The Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Newsletter Issue #1: April • May • June 2026  From the Director of Horticulture Greetings from the gardens! I'm proud to introduce our inaugural newsletter, Floral Notes! I can't believe we finally got it done - it's been on the to-do list for a very long time. When you have a tiny staff, taking the time to sit down and write often gets sidelined. Leah Busch Spring Projects & Events   Events Floor Some Sugar On Me Dessert Auction  Fuego Hot Glass Easter Egg Hunt Custom Glass eggs, riddles, and a city wide scavenger hunt made for an epic Easter Eve. All the NABG eggs were claimed during this community event. We'll hide them better next year! 😉  Annual Pond Cleanout Plant BINGO & the Annual Spring Plant Sale Our first ever Plant BINGO sold out! Plant BINGO was supported by local businesses: Brookwood Inc., Clemon-Maki Insurance, and Alta House. We'd also like to recognize a generous individual sponsor, Rose Evans. Thank you to all who attended and made the event a success! During Plant BINGO we opened up the plant store and offered attendees first choice of the plant sale inventory. Plant shopping & BINGO? Yes, please! After BINGO the board quickly rearranged the Krumm and set up the Annual Spring Plant Sale. It was back to back event madness. All the work was worth it, though. YOU showed up and supported the NABG mission. It's truly gratifying to receive such amazing community support. We're thrilled to report the 2026 Plant Sale was our highest grossing sale ever! This event combo was funded in part by a grant from the City of Newton Hotel-Motel Tourism Grant Program.  The Newton Arboretum also participated at the YMCA Senior Health Fair and Run For Beer sponsored by the Iowa Brewery Running Series & Gezellig Brewing Company. ProjectsKrumm Flooring Installation I believe the Alta House fundraiser inspired our donors. We received several large, anonymous donations to help complete our floor funding goal. We're truly GRATEFUL for these selfless gifts! After a whirlwind installation timetable and LOTS of board workdays to clean the construction mess - the reveal! The new flooring is beautiful and makes cleanup a breeze! It's been a great addition to the facility!   Moving the Krumm Entrance Sign Originally part of a First Impressions Project initiated by grant money from the Jasper Community Foundation, the sign finally got moved. There were many unforeseen issues to manage. A huge thank you to Performance Signs for working through all the challenges. We love the new placement!  Garden News  Iowa gardens need to be adaptable because Iowa weather will put them to the test. In my experience, newly planted trees are the most vulnerable to our manic temperature swings. We lost a few baby trees this spring and will be replacing them. The weather, a busy event & project season, and a reduced volunteer crew really put the garden staff behind. Garden work has been a slow steady process. But we shall prevail! This season we've plans to:
The garden staff continues to CREATE, GROW, and BLOOM. Dates of Note: → June 22 Heard the first cicada song of the season → June 23 The Japanese beetles are here! 😱 → June 26 Cicada killer wasps have arrived Other NewsMeet the MenteeThe NABG has a Director Mentee Program for high school students. We're proud to introduce Olivia Hoen as our 2026 mentee. She'll be completing a mission-related project with guidance from some of our expert board members. The mentee program is eligible for Silver Cord hours. Bloom Local AwardWe got an incredibly sweet award! It was an honor to receive the Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce Bloom Local Award. It's an initiative to recognize local businesses who make a difference in the community! Gator Heaven You're not seeing double - there really are TWO gators living at the Arboretum! We submitted a grant request to Van Wall Equipment of Colfax. Specifically we needed:
With Van Wall's assistance we purchased another garden gator to get the work done. Volunteers Corporate volunteer work days are the best. UL Solutions and Chevron-REG donated their talents to clean the gardens this spring. Their work is so appreciated - especially by me! Many hands made some big tasks manageable. The NABG regular outdoor garden staff is reduced this year due to life changes. However, Mary & Steve Mullan continue to devote their time and efforts to the grounds. I cannot thank them enough for their dedication and friendship. Volunteer opportunities are endless - and needed! If you have an interest, please contact us. Volunteer work fits your schedule - you can help every day or once a week, it's your choice. Some opportunities include:
What's Next?Johnson Musical Butterflies Installation Jane & Gary Johnson donated four tonal butterfly instruments to bring music to the gardens. These butterflies will flutter through the prairie, inspiring exploration of nature and sound. They'll be a fun way to mark your progress as you explore the prairie trail. Additional Garden Seating Offering places for visitors to relax and linger is another way we hope to build community. A recent board donation of several adirondack chairs will soon be available. We're also working on providing memorial options for patio seating. Krumm Center Bathroom Updates The board is in the process of getting estimates for bathroom rennovations. This is a big project, but the hope is to improve accessibility for all. A major side benefit is improved aesthetics. Funds are always needed for these big projects. We'll be applying for grants and working on fundraising campaigns in 2027 Permanent Tree Labels Finding functional tree labels has been an adventure. It's another project that's been in the works for several years. We've trialed several styles and found a solution we like. Introducing tree-hugger spring tags. The tags are: • low maintenance • permanently attached • cause no damage • avoid the mower • budget friendly • usable for tribute tree dedications  Fabrication will begin this winter with installation slated for spring 2027. Support for any NABG project is always welcomed & appreciated! Please contact us at: nabg@newtonarboretum.com. Upcoming EventsVisit the Event page on the NABG website to keep up to date with our schedule.  In Passing - A Horticultural MemoriamPearl Fryar A self-taught topiary artist who passed away April 4th. He was 86. I highly recommend watching the documentary A Man Named Pearl. If you ever get the chance, visit the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden in South Carolina. Nigel Dunnett Another loss in April. Nigel was a British plantsman renowned for his ecological approach and naturalistic designs. Known for the Barbican and the Tower of London Super Bloom. The Major Oak The iconic mighty oak of Sherwood forest, estimated to be 1200 years old, failed to leaf this spring. Support the MissionThe NABG celebrates nature by focusing on horticulture, community, and growth. We believe in CREATING beauty with the power of ecological horticulture and we GROW to inspire, enhance, and engage.
Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens' Board Board Officers Co-President Lana Wohlers Co-President Leah Busch VP Ina Heidemann Treasurer Ryan Zink Secretary Teresa Lyman Board Directors John Fruetel Doug Thoma Kelly Cooper Dawn Bleeker Andrea Quinn Staff Director of Horticulture: Leah Busch Office Manager: Michaella Cope  |
