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March 25, 2011
Snowdrops bloom in the Hosta Glade. Thanks, Christopher Hall, for this photo, posted this week on the Arboretum Facebook page .
What a week! Spring officially arrived Sunday evening as the Snowdrops were peeking through the snow in the Hosta Glade, and crocus, iris and tulips were beginning to pop up throughout the Arboretum. Then along came Wednesday, and-bam!-another snowstorm. Welcome to March in Minnesota! If you're feeling a bit like winter will never leave, come on out to the Arboretum: We are definitely swinging into spring.Sugarbush Pancake BrunchJoin us Saturday and Sunday this weekend for the 25th annual Sugarbush Pancake Brunch and fifth annual Maple Syrup Tours. After tapping 200 maple trees, we'll pause this weekend and share the sights, tastes and pleasures of maple-syruping at the Arb. The pancake brunch takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the MacMillan Auditorium. We'll serve Arboretum-made maple syrup, pancakes with butter and pecans and sausage links. (Tickets: $9 for Arboretum members ages 8 and older, $11.50 for non-members ages 8 and older, $6 for ages 4-7 and free for ages 3 and under. Purchase tickets at the Oswald Visitor Center during the event.) While here for brunch, take a self-guided tour of the Arboretum maple-syruping process. Tours run continuously 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. both days. (By the way: More than 1,400 students in grades 1-6 will visit us during the short maple season to learn about the history of maple syrup, tap a tree, and taste the syrup we make here. It's a great way to mark spring.)
Weekend Family FunThis weekend, learn all about seeds and sprouts at Weekend Family Fun: Sprouts Alive, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Marion Andrus Learning Center.
By Peter Moe, director of operationsAnother sign of spring: The Arboretum Research Maintenance crews have been pruning trees in the apple-breeding project orchards since December and hope to finish by early April. Another crew has been pruning grapevines in the grape-breeding project vineyards since Feb. 1 and hope to finish by early April as well. The ideal time to prune fruit trees and vines is right now, but we have 40 acres of apple trees and 10 acres of vineyard so need to start pruning earlier in the winter.Pruning fruit trees and grapevines is essential for producing larger fruits with good color, flavor and texture. Unpruned trees and vines will produce large numbers of smaller, poor-quality fruits.
Pruning apple trees involves removing upright and overlapping branches so that each branch has its own space and is exposed to good sunlight, which increases color and sugar content of the fruit. Grapes produce fruit on canes that grew last summer. Pruning involves both removing and shortening canes so that a smaller number of fruit clusters will be present and they will develop optimum quality for fresh eating or making wine.Some serious diseases of fruit crops can be spread if plants are pruned during the growing season. Late winter and early spring before plants start growing and while temperatures remain below 50 degrees is the ideal time for pruning.
Arboretum members: Mark your calendars! Double Discount Days return April 8-17. Members receive a 20-percent discount on all purchases in the Gift Store. Please bring your membership card for quick verification of eligibility for discount.
Come to Class!Summer camp: It's prime time to sign up the kids for summer day camps at the Arboretum. Check out our great offerings by clicking here. Dinner With a Chef: April 7: The Indian Kitchen: Salads & Side Dishes with Chef Raghavan Iyer. 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 9: People, Plants, and...Food with Chef Jenny Breen. Lecture-style class. Saturday, April 9, 10:30 a.m.-noon. (Members, no charge for the April 9 class. Call Membership 952-443-1440 to register.) For more information and to sign up for cooking classes, cllick here.
Saturdays in the Kitchen: Join us April 2 and 9 for Veggies Make History: What Lewis and Clark Had for Dinner, 9-11 a.m. $60/$70 for two sessions. For more information and to sign up, click here.
Make plans for the 2011 Plant Information Fair, "Plantcetera: Get the Dirt on Growing," set for Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.This is a full-day educational event featuring plant societies, garden clubs, and horticulture educators. Browse information and display tables, ask gardening questions, and attend seminars throughout the day. For a list of participants and schedule of demonstrations, click here.
Do you know any great people who would like to spend more time at the Arb? We're looking for some top-notch seasonal talent to work in catering (set up and prepare buffets for events). Previous food service/catering and customer service experience desired. Scheduling flexibility is strongly encouraged. Must be 16 years or older. For catering service, must be 18 years or older. Contact: Holly Payne, Human Resources Manager, University of Minnesota, Dining Services. Phone: (612) 626-8383 or email: payne189@umn.edu.
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