Get Growing Blog
Connecting people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants.
Most Recent
October 23, 2020
Curating a Collection
By Connor Ryan, MS, Rhododendron Collections Manager
As Rhododendron collections manager at Holden Forests & Gardens I wear many ericaceous hats, but at the core of my job is curating the Holden Rhododendron Collection. This role differs... more
October 16, 2020
The Benefits of Urban Trees
How do the cities of today shape the forests of tomorrow? Urban Trees have been getting a lot of attention in the scientific and sociological worlds lately. Trees... more
October 9, 2020
Crabapples: a ripe system for research
Crabapples, the wild apple species and cultivars (Malus spp.), are important members of the rose family. Crabapples produce profuse blossom (Fig. 1) and small fruits (Fig. 2)1. Many crabapples are cultivated... more
October 2, 2020
Science on Friday: the Art and Science of Grafting
By Connor Ryan, MS, Rhododendron Collections Manager
Grafting is an ancient technique of joining two distinct plants together. Grafts occur naturally or they can occur through human intervention. In practice, grafting usually involves the joining of the... more
September 18, 2020
National Mushroom Month Continues – Lessons in Fungal Ecology and Conservation
By Claudia Bashian-Victoroff, MS, Research Specialist
My name is Claudia and I’m the newest member of the team here at the Long Science Center at Holden Arboretum. I’m a recent graduate of the State University of... more
September 4, 2020
Mushrooms: the hardest working recyclers in the forest
By Sarah Kyker, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate
September is one of our favorite months in the Holden Forests and Gardens Soil Ecology lab. Why? Because it is National Mushroom Month. Many people celebrate National Mushroom Month by... more
August 14, 2020
The Joy of Coding: Raspberry Pi edition
When I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in ecological research and education I knew that there were a lot of new skills that I was going to... more
August 14, 2020
Exploring the Rhododendron Research Network (R-RN)
The Rhododendron Research Network (R-RN) was founded at Holden in 2017 to increase collaboration and dissemination of Rhododendron research, to connect scientists with each other and with plant enthusiasts from... more
July 31, 2020
Frugivory and its impact on forest health
By Alexa Wagner, PhD Candidate
Ohio’s forests have changed over the last 200 years. Few old-growth forests remain as much of the land was timbered and cleared for agriculture in the early 19th century. Most... more
July 24, 2020
How does “the early bird gets the worm” play out in plant communities?
By Katie Stuble, PhD, Director of Research
You’ve heard the phrase “the early bird gets the worm”. We use it to indicate that getting somewhere first can come with big benefits. It’s snagging the choicest donuts in... more
July 3, 2020
The surprising way Jack-in-the-Pulpit initiates pollination…
By Sarah Kyker, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Some of the most fun stories we have in science are about surprising discoveries. Most people think of these as “eureka” moments. We can picture a scientist in a lab... more
June 26, 2020
Pollinator Research at the Arboretum with Dr. Na Wei
Why do we care about pollinators? Pollinators are important creatures in natural ecosystems and our daily life because they provide vital services to wild plants and our crops. Pollinators carry and... more
June 19, 2020
Science on Friday: Spring phenology monitoring wraps for the year
By Katie Stuble, PhD, Director of Research
As spring transitions to summer, we’re wrapping up this year’s spring phenology monitoring in Bole Woods at the Holden Arboretum. Have you heard the term phenology before? Phenology is the... more
June 12, 2020
Plant–pollinator interactions and the role of the flower microbiome in crabapples
Today we are continuing our story of ornamental apples (crabapples). Plants are living in a microbial world. They interact not only with microbes in the soil but also the ones... more
June 12, 2020
Harnessing microbiomes in crabapples: II. Getting seeds for testing microbiome functions
By Na Wei and Jessica LaBella Plants are associated with numerous microorganisms in the wild. Some of these microorganisms are beneficial but others, such as pathogens, can be harmful to... more
June 5, 2020
Science on Friday – Intern program
By Katie Stuble, PhD, Director of Research
As a scientist at the Holden Arboretum, I wear many hats, but one of my favorites is mentor to our summer interns. Each year, Holden’s Research Department brings in students... more
May 29, 2020
Promoting Healthy Forests Through Research at Working Woods
By Rory Schiafo, Research Specialist
If you have been hiking on the Bole Woods loop in the last two years, you may have noticed some strange white pipes sticking out of the ground, or perhaps... more
May 26, 2020
Understanding How Trees Respond to Their Urban Environment
As urban areas expand, they leave isolated forest patches in their wake. The effects of urban areas such as higher temperatures, water flow changes, and increased pollution are not limited... more
May 15, 2020
How genus Rhododendron became my favorite plant species
By Juliana S. Medeiros, PhD, Plant Biologist
As a plant scientist I am often asked the question, “What is your favorite plant species?” The truth is, I can’t pick just one. What I love about plants is... more
May 8, 2020
Eastern Red Cedar: From native to invasive
By David J. Burke, PhD, Vice President for Science and Conservation
Invasive species. The term brings to mind organisms that have been moved around by people, either accidentally or for a purpose, that are now causing problems. For example, here in... more
May 1, 2020
Coding in plant biology, who knew?
By Juliana S. Medeiros, PhD, Plant Biologist
I never viewed myself as a math person, let alone a computer coder. I have always loved nature, animals and plants, these are what drew me to plant biology. But... more
April 17, 2020
Long-term Research in Forest Ecology in Stebbins Gulch
By David J. Burke, PhD, Vice President for Science and Conservation
We began our long-term climate research in Stebbins Gulch in 2006. Our goal was to monitor how plants and soil fungi that associate with plant roots (called mycorrhizal fungi) respond to... more
April 10, 2020
Exploring Fire Blight in Ornamental Apple Trees
Plants are living in a microbial world. They interact not only with microbes in the soil but also the ones living in their flowers. These microbial partners can be beneficial... more
January 10, 2020
Sustainability Tips from HF&G
In January 2020, Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G), comprised of Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH, announced a new strategic plan for the organization. Highlighted within... more
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