summer 2014
photo courtesy of thomas keever photography
scenic views natural news
The Joy of Tropicals
T
he use of tropicals in the landscape has
been an emerging trend in the last few
years. How can the average home gardener
use this trend at home? Many who start
to garden are drawn to the beautiful look
reminiscent of the typical English garden.
Flowing roses and clematis, lavenders and
daisies tend to be the look most of us want
when we start to garden. For gardeners
longing for some energy, the new and exciting
is an overpowering force. This is when the use
of tropicals becomes a satisfying option.
I love tropicals — I won’t lie. I was raised in
Ohio and winters are brutal there. On top
of it, my family came from Puerto Rico and
my blood is thin. Tropicals remind me of my
roots and take me mentally to warmer places.
When I came here, I thought there are far
too few of these beauties here — and a blank
canvas out front. So the Horticulture team
transformed some pots and the entry into
a tropical paradise with a bold and colorful
scheme to welcome our visitors.
In the bed is a large Bird of Paradise- Strelitzia
reginae which can get up to 7 feet tall. When
the flower emerges, it reminds people of a
bird’s head and beak. Although only hardy to
zone 9, it is quite easy to overwinter. This plant
has spent a few winters in our greenhouse.
Around the Strelitzia are hardy bananas-Musa
‘Ensete Maurelli’, Large elephant ears-Alocasia
calidora, which can get to 5 feet, sweet potato
vines-Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’ & ‘Margarita’,
Million bells- Calibracoa’Lemon slice’, an
ornamental sorrel-Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Molten
Lava’ and some colorful coleus-Solenostemon
scutellarioides.
Tropicals need to be treated as either annuals
or tender perennials, and will need to be
removed after the first hard frost or dug up
prior and over-wintered in a warmer space.
Tropicals need moist well drained soils
and can be in full sun to part shade. A slow
release fertilizer and watering when the soil
starts to dry out keeps them happy through
the season.
This selection of tropicals was an easy start.
In the future, we’ll push the envelope by
adding more variety with textures and colors.
If you want to move away from the
traditional pinks, purples and blues,
try adding tropicals to your landscape.
You may find that a bold exclamation point
may be just what you needed to wake up
your garden! Come to the Garden and see
our tropical flair.
Adriana Quiñones, Director of Horticulture
a letter from our director
Dear Friends,
Mission
The mission of Cape Fear Botanical
Garden is to transform people’s
relationship with plants and the
natural world.
2014.15 board of directors
Executive Board
Lynne Nimocks, President
Beegie Caviness, Vice President
Joan Allen, Development
Maureen McNeill, Recording Secretary
Thomas Bell, Treasurer
Full Board
Molly Alderman
Charles Broadwell
Mandy Brown
Jesse Byrd
Benny Foster
Ray Manning
Calvin Mims
Bill Pollitt
George Quigley
Emily Schaefer
Harry Shaw
Dennis Walters
Colleen Wellons
Dot Wyatt
Director Emeritus
Lorette Hollinshed
It has been an exciting spring here in the Garden. After
my wintery introduction into some of the worst weather
in years, watching the Garden’s beautiful spring, and now
summer, blossoms appear was almost hypnotizing. We have
been buzzing with new members and visitors from far and
wide! Regional garden clubs have been holding meetings
here and staff and volunteers have been delighted to tour the
Garden with them.
The 25th Anniversary Appeal is in full bloom and has
already generated over $13,000 much needed funds to offset
our revenue losses during the winter and bridge construction. Our goal is to raise $50,000
in celebration of our commitment to become one of the great gardens in America. The
Power2Give campaign, through the Arts Council raised $2,500 and helped support our wish
list of items that seem to always get the last dollar.
We’re full on into camp time with children’s and teen programs. We’ve recently partnered
with Ellington-White Foundation and Fayetteville Urban Ministry for 8 days of camps.
Nature Nuts half-day camps began this month and the Boys and Girls Club week-long
camp is in July.
Adriana Quiñones, Director of Horticulture, and I have identified two areas of the CFBG
campus adjacent to manicured gardens that are appropriate for new garden development.
We are exploring designs for two inter-related gardens: A Horticultural Therapy Teaching
Garden and a Reflection and Meditation Garden. Watch for periodic updates over the next
few months.
On a sultry afternoon, while recapping financials, reviewing milestones and attending to
the agenda of the Annual Meeting, I said my first “y’all.” And there it was, on the cusp of the
summer solstice, it was more than jargon – it was a sign that I had embraced the southern
lifestyle and Fayetteville as my new home. I’ve so enjoyed meeting you, the Garden’s very
important supporters and thank each of you for the warm and gracious welcome! I hope to
meet many more of you this summer in the Garden.
With kind regards and appreciation,
Visit www.capefearbg.org for our Calendar of Events,
Garden Spotlight, Program & Events, Visitor Information, to
Donate Online and so much more! Please “Like” us on Facebook,
follow us on Twitter, and review us on Trip Advisor.
OPEN DAILY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2 www.capefearbg.org
programs and events
c a p e f e a r b o ta n i c a l g a r d e n :: s p r i n g 2 0 1 4
Summer Adult Workshops
Walk with a Botanist: Native Plant ID
For adults feeling creative or yearning to learn,
the Garden has activities and workshops to inspire
and excite, and transform their relationship with
plants and the natural world. Advance registration
required is by Monday prior to the day of event:
(910) 486.0221 ext. 20 or www.capefearbg.org.
Sat., Aug. 9; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Fairy Gardening
Sat., July 12; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Explore the Oak Loop and River Trails at the
Garden while a guide identifies plants and local
flora. Feel free to bring questions. Fee: $15 per
member; $20 for non-member.
Terra Cotta Pot Mosaic Workshop
Sat., Aug.16; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Bring in your own container (no larger than
12 wide, shallow containers work best) and
create a mini Fairy Garden. Stones, sand, soil and
3 plants per container provided along with an
instructional tutorial.
Creatively transform a Terra Cotta pot into a
centerpiece for a favorite small plant using tiles, leaf
prints and other fun additions. Two pots included.
Fee: $35 per member; $40 for non-member.
Children 12 and up are welcome as a paying
participant with the accompaniment of an adult.
Fee: $35 per member; $40 for non-member.
Children 12 and up are welcome as a paying
participant with the accompaniment of an adult.
Concrete Leaf Bird Bath
Sat., Sept. 6; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Mosaic Stepping Stone Workshop
Sat., July 26; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Create a concrete stepping stone and fill it with
tiles, marbles and mirror pieces or even use leaves
to make prints. Fee: $30 per member; $35 for nonmember. Add a second stone for $10. Children
12 and up are welcome as a paying participant
with the accompaniment of an adult.
Wine & Whimsy Painting
Choose one or more Thursday sessions: July 31;
Aug. 21; or Sept. 18; 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy a glass of wine or beer while painting your
Garden theme masterpiece. A canvas, paint,
brushes, palette, an easel and instruction will be
provided. Wine will be available for purchase by
the glass or bottle along with a few beer selections.
Make it a date night or girl’s night out. Limited to
16 attendees – register early! Fee (per session):
$20 per member; $25 for non-member
Use a big Elephant Ear leaf and concrete mixture to
form and imprint a bird bath or serene sculpture
for your garden. Fee: $40 per member; $45 for
non-member. Children 12 and up are welcome
as a paying participant with the accompaniment
of an adult.
Nature Tales
Our FREE preschool story and craft time is
presented in partnership with Cumberland
County Public Library. Each month we explore
a different natural science theme appropriate for
ages two to six. The 9:30 -10:30 session is for two
to four year-olds; the 10:30 – 11:30 sessions is
for ages five and six. Pre-registration for Nature Tales is required at
least two business days in advance. Sessions fill
up quickly. July: Tues. 8th & Sat. 12th: Noisy Insects
Aug: Sat. 2nd & Tues. 5th: Critters in Cammo
Sept.: Sat. 6th & Tues. 9th: Rumbling Sky
For more information about all of our events or education programs, visit www.capefearbg.org.
www.capefearbg.org 3
NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Fayetteville, NC
Permit No. 180
536 N. Eastern Blvd.
PO Box 53485
Fayetteville, NC 28305
P 910.486.0221 • F 910.486.4209
capefearbg.org
scenic views natural news
Giving and Giving Back
wounded warrior project
Members Attend “Intro to Hort” Program
I
n the spirit of cooperation, much hard work over this past
winter and spring resulted in the development of a new and
exciting educational program geared specifically for the Wounded
Warrior Project and Fort Bragg’s Warrior Transition Battalion. The
partnership, led by Amy Stidham of the Garden and including Jeff
Webb of FTCC, Master Gardener Jack Dewar, and Beth Nelson of
Fort Bragg, launched a pilot “Intro to Hort” program beginning on
May 9, 2014. This six-week program was designed to highlight the
many therapeutic benefits of horticulture: cognitive, occupational,
physical, and spiritual. Classes were titled “Achieving Balance,” “New
Beginnings,” Multiply & Propagate,” “Branching Out & Taking Shape,”
“Grow, Harvest, Preserve, “ and “Rest and Restoration.”
June 13th marked the culmination of this program, and a celebratory
lunch was held to honor the six participants who earned certificates
of completion in “Intro to Hort.” A ground breaking on a new
Horticultural Therapy Garden also took place to commemorate
this pilot program. We look forward to the program being offered
again in the Fall.
Green Thumb Café Update:
Due to conditions beyond our control, the Green Thumb Café is lying dormant for a while longer. We are hoping to have a
“soft” opening this fall. In the meantime, thank you for your interest, enthusiasm and patience, as this is quite an exciting
venture for us!