The Newport Tree Conservancy’s first monthly tree walk of 2025 will tour the grounds of the Redwood Library and the Newport Art Museum, and venture down Old Beach Avenue before looping back to Bellevue. NTC Living Collections Manager Joe Verstandig will be discussing some early spring tree phenology, bask in the glory of some incredible specimen beech and oaks, and admire early flowering woody plants. Please dress appropriately for walking on the street and on grass. The March 27 program is free, but register at www.newporttreeconservancy.org
Magnolias continue to be one the premier groups of flowering trees available for northeastern gardens and landscapes. Known worldwide for their enchanting spring and summer blooms, everyone should have at least one magnolia in their garden. In this Newport Tree Conservancy virtual presentation on March 20 at 5:30 Eastern, NTC Living Collections Manager Joe Verstandig will discuss the fascinating history of Magnolias, feature Newport’s most impressive specimens, and discuss the many great cultivars available to Rhode Island gardens. Plant Production Manager Morgan Palmer will discuss the propagation and growing of magnolias at NTC’s Heritage Tree Center. This is something you do not want to miss! Register at https://www.newporttreeconservancy.org/events/magnolias-at-a-glance-an-informative-look-at-a-most-fascinating-group-of-flowering-trees
Eisenhower Park is home to many beautiful and noble trees that set the tone for the City of Newport’s inspiring collection, making up the Newport Arboretum. Included in situ is one of the finest mature American elms on Aquidneck Island. The September 19 walk will also include a visit to the garden at the Touro Synagogue, a beautiful green space with a nice diversity of woody plants. NTC Living Collections Manager Joe Verstandig will try his best to wax poetic on all the great trees and share some thoughts on tree stewardship in Newport’s Urban Forest. Eisenhower Park is located at 32 Touro Street in Newport. There is street parking in Washington Square and surrounding areas. Registration is required at www.newporttreeconservancy.org
Since 2022, beech leaf disease has been a deadly threat to some of Newport’s oldest, largest, and most iconic trees. And it’s not the only challenge faced by Newport’s diverse, amazing, but aging arboretum. On June 27 at 6 pm at Rosecliff, the Preservation Society of Newport County will host a gathering of experts to discuss what needs to be done to ensure a healthy future for trees in Newport. The Iconic Trees of Newport: Past, Present, & Future will explore the city’s landscape history, the cause and treatment of beech leaf disease, and strategies for planting to preserve the citywide treescape. Speakers include Joe Verstandig, Living Collections Manager for the Newport Tree Conservancy, John R. Tschirch, Architectural Historian, Jeff Curtis, Director of Gardens and Landscapes for the Preservation Society, and Jim Donahue, Curator of Historic Landscapes and Horticulture. Also speaking will be scientists from Bartlett Tree Experts, a Partner in Preservation working to save beech trees at the Newport Mansions. To attend this free educational forum, please email Events@NewportMansions.org.
A cold frame can be a gardener’s best friend. Their uses include
extending the seasons to grow plants before and after frosts and
hardening off young seedlings, plus propagating and overwintering
plants, all without the expense of a greenhouse.
This March 13. Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum class will explore the different types of cold frames and their uses, plus we’ll share a simple construction design that will be great in your home. Cold frames can be a wonderful way to discover the joy of growing plants. The session runs from 10 – 11 and is led by Gail Read and Joe Verstandig. Call 401-253-2707 for more information, or email jcleveland@blithewold.org.
Your backyard and Blithewold have much more in common than you think. Director of horticulture Fred Perry and horticulturist Joe Verstandig dive into the details of New England’s native woody plants on February 15 from 9:30 – 11. The lecture will discuss the criteria for being a native plant, the role natives play in the ecosystem, and some of the best-cultivated species to add in your garden. Blithewold is located at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol. Rhode Island, and you may register at https://www.blithewold.org/event/foundations-in-gardening-native-trees-and-shrubs/
