2007 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.
An article in Public Garden, the publication of the American Public Gardens Association, reminds us how a garden's culture is expressed through its identity: governance, botanical niche and collections, bridges to the community by creating opportunities to learn, connections to relate and the development of new ideas. Through our knowledgeable Board, exemplary Staff and invaluable Volunteers, we continue to meet the mission established 37 years ago by Frances and Bob Bickelhaupt.
BOARD - The governance of the Arboretum by five family members and three leaders in the field of horticulture continues with vision and practical leadership. There is a balance of experience and contacts in the world of horticulture of Dr. Ed Hasselkus, Dr. Jeff Iles and Alan Craig. The family members: Shawn Hill-Lamb, the liaison with our financial advisors; Meggan Hill-McQueeney, experienced in management of a non-profit; Linda B. Galanis, who is supportive of the family efforts; and Francie B. Hill, executive director, join the horticulture representatives in gratitude to Frances, who is carrying on the financial support to which she and Bob have been committed.
COLLECTIONS AND GROUNDS - The botanical niche of design and collections is headed by David Horst, horticulturist with 22 years at our 14-acre public garden; Jerry Widel, with seven years here, and Kurtis Cornelisen, a Clinton Community College student, all of whom kept the grounds in display condition. Beyond the visitor's eye lay many hours of planning, ordering, planting, record-keeping, labeling and mapping. The addition of all plants and a grid map to our web site was a project appreciated by staff and non-staff alike. Work during inclement winter months was devoted to inside work, including servicing of the equipment and work on the taxidermy display. On other days, hauling chips, pruning and monitoring rabbit and deer damage were the focus. A meeting with the maintenance volunteers led to several project assignments: painting, improvement and upgrading of the hosta and rose beds. Annual events were the Prairie Burn, a visit from DNR, opening and closing the outdoor hardscape. With 90 new accessions, 50 removals, and five mowings of the grounds in April, it was a busy year! Our Stout Medal Day Lily collection received a donated addition of five plants, leaving but one in 57 years which is missing. Of special note was Frances' response to the volunteers and staff who requested consideration be given to the addition of two new hydrants, three replacements and one removal. The Hydrant Project was appreciated by all! Sadly, the Lilac Collection was removed, but we were happy to receive new disease-resistant varieties for next spring plantings. Visits by Dr. & Mrs. Gene Kaufman, Dr. & Mrs. Ed Franks, Darren Hinebecker and Rich Larsen were directed at viewing the collections. Memorial tree plantings included: Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak honoring Juineta Sissing and Grace Thompson by Garden Plain Presbyterian Church; Acer freemanii 'Sienna' in celebration of the life of Bob Bickelhaupt by Clinton Trees Forever; Gingko 'Princeton Sentry' in memory of Al Bowers by Sandra Sills; one Acer pseudosieboldianum x palmatum honoring Robert & Phyllis Cassel (Susan Davis' parents) by Anne Schmidt, Susan Davis' family and Francie Hill, with the other of that species planted for the Living Legacy Program by Rebekah Lodge; Acer freemanii 'Indian Summer' (Morgan) for Morgan Lamb's 8th grade graduation by Francie Hill.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS/EVENTS -- Bridges to the community created opportunities to learn and relate through education, events, presentations/collaborations/meetings and tours. Saturdays at the Arb included: Cooking with Herbs, Building a Leopold Bench, Holiday Wreath-Making and Tour of Rathjes' Lasting Beauty Nursery. Among the events sponsored by the Arboretum were Solstice/Equinox, Earth Day, Clinton Trees Forever Third-Grade Tree Project, Butterfly Fest, Hospice Remembrance Service and Arts at the Arb series. Presentations and collaborations out in the community included: Clinton Women's Club, Kiwanis, Rotary, Eagle Watch, Horticulture in the Heartland, Green Scene (Clinton Herald) and radio (KROS Grapevine). Projects such as Butterfly Releases were done at Prince of Peace first grade, Zion Lutheran Pre-School and The Canticle (Sisters of St. Francis). Donations of Christmas greens were made for the Downtown Partnership Holiday decorations and pictures to Mercy Healthcare for their annual calendar. Meetings were held in our Visitors Center for Master Gardeners, Clinton County Conservation Foundation Board of Directors, CCC Eco-Center development meetings, Clinton Convention and Visitors Board, Muddy River Camera Club, NelsonCorp Financial Planning, Quad Cities Studebaker Club, Alliant Energy staff training, Master Gardeners Plant Sale and holiday party committees. Tours were led by volunteers and staff: DeWitt Garden Club, Janesville Rotary Gardens, Homemakers Club of Albany, Quad City Hiking Club, Friendship Club of Community Reformed Church, Bickford House, (senior assisted care housing), Alverno Health Care Facility, Prairie Hills at Clinton, Quad Cities Friendship Force, Farm Bureau of Mechanicsville, IA; Garden Club of Mineral Point, Riverview Birding Walks, Midwest Blacksmiths and Welders, Quad Cities Master Naturalists, Women of Calvary Baptist Church. Des Moines Area Master Gardeners, Preston Red Hat Society, Immanuel Lutheran Church Women, Morrison Presbyterian Church, Pathway Living Center, and an optional tour site for the American Hosta Society meeting. In addition to the entire second grade in the Clinton Schools, we entertained, toured and taught several school and camp groups: Jefferson third grades, Camanche Middle School, Heritage Christian School, Whittier third grades, Kids First Academy, YWCA Pre-School and Daycare and Mercy Healthcare Daycare. Camps: Adventure Zone Camp, Stay Ôn Play, Camp Blackhawk (YMCA). Special Events included: EnvironKids (a collaboration with Clinton Conservation Board, Clinton County Solid Waste Agency, Clinton LumberKings, ISU Clinton County Extension, Isaak Walton and Lyondell Basell), Big Brothers/Big Sisters movie party, Oak Seed project (students collected acorns here which were planted at the new elementary school) and Great Christmas Bird Count. We hosted seven weddings and one graduation party.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS - Connections to relate are evident 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: Alliant Energy Corporation Services, Inc., Calvary Baptist Church, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Cassidy, Clinton Rebekah Lodge #13 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Community Reformed Church Friendship Club, Linda & Bill Cornelius, Louise A. Daley, Friendship Force, Girl Scout Troop #2136, Girl Scout Troop #8326, Immanuel Women of ELCA, Ladies Auxiliary of the Iowa Blacksmiths and Welders, Shawn Hill-Lamb, Laura Merritt, Carol Miller, NelsonCorp Wealth Management, Polk County Master Gardeners, Joan & Jack Pringle, Allan Rathje, Rastrelli's Inc., Tony Singh, Studebaker Club, Marilyn & Tony Tyznik, Uplands Garden Club of Mineral Point and Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters. Garden Memorials included: Herb Garden - Alan Battialo by Mercy Healthcare Foundation and Barb & Len Janis; Butterfly Garden - Nancy Winn Dynes by Martha & Fred Truax and Tom Norton by Martha Truax; Wildflower Garden hardscape - Avanelle Larson by Roger & Connie Adkins, Jeanne & Dale Etheridge, Ruth & Tony Ricciardi, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Stoltenberg and Margaret & Norman VandeKamp. Memorials to Warren Meier included San & Bill Anderson, Kathy & Dan Anderson, Apryl Beardslee, Dorothy Blanchard, Carolyn Brown, Mrs. G. M. Chalian, Mr. & Mrs. Don Chinburg, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Conzett, Mary & Don Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Steve Deloe, Mary & Bob Emmert, Dr. & Mrs. Robert German, Mr. & Mrs. Maynard Good, Mr. & Mrs. Will Grimes, Lydia Halbach, Carol Hill, Francie Hill, Jerry Huisinga, Jean & Ed Hupfer, Barb & Dave Jeffrey, Mary Juist, Mr. & Mrs. Gail Kirst, Judy Kolsrud, Pierre Leonard, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Lewis, Carol & Dan Mabee, Mr. & Mrs. Rex McVey, Alyce & John Moreland, Gayle O'Hern, Edith Reiss Pfeffer, Mr. & Mrs. James Platter, Carol Randall, Frederick Ray, Shirley Reed, Mr. & Mrs. John Snyder, Rosemary Sparks, Kathleen Larson Thola, Cindy & John Totten, Martha Truax, Mr. & Mrs,. Dee Willoughby. Memorial for Fred Truax by Allan Rathje and Martha Truax & Family. A fund directed to the Arts at the Arb (summer musical programs) in the name of James Winn was created and supported by: San & Bill Anderson, Linda Boardsen, Cindy & Dorance Calhoun, Robert Causey & Dorothy Foley, Margaret Emmons, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Kramer, Duane Luebe, D. C. Peterson, Rainforest Travelers - Virginia Williamson and Carla Hilgenberg, Barbara & Donald Robinson, Winn Enterprises Limited Partnership, Norma Roling, Mr. & Mrs. David Sivright, Jr., Alice Srp and Janet & Wayne Walters.
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 Landscape and Nursery, Kathy Anderson, Arbor Village, Bailey Nursery, Beaver Creek Nursery, Elizabeth & Mark Barickman, Sandi Bartels, Sarah & Jim Bengsten, Boyce Monument Co, Clinton Community College Technical Drafting and Computer Aided Design Department, Clinton Herald, Clinton Printing Company, Linda & Bill Cornelius, Frank Cornwell, Alan Craig, DeWitt Observer, Duraco Products, Inc., Walter Eichorst, Farm & Fleet, Foley Stump Grinding, Foley Tree Trimming, Linda Galanis, Barb Green, Barbara Hagenson, Aaron Hansen, Ed Hasselkus, Heartland Gardens, Jim Haring, Dennis Hermsen, Carla Hilgenberg, J. Robert Hill, Nan & Dave Horst, Jeff Iles, Iseli Nursery, Dick Johnson, KCLN AM/94.7FM Radio, KROS-Radio, KMAQ-Radio, Janis Kaup, Ellen Kelley, Mrs. John Koppenhaver, Joanne Larsen, Chris & Greg Lackermann, Jacob Lehmkuhl, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Lewis, Phyllis Luckritz, Lyondell Basell, Ruby Matthew, Meggan Hill-McQueeney, Mercy Healthcare Foundation, Peck Green Thumb Nursery, P. P. & O. Nursery - Peter Orum, Prince of Peace Academy and College Preparatory, Quad City Times, Allan Rathje, Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery, Rick's Taxidermy, Sauk Valley Newspapers, Anne Schmidt, Kevin Schuette, Robert Schwartz, The Scott Co., Schuler Motors, Loisann Seger, Song Sparrow Perennial Farms, Sunnyfield Greenhouse/Gardens, SSW Holding Co., Sue Staskal, The Insurance Company, Pete Wessels, Whistling Gardens and Yen Ching Restaurant.
STAFF - A staff uniform was introduced this year. Further benefits included upgrading of the health insurance and the addition of dental insurance, as well as the introduction of a Simple Retirement Plan (SRA) which will be in effect in 2008. David and Jerry attended ISU Shade Tree Short course; David and Francie attended Horticulture in the Heartland and David attended the American Conifer Society annual meeting and the ACS Garden Rendezvous in Moline. He was nominated for the 2008 Iowa Urban Forestry Award for Outstanding Professional. Kurtis Cornelius, summer grounds maintenance worker, was available to work depending on his college schedule through the fall. Linda Cornelius assisted in the office scheduling weddings, tours and volunteers. Francie attended Eastern Iowa Tourism meetings, legislative breakfasts, the Tri-State Tree Stewardship Conference and was named to the Clinton County Conservation Foundation Board. Bill Cornelius continued as our web master. Staff was a resource for sound tree management of trees in Clinton for businesses and homeowners alike. The annual staff field trip was to Dubuque Arboretum.
VISITORS - The Arboretum recorded an increase of recorded visitors in 2007 to 30,111, representing many geographic places, gardens and nurseries, tourists and local residents. It is estimated that 30% of our visitors do not sign our Guest Registry. Web visits increased proportionately.
VOLUNTEERS -The introduction of new projects such as proofreading our web page by a homebound Master Gardener, ESL/Family Literacy in collaboration with Clinton Community College and First United Methodist Church, Arboretum Photo Contest in partnership with CCC and River City Art Association, and the initiation of No Child Left Inside, which included planning and implementing a curriculum for every second-grade class in Clinton for fall '07 and spring '08, were balanced by continued support of Arts at the Arb, solstice/equinox gatherings, Plant Partners and the Green Scene by Arboretum volunteers. Corporate Day of Caring, Global Service Day, Clinton Community College Cooperative Studies student and Prince of Peace students offered completion of large projects such as building the bridge in the Heartland and fencing the south border. Weekly maintenance by elders from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints was noted. The Volunteer Recognition dinner was held with Board support, as we recognized how special is the work donated to us. It has been said: "From the library to the landscape, from herbs to hosta, crabapples to conifers, the rock garden to the roses, the web page to wildflowers, our volunteers are in front of the scenes with the tours and behind the scenes with the maintenance." Total recorded hours for 2007 was 5571 hours, an increase of 836 hours from 2006 statistics. The Points of Light Foundation states: "The dollar figure of $19.51/hour is generated from the average hourly wage for non-management, non-agricultural workers, as determined by 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 $108,690.21 to the Arboretum. A generous donation on behalf of the volunteers!
LOOKING AHEAD - Development of new ideas is evident as we plan for the American Conifer Society meeting in 2008, encourage more Green Space in our community, consider refining our school and camp projects, continue to challenge volunteers, and further develop and maintain our collection of plants. This will be seen as we listen to our Board, Volunteers, Staff and the community, upholding our mission as we enhance the culture of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum.
Francie B. Hill, Executive Director
Prepared for May 7, 2004 Annual Meeting