"Under The Arbor"
Chili Peppers
October 4th, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
National Herb Garden

Did you grow more peppers than you know what to do with? If you would like to learn new ways to use them, visit the National Herb Garden this Saturday. Members of the Tidewater Unit of the Herb Society of America will present a demonstration on a variety of ways to use all types of chili peppers, ranging from sweet to mild to scorching. While in the garden, you’ll see more than 100 varieties of peppers growing in a single bed, with fruits that provide a kaleidoscope of color in autumn. "Under the Arbor" is an informal, drop-in program held in the National Herb Garden. Free. No registration required.

Workshop for Kids:
Make a Viewing Stone Display in a Tray
Saturday, October 11th, 10:00am - 12:00pm
National Bonsai Museum

Learn all about the art of stone appreciation and create your own display to take home. All materials are provided. Limited enrollment, ages 8 – 14. Fee: $19. 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.