American Conifer Society

Description of Norfolk Botanical Garden

The Norfolk Botanical Garden has grown from humble beginnings as a Work Progress Administration project to a 155-acre garden filled with thousands of plants. There are more than forty themed gardens spread across the site. Some gardens focus on a single plant (camellias, hydrangeas, roses), others look at a plant from a specific region (Japan, Virginia), while others provide homeowners with great ideas and or new plants to use in their own garden. The garden has over 12 miles of paved trails and 250,000 visitors annually. NBG mission is to enrich life by promoting the enjoyment of plants and the environment through beautiful gardens and education programs.

The permanent plant collections consist of six primary collections and several other noteworthy collections. These primary collections are Camellia, Crepe Myrtle, Hydrangea, Holly, Rhododendron and Rose. Our Camellia and Hydrangea collection are certified by North American Plant Collection Consortium (NAPCC). Other noteworthy collections include Begonias, Conifers, Iris, Magnolia and Viburnum.

The Norfolk Botanical Garden conifer collection features 28 different conifer genera and 70 species. The conifer garden features 46 different species in 21 different genera. The Norfolk Botanical Garden has many large Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) on the property including the state champion. The R.W. Cross Nature Trail in the Virginia Native Plant Garden features a boardwalk that winds through a bottomland hardwood forest, a bald cypress /water tupelo swamp, an Atlantic white cedar swamp, and a longleaf pine stand. In addition, Loblolly Pine is one of NBG’s dominant canopy species.

Text and photos by Dan Luscombe and Chris Reynolds

In 2008 Chris Reynolds, Curator of the Bedgebury National Pinetum in Kent, and Dan Luscombe, Assistant Curator, traveled to Vietnam as part of Fauna and Flora International’s Global Trees Campaign, which works to save threatened trees from extinction.¹ Bedgebury is the world’s leading conifer collection, managed by the Forestry Commission. The task of Dan and Chris was to offer advice and expertise to the Centre for Plant Conservation (CPC) in Hanoi on measures to conserve five rare and highly endangered conifer species, all of which have been seriously affected by logging, habitat loss, and are likely to be further threatened by climate change.

Text and Photos by Leesa Comarin

When we brought Max home, he was a squirming, eager, inquisitive 12-week-old and 12-pound bundle of energy with big brown eyes. He was intended to become my best and most faithful running buddy and companion. But he and his subsequent rescue friends, Ranger, Cooper, and Rio, besides being my trail running compatriots, have become ace garden guard dogs.

But to back up a bit, I originally gardened in a nice suburban area where I was definitely a pacifist. I believed in live-and-let-live with all fellow creatures and even delighted (can you imagine) in the occasional rare deer sighting. When my husband and I found our dream property in the country. I intended to have it be not only my new garden, but also a form of wildlife sanctuary.

In a letter to lawn care professionals, Michael McDermott, Global Business Leader for DuPont Professional Products, said, “Based on our ongoing review, we have observed tree injuries associated with Imprelis primarily on Norway spruce and white pine trees.”

2011 ACS SCHOLARSHIP

The American Conifer Society is pleased to announce that it is offering a $2500 ACS Scholarship for 2011. Our scholarship continues to attract highly qualified individuals.

Jared Barnes, our 2010 recipient, used part of his scholarship to go with the North Carolina State University Horticulture Club’s (NCSU), 2010 international trip to visit the gardens of Southern England. He is continuing his doctorate in Horticulture and is using the remainder of his scholarship for school supplies. Jared’s Conifer Quarterly article, “A Sapling’s Discoveries in Southern England” appeared in the Fall Issue of 2010.

Our 2009 recipient was Marlyse Duguid. Marylse started her education as a Biology Major at the University of Connecticut. She changed her major to Horticulture after taking a class in Dendrology and graduated in 1999. Marlyse then worked for a major retail nursery for nine years and served that establishment in several capacities. She returned to school the fall of 2008 to pursue a Masters Degree in Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry. She currently has memberships in the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association, the NE Organic Farmers Association, The Society of American Foresters and the North American Rock Garden Society.

Marlyse developed her passion for plants while working in the green trade. She especially became fond of high mountain alpines, rare Rhododendrons, and dwarf conifers.

An unusual opportunity for ACS Scholarship recipients is to have their experience published in the Conifer Quarterly (CQ), a highly regarded publication with international exposure. We can look forward to Marylse’s Scholarship Article in the 2010 Winter or Spring Issue of the Conifer Quarterly.

The ACS Scholarship was established in 2005. Kevin Stevens received $1000.00 in 2006 to help meet his expenses to travel to Kyoto, Japan and attend a 6 week Garden Seminar.

Andrew Pulte, a Masters Thesis Candidate at the University of Tennessee, received $1000.00 to cover his travel and lodging to attend the ACS 2007 National in Seattle. His story appeared in the 2009 winter issue of the CQ.

Ryan Contereras (PhD Candidate at the University of Georgia) and Matthew S. Wilson (Master Thesis Candidate at the University of Auburn, Alabama) each received $1000.00 to cover their school expenses and purchase educational materials. Matthew’s story appeared in the 2009 spring issue of the CQ. Ryan gave a very professional and enticing presentation at the 2009 National on Long Island.

The new 2011 Application Forms can be downloaded here:
Download ACS 2011 Scholarship Application form.

They may also be obtained by contacting,
The ACS Scholarship Committee
Gerald P. Kral
900 Winton Rd., N
Rochester, NY 14609

Email: gkral1@rochester.rr.com