2006 Annual Report
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.
BOARD - This has been a year of change, looking ahead to fulfilling the vision Bob and Frances had and looking back at memories of Bob. In 1980 Bob and Frances wrote "Guidance of the Directorate of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum" which set their objectives and hopes for years to come. As stated in this document, with the knowledge that this will be the guidance for the future, it is Bob and Frances' wish that five family members and four experts in the horticulture field will be elected annually to the Board of Directors. Following the October 2006 bi-annual meeting, we told Bob of the unanimous vote to recognize him as Director Emeritus. Meggan Hill-McQueeney, his grandaughter, was elected to the Board in November. These Highlights of Year 2006 will be dedicated to the foundation laid by Bob and Frances who created the mission of connecting people and plants more than 36 years ago. An example can be found in the words of many people telling us of the phone responses, classes and personal diagnoses made by Bob. These goals will be continued through volunteers, digital devices and the computer, with the credit being given to Bob and Frances. Further connection continues with the Board support in the Plant of the Month, begun by Jeff and now delegated to all Board Members. The advice of Alan, Ed and Jeff with our collections is invaluable throughout the year as we strive to acquire unique, hardy plants for the Arboretum. Following Bob's death, Frances and Francie traveled to CT to bring Linda up to date on the Arboretum. It is Linda's hope someday to return to annual meetings.
COLLECTIONS AND GROUNDS - The cycle of low maintenance and sustainable improvements in the collections is an achieved goal: picking up leaves, hauling wood chips, dividing and transplanting plants, weeding and shaping beds, labeling plants, cutting sod, enlarging some beds and shrinking others, mowing, pruning trees and shrubs, servicing equipment, putting up and taking down animal prevention fences, staking plants. All of these jobs are done with an eye to the weather, which can change any schedule. We reached out into the community to advise on business, school and church plantings, encouraging them to come to the Arboretum and view our collections as they make landscape decisions. At the Arboretum, staff supervised the maintenance volunteers and served as the resource for the specialty gardens. All this is dependent on a strong foundation of the computer database, mapping and advice from our curators, Alan, Ed and Jeff, as to the choice of plants for the collections. "We are only as good as the collections, which includes labeling." Memorial tree plantings were to: Chuck Abbott by Faye and Harold Dittemore and Chuck "Buzz" and Becky Abbott; Borghild "Beau" Boysen by Danny, Becky and Brad Boardsen and Marjorie Graves; Jim Godfrey by Scouts of Troup #1071 and Junior Troop 3036; Betts Maxheim by Babs Case, Michelle, Jim and Sarah Case and Pam Case McLeod, Penny Waters-Fullerton and Dan Fullerton, Lydia Halbach and Francie Hill; Grace Whalen by Susan Thomsen, Joe Whalen, Darcy and Al Whalen, Lauri and Doug Knickrehm and Joyce and Art Ollie; Ellen Lackermann in honor of Bill Lackermann's Christmas.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS/EVENTS - As the Arboretum greets more and more visitors each year, we know that requests for community collaborations will increase. While keeping the goal to bring people to the grounds, we sometimes divert to taking the grounds to the people, as with: sharing our 13 different conifer greens and many flowers for use with the Downtown Streetscape Project, Clinton Visitor and Convention Bureau conventions and meetings and YWCA Staff Appreciation and Rotary Annual meetings. We exhibit our taxidermy animals at the annual Bald Eagle Watch at the community college and participate in the annual Master Gardeners Plant Sale in Lyons, with the Arboretum being the drop-off site for all the plants as well as the resource for identifying the plants. We served as a resource for an Eagle Scout Butterfly Garden and the George M. Curtis Mansion/Clinton Women's Club. At one time classes were taught in the schools, so a breakthrough came this year when many fall classes learned about "Seeds: Dispersal and Structure" in a curriculum created by volunteers here at the Arboretum. We were really an outdoor classroom on days when Boy Scouts worked on forestry badges, Girl Scouts made wreaths as a fund-raiser for a trip to NYC and the Environ Kids released Monarchs. Weddings were held throughout the summer; each season we refine our structure of this outreach, remembering that our mission is to connect plants to people. Prom and class pictures were taken on the grounds, as well as photographs of family and class reunions. The Visitor's Center and Grounds were used for meetings of Arboretum Board of Directors at Annual and Bi-Annual gatherings, Habitat for Humanity committees, ISU Clinton County Master Gardeners Advisory Board, Clinton Trees Forever, City Tree Commission, Legislative committee of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Washington Middle School Courtyard Garden, proposed 4-H club, Clinton Rotary Club, ISU Clinton County Extension Referendum, Lyceum Book Club, PEO, Franciscan Peace Conference committee, Women and Thealogy, and a weekly drumming group. Additionally, NelsonCorp used our Center for customer meetings and classes led by Margo Hansen. Relations with the local media were enhanced this year with the weekly column GREEN SCENE in the Clinton Herald, publicity through the Convention and Visitor's Bureau in the Sauk Valley newspapers and the monthly "Things to do with a river view" poster displayed in businesses throughout the community, and regular promotions recorded by staff and volunteers on local radio stations and submitted to area newspapers. EVENTS: Celebrations of the spring and fall equinoxes and winter and summer solstices, ranging from 28 degrees to 94 degrees, are being used as cornerstones of our yearly events. We incorporate a tree or shrub into the events which heightens the connection between plants and people. The Holiday Walk of Lights, honoring Bob, was begun this year with success. A ribbon-cutting was held for the Butterfly Garden. Earth Day, Butterfly Fest and Herb Faire are annual events, as is the Annual Hospice Remembrance Service and the newly developed Arts at the Arb performances. We were able to finalize the 2007 Arboretum Calendar of all events in November.
EDUCATION/TOURS - The Guidance states: "Forever the Arboretum will be an educational institution, without overtaxing the facilities." To this end, classes in collaboration with Clinton Community College included: Herbal Cooking; Bog, Wildflower and Trough Gardening; Leopold Bench construction (preceded by Book and Breakfast, a discussion on Sand County Almanac) and wreath and terrarium making. Three classes for the winter 2006 Master Gardener program were held in our Visitor's Center. The Arboretum's participation in the Environ Kids program led to the Frederic Leopold Environmental Education Award for 2005, presented last year and the Gold Key Award from the Clinton Community Schools in appreciation of the work done in the Washington Middle School Courtyard. A seasonal Reflection Walk, seasonally has been offered for visitors, and Joyce Ollie, ROOTS volunteer, developed a reflection presentation for special groups. Presentations were made to DeWitt PEO Chapter and Breakfast Kiwanis Club of Camanche. Tours of the grounds were given on weekends April through October and to special groups: Behavior Disorder classes from WMS, Triton College Horticulture students and instructors, Profoundly Disabled class from Community Care, Breakfast Kiwanis, new staff from many organizations and businesses, local media, Des Moines Area Community College horticulture class, Gateway Credit Union, Ashford University Guidance Counselor Conference, River City Day Care, YMCA Discovery Zone, YWCA camp, Women of the CHS Class of '59, Junior Master Gardeners, Faith Lutheran Church Women, Sunnyfield Greenhouse/Garden annual tour, Morrison Garden Club, Class of '59 reunion and Symphony in Bloom Board members.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS - We are grateful as we recognize the major contribution from Frances and Bob to cover the day-to-day operations of the Arboretum. Other financial contributions were received through donations from Frances' book (A Private Couple Creates a Public Garden), from tours, postcards, weddings, thanks for special information received, gifts and memorials/celebrations. We thank the following donors: Chris and Margy Agnew, Ashford University, Linda Boardsen, Doris Carstensen, Clinton Progress Charter of Chapter ABWA, Clinton Women's Club Cultural Department, Dixon Area Garden Club, Karen and Randy Dykstra, Faith Lutheran Church Women, Rose Holsclaw, Junior Girl Scout Troup #3036, Frederick and Ruth Lubs, Sandra and Terry McGauvran, Ruby Matthew, Mercy Healthcare Hospice, Laura and Kevin Merritt, NelsonCorp Wealth Management, Patricia Ost, PEO-Chapter FI, PEO-Chapter JN, Roger and Jeanette Petersen, Jim and Barb Rhoades, Ralph and Nora Stanford, Roger Stewart, Sunnyfield Greenhouse/Gardens, Volunteers for Quad City Symphony, and Marilyn and Tony Tyznik. Shawn, Jim, Morgan and Marshal Lamb and Frances Bickelhaupt in honor of Bob Bickelhaupt's 92nd Birthday; and to the Bob Bickelhaupt Memorial by: Julie and Charles Allesee, Peter and Joann Bryant, Mary Beth and Jim Carey, Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors and Staff, Clinton County Agricultural Extension, Clinton National Bank, Mary and James Connell, Louise Daley, Employees of Drives-Incorporated, Marie Dudley, Betty and Bob Dworschack, Mildred Eggers, Dr. Robert and Sharon German, Betty and Ed Hasselkus, Marion and Dick Johnson, Michael Kearney, Killean Hearing Aid Center, Alice and Gerhart Kopf, Marion and Jack Koop, Laurie Kuehl, Nelly and Lawrence Leonard, Meggan, Nico and Vincent McQueeney, Alice Machande, Alma and Elpidio Mariano, Ruby Matthew, Dorothy Miles, Carol and Ewing Miller, Myrna and Carl Neumann, Nancy and Wayne Nieland, Marilyn Pelisek, Vivian and Cliff Peters, Joan and Jack Pringle, Sue and Arnold Raaymakers, Mark Regenwether, Mildred Ruocco, Marcia and Bill Smith, Julie and Baird Smith, Rose Anne and John Smith, Gretchen and John Snyder, Mary and Chuck Swanson, Kathleen Thola, Lucinda and John Totten, L. Herbert Tyler, Elizabeth Van Allen, Mary and David Vogel, Maxine Wagner, Joanne and Don Wanamaker, Pete Wessels, YWCA of Clinton.
GIFTS AND SERVICES CONTRIBUTIONS - Contributions of services, plants, books for the library and discounted goods are listed as in-kind donations from the following: Andresen Nursery, Kathy Anderson, Arrowhead Alpines, Shirley Bader, Bailey Nurseries, Beaver Creek Nursery, Beckwith Commercial Roofing Incorporated, Sarah and Jim Bengsten, Al Bowers, Clinton County Master Gardener Board, Clinton Community College Technical Drafting and Computer Aided Design Department, Clinton County Solid Waste, Clinton Herald, Clinton Print Company, Linda and Bill Cornelius, Alan Craig, DeWitt Observer, England Music Center, Farm and Fleet, Flower Factory, Carl Foley Tree Trimming, Lydia Halbach, Ed Hasselkus, Heartland Gardens, The Insurance Group, Iseli Nursery, Marion and Dick Johnson, KCLN-Radio, KROS-Radio, KMAQ-Radio, Linnae Koch, Shawn and Jim Lamb, Barb and Vern Larson, Lasting Beauty Landscaping, Long's Gardens, McLane Office Equipment, Dr. Mel Marilim, Joyce and Art Ollie, Arnold Outzen, Paul's Discount Store, Sue Peters, Quad City Times, Bill Rathje, Prairie Nursery, Sauk Valley newspaper, Scotts Company, Vicki Shontz, Song Sparrow Perennial Farms, Ralph Stanford, Sunnyfield Greenhouse/Gardens, Terry Turner, Valley Bank, Joe Weston and Yen Ching Restaurant. In-kind donations in honor of Bob Bickelhaupt: Kathy Anderson, Cyndi Calhoun and the J. Robert Hill Family.
PERSONNEL - Kurtis Cornilsen was hired as our summer grounds maintenance employee and will continue as available through the year; he is a student at Clinton Community College. David and Jerry attended the ISU Shade Tree Short Course and David also attended the Midwest Region American Conifer Meetings and visited the Flower Factory. Staff took their annual field trip, this year to Muscatine Arboretum and Volunteer Arlan Reiling's yard. Francie attended Eastern Iowa Tourism Association meetings throughout the year, Tri County Forestry Stewardship Conference, Horticulture in the Heartland, Regional Garden Writers of America meetings and represented the Arboretum on the Citizens for ISU Extension as we worked towards the successful passing of the funding ballot.
VISITORS - The Arboretum recorded an increase of 7.4% in visitors in 2006 to 27,195. Among visitors from many geographic places, gardens and nurseries, tourists and local residents, it is estimated that 30% visit without signing our Guest Registry. Web visits totaled 79,654 in 2006, which is a 300% increase over previous years.
VOLUNTEERS - The Arboretum is a good example of variety in volunteer opportunities. From the library to the landscape, from herbs to hostas, crabapples to conifers, the rock garden to the roses, our volunteers are in front of the scenes with the tours and behind the scenes with the maintenance. The Annual Volunteer Recognition was held in conjunction with the bi-annual meeting in October and a tour of the invasive plants of the Upper Mississippi River on a US Fish and Game chartered pontoon boat were highlights. Of note this year were the many classes taught by the volunteers with curriculum developed by the volunteers. The students included Special Education, Elementary, Middle school and home-schooled groups. Volunteers in the gardens included our own cadre, as well as special groups from Prince of Peace High School, Middle School Community Service Day, Lincoln Alternative School and weekly volunteers from the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The idea of a performance on the grounds developed into Arts at the Arb, a highly successful series of musical presentations in the summer months: a symphony quartet, municipal band and barbershop quartet. We have rotated three new ROOTS Advisory Board Members to other volunteer positions and added Carla Hilgenberg, local elementary educator and Butterfly Fest co-chair, and Mike Kearney, City Council member, to the active ROOTS Board. Total recorded hours for 2006 was 4735, an increase of 871 hours from 2005 statistics. The Points of Light Foundation states: "The Dollar figure of $18.04/hour is generated from the average hourly wage for non-agricultural workers, as determined in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, then increased by 12% to account for benefits." This is categorized as an in-kind donation of volunteer hours of more than $85,419.40 to the Arboretum. A generous donation on behalf of the volunteers!
LOOKING AHEAD - We will continue the Environ Kids program, a collaboration among The Arboretum, Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency, Clinton County Conservation Board, Clinton Regional Development Corporation, ISU Clinton County Extension and Izaak Walton League as well as Lyondell Chemical Company. Enhancing the relationship with schools will be continued with a goal of "No Child Left Inside." We will always adhere to a dedication to management, and above all to the collections and the environment through education as mandated in the Guidance to the Directorate and foundation laid by Frances and Bob.
Francie B. Hill, Executive Director
Prepared for May 7, 2004 Annual Meeting