CPCC Horticultural Alumni Professional Society
July, 2007

Survey Results:
Earlier this spring a random survey gauged interests and needs of CHAPS members. Based upon those results, a newsletter will be used as a means to communicate. Educational events were praised and future fieldtrips were requested. Most members have difficulty in committing time, since everyone is working! But most plan to participate at some level.

Events:
Past Fieldtrips: Southern Highlands Reserve



Arlene Main: “…what a adventurous hike …beginning with a harrowing ride in the Mule down a rocky road, followed by stairs and ladders across the rock cliffs….beautiful, cavernous spaces with waterfalls….tiny ferns and jack-in-the-pulpits in crevices…views down the valley …and blissful peace”

It really was an educational, enjoyable, and exclusive experience! We are already putting this trip on our repeat calendar for the first Saturday in May, so keep that Saturday open! It will be limited to CHAPS members.

An extra bonus this year was the tour of the UNC Botanical Garden’s wildflower collection with input from our Barbara Alexander. What an incredible resource she is about our native plants!







In April, Linda Wolfe with a group of fellow CHAPS



traveled to North Carolina Arboretum and the UNC Botanical Garden in Asheville. We are already planning new trips for this coming year, so if you have a suggestion, please let us know.

Future Fieldtrips
September 7th = Atlanta Botanical Garden - (leave on Friday and return on Saturday night)
November 2nd = Wilmington Gardens (leave on Friday and return on Sunday)
? = Local Site (perhaps TIAA-CREF)

Past Educational Speaker: Richard Bir

Our educational event in February was warmly received. It was held at Cato Campus in the new auditorium, with Richard Bir speaking on new introductions of native plants that we should be including in our installations. Pike’s Nursery (with our own Lisa Tompkins assistance) provided and sold discussed natives.

Future Educational Events
In 2008 we will be holding our educational event the first week in February at the Mint Museum. Expect more information to follow as soon as details are finalized.

CPCC Request for Help

Kevin asks all CHAPS members to send him some purchased or gathered seed of perennials or unusual annuals that you would like him to grow. He will provide you with some baby plants, as long as he has a few plants to sell at the spring or next fall’s plant sale. Be sure to label the seeds and who is sending them, so he can track the progress and product. He also could use divisions of named perennials and a few clumps of different types of liriope. GOOD opportunity to support the program. (I’ve collected columbine….)



What’s New?
Joe Summer retired as Division Director at Cato Campus on June 30th. Hard to believe that Joe’s not there to steer the ship! He plans on teaching part-time after a semester off… And there are only so many fish that one can catch!

A new instructor, Frankie Fanelli has been hired to fill the vacancy that Bonnie Faulkner’s resignation created. To give CHAPS members an opportunity to meet all the CPCC instructors, we hope to have a panel with John Holmes, Randy Sigg, and Frankie Fanelli to share what’s new in their respective fields!

We could use your IMMEDIATE feedback. Was this newsletter helpful? Would you like to have it sent email or snail mail? Would you like a “classified section” or ‘new plants’ or ‘ new resources’ selections in the newsletter? Would you like the membership list? We have room for sharing, if interested. Let Liz know.

Contact Information:

Liz Harris, editor and membership chair: Elizabeth.harris@cpcc.edu or 704-892-4553

Arlene Main, treasurer: Mainkna@bellsouth.net 5509 Eagle Lake Drive , Charlotte, 28217

Linda Wolfe, social planning: lmw324@bellsouth.net

Helen Redwine, president: helenredwine@carolina.rr.com

Cindy Chaney, secretary: CCHANEY704@AOL.COM

John Holmes, advisor: John.Holmes@cpcc.edu

Kevin Watts, CPCC Instructional Laboratory Facilitator: Kevin.Watts@cpcc.edu
(We have extra space here, for your items. Let us know what you would like to have us include.)