PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM RECEIVES NEW FUNDING

Pine Hollow Arboretum is pleased to announce the receipt of two grants, totaling $13,300, from the Bender Family Fund and the Bender Scientific Fund, both of which are managed by the Community Foundation For The Capital Region.

Both the Bender grants will support the arboretum's core mission, which is:

1) to deliver innovative educational programming for adults and students of all ages, in the Town of Bethlehem as well as the greater Capital Region and beyond; and

2) to carry out field based science research, primarily with students, that documents and tracks specific features of the arboretum, both large and small - ranging from individual tree specimens, to soil and pond PH, to ever changing animal, plant and insect life.

"We want to thank the Community Foundation, and especially the Bender Family, for generously providing Pine Hollow our first two grants," says Dr. John Abbuhl, Founder and President of the Pine Hollow Arboretum Board. "Our Board of Directors has worked very hard in the first few years of our organization's existence to lay a strong community based presence from which we can now, thanks to this funding, begin to develop and deliver a wide range of educational programs that revolve around the beauty and majesty of our trees."
The Bender Family released this statement:

“The Trustees are delighted to help “jumpstart” the Community Education Resource Center at the Pine Hill Arboretum. “The important collaboration with Bethlehem Central School District’s Science Education Program will bring hands-on learning to many students across the Capital District in a unique “community” classroom.”

Finally, PHA Board Member, and Bethlehem Central Middle School Principal, Mike Klugman is the Principal Investigator for the Bender Scientific grant:

“PHA provides the Bethlehem community with an invaluable educational and ecological resource and the aim and endeavor of this grant is to enlighten our community on both fronts.

ART SHOW AND SALE OPENS SEPT 17+18

Opening of an Art Show and Sale on Sept 17 + Sept 18 at the Arboretum. This is an amazing exhibit by 25 Local artists who are sharing their interpretation of nature using the Arboretum and elsewhere. The enthusiasm of the artists as they have created their images is contagious! There were no rules,no judges, just for fun! We are so lucky to be able show you such talent! The exhibit will be open every weekend at the Visitors Center (hours 10 AM to 4 PM )for you to enjoy until Oct. 16th. Come see the art, enjoy light refreshments, and if the weather improves enjoy the Arboretum itself with a tour by Dr. Abbuhl on Sat Sept 17 at 1PM We will be happy to welcome people at other times by appointment. call 439-6472

TREES IN OTHER MEDIUMS

These are very exciting times for Pine Hollow and it seems that everybody is talking about trees these days!

For those fans of PHA who are reading this blog, we are providing links to two recent and excellent shows broadcast on public radio. You can stream these over your computer, or download them on to an MP3 player and podcast while driving, walking or exercising!
OnPoint With Tom Ashbrook originates at WBUR in Boston. A recent show featured the author Richard Horan, who wrote a book called Seeds - Trees That Inspired America's Literary Greats. Horan lives and teaches in upstate NY. As described in the show the author has made arrangements with Brian Sayers, who is President of New York State Arborists, to grow trees from the seeds gathered at or around the homes of important American writers. The "offspring" will eventually be sold to support public education and research activities similar to what we are doing at the Pine Hollow Arboretum.

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2011/04/25/trees-literary

Philadelphia is a very important city in the history of public horticulture in the United States. WHYY, a public radio station based in that city, recently aired a show, on Radio Times, titled Planting And Protecting Trees. This show featured several important arborists and horticulturists, including Paul Meyer, director of the Morris Arboretum at The University of Pennsylvania and Drew Becher, President of the Pennsylvania Society.

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2011/09/06/13055/

If you do check out these shows, please post your reaction at our blog. Also, please send us any links to "Tree Talk" that you think friends and supporters of Pine Hollow might enjoy and learn from!

Paul Winkeller, PHA Board Member

Duo Marchand Concert

Proceeds from this concert will be given to area flood
and hurricaine relief organizations

POETRY AT THE ARBORETUM 2011

POETRY AT THE ARBORETUM

Friday August 12 , 2011 at 7:00 pm
Pine Hollow Arboretum, 16 Maple Avenue,
Slingerlands, NY

Featuring Poets: Carol Graser, Marion Menna,
John Abbuhl, Therese Broderick, Virginia Acquario, Howard Kogan, Alan Casline, Dennis Sullivan,
Obeeduid, Ron Pavoldi, Mimi Moriarty, Tom Corrado
Catherine Connolly, Jim Williams, Mike Burke

Musical Interludes by Jim Williams

Arboretum Tour at 6:00 pm

A display and book sale of many of the reading poets will also be a feature of the event

For more information phone: (518) 439-6472

FIR TOUR

Douglas Fir Tree at Pine Hollow Arboretum (fir on left side of photo)

Fir is derived from the Old English furth or fyrh or the Danish fyrr, meaning "fire", from its use as firewood. The fir at Pine Hollow Arboretum never have to face that fate. Either standing upright for a full thousand year growth or fallen to serve as planting site and nutrients for other growth, the Pine Hollow fir are all granted the natural forest cycle. John Abbuhl pointed out the success of his efforts to create natural conditions and self-seeding trees. The fir tour started near the Enterance Trail, climbed Japaneses Hill, then went by Russian Pond and all along the Fir trail with a brief swing to see speciments near Greenhouse Pond. Of the 46 species of fir tree in the world, we have over 30 different species growing at Pine Hollow Arboretum. We learned to look for upright or downward growing cones, the ridges and nubs of fir needles as well as how soft or sharp the needles might be. It was interesting to observe the deer feeding signs so high up the trunks of young fir due to the tall snow cover of last winter. Fortunately, John told us the trees are not significantly damaged. Some of the trees were so small still that we couldn't see them yet as they are covered with undergrowth. Perhaps by next year they will be tall enough to add to a very enjoyable FIR TOUR.

Note the upward pointing cones. Fir cones point up.

John Abbuhl with magnifier shows needle characteristics

Group examines another different fir

Pine Hollow Fir Tour on the Fir Trail

A tour of Fir Trees on July 31

There will be a tour at the Arboretum on Sunday July 31, 2011, starting at 1 PM. This will be a chance to learn about the collection of Fir trees and some of their special characteristics. This is a favorite topic of John Abbuhl (the founder) and should be a fun and interesting walk. Other subjects may be included as requested and as time allows. All ages are welcome. The post previous to this is a good introduction...