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leaves
A PUBLICATION OF the holden arboretum
Winter
Winter
2012-13
2012-13
Winter 2012-13
1
leaves
from the president
Nothing makes me happier than hearing one of our volunteers or stakeholders proudly
extolling Holden’s conspicuous progress towards improving our gardens, visitor and
education facilities and natural areas. As you will read in the pages of Leaves, 2013
will represent something of a culmination of over four years of planning, fundraising
and laying the foundation for the arboretum taking the next step in fulfilling our
vision’s promise. Many of you have played, and will continue to play, important roles
in helping set our direction, offering your feedback at various stages in our planning
and execution, and contributing your time and, yes, generous philanthropy that make
Holden’s evolution truly a team effort.
Winter 2012-13
Cait Anastis, Editor
[email protected]
Jackie Klisuric, Graphic Design
administration
Clement W. Hamilton
President and CEO
Jim Ansberry
Director of Finance
David Burke
Research Department Chairman
Roger Gettig
Director of Horticulture and Conservation
Brian Parsons
Director of Planning and Special Projects
Stephen H. Sedam
Senior Director of Development
Paul C. Spector
Director of Education and Public Programs
Nancy Spelman
Director of Human Resources and Safety
board of directors
Paul R. Abbey, Chairman
Jonathan E. Dick, Vice Chairman
Robert R. Galloway, Vice Chairman
Sarah L. Gries, Vice Chairman
Joseph J. Mahovlic, Vice Chairman
C. W. Eliot Paine, Vice Chairman
Stephen J. Knerly, Secretary
Jackie klisuric
contents
features
departments
Peaceful Solace
8
4Finding
at Meditation Point
Bird Bio
9
6 Renovations
Research News
Volunteers
18
and Highlights
10
Shorts
19
Holden Appoints
11Adjunct Researchers
Plant Profile
Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
Gift creates new destination
on Woodland Trail
Revamping Existing Spaces
Holden Volunteers Celebrate
It has been said that it takes a long time to become an “overnight sensation,” and we’re living proof, as we take an
already outstanding arboretum to the next level. Thank you for your roles in making our progress possible. I hope
you enjoy the results.
Clement W. Hamilton, PhD
President and CEO
directors emeriti
Constance Norweb Abbey
Ralph W. Abelt
Miriam N. Gale
Jeanette Grasselli Brown
Henry R. Hatch
T. Dixon Long
Henry L. Meyer III
William J. O’Neill Jr.
John Sherwin Jr.
Penelope Theis
Alton W. Whitehouse
Rhododendron Exploration Garden
Anne M. Clapp
Mary Groves
Alison C. Jones
Thomas W. Seabright
Volume 11, Number 1
©The Holden Arboretum
Volunteering Leads to a Lasting
Relationship with Holden
Brian parsons
12 Plant This, Not That
14 Staff News
European Privet
Leaves (ISSN 0518-2662) is a class
and events magazine published
quarterly by The Holden Arboretum
for $10 per year for members
(included in membership fee) and
$50 per year for nonmembers
Periodicals postage paid at Mentor, Ohio
Postmaster:
Please send address changes to
Leaves: The Holden Arboretum,
9500 Sperry Road,
Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5172
Winter 2012-13
Leaves
Ellen W. Jones Nordell
Robin Schachat
K.K. Sullivan
Timothy L. Swanson
Michael T. Victor
Ann T. Whitney
Improvements to gardens at Lantern Court, in our main display area, in the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly
Garden, in the Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden, in the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden and throughout
Holden’s natural areas are no less significant, and are thanks to the energy and initiative of all our Horticulture
and Conservation staff, who always are thinking how to make their already excellent gardens and forests more
attractive, engaging and sustainable.
honorary directors
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis)
a Bright Year
2
Barbara Brown
Christopher A. Cullis
Peter S. Hellman
Arlene M. Holden
Michael C. Marino
Cynthia A. Moore-Hardy
The centerpiece of our New Leaf master plan for the core area is, of course, the
Rhododendron Exploration Garden, whose progress during 2012 I hope you have
enjoyed as you’ve walked along the Corning Lake dam. Watch for its grand opening this
coming May, along with that of the Tree Allée, our 500-foot promenade leading to the
rhododendron garden’s entrance. Don’t neglect our Warren Corning Library, whose recent renovation makes it more
attractive, enticing and functional, including “unburying” our special collections display windows that feature rotating
exhibits of our special books and artworks. To the west we have our new Meditation Point, along the Woodland Trail,
and expanded Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods, which engaged kids and families very well this past summer. And
to the east, schoolchildren are benefiting from our having transformed the former sugarbush main building into
classroom space tucked into the woods. Finally, thank your lucky stars we chose to redo our irrigation water source in
2011, just in time for the miserably dry summer we just endured; the past years’ orange plants and signs, discolored
by precipitated iron from Corning Lake’s water, are now just a bad memory.
On the Cover:
Early morning in Bicknell Field.
jackie klisuric
3
Tucked away in the woods, just off the Woodland Trail, is a place
to stop and think. There, surrounded by towering trees and
gently waving ferns, it is possible to sit and relax and be alone
with your thoughts.
unfinished business and create a memorial for the friend and
colleague who had played a major role in his life. “As this New
Leaf project came into being, it seemed a way to honor Bob
with a place of natural beauty,” he said.
Meditation Point, which was created in the fall, was designed to
be a place of peace and solitude, a place for quiet reflection. The
project, which was created by a team of Holden staff members
and outside craftsmen, was the vision of donors Carol and Mike
Sherwin who were seeking to pay tribute to their dear friend Bob
Bergman, the former director of the Cleveland Museum of Art
who passed away in 1999.
From its location above Pierson Creek, the stream below is
audible. When the trees are in full foliage they create a quiet
cocoon for visitors, and when the branches are bare the spot
has an expansive view.
When Mike Sherwin served as the art museum board’s
president from 1992-97, he hired Bergman. “It was the best
thing I ever did or will do for Cleveland,” he said. “Bob and I
had one of those special friendships that was wonderful at the
time and is sacred to me still.”
The Sherwins had been interested in doing something to honor
Bergman and a peaceful place of natural beauty seemed appropriate.
Holden is well known to Mike Sherwin who worked on the
maintenance crew for the summer in
1957 and 1958. Perhaps as a result, he
has been a regular visitor to Holden
with his family over the years. He and
Carol have been members of Holden’s
Magnolia Society for more than 25 years.
by Cait Anastis, editor
Eliot Paine, Holden board vice
chairman, first approached him
to talk about a possible gift for
Holden’s New Leaf campaign, which
is providing funding for a number of
new gardens and other projects. As
a long time Holden member, Sherwin
proposed a project of his own – a
contemplative spot where one could
sit and gather one’s thoughts. When
asked by Clem Hamilton, Holden’s
president and CEO, to describe
the space in words, he said “Think
about a space where you could
come and find some solitude if you
had recently been told that you or
someone you loved was diagnosed
with cancer.”
While Holden’s gardens are designed
to attract many visitors, Mike
Sherwin felt there had to be a spot in
its 3,600 acres that could be carved
out where people could enjoy nature away from others.
“One of the things I really thought [Holden] needed was a place
that was a little secluded where someone could be alone with
their thoughts,” he said.
There were several spots at Holden that seemed to fit
that description.
4
That site was deemed far enough off the beaten track to be
secluded, but close enough for visitors to find and walk to easily,
within 15 minutes of the Warren H. Corning Visitor Center.
Jackie Klisuric
After plans for the project were drawn up, Mike Sherwin
realized that he had the opportunity to take care of some
Hamilton asked his wife, garden designer Karen Krager, to do
the rock design for the project, drawing on her experience
with native and rock gardens. She selected stones from
the property that had been unearthed during a number
of different construction projects at Holden and worked
with members of the facilities staff to put them in place at
Meditation Point.
“The challenge was to array geologically interesting rocks to
contribute to the site’s naturally contemplative quality – a
quiet carpet of mosses, gray-green
among the wine-red roots of the
hemlocks – and to provide context for
the woodland plantings,” Krager said.
Original plans called for a gravel
path leading to a seating area off the
Woodland Trail, but a closer look at
the site led to the decision to install a
boardwalk rather than just a gravel path
leading to Meditation Point from the trail.
“We decided the boardwalk would be a
gentler and more sustainable solution,”
Hamilton said. “The elevated boardwalk
minimizes the impact of the project
on existing tree roots and on surface
water flow.”
Dave McCaskey, who constructed the
boardwalk and bench, added his own
touch to the project, Hamilton said.
“We gave him the most general direction
so he wasn’t just an executor, he
provided his creative contribution,” he
said. The boardwalk leads down to a
small deck with a curved bench. A second
platform allows visitors to step close to
the ravine to view the valley below.
The final phase of the project is to
add new plants to the area. Horticulturists Ann Rzepka and
Dawn Gerlica will be adding new hemlocks, Christmas fern,
foam flowers, intermediate ferns and partridge berry plants
to the site in the spring, all plants normally found along
the Woodland Trail. “There is also a native honeysuckle that
is already on the site that we will be leaving there,” Gettig
said. “We didn’t want to make it look like a garden; we are
just enhancing what is already there. We’re just adding a few
plants for screening and esthetics.”
Marking the entrance to Meditation Point is a plaque honoring
Bergman that is inscribed with the words “Never let your
memories be greater than your dreams.” It is a philosophy that
both Bergman and Sherwin applied to their work and lives.
“Bob and I tried very hard to live by the notion that you don’t
let a good idea get in the way of a better idea,” Sherwin
said. “I think our dreams should be bigger, grander than our
memories. You can’t rest on your laurels; he didn’t and I’d like
to think I don’t either.”
Winter 2012-13
Leaves
“Brian [Parsons], Roger [Gettig] and I came up with five
possibilities and Mike selected the site off the Woodland Trail,
north of the Molly Offutt Boardwalk,” Hamilton said. A plan
was drawn up to create a space that was almost Zen-like; not
exactly a Japanese garden, but something that shared those
same qualities.
The view from there is spectacular; without the leaves you see
all the way to the other side of the valley,” Sherwin said.
5
Growing Students in Science Classroom
jackie klisuric
Out of sight of most of Holden’s visitors, the building at the
Working Woods was also undergoing a transformation. The
building once used for maple syrup production demonstrations
and related exhibits has been converted into classroom space.
Renovations at the Corning Library,
former Sugarbush buildings
The first group to make use of the new classroom space were
fourth and fifth grade students taking part in Holden’s Growing
Students in Science program. The classrooms will also be used
for adult programming, especially programs focused on aspects
of woodland property management.
by Cait Anastis, editor
The site of the Working Woods has not been used as a site for
maple syrup production since 2006. The new classrooms are
just the first step in the evolution of the former sugarbush into
the Working Woods, which will someday help demonstrate how
smaller wooded properties can be utilized by their owners. brian parsons
It has been a year of change and growth for The Holden
Arboretum, with construction of the new Rhododendron
Exploration Garden taking place over the summer and new
features being added to existing gardens to enhance the
visitor experience.
6
The 30 acre site will be used for a variety of demonstration
plots allowing landowners to see the proper techniques for
accomplishing those goals.
“I’m excited about it,” Spector said. “I think it has a lot of
potential and really strategic programming opportunities as well
as strong visitor opportunities. I think it’s unique. I’m not aware
of anything designed with that concept in mind.”
“Before when you looked in you saw the stacks, you didn’t
see Sue,” he said. “I hope they will feel more inclined to
engage with her.”
Swisher said that she hopes the library will be more inviting
to the casual visitor while they are at Holden, that it will be a
space that they want to come into and a place that they will
find what they need.
Work on the Warren H. Corning Library was completed in
September, updating the 32-year-old facility. Shelves were
reconfigured, new carpet and furnishings were added and
“I want it to be one of the favorite places when people visit
a new librarian’s desk was constructed to help make the
here,” Swisher said, “that they will stop in to see what new
library more inviting to guests. The library now has a more
books are here, to sit and read or to just enjoy the view.”
well-defined children’s area for planned story times or
The Corning Library houses Holden’s collection of more
impromptu visits from families. Comfortable chairs with a
than 7,000
titles focused
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and teacher
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encourage guests to settle in with a good book. Wi-fi access
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said, which
also had a more open floor plan. Over
the
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as
the
collection
grew, new shelving was added
“It’s a much more pleasant place to come into and browse
and
the
space
became
more
congested. Weeding the
or sit and
read,” said Dickens
Paul Spector, director of Education and
– Charles
collection to remove outdated books as well as volumes that
Public Programs. “I think for someone who wants to come
did not fit in with Holden’s focus areas allowed the space to
in and work – whether it’s a staff member or a visitor – it’s
much more inviting.”
be opened up once again.
Former Sugarhouse building
brian parsons
Winter 2012-13
Leaves
However, not all the changes taking place in 2012 were
based in the gardens. Two major changes were taking place
indoors – the first giving Holden’s library a fresh new look
and the second adding new classroom space at the former
Warren H. Bicknell Sugarbush, which is being transformed
into Holden’s Working Woods.
Part of the project was to move the librarian’s workspace,
which had been tucked away in an alcove of the library, out
into the main room. The change will make librarian Sue
Swisher more visible to guests in the Corning lobby and
hopefully encourage them to visit the library, Spector said.
The majority of forest land in Ohio is owned by people in parcels
of 10 acres or less, Spector said, yet there is nowhere people
can go to see what it would look like to manage a woodland for
wildlife or increase the diversity of trees, grow woodland crops
such as mushrooms or add walking trails to the landscape.
7
Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
by Ethan Johnson, plant records curator
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carya ovata, a ruggedly handsome tree, is native to
eastern North America from Iowa to Quebec, south
to Texas and Georgia. Disjunct populations occur in
the mountains of northeastern Mexico. It is the larval
food for luna moth, walnut sphinx and also the royal
walnut moth whose larval stage is called hickory
horned devil. The hickory horned devil starts out by
camouflaging itself as a bird dropping before trying
to intimidate would-be predators. Surprisingly, the
walnut sphinx caterpillar can “whistle” at potential
attackers to put them off.
(Sitta carolinensis)
by Rebecca Thompson,
Growing Students in Science program coordinator
White-breasted nuthatches are common feeder birds found
year round in mature woods and woodland edges throughout
Ohio. They prefer deciduous tree communities with maples
(Acer), hickories (Carya), basswoods (Tilia) and oaks (Quercus).
They also can inhabit open deciduous or mixed hardwood
forest in parks, yards and cemeteries.
Hickories are in the walnut family (Juglandaceae). The
name Carya comes from Greek mythology, and is
the name of a maiden who the God Dionysius turned
into a walnut tree once he could no longer have his
way with her. Hickory is derived from the Powhatan
(Virginia Algonquian) language.
White-breasted nuthatches get their name from their behavior
of lodging seeds or nuts in tree crevices then hatching or
hammering it out later when they are hungry. They hide their
cache temporarily with small pieces of bark, lichen, moss or
snow until they are ready to consume. White-breasted nuthatches
are one of a few species of birds that can creep up, down and
side to side or head first on a tree trunk to forage and store
food. They mainly eat spiders and insects, including woodboring beetle larvae, adult beetles, tree hoppers, scales, ants, fly
larvae, caterpillars, stinkbugs, and click beetles. In winter, whitebreasted nuthatches tend to forage in flocks with chickadees
and titmice consuming more seeds and nuts, including acorns,
hawthorn and sunflower seeds. At birdfeeders they eat sunflower
seeds, peanuts, suet and peanut butter.
Shagbark hickory was a quintessential tree of the
early American frontier. Andrew Jackson, the seventh
president of the United States, was given the name
“old hickory” by the men under his command in
recognition of his toughness. Jackson planted a grove
of shagbark hickories at the Hermitage, his Tennessee
home. Sadly, the original trees were destroyed by a
tornado in 1998.
There are a number of shagbark hickories at
The Holden Arboretum. Many shagbarks were
preserved during construction of the Helen S.
Layer Rhododendron Garden including several in
Heath Vale, near Oak Pond and Sturm Bog. There
is a distinctive 95’ tall double-trunked specimen at
Lantern Court in the wood line north of the house.
Closer to the Corning Visitor Center, in the Arthur S.
Holden Sr. Hedge Collection, is a fine young Carya
ovata ‘Holden’. This grafted tree, planted in 1984
now measures about 43 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
Shagbark hickories typically begin bearing nuts at 40
years of age when grown from seed and have heavy
crops at intervals of 1-3 years. Carya ovata ‘Holden’
was selected from a large old tree with weeping
branches in Hudson, Ohio (1966, named in 1970) by
Holden’s landscape architect William A. Strong.
The bark does not develop a shaggy texture until
the trunk gets about 9 or 10 inches in diameter at
breast height (DBH), which can take 25 years or more.
One old specimen with very shaggy bark at Holden’s
Strong Acres (named after William A. Strong) measures
76’ x 50’ with a DBH of 30 inches. This bark provides
roosting sites for the Indiana bat, an endangered
species, and little brown bat.
plant facts
Light
Full sun
Soil type
Moist, acid to neutral
Mature size
70’-90’ or more by about 2/3’s as wide
Leaves
Best location
8
USDA Zones 4b-8b
Source
Through a landscaper or by mail order
Carya ovata ‘Holden’
continued on page 17
White-breasted nuthatches are monogamous throughout the
year. In spring they build their nests in natural tree cavities
or abandoned woodpecker holes, and often reuse their nest
holes in subsequent years. Sometimes they enlarge the cavity
but rarely excavate them entirely on their own. Despite their
association with deciduous woods, they can nest in both
coniferous and deciduous trees depending on the availability
of cavities. Once a nest site is determined, female whitebreasted nuthatches line their nest cavities with fur, bark and
lumps of dirt. After which females construct a cupped nest of
grass, shredded bark, feathers and other soft material.
White-breasted nuthatches have a single brood during the
breeding season. Females incubate five to eight white eggs
with reddish brown spots for 12 to 14 days. Males feed their
mates during the incubation period. Both parents feed the
young. Young leave the nest in 14 to 16 days. Both parent
birds feed the fledglings for up to two more weeks after they
leave the nest.
White-breasted nuthatch populations are widespread
and stable. Their numbers have slightly increased in the
northeast due to forest regrowth and the availability of bird
feeders. Dead or decaying trees are essential for whitebreasted nuthatch and other cavity nesting species survival.
Removal of logs and decaying trees can reduce the nesting
opportunities for this and many other species.
bird facts
Description
Males and females: blue gray back, white face and
under parts. Black or gray hood like cap and neck;
chestnut color on the lower belly and under the tail.
Size
5.5-6 inches Wingspan: 11 inches
Range
Permanent resident from Canada south to Mexico;
almost all United States except Great Plains.
Voice
Males late winter and spring low-pitched wha-wha-wha. Year round, both sexes loud,
nasal yank repeated a few times in a row.
Best location to view at Holden
Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods, Woodland Trail, Old Valley
Trail, Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden, Bole Woods.
Winter 2012-13
Grafts from mature shagbarks bear heavy crops of
nuts as soon as the tree is large enough to support
them. Judging by the abundant nut production of its
offspring, the weeping habit of the Holden hickory
was the result of heavy annual or nearly annual crops
weighing down its branches. At Holden, cultivars of
shagbark hickory have been successfully grafted upon
pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and shellbark hickory (C.
laciniosa) rootstocks in addition to being grafted upon
seedlings of their own species. Shagbark hickory has
also hybridized naturally with the aforementioned
species and also with bitternut hickory (C. cordiformis),
while a cross with mockernut hickory (C. tomentosa)
has been documented in cultivation.
photos mike dougherty
9
volunteering
Holden Volunteers
Celebrate a Bright Year
by Robin Ott, volunteer coordinator
2012 Volunteer of
the Year Nancy Pae
On Saturday, Sept. 15, more than 330 volunteers, staff and their
guests attended the annual Volunteer Recognition Program and
Clambake Dinner. This year’s theme – Volunteers Brighten Our Days!
– celebrated the dynamic energy and vibrant personalities of the 593
individuals who shared their time and talent in support of Holden’s
mission this past year.
Before dinner attendees enjoyed a humorous and colorful
presentation by staff recognizing the year’s volunteer efforts. The
2011 Volunteer of the Year Pat Biliter ended the program with the
presentation of the Watering Can, Lantern and this year’s Volunteer of
the Year awards.
Christopher Blackwood
Andrea Case
Watering Can Award recipients, like watering cans, add a personal
touch and bring life to the areas in which they volunteer. The 2012
Watering Can Awards were presented to VIP guide Steve Levitan,
development volunteer office assistant Louise Toutant and Holden
Wildflower Garden volunteer gardener Ardeth Gunton.
Lantern Award recipients are volunteers whose work lights the path
so that others can achieve more, and whose outlook lights up guests
and staffs’ days. The 2012 Lantern Awards were presented to school
guide and volunteer photographer Judith Majher, Holden Butterfly
Garden volunteer gardeners Marci and Alan Cragg, and education and
special events support volunteers Jeff and Pat Keith.
Finally, it was time to announce this year’s Volunteer of the Year.
This award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond
to contribute a needed service and devote a significant amount of
time to Holden. This year’s recipient, Nancy Pae, contributed over
400 hours of service in 2012. Over the past year, she held the title
of school guide, bird feeder, Tree Tale Teller, special event volunteer,
Green Team member and more. As chair of the silent auction at
Music in the Garden at Woodland Twilight, Pae’s direction and
inventive thinking helped to make this year’s benefit one of the most
financially successful ever at Holden. She saw the potential in every
meeting she had and came up with many creative new auction items
and theme driven packages. And, most importantly, she made it
fun for everyone who attended with the Wine and Dine mystery pull
where guests could pay $50 for the chance to pick a wine and gift
certificate package valued between $40 and $100.
In his nomination for the award Steve Sedam, senior director of
development, shared what makes Pae so special, “Nancy is an
amazing volunteer because she not only gives so much of her time
but she gives of herself, and while doing so is friendly, enthusiastic,
and has boundless energy!”
Sharon Graper, manager of academic services, agreed, “Nancy is
always up for a challenge. She is not scared of big kids or of little
continued on page 19
Jean Burns
Michael Benard
Holden Appoints Adjunct Researchers
by Cait Anastis, editor
A new adjunct research program at The Holden Arboretum
is allowing scientists from area universities to utilize the
arboretum’s collections and resources as they explore
plant genetics, natural selection, invasive species ecology
and how plants respond to changes in their environment.
Faculty from two area universities are now involved in
the program, and Clem Hamilton, president and CEO of
The Holden Arboretum, said that he expects the number
of Holden adjunct scientists to expand and include
individual researchers from other institutions in the
private and public sectors.
“Recognizing scientists from other organizations – such
as universities, government agencies, and the green
industry – as Holden adjunct scientists reflects how
Holden’s research community extends well beyond the
scientists we directly employ,” Hamilton said. “Holden’s
adjunct scientists collaborate with our researchers and
make good use of our resources, including our natural
areas and plant collections, thereby multiplying Holden’s
impact in improving the knowledge that is fundamental
to best practice in horticulture and forest management. Recognizing outside researchers as adjunct scientists
also communicates to their home institutions how much
we value our collaboration.”
Leaves
Faculty members granted adjunct scientist status from
Kent State University’s Department of Biological Sciences
include Associate Professor Andrea Case, PhD; Assistant
Professor Patrick Lorch, PhD; and Associate Professor
Christopher Blackwood, PhD.
2012 Volunteer Award Recipients
photos by Ferole parmelee
and jackie klisuric
Case, whose research expertise is in plant evolutionary
ecology and ecological genetics, is currently working on
projects that involve understanding why so few plant
species exist as separate sexes (males and females),
since most plants are hermaphrodites. She studies
both ecological and genetic factors that may favor one
particular sex over another within species. She has a
particular interest in the function and evolution of flowers.
Lorch, an insect behavioral ecologist, studies how
natural selection and sexual selection interact. He said
that these two forms of selection are interesting to him
because they can both act differently on the two sexes.
His current research interests include understanding
how these two forms of selection shape population and
species differences in body shape, movement and mating
behavior in several species of katydids (Orthoptera,
Tettigoniidae). Lorch is also working with Holden’s
volunteer and education coordinators to improve how
science is conveyed to the public and how data is
gathered by volunteers on the Holden property.
Blackwood studies two groups of organisms that forests
can’t function without – trees and microorganisms,
such as bacteria and fungi. “Although we normally think
of conditions such as temperature or soil nutrients
as what determines whether a species is found in a
particular area, these conditions are actually only loose
constraints,” he said. “Much of my research looks at why
the distributions of species and communities are more
predictable in some places compared to others. Specific
continued on page 17
Winter 2012-13
10
Patrick Lorch
11
plant this
not that
by Luke Williamson, education intern
Thousands of plants have been introduced to the United States from other parts of the world. Some have come
here accidentally in seed stock, while others were brought here intentionally for horticultural use. A small
number of these introduced plants have gotten a little too comfortable in their new environment. Because they
have no native predators and produce a lot of fruit and seed that are efficiently dispersed, they are invading
natural areas. The aggressiveness of these invasive plants affects natural areas and wildlife by decreasing
biodiversity, competing with native and rare plants and eliminating wildlife habitat and food sources.
Plant This, Not That features a list of native alternatives to a commonly used landscape plant that has become
invasive. The alternatives were chosen because their characteristics – form, flowers, fruit or fall color – are similar
to that of the invasive and fulfill the same landscaping need. On a broader scale, native plants help create a
healthier ecosystem, attract a greater diversity of wildlife and may minimize the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
The Native Alternatives
Aronia arbutifolia (Red chokeberry)
Red chokeberry, hardy to Zone 4, does better
planted in informal hedgerows than in highlymanicured formal hedges, which is a good
thing as less pruning allows this fetching shrub
to show off its namesake red berries. Growing
to a maximum height of 10 feet and a width of
six feet, chokeberry is as attractive to wildlife
as it is to the human eye. The small, white
flowers bloom in mid-spring, attracting bees
and butterflies, while the bright green leaves
begin to unfurl. Red, glossy fruits develop by
late summer and are quite astringent, even
for birds. The berries become more palatable for the birds
after a few frosts, meaning that the plant holds onto its berries
throughout the fall and into the winter, long after its leaves
have changed to a brilliant crimson and fallen. As mentioned,
red chokeberries do well as mass plantings and hedgerows, but
also look great planted amongst larger trees with contrasting
features, such as evergreens. Chokeberries thrive in full sun
or partial shade with acidic soils. They can tolerate wet or
dry soils, but dislike highly alkaline soils. Cutting back old
shoots on established plants and allowing root suckers to grow
encourages regeneration and allows the plants to really fill in.
Pruning should be done in late winter to achieve the desired
shape. The cultivar ‘Brilliantissma’ is recommended for its more
compact form and larger, glossier fruits. ‘Brilliantisma’ grows to
a height of 6-8 feet and a spread of 3-5 feet.
The Invasive
Ligustrum vulgare (European Privet)
In the horticultural realm, privets are grown almost
exclusively as hedges. When pruned, these fast-growing
shrubs from the Olive family remain dense and bushy. Their
small, ovate leaves conceal the effects of the pruning and fill
in gaps. Root suckers often form and help to further fill out
the hedge. Due to these habits, privets seem almost
pre-destined to become “the world’s most perfect hedge
plant,” aside from one major flaw: they are invasive in
eastern and midwestern North America. Their shiny,
blue-black berries are dispersed by birds and other animals,
allowing the shrub to invade new areas. Privet is not picky
about were it grows, tolerating a variety of light and soil
conditions. In Ohio, you can see privet invading old fields,
bottomland forests, roadsides, and even closed canopy
forests. Once established, privets form dense, thickets that
shade out smaller, native plants. Their leaves, which unfurl
earlier than the leaves of native plants, are poisonous to
wildlife, which protects the plant from herbivores giving it a
competitive advantage over native plants.
A young chokebeery shrub. Regular pruning will give the shrub a dense, compact form. Jackie Klisuric
Cornus racemosa (Gray dogwood)
Formal privet hedges along Etchingham Park Road in London. Martin Addison, geograph.org.uk
12
While stunning flowering dogwood and red-stemmed red osier dogwood often steal
the show throughout the year, there is a quiet beauty to gray dogwood that is not to
be overlooked. Hardy to Zone 3, this 10-15 foot tall shrub bears attractive, oval-shaped
leaves and forms domed clusters of small, white flowers. Flowers give way to pearly white
berries perched atop bright red stalks, creating a striking contrast especially against
the backdrop of green leaves, which change to a deep red – almost burgundy – in the
fall. Gray dogwood does well on its own or planted in groups as in a hedge. Plant it in
average to rich soils, in full sun or partial shade.
Once established, gray dogwood is one of the
most adaptable plants around, handling a wide
range of moisture regimes, from droughts to
intermittent sogginess. Gray dogwood also
tends to send up suckers and easily regenerates
after old clumps have been cut. ‘Huron’ gray
dogwood, a Lake County Nursery introduction, is
a recommended cultivar for its dense, compact
round form, which works great as a small hedge.
‘Huron’ can grow to a height of 6-8 feet with a
6-8 foot spread.
Check out Holden’s horticultural bulletin on hedge pruning online at
http://www.holdenarb.org/resources/horticulture-bulletins.asp.
‘Huron’ gray dogwood has a compact,
globe-shaped form. Lake County Nursery
Winter 2012-13
Leaves
The red panicles remain
on the bush long after the
white berries and foliage
have gone fotopedia.com
European privet bush in flower. Leslie Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut
Red chokeberry flowers Wikimedia Commons
13
staff news
Holden Creates Education and Public Programs Department
Paul Spector has been named
director of the newly formed
Education and Public Programs
department, which brings
together Holden’s education,
guest services and
communications teams from
what had been two separate
departments – Education and
Information Services, and
Guest Relations and
Communications.
The merging of the two departments will enable Holden
to continue to improve the ways Holden engages its many
audiences, said Clem Hamilton, president and CEO. It
also provides the newly formed department with veteran
leadership. Spector first joined the Holden staff in 1977.
“We are fortunate to have a leader of Paul Spector’s caliber
to take the helm,” Hamilton said. “Paul combines over thirty
years’ knowledge of Holden and its stakeholders with a
track record of initiating and leading the execution of many
projects whose recent examples include renovating the
Warren Corning Library, repurposing the sugarbush into
classroom space for school programs, expanding the scope
and mission relevance of our adult education programs,
hosting the Vanishing Acts exhibit, and expanding Buckeye
Bud’s Adventure Woods for kids and families. His expanded
team already is hitting the ground running.”
The newly created department will include the customer
relations staff at the Corning Visitor Center, which includes
the special events, private events and front desk staff;
Holden’s education staff, which focuses on programming
for both school children and the general public; and the
communications staff, which produces both printed and
electronic publications.
David Desimone has resigned as director of guest relations
and communications after nine outstanding years,
prompting the reorganization.
“It is sad to see Dave stepping down as director of guest
relations and communications, having led and initiated
so many fine achievements and improvements in the past
nine years, and I am grateful he is staying with us for at
least a while to lead our public relations and marketing
preparation for our big 2013 garden openings,” Hamilton
said. “Whenever we think of trains, gnomes, and Holden’s
ever improving visitor facilities, media presence, and
services for Holden’s guests – both in-person and online
– we have Dave to thank. I especially appreciate his
effectiveness as a spokesperson for Holden.”
Spector joined the staff of The Holden Arboretum in
1977 as an environmental educator, becoming director
of education in 1978. A graduate of Cornell University,
he earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental
conservation.
Desimone joined the Holden staff in 2003 after serving
as director of visitor services at the Cleveland Botanical
Garden and director of guest services at Stan Hywet Hall
and Gardens in Akron.
New Chair of the Research Department
David Burke, PhD, has been
promoted to chairman of
Holden’s research department.
The move marks a shift to a
more academic model of
leadership for the department,
said Clement Hamilton,
president and CEO, in making
the announcement.
“With David’s outstanding
research, work on behalf
of Holden as a whole, and
valuable pre-Holden career experience, he surely will
make a positive difference in the efficient and timely
management of our research program,” Hamilton said.
Burke joined the staff of The Holden Arboretum in
2006 as a rhizosphere biologist and in conjunction with
Holden scientist Kurt Smemo, earned a National Science
Foundation grant to study the role soil organisms play in
acquiring limiting nutrients from the soil for forest trees.
Holden is partnering with Jared DeForest, an assistant
professor in Environmental and Plant biology Department
at Ohio University on the study.
Three Holden Employees Promoted
Kristie Hawley was named
manager of guest relations,
taking over the day to day
operations of the Warren H.
Corning Visitor Center.
Hawley joined the Holden
staff in 2006 as assistant
manager of guest relations.
She also oversaw the
transition of the Holden
Museum Store into the
Treehouse Gift Shop, which has met sales goals under her
leadership. She also manages Holden’s popular holiday
sale Gifts from the Heart of Nature, working with
regional artists to offer unique items inspired by the
beauty of nature.
Julie Dougherty was
promoted to the position of
assistant manager of guest
relations. In addition to
working with Hawley to
oversee the smooth operation
of the Corning Visitor Center,
she will serve as Holden’s
liaison with the Geauga
Humane Society’s popular
Woofstock event, held at
Holden each September. She
also leads the Hiking Holden Habitats: Me and My Dog,
and Potluck with Your Pooch hikes. Her new role will also
include coordinating exhibits at the Corning Visitor Center.
Dougherty joined the guest relations staff as guest
relations specialist. Prior to her work at Holden she
served as an elementary school teacher for 12 years and
a principal for 10 years.
She started as a seasonal working in May 2007 before
serving a two-year internship with Holden’s Education
Department, starting in October of that year. In 2009,
“Kristie has demonstrated an ability to not only manage
the day to day activities of the front desk as well as the
staff, but she has continually run the Treehouse store as a
revenue generating resource for The Holden Arboretum,”
said Paul Spector, director of education and public
programs.
Prior to joining the Holden staff she was in retail
management for both the Gap, Inc. and American Eagle
Outfitters. She lives in Concord Township with her
husband and three children.
“In addition to her customer relations experience, Julie
brings strong leadership skills from her past experience
as a school principal,” said Paul Spector, director of
education and public programs. “Her two years as an
intern with Holden’s education department make her a
valuable resource for guests with questions about the
grounds, plants and wildlife. She helps enhance the
visitor experience each day.”
In addition to her work at Holden, she is president of the
board of the Blackbrook Audubon Society. She enjoys
gardening, hiking and reading books, as well as spending
time with her dog, Tucker and cat, Dakota.
New Leadership for Holden’s Development Team
14
Sedam joined the staff in
February 2010 as director of
leadership giving, focusing
on securing philanthropic
support for Holden’s programs,
facilities and long-term
financial vitality.
“Over the past year, Steve has focused his fundraising
leadership primarily on our New Leaf campaign, and our
gratifying success reflects his dedication and creativity,”
said Clem Hamilton, president and CEO. “Holden benefits
considerably from having a chief fundraiser with such a
deep level of knowledge of our subject matter, which makes
him a particularly effective advocate for us. Steve led the
team that put on this summer’s annual Woodland Twilight
benefit, which achieved unprecedented financial success.”
Prior to joining the Holden staff, he held leadership positions
at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Ohio Environmental
Council, the National Audubon Society and the Cuyahoga
Valley National Park Association.
Tony Piotrowski has been
named a full-time member of
The Holden Arboretum Police
Department. In addition to
normal law enforcement
duties and safety and security
concerns, Piotrowski also
works with Holden’s
conservation department to
manage deer on the 3,600
acre property.
He first joined the Holden
department as a part-time officer in 2007 and has also
served as a member of the Cleveland Heights Police
Department for four years. He was the logical choice to
fill the full-time position in the Holden Police Department,
said Chief David Frank, citing his work with the deer
management program as well as his experience, training
and work with other area police agencies.
“He’s always willing to kick in and help, always willing to
take on a new project,” Frank said. Piotrowski earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice
at Baldwin Wallace College and also studied business
administration at Cleveland State University. He is a
resident of Thompson Township in Geauga County.
Winter 2012-13
Leaves
Stephen Sedam was named
senior director of development.
In his new role, he oversees
Holden’s development team
and fundraising efforts.
15
staff news
Four new employees join the staff in 2012
Marianna Dostal joined the staff
as Holden’s database coordinator
with the Development
Department, managing the
database of Holden’s members
and donors. She comes to Holden
with many years of experience
working with donor databases of
other non-profits in the area and
most recently served as an
examiner with the Office of the Cuyahoga County Treasurer
where she handled the EasyPay escrow program.
Pattie Glavac joined the Holden
staff in June as the new private
events facilities coordinator. In her
new role, she will be overseeing
weddings, corporate events and
private parties at both the
Corning Visitor Center and
Lantern Court. In addition she will
be marketing The Holden
Arboretum as a premier
destination venue in Lake County.
Although a new member of the Holden staff, Glavac will be
a familiar face to members who have attended events in the
past. She started volunteering at Holden in 2003 and was
named Holden’s Volunteer of the Year in 2008 for her 175
hours of service as well as the infectious enthusiasm she
brought to the tasks she was assigned.
Brian Schoch joined staff as a
part-time member of The Holden
Arboretum Police Department
where he will be helping to
ensure the safety and security of
Holden’s guests. He is also
commissioned as a police officer
for the Cleveland Metropolitan
Housing Authority.
Schoch has been practicing karate for 22 years, is a fourthdegree blackbelt in Kenpo and teaches martial arts to adults
and children. A resident of Berea, he enjoys spending time
with his 13-year-old daughter and 18-year-old stepson.
Jing Wang, Holden’s new
research specialist, assists Steve
Krebs, director of the David G.
Leach Research Station in handson maintenance and evaluation
of Rhododendron breeding
populations and display gardens
during the growing season –
April thought November – at
Holden’s 30-acre satellite site in
Madison, Ohio. During the winter
months, she works at Holden’s
Horticultural Science Center in Kirtland. Her responsibilities
include plant and garden maintenance, data collection and
A graduate of Cleveland State University, she earned her
master’s in public administration. When she is not at Holden,
she enjoys knitting, spinning and gardening. She lives in
Lakewood with her husband Jesse. She said she thinks
Holden is the most beautiful place anyone can work at in
Northeast Ohio, something she points out to her friends by
sending them photos.
She graduated from Kent State University with a BBA at the
age of 30 as a single mother. She resides in Kirtland Hills
with her husband Bill and her dog Dakota who they adopted
from a school for the blind. She enjoys reading, meeting new
friends and traveling to beach destinations.
Leaves
Two assistant professors of biology at Case Western Reserve
University (CWRU) – Jean Burns, PhD; and Michael Benard,
PhD – also have been appointed adjunct scientists at Holden.
At CWRU, Burns primarily studies how phylogenetic
history, dispersal ecology, and population demography
interact to influence species distributions and community
assembly. “Biological invasions occur when species spread
rapidly outside of their native range. Our work seeks
to understand what makes some introduced species
invasive, when other introduced species fail to invade,”
she said. “In addition, biological invasions can be used
as a model system to understand community assembly.
Understanding the mechanisms influencing community
Benard investigates how species respond to changing
environments, combining laboratory and field studies
with ecological modeling to predict how environmental
change is expected to influence extinction risk.
The research in his lab focuses on wood frogs and
ambystomatid salamanders. “These amphibians have
complex life cycles, in which they spend several months
as larvae in ephemeral wetlands, and then metamorphose
into terrestrial adults that inhabit forests. Thus, these
amphibians are vulnerable to disturbances to both the
aquatic and terrestrial components of their life cycles,”
he said. As part of his research on these problems,
Benard has sampled wetlands throughout Northeast
Ohio, including wetlands at The Holden Arboretum. These
surveys allow Benard to test for environmental factors
that may cause amphibian declines and ultimately develop
general techniques that can be applied to conservation
plans for a wide range of animal and plant species.
Carya ovata (cont. from page 8)
In early to mid May, the buds burst and the unfolding
new leaves combined with the expanding inner bud
scales are quite striking. During the growing season, the
leaves are often inhabited by gall-forming insects and
by summer the foliage has lots of character. In October
the leaves turn a warm yellowish-brown. There is a red
hickory (Carya ovalis) in the Nut Tree Collection that
has displayed golden yellow fall color. However, I have
never witnessed the “bright yellow” fall foliage, which
has rarely been seen, yet is sometimes reported in the
literature for shagbark hickory.
The inconspicuous wind-pollinated flowers are greenishyellow, with catkins releasing their pollen in late May.
These trees have both the male and female flowers on
the same tree, but are generally self-infertile, requiring
others for cross-pollination and production of nuts.
analysis in the field, greenhouse and laboratory, extensive
record-keeping, and database management of plant
collections and populations.
One closely related species that is similar in appearance
is Carya laciniosa, shellbark hickory, which has
compound leaves usually composed of seven to nine
leaflets compared to the five leaflets commonly found
on Carya ovata, shagbark hickory. Shagbark hickory is
an upland species that is relatively uncommon in our
woods. Shellbark hickory typically inhabits flood plains,
but is not present in Holden’s natural areas although it
is present in our region, most notably the Grand River
terraces of Ashtabula County.
Although new to her current position, Wang’s connection
to Holden dates back to 1997 when she served a one-year
internship with the Horticulture Department, focusing on
learning to use the plant record-keeping programs BG-Base
and BG-Map.
A native of China, she attended Beijing Agricultural
University, now China Agricultural University, earning her
bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1990 and her master’s
in agriculture in 1993. She now lives in Willoughby with her
husband Ethan and son.
The arrangement she created for the magazine included
Solidago juncea (early goldenrod), Solidago flexicaulis
(zigzag goldenrod), Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower),
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) leaves, Onoclea
sensiblilis (sensitive fern), Chasmanthium latifolium (northern
sea oats), Aster patens (late purple aster), Gentiana clausa
(bottle gentian) and Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susans).
assembly is of increasing importance, as factors such as
global climate change, biological invasions, and species
range shifts threaten to alter species assemblages.”
Shagbark hickory nuts are edible but hard to crack and
are sometimes wormy. Never the less, they are jealously
guarded by Holden’s squirrels. When I was admiring the
nuts on the shagbark in the hedge garden a chipmunk
glared at me as if to say “these are mine, move along,
Bub”. Don’t take any chances under a shagbark where
a squirrel is harvesting nuts as some of them may be
accidentally dropped in your direction. Volunteer Ron
Kish informs me that the green or soaked husks of the
nuts are just as useful as the wood is for imparting flavor
to barbecued meats by adding them to your charcoal.
Shagbark hickory develops a tap root. At Holden, when
the Nut Tree Collection was being planted in Baldwin
Acres, mortality of balled and burlapped specimens
was high. Currently, containers specially designed to air
prune the tap root are employed by nurseries with much
better results.
Landscape use of shagbark hickory is restricted to large
properties, well away from structures, seating areas,
sidewalks and driveways. This marvelous tree has high
wildlife value and an abundance of character.
Winter 2012-13
16
examples include projects examining microbial and tree
diversity near ecosystem edges, how tree roots respond
to soil and aboveground tree adaptations, and the groups
of fungi on decomposing leaves.” This is important,
Blackwood said, both so that we can predict how species
respond to a changing world, and because different
species do not affect the ecosystem the same way.
He said he enjoys the outdoors and meeting people from
surrounding communities who stop in to escape from their
everyday problems and relax at Holden.
Holden Horticulturist Featured in Early American Life magazine
The work of Holden horticulturist
Ann Rzepka Budziak was
featured in the October issue of
Early American Life. Budziak
created a bouquet of native
flowers, seed-heads and foliage
to illustrate the types of
arrangements that might have
decorated homes in 17th
century New England.
Holden Appoints Adjunct Researchers (cont. from page 11)
17
Research News and Highlights
Highlights
Flood-Proof Rhododendrons
During the 2011 growing season at the David G.
Leach Research Station, a field trial containing 24
rhododendron cultivars, species, and experimental
hybrids was repeatedly flooded to test for resistance
to Phytophthora root rot under stress conditions. The
original intent was to control flooding by pumping
water into the site. However, Mother Nature took over
the treatment plan that season and deposited a record
amount of rainfall, making it an extreme water stress
test. By the end of the season many test plants had died
or were severely diseased, which is not surprising given
the fact that most rhododendrons are susceptible to root
rot caused by the soil fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi
and that wet conditions increase disease pressure from
the pathogen. Notably, however, a group of genetically
related plants survived the flooding trial with only
mild damage to their root systems. Rhododendron
hyperythrum, a resistant species from Taiwan, was
the most resistant plant under flooding conditions,
and eight first generation (F1) hybrids derived from R.
hyperythrum also performed well. In contrast, a group
of ‘benchmark’ cultivars known to be resistant under
non-flooding conditions, but lacking R. hyperythrum in
their genetic backgrounds, exhibited extensive root rot
damage or mortality after repeat flooding.
Abiotic stresses such as extremes of temperature and
moisture are known to weaken plant defense systems
and ‘predispose’ them to diseases caused by microbial
pathogens. From the results of the flooding trial we
hypothesize that R. hyperythrum is less predisposed to
root rot than other resistant genotypes with different
genetic backgrounds (the benchmarks). While the basis
for this difference in stress response is not currently
known, it appears to be genetically conferred, heritable
in the F1 generation, and represents a valuable trait
for root rot resistance breeding. The R. hyperythrumbased rhododendrons that are being developed at the
Leach Station may tolerate ‘wet feet’, a common and
fatal condition that promotes disease in poorly drained
soils. Even so, the Leach Research Station staff would
still recommend against planting them next to the
downspout, unless you like challenges.
These findings were presented by Steve Krebs at the
Second International Society for Horticultural Science
(ISHS) Symposium on Woody Ornamentals of the
Temperate Zone in Ghent, Belgium, in July 2012. A
subsequent article has accepted for publication in Acta
Horticulturae, a journal published by ISHS: “Resistance
to Phytophthora root rot varies among rhododendrons
subjected to repeat flooding in the field.”
News
Holden Scientists Attend
International Meetings
in October
Holden scientists David Burke, Charlotte
Hewins, Sarah Kyker and Kurt Smemo
attended the Fourth International
EcoSummit in Columbus Ohio, Oct. 1-5,
where they presented the first two years
of results from their long-term research
plots examining the effects of soil
acidity on forest health. The EcoSummit
meeting brought together ecologists
from around the world and delegates
from 75 countries to discuss practices
for restoring our planet’s ecosystem and
achieving sustainability world-wide.
Later in the month, Kyker gave a
presentation at the Soil Science Society
of America meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio,
which was held Oct. 21-24, 2012. The
presentation, which included Burke,
Hewins and Smemo as co-authors,
summarized data on how mycorrhizal
fungi help maple trees overcome
phosphorus limitation in Holden’s
natural areas.
Holden Volunteers Celebrate a Bright Year
(cont. from page 10)
kids. She is always looking for ways to improve something and
deliver it to the best of her ability. She is resourceful and has a
great sense of humor.” Peg Weir, special events manager, also noted
this resourcefulness in Pae’s engagement of her parents and fellow
volunteers Carol and Roger Pae in her efforts, two individuals who
themselves have supported Holden for many years.
Surprised by the accolades, Pae was uncharacteristically speechless
as she accepted the award. Volunteer Coordinator Robin Ott closed
the program with an expression of gratitude to Holden’s volunteers
on behalf of its board, staff, members and guests, “Thank you for
all that you’ve done to brighten our lives. Without your help, Holden
would surely not be nearly as colorful.”
shorts
16th Annual
Members Photo Exhibit
Holden Hosts Doctoral Candidate, Post-Doctoral Researcher
18
Her dissertation research investigates cutaneous
immunological defenses of amphibians including symbiotic
microbial communities and anti-microbial peptides (AMPS)
secreted from amphibian skin. She is interested in the
heritability of pathogen resistance and how anthropogenic
changes in the environment may affect these defenses as
well as the trait expression. Her studies look at the effects
of urbanization and larval habitat acidification on chytrid
resistant AMP production in northern cricket frogs and
bullfrogs. As a founding board member of Las Gralarias
Foundation (LGF), Krynak aims to use her research to
aid in the protection of cloud forest amphibians of the
Ecuadorian Andes.
Also joining the team at Holden’s Horticulture Science
Center is Sheryl Petersen, who was most recently a visiting
instructor in the Department of Biology at Wooster College
where she taught courses in ecology, conservation biology,
and restoration ecology. She received a B.A. from Hiram
College, master’s degree in biology from CWRU and her
doctorate in biology from CWRU. Her research focuses on
the role disturbance (e.g., fire, herbivory, and wind-throw)
plays in shaping plant communities. She is particularly
interested in how human alterations of disturbance
regime characteristics (such as intensity, seasonal timing,
frequency, and extent) affect plant community dynamics
and how understanding these effects can help provide a
scientific basis for restoration. Prior to pursuing ecology,
she held a position as a research assistant in pathology
with a focus on pediatric infectious diseases. She has
been published in journals such as Ecoscience, Forest
Ecology and Management, The Journal of Immunology,
The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society and Vaccine.
She is a member of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science, Ecological Society of America,
Natural Areas Association, and Ohio Biological Survey, Inc.
Sheryl Petersen
Holden’s post-doctoral research
associate, Sheryl Petersen, attended
the Fourth Annual Argonne Soil
Metagenomics Meeting at the Argonne
National Laboratory in Chicago, Ill.,
which was held Oct. 3-5, 2012. At this
meeting, Petersen attended several
workshops where she learned about
the recent advances in next generation
sequencing and how the current
technology can be applied to data sets
that were previously collected from
forest soils here at Holden, as well as
from other forested areas in Ohio.
People’s Choice
President’s Choice
President’s Choice
People’s Choice
Junior - Caitlin Slusarski
Junior - Caitlin Slusarski
Adult - Bruce Orr
Adult - Steve Levitan
Winter 2012-13
Leaves
A new doctoral candidate and
a post-doctoral researcher are
now working with the staff of
Holden’s Research Department.
Katherine Krynak is a doctoral
candidate at Case Western
Reserve University (CWRU)
working with Mike Benard,
PhD, CWRU assistant professor
of biology; and David Burke,
Katherine Krynak
PhD, chairman of Holden’s
Research Department. Her research investigates the
cutaneous immunological defenses of amphibians against
the newly emergent disease including the fungal pathogen,
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Also known as amphibian
chytrid, this pathogen is responsible for many amphibian
extinctions across the globe. After personally witnessing the
extinction of the Panamanian Golden Frog, Atelopus zeteki,
in the wild due to this widely introduced pathogen, her goal
is to determine if amphibians can be selectively bred in
captivity for resistance.
19
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Malus ‘Silver Moon’ (Silver Moon Crabapple) in the Conifer Collection
Jackie klisuric