Enjoy our July e-newsletter.

“What I stand for is what I stand on.” Wendell Berry

Dogwood Days 2023 Highlights

Lawn Party

This year’s annual Dogwood Days Lawn Party was different in several ways - not the least of which was the outdoor temperature - 49 degrees! Given the weather, we quickly changed plans and moved everything indoors into the re-finished first floor of the Isaac Davenport Mansion. But like all Dogwood Days, the mood was festive and joyful at yet another spectacular bloom of Polly Wakefield’s legacy: hundreds of kousa dogwoods scattered among this treasured landscape. While the air outside was cool (so cool in fact we had to turn on the heat!) the memories shared by all remain warm - enjoy these photos to remember.

Garden Music

Over 50 people turned out to our Summer Garden Music event to enjoy a beautiful evening of great music among the dozens of blooming dogwoods surrounding the Piazza Lawn. This year’s featured band was Slow Boat Home, a six-member, fun-loving Americana band that entertained attendees with original tunes mixed with a collection of country, blues, jazz and jug band music. The lively tunes got some folks out of their seats to dance along. Thanks to the members of Slow Boat Home for a memorable evening of great music!

American Conifer Society Rendezvous at the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum

The attendees enjoyed a day of conifer related workshops, a silent auction and a party held at the homes and gardens of Christie Dustman and Patti Ryan and Joe James and Larry Traverso. The partnership of the American Conifer Society(ACS) and the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum has been mutually beneficial for many years. The ACS brings a whole new audience to Wakefield and Wakefield hosts educational programming that benefits ACS members and gardening enthusiasts alike. Special thanks to Elmer Dustman, Christie Dustman, Ted Hildebrant, Hiram Munger, Mary Coyne, Rebecca Boylan, Doug Riss, Phyllis Kominz, Antonia Hieronymus, Chuck Dougherty and Fred Trusten.

Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum awarded an American Conifer Society Grant!

The Northeast Region of the American Conifer Society awarded the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum a $2,500 grant to replace conifers lost during the drought of 2022.

Bridget Gaffney Joins the Wakefield Arboretum Staff

This month, long-time volunteer, Bridget Gaffney became a full time staff member. We are so excited to be working with Bridget and look forward to a great relationship. (Pictured here with Wakefield Trustee, Nathalie Binney)

In this my last column as Executive Director, I reflect back on these 16 years and the lessons I’ve learned and will carry with me going forward. I’ve observed the yearly rhythms and cycles of the natural world and gained insights that will inform and guide my steps on the path ahead. I’ve planted seeds and watched them grow into young trees; I’ve watched mid-sized trees grow into large trees. I’ve leaned many things about plants and trees that I didn’t know before, thanks to my knowledgable co-workers. I’ve learned what makes for a healthy landscape — rich soil and radical biodiversity among others. I’ve leaned how forgiving and resilient trees can be. Above all, the most important lesson I’ve learned during my tenure here is that we must never see ourselves apart from the natural world, but rather a part of it; that our health and well-being are inextricably linked to the wellbeing of the environment around us. Lastly, we are all land stewards by the simple fact that we all live on and from the ground below our feet. And being good land stewards - here and everywhere - is what it’s all about.

Mark Smith