EDUCATION

Workshop: Ikebana I
September 20, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Lecture/Demonstration Center

Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is an integral part of Japanese culture. It blends imagination and creativity with the arrangement of natural materials. This class will introduce you to the history and philosophy of ikebana and provide hands-on instruction on basic design and techniques. All materials provided. Fee $34. Registration is required.
 

Workshop: Ikebana II
September 27, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Lecture/Demonstration Center

Improve your skills and expand your knowledge in this class that will build on Ikebana I or another basic class. Prerequisite: At least one previous lesson in Japanese flower arranging. All materials provided. Fee $34. Registration is required.

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HORTICULTURE

Emerald Ash Borer Update

As we welcome in the spring season, it is a good time to review the battle to control the emerald ash borer in the United States, which is now in its sixth year. This introduced exotic pest has killed more that twenty five million trees (see image at left of trees in decline), and in spite of tens of millions of dollars spent on control measures, this insect is spreading to an ever widening area. The emerald ash borer will have a major impact in all locales where ash trees are dominate, either as landscape and street tree specimens or in native woodland populations.

This Asian beetle, beautifully iridescent green in color, was discovered in Michigan in 2002. It is believed to have been imported in wooden pallets and may have been undetected for more than ten years. By 2005, the emerald ash borer had spread to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, with an isolated outbreak in Maryland. This pest continues to extend its range, now established in western Pennsylvania and most recently in Fayette County, West Virginia. While other ash boring insects seem to infect weak or dying trees, the emerald ash borer can infect large healthy trees, killing them within one to three years.    Read Full Story.

RESEARCH

New Arboretum Posters Highlight Introductions

With support from the Friends of the National Arboretum and design expertise from ARS’s Information Services Unit, the U.S. National Arboretum is pleased to unveil three new full-color posters featuring some of our best woody plant introductions.