During the winter, the ground freezes and our collections pile up with snow. It is typically a quiet scene with the occasional visitor, both human and animal. As spring approaches, there is more activity of the human variety.
We were able to hire a professional arborist and his team to carry out maintenance, tree by tree, throughout our mature Fred Lape Collections. Our NAPCC registered oak collection was pruned and cleaned up, and older beech trees were rejuvenated for another chance at life. Specimens in our crabapple collection and pinetum were pruned. Even our massive weeping willow that stands tall below the Library/Greenhouse Complex enjoyed a crown cleaning and dead limb removal. The trees around the Fred Lape Farmhouse were also cleaned of dead wood and cables were installed to prevent them from splitting in the future. Work will continue until funds are exhausted, and next winter when temperatures are below freezing, we will focus on our old oaks.
If you have visited Landis lately, you likely saw the remnants of the tree work, including branches and debris, on site. This is where the Landis “Green Team” comes into play. Our Green Team consists of grounds maintenance worker Terrence Bevins and Darlene Crowe, along with garden manager Erin Breglia and me — “man of many hats.” I am happy to report that we have added to our team with the addition of Albert Burkhart. Albert’s job will be to assist Terrence with maintenance. It is my goal to make our gardens and grounds “pop” as we continue to enhance all the Arboretum has to offer. Looking ahead, we have a few great projects in the works for the 2025 season:
- Renovating the landscape bed in the main parking lot. This garden is full of beautiful daffodil blooms each spring but needs additional plants for summer and fall interest.
- Installing more lilacs in the Barbara and Art Coleman Lilac Collection. This collection has been slow growing due to deer browse and root issues, but we have been able to purchase better fencing and protection equipment and the plants are coming along.
- Renovation of the Beal Peony Garden. A visitor’s favorite, this old garden has seen better days and better blooms. Over the years, mulch and cardboard have slowly decomposed and buried the rhizomes, and we have seen markedly less foliage and fewer flowers. This fall we plan to dig out and replant each peony and add a few new plants to the collection.
- Continued upkeep of Shanti Vun Meditation Garden. This newer garden is quickly becoming established, but the upkeep has been difficult for our small staff. We are hopeful that additional workers can help to keep the beds and stone pathways weed free and the flowers and trees watered.
- Improvements at the Nicholas J. Juried Meeting House and Pavilion. As we continue to add new gardens and plants to these prominent features, the amount of ongoing upkeep increases. New plantings will need to be watered regularly to become established, and additional care will be needed to protect these vulnerable plants from animals and insects.
The additional Green Team members will be focusing on these areas each week to ensure they look their best.
We have big goals in 2025 for Landis. Each season we move forward, learning from our most successful -- and unsuccessful -- moments, and strive to improve the quality of your time at Landis and your opportunities to learn from this invaluable natural treasure.