<strong>The</strong> green ro<strong>of</strong> on theWister Center <strong>in</strong> <strong>2012</strong>VISITOR BROCHURES: Given the multiple ways and reasons visitors come to the campus-arboretum,we provide free brochures <strong>in</strong> brochure boxes <strong>in</strong> many gardens and collections. <strong>The</strong> 25 titles<strong>of</strong>fered <strong>in</strong>cluded: Hydrangea Collection, Cherry Border, Peonies, <strong>The</strong> Isabelle Cosby Courtyard,Dean Bond Rose Garden, Historic Trees, Holly Collection, Poll<strong>in</strong>ator Garden, Crum Woods, <strong>The</strong>Organic Lawn Initiative, Introductory Tour, Green Design, <strong>The</strong> W<strong>in</strong>ter Garden, Art <strong>in</strong> the Garden,<strong>Scott</strong> Outdoor Amphitheater, <strong>The</strong> Wister Education Center and Greenhouse, <strong>The</strong> James R. FrorerHolly Collection, Ornamental Grasses, A Cast <strong>of</strong> Conifers, Native Trees for the Home Landscape,and Crum Woods Trails. An estimated 3,000-4,000 brochures were distributed <strong>in</strong> <strong>2012</strong>.8 ProgramsWINTER CELEBRATION: <strong>The</strong> 31st W<strong>in</strong>ter Celebration was held on January 14 <strong>in</strong> the ScienceCenter. Follow<strong>in</strong>g Michael Petrie’s presentation, the 125 who attended enjoyed the donation baraccompanied by hors d’oeuvres. This event is designed to educate while provid<strong>in</strong>g a social gather<strong>in</strong>gand is not designed as a fund-rais<strong>in</strong>g event.WISTER EDUCATION CENTER: S<strong>in</strong>ce the Wister Center opened <strong>in</strong> the fall <strong>of</strong> 2009, volunteershave used it 5-6 half days a week: Mondays – flower arrangers, Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons– Greenhouse volunteers; and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morn<strong>in</strong>gs by garden<strong>in</strong>gvolunteers. <strong>Review</strong><strong>in</strong>g the calendar for the Gillespie Room for the year, 170 events, meet<strong>in</strong>gs,classes, and workshops were scheduled dur<strong>in</strong>g the year – 55 <strong>of</strong> these were <strong>in</strong> support <strong>of</strong> <strong>College</strong>functions and departmental meet<strong>in</strong>gs. At the close <strong>of</strong> FY 11-12, the debt on the build<strong>in</strong>g fund stoodat $127,327, with the rema<strong>in</strong>der due by June 2014.WOODY PLANT CONFERENCE: On July 25 the 16th Woody Plant Conference drew 420 forthe day-long event, which was held at Villanova University due to ongo<strong>in</strong>g renovations <strong>in</strong> the LangPerform<strong>in</strong>g Arts Center. Speakers <strong>in</strong>cluded: Heidi Hessele<strong>in</strong>, Greg Hoover, Andrea Jones, DarylKobesky, Tom Ranney, and <strong>Scott</strong> Weidensaul. <strong>The</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g committee was chaired by Julie Jenney,and <strong>in</strong>volved six co-sponsor<strong>in</strong>g organizations.WORKSHOPS: Hands-on opportunities to learn are a ma<strong>in</strong>stay <strong>of</strong> our educational efforts. In <strong>2012</strong>,n<strong>in</strong>e workshop sessions were held cover<strong>in</strong>g topics <strong>of</strong> chocolate with Nancy Stiebitz; prun<strong>in</strong>g withThomas Hawk<strong>in</strong>s; the botany <strong>of</strong> beer with Dan Shaw and Julie Jenney; the botany <strong>of</strong> g<strong>in</strong> withMeredith Maciolek; cultivat<strong>in</strong>g cool-season edible conta<strong>in</strong>ers with Josh Coceano; and greenwreaths. Altogether 204 participated <strong>in</strong> these workshops.WWW.SCOTTARBORETUM.ORG: In <strong>2012</strong> the <strong>Scott</strong> <strong>Arboretum</strong> website had a total <strong>of</strong> 1,905,228hits (compared to 1,187,532 <strong>in</strong> 2011), represent<strong>in</strong>g 127,409 visits. <strong>The</strong> Woody Plant Conferencewebsite (www.woodyplantconference.org) had 48,641 hits represent<strong>in</strong>g 13,317 visits, and thePerennial Plant Conference website had 68,810 hits represent<strong>in</strong>g 16,946 visits. Blogs, “GardenSeeds,” were viewed 132,556 times <strong>in</strong> <strong>2012</strong> (compared to 99,281 <strong>in</strong> 2011).
COMMENCEMENT: Uphold<strong>in</strong>g a long-stand<strong>in</strong>g tradition,graduat<strong>in</strong>g seniors <strong>in</strong> <strong>The</strong> Class <strong>of</strong> <strong>2012</strong> were p<strong>in</strong>nedwith a rose from the Dean Bond Rose Garden beforeproceed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the <strong>Scott</strong> Outdoor Amphitheater forcommencement. Staff and volunteers then gave graduatesa small rooted cutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Virg<strong>in</strong>ia sweetspire (Itea virg<strong>in</strong>ica‘Henry’s Garnet’), propagated <strong>in</strong> the Wister Center, asa graduation gift and memento <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Scott</strong> <strong>Arboretum</strong>.<strong>The</strong>re were 340 <strong>in</strong> the Class <strong>of</strong> <strong>2012</strong>.FIRST YEAR STUDENT PLANT GIVEAWAY:On August 30 we welcomed members <strong>of</strong> the Class<strong>of</strong> 2016 with a chance to pick out a free houseplant.Volunteers assisted 236 re-pot their plants <strong>in</strong> theWister Center, so <strong>in</strong> their first week at <strong>Swarthmore</strong>they jumped <strong>in</strong> and got their “hands dirty.”FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS: In September <strong>2012</strong>we launched a new program by which flower arrangementsmade from <strong>Arboretum</strong> grown plants could berequested for college community events with a donationto the <strong>Scott</strong> Associates. Our talented corps <strong>of</strong> volunteerflower arrangers eagerly embraced the chance to addbeauty and a sense <strong>of</strong> place to college events. (Seewww.scottarboretum.org/special/flowerarrange.htmlfor full details).NEW STAFF & FACULTY ORIENTATION: OnAugust 30, new faculty were welcomed to the <strong>Arboretum</strong>with free plants and a chance to learn about the <strong>Scott</strong><strong>Arboretum</strong>. Throughout the year, monthly new stafforientation sessions were held <strong>in</strong> the Wister Center;a number <strong>of</strong> these <strong>in</strong>cluded a 30-m<strong>in</strong>ute session on the<strong>Arboretum</strong>.In the Harry WoodCourtyard Garden, walls<strong>of</strong> the Science Centeralso work as blackboards.TOURS LED: Garnet Weekend (October), ArtsWeekend (April), Junior Visit Day (May), and AlumniWeekend (June) all <strong>of</strong>fered <strong>Arboretum</strong> staff-led tours tospecial visitors on campus dur<strong>in</strong>g these events. A total<strong>of</strong> 148 participated.For<strong>Swarthmore</strong><strong>College</strong>Patti Post (l) assist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Swarthmore</strong> <strong>College</strong> freshmen at the“First-<strong>Year</strong> Student Plant Give-Away” on August 30.9