueberries, cranberries
and mountain laurels, and show how widely
distributed these plants are in the world.
It will also tell the story of rhododendron
breeding in Northeast Ohio, Gettig said.
“There is a long history of people from this area who
have done some really groundbreaking, innovative work
in breeding,” he said. They include Anthony Shammarello,
Peter Girard, Paul Bosley and David Leach, who joined
the Holden family during his career. “Leach’s work is still
being used and is being taken to the next stage by Krebs.”
New Leaf Project: A Garden with Stories to Tell
by Cait Anastis, editor
Each spring, a dazzling display of rhododendrons
and azaleas in bloom draws thousands of visitors
to the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden.
The 20-acre Layer Rhododendron Garden’s grand,
large-scale sweeps of rhododendrons and azaleas
are among Holden’s most beloved garden features.
The 2009 strategic plan suggested new ideas for
rhododendron displays: the fascinating botanical diversity
of Rhododendron; the hybridization, selection and
introduction of improved cultivated varieties; and how
to successfully grow rhododendrons in home gardens.
4
The goal is to provide a greater understanding of these
plants and their place in the landscape in a beautiful setting.
“It’s not supposed to slam you over the head with
information,” Marshall said, “but it’s there if you
want it, and you’re going to understand that there
is more than just ‘pretty’ to rhododendrons.”
The garden will offer a different experience from the
Layer Garden, said Roger Gettig, director of horticulture
and conservation.
MTR Landscape Architects of Pittsburgh, Pa., one
of the nation’s top public garden designers, was
hired to design the garden. The company worked to
create a garden to provide visitors with an enhanced
experience, said Missy Marshall, the firm’s leader.
“If you want a lovely walk to see the ‘shock and awe,’ with
large amounts of color and a high canopy of trees, the
Layer Garden is still that place,” Gettig said. “If you want to
get more in-depth, and discover how we got the different
varieties that we have today and how to use them in the
home landscape, then visit the exploration garden.”
“The way the Layer Garden is set up, it’s a beautiful
garden, but it doesn’t tell stories,” Marshall
said. And there are many stories worth telling.
“Some of the finest rhododendron hybridizers
ever worked out of Northeast Ohio.”
Creating a learning garden to complement the existing
garden will offer guests spectacular beauty and practical
knowledge. The beauty of rhododendrons makes the
genus attractive to the home landscaper, and because
it can be a challenging plant to grow, it often inspires
“Rhododendrons are used so frequently in the landscape
and featured so often, why not show people their options
and what’s required to grow them well and how you
should arrange them in the landscape,” Gettig said.
As visitors explore the garden, the path will eventually
lead to a new entrance to the Layer Rhododendron
Garden with a spectacular view across Heath Pond,
showcasing the plants on the hillside. The exploration
garden is being created as part of Holden’s New
Leaf Master Plan, which maps a course for new and
improved gardens, visitor amenities and infrastructure
over the next 10 to 15 years. The garden is the
second New Leaf project started since completing
the master plan in 2009, which started with the
irrigation source water project at Hourglass Pond.
“The Rhododendron Exploration Garden will be
groundbreaking on a national level, because we
first figured out the stories we wish to tell, and then
designed the garden around those stories. The staff’s
thoughtfulness and creativity have been terrific. We’ve
also had a great interpretation consulting firm, ECOS
Communications, from Boulder, Colo., helping tell the
stories as effectively as possible,” Hamilton said.
It also can be seen as representative of Holden’s purpose.
“In effect, this will be a microcosm of the arboretum’s
mission because it goes from diversity and
conservation of wild plants, at the ecological
“There is also a mature swamp white oak, which is a
really appropriate landscape tree for this area,” Tubesing
said. “And there are mature quaking aspens at one end,
which have attractive trunks, so we are keeping those.”
To help prepare the site for the new garden, Holden has
hired Vizmag Landscape Inc. to handle the earth work
needed for the new garden. Once this construction is
complete, Holden’s horticulture staff will start planting.
“We would rather do all the planting ourselves. We have
the expertise and there is a certain pride in planting
something and watching it grow over time,” Gettig said.
Planting should begin in the fall of 2012 and continue
in the spring of 2013, with the garden slated to open
later that year. The garden will also feature an area
for small events, a pergola and restroom facility.
As work progresses on the new garden, visitors
also will see changes in the Layer Garden. One
of the functions of the new garden will be to
push the two rhododendron gardens into a more
central role as a shade garden, offering plants of
year-round interest for visitors, Marshall said.
“It’s a deliberate attempt to showcase a wide
range of plants, to show rhododendrons in
combination with other plants that work and
that are at peak at other times of the year.”
The new garden will offer an experience that is rare
in the Midwest.
“The new garden will be pretty darned unique,” Marshall
said. To see a similar garden, people would have to
travel to Pacific Northwest to see the Rhododendron
Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington.
Hamilton hopes that visitors to both of Holden’s
rhododendron gardens leave with a new
appreciation for these beautiful plants.
“I hope visitors learn how diverse the genus
rhododendron is, how important Northeast Ohio
continues to be in the creation of sustainable new
cultivars,” he said, “and I hope they come away confident
of growing rhododendrons in their own garden.”
Winter 2011-12
Leaves
Those ideas led to the creation of a new 4.5-acre
Rhododendron Exploration Garden, to complement
the Layer Rhododendron Garden. Construction
on the new garden began this past summer.
Marshall said that they also wanted to show that
Holden remains an active player in the field of
rhododendron hybridization, highlighting the
work being done by Steve Krebs, the director of
Holden’s David G. Leach Research Station.
The third story the garden will tell is how
rhododendrons can be used in the home garden,
Gettig said, including what companion plants go
well with them and how to care for them properly.
“In general, the excavation is extensive enough that
we can’t keep a lot of trees, so it was a matter of
highlighting the substantial specimens that were still
healthy,” Tubesing said. “Being a former residential
property, the trees don’t necessarily have a passport – we
don’t know where they came from – so we looked for the
good specimens. There is a pin oak, for instance, that
is in decent shape. The edge of the area is bordered by
gnarled old Osage orange trees in kind of a hedge row.”
5
partnerships
his cousin, holding the
chickens they had raised.
It was from his family’s farming
tradition that he grew to appreciate and
develop a keen sense for the land.
As a result of Webb’s example, “we all love to be outdoors,”
said his daughter, Lucy Chamberlain. “Everyone in the family
has knowledge and interest in the out of doors.”
stephen sedam
stephen sedam
Webb was first introduced to Holden by Emery May Norweb,
daughter of Arthur Fairchild Holden. She had gone to New
York City to receive medical attention for her eyes only to be
referred back to Dr. Webb Chamberlain, a nationally known
ophthalmologist, in Cleveland. Several years later, R. Henry
Norweb Jr. bought a house just two doors down from the
Chamberlains in Shaker Heights and was encouraged by his
mother, Emery May, to get Webb involved with Holden. He did
and it was a natural fit.
“Dad had a knack for growing things, especially trees,” Lucy
said. “He knew how to cultivate plants in a systematic, orderly
way. He was a hands-on gardener, doing nearly all the work
himself, producing beautiful gardens. Many of the ornamental
trees in the garden were either purchased at the Holden plant
sale or received as donor thank you gifts from the arboretum.
He particularly loved magnolias.” One of the “Holden” trees in
the yard, a dawn redwood, was a gift from Henry Norweb to
Webb, during the 1960s. It is now the tallest tree in the back
yard, over 60 feet tall, with a beautifully fissured trunk.
The Chamberlains
Dr. Webb Chamberlain
by Stephen Sedam,
interim director of development
Families are often said to be the cornerstone of our lives.
That surely is true of the life of The Holden Arboretum.
Many families are known for their pivotal role in the history of
Holden as evidenced by the exceptional depth of commitment
demonstrated over several generations; some of the more
famous names that come to mind are Bole, Corning, Holden
and Norweb. And there are many others.
Once he retired, Webb served on Holden’s Board of Trustees
from 1982 to 1992 and was active in horticultural and
development activities.
A love of plants was something Webb shared with his wife
Elizabeth. For many years, she was an active member of
the Western Reserve Unit of the Herb Society of America.
Elizabeth was also involved with fundraising for the
celebrated Cleveland Herbals Project. The cataloguing of
the extensive collections of herbals and other botanical
and horticultural works held in the libraries of The Holden
Arboretum, the Cleveland Medical Library Association, and
the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland, was aimed at making
It is no surprise therefore that one of Elizabeth’s favorite
spots at Holden is the library, particularly the room that
houses the collection of rare books. She admires the
exquisitely illustrated herbals and other fine botanical works
found there: “It’s a wonderful library they have there; all
those rare and beautiful books.”
Webb (left) and his cousin with the chickens they raised.
Lucy’s interest in plants and nature grew from her father’s
influence, and she went on to study botany and landscape
design in college eventually receiving a master’s degree
in landscape ecology from the University of London, Wye
College. Following graduation from college, she was awarded
a fellowship to redesign the Shakespeare Garden at the
Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York. She has pursued a
career in landscape design, working on projects with several
landscape architectural firms, as well as consulting on
restoration projects on her own and teaching.
Continuing in the tradition set by her parents, she has
volunteered at Holden, serving as co-chair of the annual
plant sale, the On Holden Pond benefit and as a member
of the horticulture committee. She also assisted with the
inventory of plant collections.
Together the Chamberlains find Holden has been able to
adapt to changes in today’s society. They believe Holden is
“approaching one of its strongest eras.”
After enjoying and observing Holden over the years,
Elizabeth still sees the importance of the place she, Webb
and her children love. “The arboretum is one of the
places where you can go to be in nature,” she said. “I’m
very happy to see children there and all the ways they’re
bringing people in. It’s amazing what has been done!”
Just as Webb understood the need to steward the
resources you cherish, Elizabeth and Lucy know you have
to support the institutions you love to ensure they have a
future. Lucy reminds us all, “We should make sure Holden
has a legacy for generations to come.”
With the stellar example set by those like the Chamberlains,
Holden’s future looks bright.
Winter 2011-12
Leaves
Certainly that is true for the Chamberlain family of Shaker
Heights, Ohio, which has been active at Holden for more
than 50 years. Their involvement with Holden began with the
leader of the family, Dr. Webb Chamberlain. He was beloved
not only within the family, but by all who worked with him
over many years at Holden.
6
these books more accessible. The result was a published
bibliography, compiled by Stanley Johnston, then curator of
the rare book collection at Holden. A second book, Cleveland
Treasures, authored by Johnston, followed.
Elizabeth sees Holden as “a great institution, one of
Cleveland’s best kept secrets, with endless stories to tell in
its geology, natural areas and horticulture collections.” She
finds that due to its huge size, Holden appeals to a wide
audience, including gardeners, birdwatchers, homeowners
and landscaping professionals: “Everybody can find their own
niche there,” she said.
Within our families, core values are fostered through shared
experiences and lessons passed from the revered older
generation down to the younger, eager ones.
Webb’s deep love of nature began when he was a little boy.
Though born in Cleveland, he grew up spending time on
both his grandparents’ farms. He loved farming, raising
chickens and rabbits as a boy. A family photo taken in 1916
at his grandfather’s farm in Bedford, Ohio, shows Webb with
Elizabeth and Lucy Chamberlain.
7
Volunteers:
Holden’s Good Fortune Since 1931
volunteering
by Robin Ott, volunteer coordinator
On Sept. 17, Holden honored the seemingly magical
efforts of its volunteers at The Holden Arboretum’s Annual
Volunteer Recognition Program and Clambake Dinner.
Invites to this annual event are sent to all volunteers who
contributed 25 hours of service over the past year. This
year’s theme, Volunteers: Our Good Fortune Since 1931, led
to an evening both mystical and memorable.
Fortune cookies and clam chowder greeted the 270
volunteers, staff and guests in attendance. During the
cocktail hour, many enjoyed having their “fortunes read” by
Holden’s human resources assistant and receptionist “Gypsy”
Victoria Lindeman. Crystal balls glowed at each table,
alongside “Fortune Telling Fish” and origami fortune tellers
that were custom-made for the occasion.
Beginning with a visit from “Arbnac, the not-so-magnificent,”
a.k.a. Clem Hamilton, Holden’s president and CEO,
the evening’s lighthearted presentation celebrated and
recognized volunteer contributions from the past year. By
the end of the presentation, it was clear that Holden could
not be the “enchanting”
place it is without the help
of the 500 plus individuals
who volunteer their time
and talents in its gardens
and offices, on its trails and
at its events. Finally, 2010
Volunteer of the Year Ted
Herrick’s presentation of
the Watering Can, Lantern
and Volunteer of the Year
Awards (see sidebars) left
the audience laughing as
Clem Hamilton in wizard garb.
they were dismissed for the
buffet of clams, barbecue
chicken, corn-on-the cob,
sweet potatoes and rolls. After dinner, guests grabbed a
“celestial” cookie and were given an agastache ‘blue fortune’
plant as a thank you gift on their way out.
The night’s theme inspired some staff
and volunteers to come in magical costumes.
2011 Volunteer Award Winners
Watering Can Awards
Watering cans lend a personal feel to the art of watering the garden. Like watering cans, volunteers receiving
Watering Can Awards add a personal touch and bring life to the areas in which they volunteer. Congratulations
to the 2011 Watering Can Awards recipients: Carolyn Rice, Laura Morris Giust, and Howard and Beth Simon.
Lantern Awards
A lantern is defined as a portable lighting device used to illuminate broad areas. The volunteers
receiving Lantern Awards light others path so that they can achieve more and they simply light
up their day. This year, Holden learned that while some volunteers shine on their own, they shine
even brighter when working with a member of their family. Congratulations to the 2011 Lantern
Award recipients: Nancy Irle, Nancy, Carol and Roger Pae, and Tony and Cheryl Barabani.
2011 Volunteer of the Year
8
Special congratulations to 2011 Volunteer of the Year Pat Biliter, who has been sharing a passion for the
natural world with people of all ages as a School Guide and Natural Areas VIP Guide for 10 years. Over
the past year, he spent more than 200 hours working with the education and communication department
to create a new Guides Training Manual and web-based photo tour of Stebbins Gulch. This virtual tour is
now available on the Holden web site or as a presentation. Thanks to this program, anyone interested
in Stebbins Gulch now has the opportunity to view and learn about its history, regardless of age or
ability. Biliter didn’t stop there though – he is now working on doing the same for Little Mountain!
l-r Volunteer of the Year Pat Biliter, and award winners Tony Barabani, Cheryl Barabani, Howard Simon,
Beth Simon, Carol Pae, Roger Pae, Nancy Pae and Nancy Irie.
Biliter also lent his personal expertise as a retired geologist to teach the geology portion of the Ohio
Certified Naturalist Program and continues to be an active guide for all of Holden’s natural areas.
Winter 2011-12
Leaves
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond to contribute
a needed service and devote a significant amount of time to Holden. The Volunteer of the Year
makes an impact producing positive changes and connecting people with nature!
9
Blue Jay
Betula
alleghaniensis
(Cyanocitta cristata)
by Rebecca Thompson,
(yellow birch)
Growing Students in Science program coordinator
by Ethan Johnson,
Blue jays are found in all kinds of forests. They are more
abundant near forest edges than deep in the forest,
and common in urban and suburban areas, especially
where oaks grow or bird nut feeders are found. They are
known for their intelligence and complex social systems
including tight family bonds. Slightly larger than a robin,
the blue jays’ distinct blue and white color and high crest
makes them easily recognizable in a yard or forest.
plant records curator
michael moylan
brian parsons
brian parsons
Yellow birch is a striking native tree found in a number of the
spectacular natural areas of The Holden Arboretum. Mature
trees may be seen on Little Mountain where their roots are
often exposed along outcroppings of rock. In Stebbins Gulch
trees with “stilted” roots are perched atop boulders and
rotting logs. In the Pierson Creek Valley the moist and cool
environment is also conducive to the growth of yellow birch.
Eight specimens about 30 years of age and about 50 feet in
height may be viewed in the Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden
and at Lantern Court. These specimens were collected from
Holden’s natural areas as seedlings. The peeling bark of these
yellow birch trees is amber-yellow but silvery-gray barked
specimens do occur in the natural areas. The catkins shed and
receive pollen in late April and early May followed closely by
leaf emergence. The leaves are not bothered much by pests, but
tiger swallowtail butterfly larvae feed on yellow birch.
In September the seeds ripen and are carried off by the winds
of fall and winter. These trees provide important winter food
to a range of songbirds with juncos being conspicuous ground
feeders and chickadees prominent in the branches at Holden
according to Brian Parsons, Holden’s director of planning
and special projects. In fall the foliage turns a nice shade
of yellow and is usually at its peak around the third week
of October. When the twigs are cut or damaged they emit a
pleasant fragrance of wintergreen. At Lantern Court one of the
specimens that horticulturist Tom Yates, now retired, planted
in the valley garden upslope from the primroses has attractive
amber-yellow surface roots that have grafted together.
Betula alleghaniensis is native to hemlock hardwood forest,
floodplains and moist wooded slopes from the maritime
provinces of Canada across southern Ontario, the Great Lakes
region, Iowa and south along the Appalachian Mountains.
Its use in landscapes is restricted to constantly moist yet
fairly well-drained soils. Although it is uncommonly planted,
it makes a beautiful shade tree. Dawn Gerlica, Holden’s
conservation biologist who has worked in the Myrtle S. Holden
Wildflower Garden and in the natural areas, reports having
success growing yellow birch on Wood Street near downtown
Willoughby where a deep sandy loam overlies a layer of
clay providing both good aeration and a constant source of
moisture once the root system was established.
brian parsons
Leaves
10
Light
Soil type
Mature size
Best location
Source
Full sun to part shade
Moist and fairly well
drained and must not dry
out, acidic to neutral
50-60’ or more with a
lesser to equal spread
USDA Zones 3-6
Through a landscaper
or via mail order
Description
Bright blue crest and back; with
bars on wings, white under parts,
dark strips on blue tail, black
bill; black necklace on face which
starts above the eye
Size
length 9-12 inches;
wingspan 16 inches
Range
Southern Canada and in
the United States, east of
the Rocky Mountains
Voice
Loud harsh “jay, jay, jay.”
Calls can also include a sound
similar to a squeaky door.
Best location to
view at Holden
The forest edge along the
Woodland Trail, the Helen
S. Layer Rhododendron
Garden, Bole Woods and
Buckeye Bud Feeding Area
Blue jay migration is a mystery. For the most part many blue jays are present
in the same area year round. However flocks of blue jays do migrate along
the Great Lakes and Atlantic coasts. Both young and old blue jays have
been observed migrating. Some individual blue jays migrate south one year
then stay north the next year, and then migrate south again the following
year. There is no clear study on the variation in individuals which migrate.
One thing is clear blue jays are abundant in the breeding season. The season
begins in mid-March and extends into July. They typically form monogamous
pair bonds for life and are not very picky about nesting locations. A tree or
large bush may be used for nesting. Both sexes build the nest and help rear
the young. The nest is built at a height of 10 - 40 feet high. The cup-shaped
nest is composed of twigs, small roots, bark strips, moss, other plant material,
cloth, paper and feathers, occasionally with mud added to the cup. The female
sits on four - five pale olive eggs over 16 - 18 days. Young fledge usually
between 17 - 21 days after hatching. After the juveniles fledge, the family
travels and forages together until early fall. Blue jays typically have only a
single brood in Ohio but will nest again if the clutch was lost due to predation.
Blue jays are frequent and abundant in their range. They have adapted well
to living around humans. However the most frequent cause of death for blue
jays is cat predation. Millions of birds are killed annually by cats. Keeping cats
indoors or under control when outdoors ensures breeding success and survival
of many bird species, especially
rare or endangered species.
Winter 2011-12
plant facts
mike dougherty
Blue jays mainly feed on nuts such as acorns and are
one of the few birds that store food for use at another
time. They can carry up to five acorns at once. Two to
three acorns can be carried in their throat and upper
esophagus called a “gular pouch.” One can be carried
in their mouth and the other at the tip of their bill. It is
estimated a single blue jay can store 3,000-5,000 acorns
in one autumn. Beside nuts, blue jays will also glean small
invertebrates from trees and shrubs during the warm
months. It is very rare for a blue jay to take and eat eggs
and nestlings. However in late summer, fall and winter
blue jays may travel in large aggressive flocks to frighten
other birds away from prime feeding areas. Blue jays
frequently scare birds off by mimicking the call of a redshoulder or red-tailed hawks. These calls deceive other
species into believing a hawk, a predator, is present.
11
mike dougherty
plant this
not that
by Annie Raup, education intern
Hundreds of plants have been introduced to the United States from other parts of the world. Some have come
here accidentally in seed stock, while others were brought here intentionally for horticultural use. A small
number of these introduced plants have gotten a little too comfortable in their new environment. Because they
have no native predators and produce a lot of fruit and seed that are efficiently dispersed, they are invading
natural areas. The aggressiveness of these invasive plants affects natural areas and wildlife by decreasing
biodiversity, competing with native and rare plants and eliminating wildlife habitat and food sources.
Plant This, Not That features a list of native alternatives to a commonly used landscape plant that has become
invasive. The alternatives were chosen because their characteristics – form, flowers, fruit or fall color – are similar
to that of the invasive and fulfill the same landscaping need. On a broader scale, native plants help create a
healthier ecosystem, attract a greater diversity of wildlife and may minimize the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
The Invasive
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
In 1875, Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry) was introduced to North America as an ornamental
when seeds from Russia were sent to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. It was also used as an
alternative to Berberis vulgaris (common barberry), a relative imported by early European settlers
for dyes and jams, which was found to be a host for wheat rust. Because of its attractive fall foliage
and berries, many Japanese barberry cultivars are available. However, it has become invasive in
many areas, spreading from creeping roots or from branches that root when they touch the ground.
Birds also spread the seeds. A single plant can grow quite large in a variety of habitats, including
shaded woodlands, open fields and forest edges, where it out competes native plants.
The Native Alternatives
Ilex verticillata (winterberry)
A deciduous holly native to eastern North America, Ilex verticillata
(winterberry) is best known for its attractive berries, which persist
through the winter. Hardy to Zone 3, winterberry has an upright, rounded
form and prefers full sun or partial shade and moist, fertile, acidic soil.
It does poorly in alkaline soil. In the spring, small greenish-white flowers
appear and, if effectively pollinated, will give way to bright red berries in
the fall, which are enjoyed by birds. Winterberry is dioecious, meaning
male and female flowers are on separate plants, so female winterberries
require a male pollinator to produce the colorful berries. For successful
berry set, plant one male
for up to 10 females.
Holden’s horticulture staff
recommends the cultivar ‘Red
Sprite,’ a female winterberry
with a compact form that
grows four feet tall and
produces larger berries.
Use ‘Jim Dandy’ as the male
pollinator. ‘Red Sprite’ can be
used for mass plantings or as
an accent plant along ponds
and bogs. Look for ‘Red
Sprite’ near the first parking
lot across from the
sidewalk that leads to
the Corning Visitor Center.
Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’
www.naturallandscapesnursery.com
Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’
Annie Raup
Fothergilla gardenii (Witch alder)
Japanese barberry infestation. Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
12
Fothergilla gardenii Josh Coceano,
the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College
Fothergilla gardenii flowers
Raul654, Wikimedia Commons
Winter 2011-12
Leaves
Japanese barberry fall foliage and berries. Wildfeuer, Wikimedia Commons
Witch alder is a small, slow-growing shrub native to the southeastern
United States. Hardy to Zone 5, it has an upright, rounded form and can
reach 3-5 feet tall and wide. Fragrant white bottlebrush flowers appear
in the spring, followed by dark green leaves that turn brilliant orange to
burgundy in the fall. Zigzag stems provide winter interest. The best fall
color occurs under full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. Because
witch alder prefers acidic soil, plant it with rhododendrons, azaleas and
mountain laurels. A member of the witch hazel family, witch alder has
no serious disease and insect problems and pruning is not required, as
it maintains its own natural
shape. Use as a hedge, in
mass plantings or underneath
shade trees. Witch alder can
be found on Blueberry Pond,
across the path from the
Prairie Garden and in
the Arthur S. Holden Sr.
Hedge Collection.
13
The Invisible World of
Soil and How We Study It
Next Generation Sequencing at Holden
With funding from the J. Henry Norweb Fellowship,
Kluber and Kyker will be using next generation
sequencing to study soil microorganisms here at
Holden. Both women were hired to work on a project
headed by Holden scientists David Burke, PhD, and
Kurt Smemo, PhD, and Jared DeForest, PhD, of Ohio
University. This project, which received funding
from the National Science Foundation, investigates
the importance of soil microorganisms for helping
forest trees acquire limiting nutrients, particularly
phosphorus. For this work, Burke and Smemo, along
with Charlotte Hewins, Holden’s research specialist,
set up 24 plots at Holden and 12 plots at Case
Western Reserve University’s Squire Valleevue and
Valley Ridge Farms. An additional 36 plots were
set up in Southern Ohio at Zaleski State Forest and
Waterloo Wildlife Area.
by Holden Research Staff
In just one teaspoon of soil, there can be billions of
microorganisms and millions of different microbial species.
How can we even begin to study something so numerous?
“We sequence their DNA,” said Laurel Kluber, PhD, a
postdoctoral scholar at Case Western Reserve University and
a visiting scientist in Holden’s Research Department.
DNA is found in all living organisms and contains
genetic information that acts as the instructions for
life. Much like barcodes that are unique to different
products at the grocery store, each organism has a
unique DNA sequence that sets it apart from all others.
By sequencing DNA, forensic scientists can identify a
murderer at a crime scene and doctors can identify a
child’s father with a paternity test. These same methods
can be used by scientists to identify microorganisms.
DNA sequencing of soil microorganisms has helped scientists
learn about the many different groups of organisms that live
in soil, but can’t be seen with the naked eye. These groups
include bacteria and archaea, single-celled organisms
that have simple cell structure, and microbial
eukaryotes, which have more complex cell structure
and include certain fungi and protists.
“Thanks to DNA sequencing, scientists have
found a large diversity of microorganisms in
soil and these communities can vary greatly
depending on the environment they were
sampled from,” Kluber said. Frozen soils under
sheets of arctic ice, extremely acidic soils that
have experienced years of runoff from acid
mines, and soils collected from hot springs,
such as those in Yellowstone, all contain a high
diversity of microorganisms.
“Without sequencing their DNA, though, we never
would have known that all these species were
there,” Kluber continued.
It is important to remember that the
microorganisms in soil are not just present; they
are performing a number of beneficial processes.
Microorganisms break down rock particles, deposit
Sarah Kyker samples soil in February as part of the temporal
study to examine soil communities across seasons.
minerals, convert organic matter to nutrients usable by
plants and clean and condition the soil, among other
things. Scientists have been able to study some of these
beneficial processes for a long time, but now are able to
use DNA sequencing to identify who is performing them.
“Soil microbial communities are the foundation of a
healthy ecosystem, and these techniques allow us to not
only determine who is in the soil, but also what they are
doing,” Kluber said.
The History of DNA Sequencing in Soil
Forty years ago, scientists were not studying
microorganisms by DNA sequencing. They used culturing,
a technique that involves spreading the soil onto a dish
filled with nutrients and seeing what grows. Once DNA
sequencing caught on, scientists started comparing it
with the culturing technique and found that more than
98 percent of microorganisms would not grow in culture.
“This is the main reason why DNA sequencing has become
so popular for studying microorganisms in soil,” said
Sarah Kyker, PhD, who is also a postdoctoral scholar from
Case Western Reserve University and a visiting scientist
here at Holden.
At first, scientists used the traditional method of DNA
sequencing, called Sanger sequencing, to identify the
microbial species in soil. While Sanger sequencing is an
upgrade over culturing, the main drawback to it is the
number of DNA sequences that it returns. Because Sanger
sequencing is time consuming and the cost per sequence
is relatively high, most studies using this method typically
include 100-200 DNA sequences. Sequencing a couple
hundred cells of the millions that could be in a soil sample
is only getting the tip of the iceberg.
14
This Russula sequence was amplified from soil DNA, allowing Holden scientists to know that it is colonizing the soil even
when the mushrooms are not present.
“Traditional sequencing has taken studies of soil
microorganisms to a new level, but next generation
sequencing has really taken us over the edge,” Kyker said.
“It is a very exciting time to be studying soil microorganisms
and to be on the cutting edge of technology.”
Samples of bulk soil for next generation sequencing
were collected from the 72 plots five times between
November 2010 and October 2011 for a total of 360
samples that will be sent off for sequencing. An
examination of the microbial diversity throughout the
year will allow Kluber and Kyker to determine which
groups of organisms are present in different seasons
and whether changes to these groups are associated
with changes in soil processes, such as nutrient
cycling, over the course of a year. By studying soil
microbes from the bulk soil over a period of time,
it will strengthen conclusions and provide a more
complete picture about the role of soil microbes for
overall forest health in Eastern Ohio.
Ongoing work in the Research Department
involves getting these samples ready for the
sequencing. “Because we’ll be getting millions
of sequences in return, it will take us a while to
analyze them,” said Kluber. “But, once we do, we
cannot wait to share the results with the Norweb
family and rest of the Holden community.”
**More information about Burke and Smemo’s
National Science Foundation project can be found
in the Winter 2009-10 edition of Leaves (Volume 8,
Number 1), which is available online at http://www.
holdenarb.org/resources/LeavesMagazine.asp.
Winter 2011-12
Leaves
A new method of DNA sequencing, known as next
generation sequencing, returns millions of DNA
sequences. Being able to analyze this many sequences can
really help to capture the diversity in soil.
Prior to receiving funding from the J. Henry Norweb
Fellowship, the major group of soil organisms that
were being examined were mycorrhizal fungi, which
live in direct contact with tree roots and help the
trees to acquire nutrients from the soil. Kluber and
Kyker, though, will use the additional funds to study
groups of bacteria and fungi in what is known as
bulk soil, or soil not associated with tree roots. The
organisms in the bulk soil play important roles in
nutrient cycling and help provide the forest trees with
nutrients. Because microbial communities from the
bulk soil are substantially more diverse than those of
mycorrhizal fungi, next generation sequencing is the
perfect tool for studying them. Although the cost per
sequence is lower with next generation sequencing,
the fact that researchers are getting millions of
sequences makes this technique prohibitively
expensive for many labs. “We are grateful to have
received the Norweb Fellowship, otherwise this
research would not be possible,” Kyker said.
15
Black-throated Blue Warblers
canopy means low light for photography, and lots of
vegetation makes a nest nearly impossible to find.
The breeding season of 2011 began with us wondering
if the black-throated blues would return. Their fidelity to
this site over the previous three seasons indicated they
would, but one never knows. These are wild animals that
winter in the tropics of Central America, and northern
South America.1 Migration to our site entails a journey
of 1800 to over 2000 miles. A visit to the site in late
May indicated they were back. Another visit in early
June confirmed they were there, but did not seem as
active as in 2010. The second week in June, Holden
conservation biologist, Mike Watson, visited the site and
reported at least two males singing. Hopeful signs.
Confirmed Breeding at Holden
by Haans Petruschke, Holden volunteer
W
e make a left turn on an obscure road in Kirtland.
Drive past the horse farm nestled against the
river. Crossing over the bridge, we follow the river.
Here, the east branch of the Chagrin River is more a
mountain stream than a river. Except during heavy
rain or snow melt it runs clear, possibly the reason this
river system was named “Sha-ga-rin” or clear water.
Here it is wild and beautiful; nearly 2,000 acres of
forest surround us when we reach the end of the road.
frank buck
We hike up an obscure track and three-fourths of a mile
deep in mature forest where the world is 1,000 shades
of green. Always climbing – up, up – almost 400 feet
above the river, past wild geraniums and blue cohosh.
Rose-breasted grosbeaks, wood thrushes, scarlet
tanagers, and dark-eyed juncos call from the trees and
forest floor. Hooded-warblers pop through the understory flashing their tail spots. The last 150 feet of climb
is along a hogback that slopes away steeply on either
side. Once on top, stop, listen, wait ... zurr-zurr-zree!
Then again, from a different direction: zurr-zurrzree! They’re here! For the fourth year running
we have found black-throated blue warblers in
this location during the breeding season.
16
Black-throated blue warblers (Dendroica caerulescens)
breed as close as central Pennsylvania, upstate New
York and the northern lower peninsula of Michigan.
This species prefers mixed mature forests with dense
understories.1 In the east it prefers higher elevations.
They build their nest low, just a few feet off the ground
in a sapling or other woody vegetation. All of these
factors were present at our site. As we discovered, the
very things which attracted them here would frustrate
our attempts to confirm their status as breeding birds.
In the past, black-throated blue warblers nested in
The 2008 breeding season passed with nothing more than
the singing male found. In 2009, in spite of an increased
effort, we only managed more photographs of males.
In 2010, we made a concerted effort to confirm breeding
of this species at Holden. We visited the site almost
weekly from late May through late July. The effort paid
off. We learned the habits of the birds on this site and
the boundaries of their territories. During 2010, we
discovered at least four individual territories. One day
in mid-June, we observed females on two occasions.
The observation of female black-throated blue warblers
in June was very significant. Later that month, Frank
observed a male carrying food, which would confirm
breeding status. But due to the rarity and lack of
contemporary precedent, we needed convincing evidence.
We needed photographs of a female, to find a nest or
dependent young, or photograph an adult carrying food.
The nature of the Holden site makes any of this
difficult; located on a hogback ridge with steep
slopes with dense grape vine and raspberry tangles
among the large old growth trees that make up
this mature forest. It is a wonderful place to be, far
enough from roads that it is isolated from the noise
of human civilization. But it is difficult to chase
birds through tangles and on steep slopes. A dense
We arrived at the black-throated blue warbler site about
5:30am, and were rewarded with males singing on
three territories. Then things quieted down. There was
little activity, just occasional sightings and singing.
Because of the terrain and vegetation, we have had
little success splitting up and trying to track multiple
birds; always losing them if we tried to follow them on
our own. We decided to stick together and concentrate
on one territory, hoping that three sets of eyes could
keep better track of a small, fast moving bird.
Frustrated by the lack of activity, we played a recording
around 7am and a male responded, repeatedly coming
very close to our location, counter singing, then foraging
around us. The male would sometimes approach within
a few feet as we quietly observed his behavior, then
return to an area in the down slope tangle. I observed
On Thursday, June 23, Buck, Watson and I guided Kate
Batdorf, a researcher with the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas
II Project, to the site. Batdorf studied nesting blackthroated blue warblers in New Hampshire and is very
familiar with their breeding habits. Over the course
of our visit, she also saw a female and several males.
She felt their behavior and probability, based upon the
9-to-11-day nestling period for this species, indicated
one pair were feeding dependent young that had left
the nest. However, in spite of numerous sorties into
the tangles she was unable to find a nest, nor chance
upon a fledgling. None the less, she agreed that blackthroated blue warblers were indeed nesting on this site.
Given the fidelity to
this site, it is probable
that black-throated blue
warblers have been
nesting here before
we discovered them in
2008. Carol Skinner’s
2001 breeding bird
survey of The Holden
Arboretum natural area3
did not cover this area.
Given the numerous
reports of this species
in June and July, there
may be other nest sites
in our region. But if
an effort comparable
to ours is required to
confirm breeding, it is
Haans Petruschke
unlikely it will happen
soon. In Ohio this species seems to favor remote forests
and difficult terrain. Not the types of places frequented
by most birders. So for now, Holden hosts the only known
breeding black-throated blue warblers in Ohio. Unlike
the Ashtabula County birds from 80 years ago, barring a
natural disaster, the protected nature of Holden’s natural
areas makes it unlikely they will experience any habitat
loss in the near future. We will continue to monitor them.
1
Dunn, Jon L, Garrett, Kimball L: A Field Guide to
Warblers of North America, 1997 Houghton Mifflin Co.,
New York, New York
2 Peterjohn, Bruce G.: The Birds of Ohio, Rev. & Updated,
2001 The Wooster Book Co. Wooster, Ohio
3
Skinner, Carol: A Breeding Bird Survey of the Natural
Areas of the Holden Arboretum, 2003 The Ohio Journal
of Science (OHIO J SCI 103 (4):98-110, 2003)
Winter 2011-12
Leaves
In mid-June of 2008, Frank Buck, Tom Frankel and I,
conducting our ongoing breeding bird survey work
for the arboretum, were hiking a remote part of the
Holden property. As we descended a hogback ridge,
Frankel and Buck heard the distinctive song of a
black-throated blue warbler, a common May migrant,
but a very rare bird in the summer in the Cleveland
region. With effort we located the bird. Both Frankel
and Buck managed to get some photographs of this
individual. Thus began a four-year quest to confirm
breeding by this species at Holden, and in Ohio.
Ohio. Eighty years prior to our discovery, they were
confirmed as nesting in Ashtabula county, near the
Pennsylvania border, and did so until 1931, when the
destruction of habitat eliminated the nesting sites.2 In
the intervening years, males have been found singing
on territory during the summer on multiple occasions.
These included several reports from Lake and Geauga
counties. There was even an unverified report of a nest
in Lake County.2 Carol Skinner and I had a black-throated
blue warbler singing in Stebbin’s Gulch during June of
2001. None of these reports resulted in confirmation of
nesting. This is not surprising given our experience.
On Sunday, June 19, Buck, Frankel and I set off from the
trail head at 5am; a dark and early start even for us. We
were determined to get the evidence we needed, spending
as much time on site as this required. As we hiked through
the woods we marveled at the abundance of birds singing
in the dawn choirs. We have five to seven wood thrushes
in constant ear shot. Tweedle dee ... Tweedle zeeeeeee. A
cardinal is especially emphatic. Thoo-tut thoo-tut thootut tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu. The erratic redstart, and the
soft: sooo oh oh laaa
zee of the blackthroated green
warbler, the tinker
bell of the darkeyed junco, and the
symphony of the
winter wren. The
red-eyed and blueheaded vireos, the
tanagers, hooded
warblers and veery
are all going at once.
It is still very dark;
the thick canopy
makes it darker.
Frankel remarked
The photo of the male with a
it was almost as
worm in its beak that confirmed
Holden as a breeding site.
loud as the parking
lot at the Magee
Marsh boardwalk
in mid-May. But that is only seven acres of
woods, this is more than 1,000, I replied.
the male with a worm in his mouth. He killed it, beating
it against a branch. Then, Frankel and I got a nice look
at a female from less than 20 feet distance. I was able
to see the half eye ring, supercillium (stripe above the
eye), and white on the primary coverts clearly. Buck
managed to photograph the female, mostly blocked, but
diagnostic. The male appeared shortly thereafter, and
caught a small green caterpillar. He did not consume
this, but carried it back to the location where we suspect
the nest was located. Buck got an unmistakable photo
of him with the caterpillar in his beak. Success at last!
17
15th Annual
Members Photo Exhibit
shorts
Pollination: Up Close
Learn and celebrate the incredible wildlife diversity
found all around us, when photographer Dave
Heberle focuses his lens on the natural processes
of pollination. The exhibit, which will be featured
at the Corning Visitor Center, opens Feb. 4 and will
run until March 9. An opening reception will be
held on Friday, Feb. 3, from 3 - 7pm.
Deer Population
In the Midwest, the aim for deer densities is close to 10 deer per square mile. At
Holden the yearly density is 20 to 30 deer per square mile. Each year, Holden conducts a
controlled hunt to manage the white-tailed deer population in the natural areas.
Holden confines hunting on its property to the dates set by the state. Hunters at Holden are
limited in number and must be approved by the Holden Police Department.
To learn more about the environmental impact of white-tailed deer, read Where the Deer Roam, which was
published in the Fall 2010 issue of Leaves magazine at holdenarb.org/resources/LeavesMagazine.asp.
Nature’s Palette: A Celebration of Color
The natural world presents an endless rainbow of color
throughout the year. Come to Holden and beat the winter
blahs by viewing images that celebrate nature’s palette.
The Western Reserve Photographic Society presents this
photographic exhibit Jan 3 - 29, in the lobby of the Corning
Visitor Center. The Western Reserve Photographic Society is one
of the largest and oldest photographic clubs in Northeast Ohio.
Visit www.wrpsphoto.org for more information.
photos by dave heberle
People’s Choice
Adult - Carolyn Lingunfelter - Lily Pond
nancy davidson
Nature’s
Palette
mike cleggs
lori diemer
Chris bradlee
18
President’s Choice
President’s Choice
Adult - Matt Pallante - Woodland Trail
Adult - Bruce Orr - Buckeye Bud’s Feeding Station
President’s Choice
Junior - Vivienne Weir - Holden Butterfly Garden
People’s Choice
Junior - Owen Weir - Holden Butterfly Garden
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