UDBG FRIENDS
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE BOTANIC GARDENS
SUMMER/FALL 2016
Meet the 2016 interns
andrew adams I am a plant science major with
a minor in landscape horticulture and design. My plan is
to combine these two fields to work in a botanical garden.
Understanding both plant science and garden design will
maximize my ability to create stronger landscapes. This
UDBG internship will help me gain the knowledge I need
to accomplish this.
liam lynch I’m a rising senior at the University of
Connecticut, where I am majoring in horticulture with a
concentration in ornamental horticulture. I have a strong
interest in landscape design and am looking forward to
expanding my plant palette at the UDBG. Last summer
I worked at Winterthur and am excited about spending
another summer in an area so well known for its public
gardens.
matthew mcdermitt After graduating from
the University of Delaware with a degree in wildlife ecology
& conservation, I received a year-long internship with
the UDBG. Throughout the course of my undergraduate
studies, I developed a strong interest in plant ecology,
taxonomy, and land management. In previous internships I
worked in the natural landscape, but during this year-long
internship, I hope to gain experience in horticulture and
the constructed landscape. It is exciting to enter a new field;
I plan to use my knowledge of ecology and the hands-on
experience in botanic gardens management to improve the
gardens here. After my annual internship is over, I will attend
graduate school, studying landscape management, thus
integrating my passions for ecology and horticulture into my
career.
laura swain As a year-long intern with the
UDBG, I hope to build upon the foundation I have begun
in the field of public horticulture. Though I loved outdoor
activities growing up, it wasn’t until my time at Virginia Tech
that I fell in love with plants
and working outside. While
earning my undergraduate
IN THIS ISSUE
degree in Natural Resources
1,3
Meet the 2016
Conservation, recreation
interns..............................
management with a minor in
Director’s Corner ...............
2
forestry, it was in Catawba,
News @UDBG ...................
3
Virginia, that I discovered the
2016 Spring Sale ................
4
satisfaction of public outreach.
Trial Garden ......................
5
When I returned to my home
UDBG Support ..................
6-8
state of Delaware, I spent a
top: L to R: Summer interns
year at Winterthur Museum,
Andrew Adam and Liam Lynch
Garden and Library as an
and Year-Long Interns Laura
Swain and Matthew McDermitt
intern for the Natural
in UDBG’s Herbaceous Garden
Lands team.
Photo: Melinda Zoehrer
Cont’d on page 3
Director’s Corner
by John Frett
Summer is in full swing and the gardens
look better than ever due to a great
group of people who work hard and take
great pride in what they do. An early
start in May allowed good progress on
maintenance so there was less catch-up,
leaving more time to attend to project-oriented tasks as
well as to reestablish the intent of the ecological gardens.
After several days up to their knees in the water of the
Wetlands Garden, the students successfully rid the area
of cattails and thwarted an early invasion of Phragmites.
Next they thinned the ubiquitous willows and removed
woody weeds that had invited themselves into the mix. By
the end of the summer the focus on the wetland habitat
will be visually cleaner and functionally more effective.
Great progress also is occurring in the Lepidoptera Trail.
Following close on the heels of the installation of the
“backyard garden” by
Anna Wik and her
The reinstatment of students last fall, the
the annual interns is a interns have put the
final touches on the
fabulous gift from our project by planting
donors that pays shrubs around the
deck. Additionally,
immense dividends in the meadow area,
upon
the appearance of the encroached
by woody weeds,
gardens and other is undergoing
Most
essential projects. rejuvenation.
of the woody shrubs
that have invaded are
now removed to reestablish the meadow area critical
to the functioning of the Lepidoptera Trail as a source
of herbaceous plants for the ecosystem. While the area
may look a little raggedy for a time, it will be much
more effective as a meadow habitat for the trail.
A great team of people is responsible for these
accomplishments. Jackie Perry has returned for a third
summer. Her dedication and tenacity helps focus effort on
making the garden look good. Her collaboration with the
interns sets an increasingly high standard of maintenance.
And the intern group is stronger than ever. Thanks to
great support by our Patrons and Janine Sherrier, Chair
of the Department of Plant and Soils Sciences, we were
able to reestablish the annual internship program with
not one but two excellent students, Laura Swain and
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Matthew McDermitt. Both will be with us for a year and
will continue their work on a variety of projects. They
are eager, enthusiastic, and extraordinarily energetic,
which is evident in what they’ve accomplished to date.
The reinstatement of the annual interns is a fabulous
gift from our donors that pays immense dividends in the
appearance of the gardens and other essential projects
throughout the year. The hiatus was due to an inability
to support both a vigorous summer internship program
and a year-long intern. The annual interns are college
graduates who spend one year at the UDBG, working
in a wide variety of roles in garden maintenance. Annual
interns will interact with all staff and receive a broad view
of a career in public horticulture. A huge thank you goes
to Dr. Sherrier and our donors for the support to this
program. The summer interns, Liam Lynch and Andrew
Adams, are also remarkable additions to the UDBG crew.
Both are hardworking, eager to learn, and productive.
Evidence of the team’s efforts is the new succulent garden
in the Townsend courtyard near the rear entrance as
well as the new bench in the hydrangea garden, a lovely
spot to relax and appreciate the scene in dappled shade.
NEWS FLASH 
The UDBG just received funding to begin a master plan for the
future of the garden! This is the single greatest event since the
UDBG was officially recognized. It is the culmination of nearly
two decades of strategizing, planning, and lobbying. Proceeds
from the Mrs. Emily Clark (née Diffenback), the namesake of
the Clark Garden endowment, will be matched by funds from
the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the
Department of Plant and Soils Sciences. This plan will be
developed in conjunction with the University’s master planning
process already underway. Several landscape architecture firms
will be invited to charrettes, which will serve as the basis for
selecting the firm that will conduct the planning process. A
committee is being selected to include university architects,
facilities staff, college faculty, UDBG staff, and representatives
from outside gardens. This wide-ranging committee will
assure a broad view for the future of the garden. A primary
focus will be the educational value for students. Student input
and participation will be integral throughout the process,
not only to assure maximum functionality, but to provide an
educational experience throughout the planning process. The
result will be a future vision for the garden. Proceeding quickly,
we will have the committee finalized and the firm selected
this summer with focus groups beginning with the returning
students. This is a HUGE step forward toward securing an even
better future for the UDBG.
Meet the interns
cont’d from page 1
Laura Swain
NACURH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The NACURH team after
a productive volunteer session.
Photo by Anna Bower
The University of Delaware hosted this year’s NACURH
Annual Conference (National Association of College and
University Residence Halls, Inc.). Philanthropy, with a
hands-on experience, was a featured topic at the conference.
On Friday, June 24th the UDBG was the lucky recipient
of 23 pairs of hands that applied some much-appreciated
elbow grease to the area along Roger Martin Lane. UDBG’s year-long interns Matt McDermitt & Laura Swain
joined UDBG staff Claudia Bradley and Valann Budischak
to lead the efforts of resident assistants from schools such
as Purdue, North Dakota State, Louisiana State, Arizona
State, Missouri State, U of Arkansas and Idaho State in
the removal of unwanted plants & weeds. Dr. Bob Lyons
provided our guests with a tour of the Trial Garden during
their well-deserved break. It’s amazing how much was accomplished during their visit. THANKS!!
TREE PLANTINGS
The students are (left to right) Andrea Brennan,
Mackenzie Fochs, Stephanie Kuniholm, Frances
Jackson, and Keith Nevison
photo by Wenbo Fan
The 2016 graduates of
the Longwood Graduate
Program in Public
Horticulture generously
donated this Stewartia
monodelpha (located north of
Fischer Greenhouse Lab) and
a Quercus geminata (growing
on in the nursery) as a
parting gift to the College
of Agriculture & Natural
Resources for inclusion
in the plant collections.
The students planted the
Stewartia on 20 April.
During my time at UDBG, I hope to expand
my horticultural knowledge and blend it with
my land management experience and love for
the natural landscape. This experience will
prepare me for a master’s program. I hope to
continue working for public gardens and to
share my passion for plants and ecology with
others. Perhaps one day I will manage my own
garden and estate.
JOHN FRETT
RECEIVES
GARDEN
CLUB OF
WILMINGTON
AWARD
Dr. John Frett,
Professor of
Landscape
Horticulture
in the Dept. of
Plant & Soil
Sciences at the UD, was recently awarded a Club
Horticulture Commendation by the Garden Club
of Wilmington in appreciation for his support
of the Garden Club of America club and for his
dedication to landscape horticulture through
teaching, research, and community service.
As a member of the Advisory Board of the Garden
Club of Wilmington, John shares his knowledge
and expertise as a speaker at its meetings and also
hosts the Garden Club for workshops and tours
at the UDBG. The Garden Club of Wilmington
is “fortunate to have a close relationship with an
outstanding scientist, teacher, and community
leader,” said Louise Roselle, wife of former UD
President David Roselle and member of the
Garden Club of Wilmington.
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2016 Spring Sale has
Sprung
The UDBG Spring Plant Sale is a time when our many
friends join forces for a good cause – the UDBG and its
student internship and other programs. We are blessed to
have many veteran volunteers and supporters and we welcome the many newbies to our volunteer and customer
ranks. Thanks to all of you who support our two annual
sales via their time and talents &/or resources.
Emily Samick & Abby Vetter take a break
from plant sale duties to introduce
Dr. Frett’s goat to a young shopper.
Photo by Valann Budischak
Mt. Cuba’s Cat Meholic assists a customer
on Ag Day. We love to brag that Cat was a
former UDBG summer intern.
Photo by Melinda Zoehrer
Chanticleer’s Terry Struve is quick to lend
a hand to her alma mater by sharing her
expertise with this very young shopper and
her father.
Photo by Melinda Zoehrer
The Frey House opened for business this
year, expanding our sales space to hold
our many tomato & pepper selections
along with the daylilies, ferns & tender
perennials.
Photo by Doris Miklitz
Teamwork is the to success in holding and
loading. Ruthie Tool and Laneita Dunphy
tally an order as Brian Downs waits
to escort it to loading.
Photo by Melinda Zoehrer
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Valann firmly believes that a full cart + full
hands = $$$$ to support
UDBG programs.
Photo by Wenbo Fan
Judy Duffy and Ann Holloway enjoy their
annual Ag Day stint in holding.
Photo by Melinda Zoehrer
Thanks to Bob Lyons’ leadership, this year’s Trial Garden
is bigger and better than ever. As a matter of fact, due to
the sheer number of plants, the Trial Garden took two
days (May 17 & 26) for the volunteers to install. Make
sure you stop by to see the glorious display of color this
summer, you won’t be disappointed.
SAVE THE
DATE
PVC grids are used to ensure straight lines.
F A L L
PLANT SALE
Thurs., Sept. 8, 3-6 pm — Members Only
Fri, Sept. 9, 3-6 pm — General Public
Sat., Sept. 10, 9:30am - 2 pm — General Public
The members of the Trial Garden Precision
Planting Team.
TRIAL GARDEN NOW
Tithonia rotunifolia
Cryptostegia grandiflora
Containers in the Trial Garden.
Trial Garden Bed
Petunia hybrids
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’
THE TRIAL GARDEN
Trial Garden is a Blooming
Success
All photos by Bob Lyons
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UDBG Gifts
July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016
Student Program Patrons
We gratefully acknowledge the following people who support UDBG’s Student Program, which
includes summer and year-long interns, and a Curatorial Graduate student.
$10,000+
*deceased
Roy and Jackie Perry
$5000-$9,999
William and Melissa Lafferty
Robert Lyons
William and Elizabeth Sharp
Robert and Betty Shellenbarger
P. Coleman and Susan Townsend
$2,500-$4,999
Donna Gerst and Glenn Hardcastle
$1,000-$2,499
Ellen Barrosse
Ross and Evelyn C. Burnam
Mrs. George P. Bissell Jr.
Richard T. Jolly and Charles L. Ingersoll
S. Ismat Shah and Cynthia Morgan
Denise Dunlap and David Mull
Alice D. Reilly
Marion T. Silliman
Joseph and JoAnn Townsend
$500-$999
Virginia and David Butters
Peg and Steve Castorani
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Davis
DE Nursery & Landscape Association
Sally Arundel DeWees
Kent St. Pierre and Andrea Everard
Hugh and Sian Frick
Harvey Reisine and Margaret Moore
Mrs. Christopher L. Moseley*
Angie J. Palmer
Mark and Barbara Rieger
Deborah S. Roberts
Patricia and Charles Robertson
Jeanne Otis Shields
Annis L. Townsend
Kit Shum and Terry Tse
William E. Trescott Jr.
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$250-$499
Susan S. Barton
Richard P. Bowen
Thomas and *Mary Lou Brockenbrough
Valann and Michael L. Budischak
Sue Schaefer and Paul Dennison
Mary L. Gotsch
Mary Lou Hawkins
Marilyn R. Hayward
Margaret L. Laird
Susan Lipscy
Ron Sullivan and Fran Levinson
Debra Rodgers and Paul Meyer
Dana M. Parker
John J. Pikulski
Michael and Diana Pontti
Walter and Beverley Rowland
Wendy Mahoney Russell
Barbara A. Wallace
$100-$249
Marjorie E. Adams
Shipley and Mary Allinson
Marvin and Kathy Andersen
Alistair and Patricia Arnott
Joanne Bahr Cushman
Laura and Carmine Balascio
Stephen and Barbara Borleske
Patricia S. Boyd
Jules L. Bruck
Catherine C. Buckminster
Page Nelson and Anne Canby
Mae and Robert Carter
Phoebe Craven
Joseph Paesani and Jacquelyn Cusumano
Melinda Zoehrer and Rick Darke
Jo Anne C. Debes
Marilyn and Dominic Di Toro
Judith D. Duffy
Page W. Dwyer
Anne Marie and John Fletcher
Dorothy and Samuel Foster
Gary G. Gerlach
Laura Pratt Gregg
Roseann H. Harkins
Judy and John Herdeg
Laurine and David K. Herman
Vikram and Kate Krishnamurthy
Katherine and Daniel Kristol
Carol Long
Nina M. Lord
David and RoseLynn Malarek
Jim Damewood and Robin Morgan
Linda A.D. Olsen
Jo Ann Payne
Kristopher Jensen and Earle Peddicord Jr.
Rosemary B. Philips
Lucy and David Pollack
Kristine S. Qualls
Phyllis C. Rawling
James F. Resch
Ronald and Patti Roman
Kenneth C. Schilling
Delia T. and Norman B. Schwartz
Mary Ellen McNutt Stachnik
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UDBG Gifts
$100-$249 cont’d
Up to $99
Beth Stark
James and Susan Swasey
Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Sutton
Mac and Sande Taylor
Natalie R. Weymouth
Mary Jane Wrenn
Geraldine and Ron Zuka
Jane E. Adams
Nancy J. Balogh
Suzanne J. Baron
Rachel Cameron
Ann Claiborne Case
Shirley J. Duffy
Lorraine and Richard Fleming
Demaris Hollembeak
Ann M. Holloway
Karin and Martin Karel
Richard J. Libera
Christine Lindstrom
Katherine Lyons
David and Dorothy Onn
Carla Pastore
William and Mary P. Petit de Mange
Mary V. Pritchard
Alphonso & Evelyn Randolph
Marlene A. Snelling
Linda E. Stapleford
New Members
Benefactor
Annie W. Smith
Sustaining
Phoebe Craven
Alicia Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sutton
Family
Evelyn and Robert Barczak
Alan and Lisa Borzillo
Joseph and Karen Brady
Deborah L. Jones and John D.
Engel
Cheramy H. and Joseph T.
Farina
Deirdre Godin
Fred and Patricia Mann
Patrick and Jeanne O’Neill
Kristopher Jensen and Earle
Peddicord
Robert T. and Joyce L. Pezick
David and Lucy Pollack
Scott L. Quinn
Denise M. and Jeffrey J.
Shumm
Marjorie D. and Kenneth L.
Szaroleta
Wendy Scott and Sandra
Taccone
Christine A. and Michael J.
Thompson
Patricia Watson
Individual
Moqthar Admed
Ellen Barrosse
Joanne E. Barton
Doreen Beaudreau
Catriona Binder-MacLeod
Frank Bova
Paul G. Clark
Eileen R. Crown
Sarah C. D’Alonzo
Olive Daniell
Juliet L. Dee
Donald J. Doto
Linda S. Dunn
Mary M. Egerton
Anita D. Ernstorfer
Joan Fenza
P.H. Gramlich
Greta Hansen
Anita H. Hodson
Kathy Kristol
Marguerite Mahoney
Bonnie B. Matthaeus
Debra A. McKibben
Elizabeth Mellon
Vicki Myoda
Nancy C. Nicholson
Jack Nystrom
Sandra E. Phillips
Judith H. Pilnick
Christine Pochomis
Carol Post
Chase E. Renoll
Sandra A. Richardson
Timothy Sabo
Ken G. Sharp
Susan M. Sipos
Deanne M. Stevens
Donna E. Swain
Judy Taggart
Brenda Daly Toomey
Paul Toomey
Ed V. Vacek
Robert C. Wheland
Theresa A. Yetter
Student
Abby E. Laubach
Jonathan T. Scurato
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UDBG Gifts
cont’d from page 7
Endowment
UDBG’s endowment will ensure long-term support of the gardens and plant collection.
$2,500+
John Frett
Up to $99
Vikram and Kate Krishnamurthy
UD Botanic Gardens gratefully acknowledges unrestricted gifts that support garden
projects and maintenance of the gardens and plant collections.
$5,000+
$250-$499
Up to $99
William and Melissa Lafferty
Doug and Susan Barton
David and Lydia Boyer
Daniel and Deepa Camenga
Frances Hart
Paul Meyer and Debra Rodgers
Michael and Diana Pontti
Towson University
Nancy J. Balogh
Michael and Anne Camasso
Donald T. Diefendorf
Thomas Eliason
Edward S. Feret Jr.
Ruthe J. Hay
Kirk Himelick
Bryan L. Hudson
Reneé Lett
Meta C. Little
Sarah Milbury-Steen
Nancy H. Olson
John J. Pikulski
Nathaniel and Yvonne Puffer
Anne E. Rosenberger
James and Linda Saunders
Marion T. Silliman
Janet R. Watson
$1,000-$2,499
Ann A. Biggs
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Davis
Kent St. Pierre and Andrea Everard
Caroline M. Golt
$500-$999
Plants Nouveau
$100-$249
Thomas Brokenbrough
Jules L. Bruck
Roseann H. Harkins
Randy and Leonara Jennings
Judith Paynter
Mary Ellen McNutt Stachnik
Gifts in Tribute
In Memory of Alum’00 Theresa L.
Felker
Michael J. Felker
In Memory of Leonard G. Kostow
Christina Kostow
In Memory of Stephen J. Zielinski
Mary Zielinski
In Memory of Delia Schwartz
Michele Capron
Contact Information
Donald Crossan Circle
Mrs. Ruth S. Crossan
Telephone 302-831-0153 • http://canr.udel.edu/udbg
Newsletter editor: Susan Baldwin • Director: Dr. John Frett
Assistant Director: Melinda Zoehrer
Volunteer and Education Coordinator: Valann Budischak
Visit the UD Botanic Gardens
UDBG is open to visitors everyday from sunrise to sunset; admission is free.
Please obtain a visitor parking pass (fee: $3.00) on-line at
https://udel.t2hosted.com/cmn/index.aspx or
use the metered parking near the UDairy Creamery.
The University
of Delaware
is an EqualPlease
Opportunity/Title
IX institution. Please visit www.udel.edu/ to rea
The University of Delaware is an Equal
Opportunity/Title
IX institution.
visit www.udel.edu/ExecVP/policies/personnel/4-40.html
ExecVP/policies/personnel/4-40.html to read our anti-discrimination policy in its entirety.
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