2012 Year in Review - The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College

NATURE’S NARRATIVES: In its 4th year, this book discussion group met five times in 2012to discuss these titles: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard; The $64 Tomato by WilliamAlexander; The Covenant of the Wild by Steven Budiansky; The Unsettling of America: Cultureand Agriculture by Wendell Berry; New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver; and The Botany ofDesire by Michael Pollan.ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER PROGRAMS: Organizationmembers of the Scott Associates have the benefit of one freeprogram each year as a part of their membership. In 2012 theseincluded lectures and tours as requested by the group. Morethan a dozen such programs were conducted in 2012.OVERNIGHT TRIPS: For four days in August, 22 ventured toChicago with Educational Programs Coordinator Julie Jenney for“Gardens of Chicago: World Class Wonders” visiting both privateand public gardens while enjoying the architecture of downtown.The 2012 Special Members Event washosted by Eve (r) and Per (l) Thyrum.In thanks we presented a bowl turnedfrom a Scott Arboretum tree.PERENNIALS CONFERENCE: On October 19, the 28th conferencedrew 536. Speakers brought Neil Diboll, Noel Kingsbury,Kelly D. Norris, Ken Smith, and Christine Ten Eyck to the Arboretumto share their wisdom. The planning committee was chairedby Julie Jenney with five co-sponsoring organizations represented.PUBLICATIONS: The Arboretum published four issues of the Hybrid, our quarterly newsletterand two schedules of events edited by Julie Jenney. Both were mailed to all Scott Associatesin 2012. Swarthmore College’s 2012 calendar was titled “Swarthmore Engages Nature” andfeatured the Arboretum’s landscapes for 11 months of the year. This was mailed to all alumniand was offered as a Scott Arboretum annual appeal donor gift.SCOTT SCOOP ON GARDENING WITH VISITOR AMBASSADORS: Volunteers providedweekend visitor services for 19 weekends in the spring and fall of 2012, answering horticulturalquestions and introducing them to the Scott Arboretum. Volunteers assisted 350 visitors andfive memberships were garnered.SPECIAL MEMBERS EVENT: Once a year a special program is offered to Scott Associates inmembership categories of Sponsor and above. In 2012 these generous supporters were invitedto the wonderful garden known as Frog Hollow of much-loved members and volunteers,Eve and Per Thyrum. Ninety-one attended.SPRING FESTIVAL: On March 11, we held our annual celebration of spring in the LangPerforming Arts Center for the presentation of the Scott Medal and Award, reception, andspring plant dividend distribution. This event was free and open to the public; 208 attended.SWARTHMORE STUDENT WORK PROGRAM: In 2012, 25 students worked in paid positionswith Arboretum staff ranging from gardening to greenhouse to office and event work (for a listof students, see page 12).TOURS: Free guided Arboretum tours were offered and advertised each month in 2012providing 20 opportunities to see seasonal highlights, special collections, or green roofs;235 participated.TRAVELS AT TWELVE: This garden-travelogue series included seven lectures/destinationsin 2012. A total of 690 attended; an average of 99 per lecture. We vicariously trekked inTasmania and Nepal, botanized in Honduras, saw flowers in Flanders, explored Egypt’slandscapes, glimpsed at gardens in Chicago, and learned about European rails turned intogreenways. These programs were free and open to the public.7