Piedmont Horticulture

Piedmont Horticulture
A Newsletter
for Friends of
www.PJCBG.org July 2012
A View from the Garden...
Kitty Lyon, Executive Director
It’s hard to believe that half of our year is over already! The Garden is in full swing with children’s and adults’
programs. We conducted an average of two to three tours a day during April and May. We had a magnificent gala,
Toast of the Tulips. And we just completed our successful first annual Triad Plant & Landscape Festival, partnering
with the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association, which provided a week of TV spots for the event.
During that event 17 wholesale and retail landscape vendors came to the Garden to sell their wares. We also had
Dr. Michael Dirr as our guest lecturer, and we had record numbers of people learning from him.
The Garden hosted a special class of 11 children from Kernersville
Elementary, which we named “Hands On Learning Class.” They
came each Wednesday for 3 weeks. Adrienne took them to Kitchen
Garden where they picked strawberries and ate lettuce, sowed seeds,
picked flowers placing them in flower presses and released worms
into the garden. After their lesson in horticulture, Sharon Turcot
from Greensboro painted pictures with the children, Shirley Peele
read to them and painted their faces with butterflies and bugs,
and Jan Wood helped them place the dried flowers on paper and
later framed those dried flower creations to take home. Thank you,
Ladies, and all who made the outing an extraordinary experience for these 2nd and 3rd graders! We also thank
Randy McManus who sponsored the program.
In a few short weeks, we will be announcing our 2012 – 2013 Chip Callaway Lecture Series lineup. We will be
offering discounted rates for those who would like to purchase season tickets although single priced tickets will still
be available.
Lastly, our new website will be up and running by late July. We received a grant from the Winston-Salem
Foundation to build this website, and we have been working with Frogman Interactive since January to develop it.
We hope you like it as much as we do, and we would appreciate your comments as we will continue to tweak it. You
will still be able to find us at www.pjcbg.org , but the official website address will be www.cienerbotanicalgarden.org
for better name recognition. Please spread the word and enjoy the interactive map located on
the site.
We wish you a safe, restful summer! And a bountiful garden!
215 South Main Street
Kernersville, NC 27284
Phone: 336.996.7888
Fax: 336.996.7884
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Calendar of Upcoming Events...
Toni Hays, Programs Coordinator
Summer fun is here and we have a lot of
Summer Camps and Workshops for Children!
JULY
9  Monday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Children - A Fairy Tea PartyPJCBG
10  Tuesday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Children - Mexican Fiesta in the GardenPJCBG
We will celebrate with a Mexican
Fiesta, a fairy tea party,
experience the garden through
the senses, and just get plain old
gross! Can’t wait to see all of our
young gardeners here.
16-20  Monday through Friday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Children - Five Senses in Five DaysPJCBG
Also, we are back in full swing with our Third
Thursday Lectures. Our July lecture will be all
about Salvias. Lectures are free to members of
the garden and $10 for non-members. Come
join us and bring a friend! Be sure to reserve
your spot with Toni Hays by the Wednesday
before the lecture.
AUGUST
19  Thursday
6:30 pm
Third Thursday Lecture PJCBG
2  Thursday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Children - All Things Gross in the Garden PJCBG
16  Thursday
Third Thursday Lecture 6:30 - 8:00 pm
PJCBG
SEPTEMBER
20 Thursday
Chip Callaway Lecture Series BeginsPJCBG
If you would like detailed information or to register
for any of our classes, lectures or workshops, please
contact Toni Hays at 996-7888, or check out our
website at www.pjcbg.com
Members! Garden tour to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, NC, just south of Charlotte. Our day
trip will be September 25, 2012 and the garden expert and author, Toby Bost, will accompany us. If you have a
suggestion of trips you’d like to see offered, please contact Toni Hays.
www.PJCBG.org
3
Harvesting the Kitchen Garden
Adrienne R. Roethling, Garden Curator
It’s been a year and three months since Grand Opening, and we’re in the process
of producing the fifth harvest from the Kitchen Garden. The amount of produce
harvested has been immense and the lives which have been touched continue
to be memorable. Four raised beds offer spectacular displays, an inspiration
for experienced and novice gardeners alike. In the short time that we’ve been
growing vegetables, we’ve had several non-profit organizations come to harvest.
A visiting group of garden clubs, church members, assisted living citizens and
school children might get lucky and visit during peak berry or tomato season
and taste test along the way.
One of those non-profit groups is Brenner Children’s Hospital from Wake Forest
Baptist Hospital. Brenner Fit and PJCBG have partnered to offer their children the opportunity to come and
learn about vegetable gardening and harvesting vegetables. Lorri Busby, one of the counselors with Brenner
Fit, said “We are in partnership together by offering children and families an opportunity to harvest and taste
different types of foods; letting kids not only observe first-hand how different lettuces, veggies and fruits are
grown, but also letting them have the experience of harvesting and taking them home to have for their families
to try. What we have discovered is that children, who tasted different options, realized that they actually liked
it and in doing that, broadened their food choices.” The children are usually in awe and are allowed to taste as
they pick. The more they ate it, the more they wanted to take it home. One of the children said, “This is the
best lettuce stuff I ever had!”
This is the first summer we’ve incorporated Heirloom vegetables to the Kitchen Garden. These tried and true
varieties put smiles on many faces but the question begs “Can I keep them alive?” Historically, Heirlooms are
not pest or disease resistant. Breeders have worked on developing pest and disease resistant varieties, however,
because we are growing Heirlooms, we must surround the gardens with decoy plants. If decoy plants do not
work, placing bone or blood meal or diatomaceous earth may keep pests away. The decoy plants surrounding
the beds are French or little gem marigolds, which have bright orange flowers, are attractive but have horrible
smelling foliage. Another decoy is the Cutting Garden and it’s filled with lilies, dahlias, gladiolus, love-in-themist, cosmos and zinnias. The Cutting Garden will help lure pollinating insects such as honeybees which will
then visit the tomatoes and peppers for pollination. By having more attractive flowers, the goal is to lure the
bad bugs too, ultimately keeping them away from the tomatoes and peppers.
Recently, I visited our good friends Brent and Becky Heath. Brent and Becky’s Bulbs donate tulips and daffodils
by the thousands to the Garden in the fall. After their warehouse empties, they stock summer flowering plants
and bulbs. All spring, consumers can purchase their favorite summer lilies or gladiolus, then they shut their
doors by early summer and offer their remaining stock to botanical gardens. This was the first time we were
able to partake of their free summer bulbs. Most of the donated lilies, dahlias and gladiolus were planted in the
Cutting Garden while other items were scattered throughout the remaining displays.
Lately, we have heard the wild calls of a mocking bird who has found several perches near the blueberry beds
waiting for us to disappear so he can enjoy the harvest as well. He’ll quickly swoop in, escape to the telephone
pole to let us pass and come back for more. During the days we are working near the blueberries, he’s annoyed
and hops back and forth getting closer and closer, hoping to force us out by his loud sounds. I encourage you to
visit our Kitchen Garden as well as the many spaces on display, to hear the sounds of all the visiting creatures.
www.PJCBG.org
4
The Dolores and Wyatt LeFever Garden Shop
Bonita Fleming, Garden Shop Manager
S
ummer has arrived in the Dolores and Wyatt
LeFever Gift Shop at the Paul J. Ciener
Botanical Garden. Come inside to get a
glimpse of our “hot” new merchandise.
For the home we have wonderful aroma candles
and hanging candleholders to offer a beautiful
glow to your evening events.
And we offer several items to entertain
youngsters and the young at heart during the
summer months, from garden kits to paint,
garden apparel and bee nest kits.
If you missed Dr. Michael Dirr’s lecture on June
2, we have a limited supply of his books in stock.
Also we now carry Asheville made Stuart Nye
jewelry.
The Dolores and Wyatt LeFever Garden Shop
is open Monday - Friday from 10 - 4pm.
Contact Bonita Fleming at 336.996.7888
BonitaFleming@pjcbg.org if you have any questions.
Just arrived ...the Naked Bee body product line, including lotions, sun screen and lip balm, in yummy smelling
Orange Blossom Honey scent.
Visit us today for a little “hot fun in the summertime!” We look forward to seeing you in the Garden.
Plant of the Month for July
Antirrhinum hispanicum
Spanish Snapdragon
Spanish snapdragon is native to Spain where it thrives in
full sun with well drained soils. Its foliage is soft green
and topped with spikes of hot pink flowers. The lower lip
of the flower has a bright yellow rim offering a stunning
display. Reaching maturity at 18" tall and wide, Spanish
snapdragon flowers heaviest in May and June but you
can expect sporadic flowering all summer long and heavy
again in early fall. Spanish snapdragon is drought tolerant
once established, is deer resistant and is semi-evergreen.
Therefore, a light pruning during the late winter months
may be needed.
Currently, you can view this plant growing in our Xeric
Scree beds where it has flourished since 2009.
www.PJCBG.org
5
Come Grow With Us!
Ruth Prongay, Director of Development
We’ve had an exciting and warm spring!
Earlier than expected we were able to
partner with our downtown neighbor,
Bistro B, to host the Wednesday evening wine tastings in the Garden. It was nice to sip selections of wine, enjoy
delicious hors d’oeuvres, tour the Garden and meet new friends. We had local guests and guests who came from
two counties away! We will be hosting more wine tastings as the fall approaches.
Our Chip Callaway Lecture Series for the 2012-2013 season is shaping up nicely! We’re planning 6-7 nationally
recognized speakers between September 2012 and May 2013. For a sneak-preview, our first guest speaker is from
Chapel Hill, and formerly of Greensboro, Lee Newlin. Lee is an expert organic gardener and cook, and she will
share her tips and skills with us to prepare a delicious dinner at the Garden in September. Our second speaker
is the internationally known Interior Designer, Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill. She will give us great ideas
through her presentation as well as from her newly published 6th book. A delicious fall brunch and book-signing
will be her Garden stage in mid-October.
And we hope to see lots of you on our Friends of the Garden tour to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont,
NC, just south of Charlotte. Our day trips are always entertaining and educational. This trip will be September 25,
2012 and the garden expert and author, Toby Bost, will again accompany us.
Keep a lookout for our email and mailed announcements about these and other upcoming exciting events.
And don’t forget our memberships! How about giving a membership as a birthday present? Friends of the Garden
receive priority registration for member trips, discounts on (most) workshops and lectures, and on items in the
Garden Gift Shop.
Our Garden will continue to expand as we receive funding to build new spaces. Charitable donations go toward
increasing our educational programs for children and adults, offering high quality workshops and lectures and
operational costs for the garden. As a non-profit organization we rely on your support of time, energy and funds.
Please consider a charitable donation to the Garden to honor someone special in your life, or donate because you
would love to help the Garden grow!
The Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization. We are
mainly funded by grants, memberships, Garden shop and plant sales, and most importantly donations. Help us maintain and continue to develop our gardens and programs! Please send
your tax deductible donation to us at 215 South Main Street, Kernersville, NC 27284.
Send us your donation in the amount of: $
Donor Name:
Address:
Phone &/or Email:
www.PJCBG.org
6
Volunteer Ice Cream Social
On Thursday, June 5, our Patio Terrace was transformed into an old fashioned ice parlor as we hosted a
Volunteer Appreciation Ice Cream Social.
Our volunteers generously
at our Nursery, mulching,
and weeding at the Garden,
at the Welcome Desk,
working in the Gift Shop
sell in the Gift Shop as part
a very important part of
because they help our
give their time propagating
planting, pruning, watering
meeting and greeting visitors
conducting guided tours,
and creating unique items to
of our Guild. Volunteers are
Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden
Garden grow.
Thank you for your dedication!
If you would like to become a Volunteer at the Garden,
please contact Toni Hays, 336-996-7888 or tonihays@pjcbg.org.
Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden
Volunteer of the Season
Volunteers are the heart of Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. They generously
give their time propagating at our nursery; mulching, planting, pruning,
watering and weeding in the Garden; greeting visitors in our Welcome Center
and conducting tours; volunteering in our Gift Shop and creating items for our
Gift Shop by working with our Guild; volunteering at our plant sales; helping
with special events, such as our Gala and helping with hospitality for receptions,
and finally, volunteering their special skills, such as photography. We would like
to begin to recognize a special volunteer each season.
Our Volunteer for the Spring is Jan Wood. Jan took her vision of a Garden Guild and developed it into an
important part of our Gift Shop. Her endless inspirations and careful instruction has been a guiding force behind
our successful Guild. Jan is also our “hospitality queen”. All we have to do is give Jan a theme for an upcoming,
event, lecture or reception and sit back and enjoy her creative tablescapes (the Gala was awesome)! It is a feast
for the eyes! Jan never hesitates to volunteer whenever and wherever needed. We are truly blessed to have her
as part of the Garden. As a small token of our appreciation, we presented Jan with a gift certificate to J. Peppers.
(Please, let’s all thank J. Peppers for treating our special volunteer to lunch by patronizing their restaurant.)
Thank you Jan, our Volunteer for the Spring!
www.PJCBG.org
Staff
Kitty Lyon
Executive Director
Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden
215 South Main Street
Kernersville, NC 27284
Joe Pinnix
Chair, Board of Advisors
Natalie Hayworth
Gardener
David B. Ciener
Treasurer
Mr. Jeremy Motsinger
Horticulturalist
John G. Wolfe III
Secretary
Adrienne Roethling
Garden Curator
Gregory M. Ciener
Vice President
Bonita Flemming
Garden Shop Manager
David B. Ciener
President
Toni Hays
Programs Coordinator
Board of Directors
Ruth Prongay
Director of Development
Board of Advisors
Paul (Chip) Callaway
Greensboro
Teresa Ford
Hamptonville
Michelle Kennedy
Winston-Salem
Wyatt LeFever
Kernersville
Mark Peters
Greensboro
Walter Pharr
Greensboro
Lisa Swartout
Winston-Salem
Chris Thompson
Kernersville
James R. Waddell
Kernersville
www.PJCBG.org