HIGHLIGHTS OF YEAR 2010

The mission of The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is to serve as a connection

between people and plants through a better understanding of horticulture
by developing and maintaining a well-documented collection of landscape plants
adapted to this region for education and enjoyment.

• Fortieth anniversary of Bickelhaupt Arboretum, with interviews by Co-founder Frances Bickelhaupt and Board President, Francie Hill featured in an article by the Clinton Herald.
• Sponsored Hort in the Heartland with Clinton Trees Forever, ISU Clinton Co. Master Gardeners & Clinton Community College. Arboretum Board Member Dr. Jeff Isles was well received as the keynote speaker.
• DNR donated a large male bobcat for our display.  Whitetails Unlimited donated money for taxidermy.
• David Horst, Horticulturist, attended ISU Shade Tree Short Course, American Conifer Society Central Region Meeting, Hort in the Heartland and City of Clinton Tree Commission as Advisory Member.
• Saturdays at the Arb programs included Bears in Iowa, Geocaching, Orchids, Building a Leopold Bench and Making a Holiday Wreath.
• Our facilities were used by the following for regular meetings: Hort in the Heartland committee, Girl Scout troop, Master Gardeners Advisory Board, Environ Kids, Clinton Trees Forever, Rotary Auction, PEO, Nelson Corp Financial Planning and ISU Master Gardener classes for new interns.
• Educational programs with local schools included No Child Left Inside for all Clinton schools, first through fourth grades, totaling 327 students, 36 teachers and 15 volunteers, as well as YWCA pre-school tours.
• Displays and public events included Eagle Watch at Clinton Community College, Family Expo and Hort in the Heartland, at which Margo Hansen, Director of Programs and formerly Roots Advisory Board Member,  presented one of the seminars.
• Annual environmental events held at the Arboretum were: Vernal and Autumn Equinoxes, Summer and Winter Solstices, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Prairie Burn, Herb Faire and Butterfly Fest.
• Plant Partners researched and answered over 100 phone calls.
• Thomas Streveler, volunteer, assisted David Horst by changing the collection records from Excel to Access. New formats were set up for reporting the plant records, donation gifts, equipment maintenance and hardscape reports.
• Board Member Alan Craig and Iseli Nursery, Boring, OR head propagator Paul Halladin collected scions of the Heartland Collection for propagation.
• Volunteers continue to work in the following gardens: Mercy Hospice Herb Garden, Rose Garden, Wildflower Garden, Butterfly Garden and the Country Garden.  Other areas include; Waterfall, Hosta Collection and the Peony Collection.  Several groups of volunteers helped throughout the year. Of note - Prince of Peace students volunteered their services for a Community Service Day. Butterfly rearing, tagging and releasing continue to be a strong program with highly dedicated volunteers.
• Hosted two elders from the Church of Latter Day Saints weekly.
• Presentations and tours were given to these area organizations: Kiwanis, Citizens Police Academy, Red Hat Ladies, area nursing homes, several churches and garden clubs.
• Volunteers scheduled and coordinated ten weddings on the grounds.
• Arts at the Arb continued to be a successful event with these artists: String Quartrio, Travis Hosette Sings Sinatra, Al Ronek- a Pirate Over 60 and The Doctors Engelsens’ Songs of Humor.
• After serving10 years as Director of the Arboretum, Francie Hill retired in July.  During that time she worked with her parents on remodeling the Learning Center, developing many educational programs and helping the Arboretum grow and evolve going into the new millennium. On November 15 Margo Hansen became the new Director of Programs.  She will coordinate all tours and events and develop “Friends of the Arboretum”
• A volunteer recognition potluck was held in October to welcome Margo Hansen to the staff and thank volunteers for another successful year.
• Awarded a $2500 media package from Clinton Chamber of Commerce and CVB was used for newspaper and radio coverage of our events
• Published information from the Arboretum included weekly “Green Scene” releases for the Clinton Herald, Dewitt Observer and Quad City Times. articles for the monthly Master Garden Newsletter and weekly garden talk show, “The Great Green Garden Show,” featuring Margo Hansen on KROS radio.
• Collaborated with Master Gardeners on their plant sale and supported several programs at the local county fair.
• Two arboretum volunteers received awards at the Master Gardeners Annual Banquet: Anita Abbott for Intern of the Year and Alice Machande as Master Gardener of the Year.

This report is dedicated to our Board of Directors, Volunteers and Staff who build the gardens and enhance the collections to carry out the mission of the Arboretum.
We are proud and grateful for more than 100+ dedicated volunteers who give their time, expertise and energy to the Arb. Their commitment and interest in the Arboretum made it a natural show place for 31,946 visitors in 2010.

This report is dedicated to our Board of Directors, Volunteers and Staff who build the gardens and enhance the collections to carry out the mission of the Arboretum.
We are proud and grateful for more than 100+ dedicated volunteers who give their time, expertise and energy to the Arb. Their commitment and interest in the Arboretum made it a natural show place for 31,946 visitors in 2010.