A Homage to Wood:  Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines for New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic

Class description

Native trees, shrubs, and vines are not only beautiful and versatile, they’re also cornerstones of local ecosystems, offering food and shelter for a host of birds, mammals, and insects.  In this in-depth, 3-part series, Bill Cullina will profile a rich cross section of regionally native woody plants appropriate for various conditions and uses.  He will follow each section with a discussion of climate-adapted species from farther south within the Piedmont and Coastal Plain ecoregions we might consider adding to our horticultural repertoire.  The third class will cover a broad range of subjects from cultivation and propagation to understanding soil structure and chemistry as it relates to these plants and their communities.  

Target audiences:  novice to experienced home gardeners, design, restoration and horticultural professionals, enthusiasts.

Class 1 – Tuesday, March 4th – Native coniferous and broadleaf trees.

Class 2 – Tuesday, March 11th – Native shrubs, vines and woody groundcovers.

Class 3 – Tuesday, March 18th – Planting and transplanting, pruning, soil structure and chemistry, mycorrhizal associations and propagation.

Class 4- Tuesday, March 25th – From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave:  Native Ferns, Mosses and Grasses

Native ferns, mosses and grasses are there, weave and knit together the landscape with a soft, tangible grace.  They are a subtle but essential part of wild and cultivated communities; acting in concert to carpet the ground with forms and textures that provide a foil for their more colorful companions.  This session will introduce participants some of Bill’s favorite native ferns, grasses, and sedges for gardens and landscapes then touch on the ecology, propagation and cultivation of several common mosses.

Target audiences:  novice to experienced home gardeners, design, restoration, and horticultural professionals, and enthusiasts.

Bio: William Cullina

William Cullina (kul-EYE-nuh) is the F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.  Prior to this he was the President and CEO of Coastal Maine Botanic Garden for eleven years.  Cullina holds degrees in plant science and psychology, has been working in public horticulture for 30 years, and has extensive experience in in horticultural and forestry research, and commercial nursery production.  

A well-known author and recognized authority on North American native plants, Cullina lectures on a variety of subjects to garden and professional groups and writes for popular and technical journals.  His books include, Wildflowers, Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines, Understanding Orchids, Native Ferns, Mosses, and Grasses, and Understanding Perennials.