Dr. Steven Still, Annette Duetz, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University.
Shade Bed, West of Howlett Hall's Main Entrance
This fall the Learning Gardens began developing a third bed in front of Howlett Hall. This bed had been the design project in one of Dr. Steve Still's design classes.
With the help of our students and Kurtz Brothers, we were able to install many interesting and some rare shade plants. A mulch walkway winds through the bed, and a bench invites rest.
Annual Displays Throughout the Year
In addition to the previously mentioned theme gardens, there are many annuals displayed in pots as well as in the beds of the Learning Gardens. The emphasis this past summer was on tropical plants — some noted for their bold foliage and others for their intense flower colors.
Six different shade and sun pots, as well as two beds, featured the unusual plants, and various combinations were displayed. For example, dark purple Elephant Ear, Calocasia escutenta 'Jet Black Wonder;' Neranjilla, Solanum qutitoense; Angelonia, Angelonia angustifolia, as well as many different and interesting kinds of Coleus and ornamental sweet potato vines were featured.
For the winter display, many different cultivars of pansy and violas were combined with kale, cabbage, Acorus gramineus, and parsley. Some of the evergreen centerpieces in the pots include unusual conifers such as Pinus densiflora 'Oculus Draconis' and Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Coralliformis.'
The smaller pots featured Chamaecyparis 'Gold Mops,' Taxus x 'Bean Pole,' and Pinus strobus 'Umbraculifera' to name a few.
Mayhew Scholarship
The Chadwick Arboretum is very fortunate to offer opportunities for 10 horticulture students to develop horticultural skills through the Mayhew Scholarship program. Undergraduate students, who excel in academics, show leadership potential, and have an interest in woody plants and perennials, are given opportunities to work with faculty and Chadwick Arboretum staff in the garden year round. Tuition, fees, and a work stipend are provided by the program.