News

On June 5, 2022, we celebrated the Spring 2022 graduates of our Certificate in Native Plant Studies program.

This year’s graduates were:

Nancy Devries
Mary Duke
Sarah Dumser
Doreen Francois
April Faucette
Catherine (Cathe) Hawley
Kristina Hicks-Hamblin
Rosemary Kinch
Melanie Myers
Roger Pelz
Shelley Williams

Director Emeritus Dr. Larry Mellichamp officiated the graduation ceremony.

See more photos from the ceremony here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/k5qVT8gbNF1N7EW67

A list of all CNPS graduates can be found here. 

 

The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, Center for the Study of the New South, Urban Institute and UrbanCORE were proud to officially open the Carolina Garden Trail on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Special thanks to the following people and organizations who came together to make this project happen: 

Allison Tietz, Akin Ogundiran, Ashli Stokes, Botanical Gardens Staff and Advisory Board, Byron White, Center for the Study of the New South, Charlotte Teachers Institute, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Ed Davis, Janaka Lewis, Jeff Michael, Joanne Joy, North Carolina Humanities, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Shardee Williams, urbanCORE and Urban Institute Staff

This project was made possible by funding from the following organizations: 

Join Amy Tipton, Assistant Director of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens for an early evening tour of the Gardens.

MUST Register! Click a date below to register.

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, June 22, 7-8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 20, 7-8 p.m.

Wednesday, August 24, 6:30-7:30 pm

Wednesday, September 21, 6:30-7:30 pm

*NOTE earlier times in August and September.

Cost: $5 per person per walk, free for members and UNC Charlotte faculty/staff/students

Location: Meet at McMillan Greenhouse

Participant Limit: 15.

Note: In case of heavy rain or storms, walks will be cancelled.

This story was originally posted on April 28, 2022 by Meg Whalen, director of communications for the College of Arts + Architecture at this link: https://coaa.charlotte.edu/news/2022-04-28/memorial-recognizes-strength-community-after-april-30.

MEMORIAL RECOGNIZES STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY AFTER APRIL 30

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2022A sculpture designed by art professors Marek Ranis and Tom Schmidt stands in the Botanical Gardens.

It’s quiet in the garden where the new memorial stands tall among the trees. Sometimes sunlight filters through the leaves to illuminate a message of hope.

You are strong enough. Always believe. We have each other.

“It’s such an environment of peace, of seeking silence,” says senior art major Vannah Mobley. “It invites you into the space.”

Mobley is one of 42 students who have worked over the past semester to create a sculpture in the Botanical Gardens that commemorates the way Niner Nation came together in the aftermath of April 30, 2019. Designed by Associate Professors of Art Marek Ranis and Thomas Schmidt, the sculpture is itself a product of community, of many hands and hearts.

Here is the story of its creation. 

---

Almost immediately after the shooting on April 30, 2019 that ended the lives of Riley Howell and Reed Parlier, the Botanical Gardens staff “kicked into high gear,” says Assistant Director Amy Tipton. “We asked, what can we do to provide something?” After quick deliberation, they decided to invite people to write their thoughts and feelings onto small smooth river rocks and leave them in the garden. A table with stones and markers was set up in the Susie Harwood Gardens.

“It was really fascinating how right away we saw the stones popping up,” Tipton says. “They were just beautiful sentiments.”

Hundreds of people came to the gardens to choose, inscribe, and place stones. Tipton, who has degrees in art as well as botany, and Botanical Gardens Director Jeff Gillman felt that the profound response deserved some kind of permanent artistic manifestation. They contacted Schmidt, who had frequently brought his art students to the garden, and Schmidt engaged his colleague Ranis. The two produced concept drawings.

The 12-foot tall sculpture called for large river rocks to replace the smaller stones. To preserve the exact handwriting and drawings on the originals, Ranis and Schmidt and students in four different classes took photographs of the small stones, printed the images, and laid them on top of the large stones.

They then engraved the stones through the photographs, cutting the words and designs into the stones’ surfaces so that they cannot wash away. Finally they painted the engravings black so that they would appear just as they had originally. “I feel like the project did a great job of helping us remember,” says Mobley (above left), who was a freshman in April 2019. “It helped everyone remember that we were all in this thing together.”

The art professors (above left and center) donated their time, and engineering alumnus Garret Overcash, Project Engineer at SKA Consulting Engineers, prepared the structural drawings pro-bono. But materials and fabrication aren’t free. Funding for the project came from the Student Activity Fee Commission based on a request from the Student Government Association. Peachland Design and Fabrication and Heartland Construction did the physical fabrication and installation of the steel frame. Caroline Hill of Facilities Management served as project manager. “It’s built like a tank,” Ranis says. “It’s very sturdy.”

Ed Davis, horticultural supervisor and landscape architect for the Botanical Gardens, suggested the site for the sculpture: an elevated landing near the gazebo and Asian garden, encircled by benches and tulip poplars. “We call this place ‘Little Stonehenge,’” Tipton says.

“We are so thankful to the Botanical Gardens for donating this beautiful site for the memorial,” says Schmidt. “You couldn’t ask for a more serene location.”

“Ultimately, every contribution to this memorial – those made back then and those made recently in our class – reflects the legacy of Niner Nation Remembers and forms connections with the school, with Riley and Reed, and with each other,” says art student and Levine Scholar Danielle Walden, who, like Mobley, was a freshman in 2019 and will graduate in May. “The sculpture becomes a beacon of hope, one that transcends the bounds of time and the circumstances of what happened, and instead applies itself to brightening negative situations.”

“I hope future students can visit this site and take the time to move around the sculpture,” Walden continues. “I hope they reflect deeply on past events and it encourages them to take better care of each other and themselves in the here and now.”

A simple dedication of the memorial sculpture took place Friday, April 29, at 12:15 pm at the site. Pictured above, Amy Tipton.

For information about other remembrance activities, visit ninernationremembers.charlotte.edu.

Photos are by Lynn Roberson, Amy Tipton, Marek Ranis, Tom Schmidt, Andrew Brooks, and Wade Bruton.

Hear more from the sculpture’s creators in this WBTV News special broadcast.

On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Dr. Larry Mellichamp, Director Emeritus of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, was honored with the prestigious Flora Caroliniana Award by the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

Dr. Mellichamp is the seventh person to receive this honor, given for enthusiasm and service to the preservation, restoration, and appreciation of the natural world around us.

Previous Flora Caroliniana Award recipients include:

Lady Bird Johnson for advocating for native plants and helping the North Carolina Botanical Garden launch its first fundraising campaign, “Celebrating Wildflowers.” (1988)
John Terres, naturalist and author best known for his work, From Laurel Hill to Siler’s Bog: The Walking Adventures of a Naturalist. (1991)
William Lanier Hunt to honor him as the Founder of the Botanical Garden Foundation. (1996)
Ritchie Bell the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s first director from 1961 to 1986. (2000)
Thomas Wright Earnhardt in recognition of his lifelong contributions to conservation. (2016)
Charlotte Jones Roe in honor of 44 years of service, tirelessly advocating for the North Carolina Botanical Garden. (2018)

The award was presented by Johnny Randall, NCBG director of conservation programs, and Alan Weakley, director of the UNC Herbarium, at a ceremony at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Garden’s Mellichamp Native Terrace.

Dr. Mellichamp was recognized by several colleagues and contemporaries in the botanical field from all over the country.

Paula Gross, retired Associate Director of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens wrote an especially poignant speech, which can be read in its entirety below.

The Botanical Gardens offer free Gratitude in the Gardens meditative walks once a month. These walks are open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

For Exam Week 2022, we will have three drop in Gratitude Walks exclusively for the UNC Charlotte community. The schedule for this year is below. Drop in, no registration required!

Monday 5/2 12:30-1:15 p.m.
Gratitude Walk: Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Expressing gratitude is proven to help individuals experience more positive emotions, improve their mental health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Take time to complete this scavenger hunt; think about each object you find and the positive role it plays in your daily life.

Tuesday 5/3 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Gratitude Walk: Art in the Gardens – Painting Rocks

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help individuals of all ages express oneself, explore emotions and instill hope and empowerment.

Rock painting – Rock painting is a rewarding wellness ritual that can help one heal and connect with others. The idea is to find a pebble or small rock within the space, leave an artistic mark or positive note on the surface and leave it in the same space for others to enjoy. The person who finds your surprise gift may experience a surge of mood-boosting emotions, since having a sense of community is foundational for feelings of safety and security.

Wednesday 5/4 12:30-1:15 p.m.
Gratitude Walk: Art in the Gardens – Mandalas

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help individuals of all ages express oneself, explore emotions and instill hope and empowerment.

Mandalas – Mandalas are a geometric design pattern that offer several mental and emotional benefits. Mandala, which means “circle” in Sanskrit, is a sacred symbol that is used for meditation, prayer, healing, relaxation, and art therapy for both adults and children. We will utilize elements available within the gardens to enjoy this activity.

UPDATE!: WOW what a great turn out. We are “sold” out with just a few yellow tulips bulbs left. We will be closing the event and Greenhouse at 2 p.m. Thank you to all who attended for your support of the Gardens!

Fall is the best time to plant, but what do you do when you get a HUGE donation of bulbs in February? You put them in the ground! Our gardeners have planted over 7,000 bulbs in the past 2 weeks, and now we are offering the excess to our community, with a suggested donation that is MUCH less than retail value.

Join us this Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and spread the colorful Spring love!

Where: McMillan Greenhouse, 9090 Craver Road, Charlotte, NC 28262

When: Fri.-Sat., Feb. 25-26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

How much: SUGGESTED donation is $12 per bag OR 3 bags for $30. Large bulbs (tulips, narcissus, and standard hyacinths) average 50 bulbs per bag, Small bulbs (grape hyacinths, crocus, etc.) average 100 per bag.

How: Cash or check accepted on site, or credit cards accepted through our online donation site.

Why: Plant these bulbs right away for gorgeous Spring color, and support a good cause all at once! All donations support the operations of the Greenhouse and Gardens, where admission is always FREE!

You did it!! Thanks to you, we raised $5,179 for our 55 for 55 campaign, shooting way past our $3,000 goal and receiving the full $3,000 matching gift for a grand total of $8,179! Thank you so much for your support. Although this campaign is now over, you can donate any time at go.charlotte.edu/GiveGreen 

Thank you for allowing us to continue to share the world of plants with our community!

For more information about how you can support the Botanical Gardens and our mission, visit gardens.charlotte.edu. 

See our upcoming events and programs here. 

$55 for 55 Donors:

Anonymous
Undisclosed Amount

Kevin McCorkle
In Honor of Dr. Cone, Dr. Hechenbleikner, Ralph VanLandingham Jr. & Dr. Mellichamp
$55.55

Katherine (Merry) Chambers
$55.55

Anonymous
Undisclosed Amount

George Koraly
In Honor of All your great garden volunteers
Undisclosed Amount

Cynthia Beane
$55.55

Anonymous
$55.55

Yvette Huet
$20.55

Polly Brockway
$100.55

Albert Benshoff
In Memory of Zella K. Benshoff
Undisclosed Amount

Gary & Elizabeth Broome
Undisclosed Amount

Anonymous
Undisclosed Amount

Lib and Tom Jones-Nunnenkamp
In Honor of Dr. Larry Mellichamp
Undisclosed Amount

Anonymous
$55.55

Julie Smith
In Memory of Rusty Page
$55.55

Anonymous
In Honor of North Carolina Native Plants
Undisclosed Amount

Richard Lejk
$200.55

Judy Walker
Undisclosed Amount

Patrick Ambrose
$55.55

Carla Vitez
In Honor of UNCC BG staff
Undisclosed Amount

Glenda Steel
$55.55

Roger Callaway
$55.55

Patrick Reinbold
In Memory of Ellie
$100.55

Theresa Morr
In Honor of The wonderful and dedicated staff and volunteers at the Botanical Garden
$55.55

Anonymous
Undisclosed Amount

Anonymous
$20.55

Dave Frantzreb
$55.55

Bronwyn Jarsocrak
Undisclosed Amount

Christina Wright
In Memory of Betty Wright
$100

Debra Smith
Undisclosed Amount

Anonymous
In Memory of Elizabeth Jacobs
Undisclosed Amount

Tim Rogers
Undisclosed Amount

Moira Klein
$55.55

Richard Hechenbleikner
In memory of my late father, Herbert, and in honor of Larry Mellichamp
$100.55

Trevor and Mary Duke
$100.55

Annette Dean
$55.55

Heike Biller
$55.55

Beth Boaz
$55.55

Debarati Dutta
In Honor of Our farmer and gardener friends who nurture our bodies and souls
$55.55

Anonymous
Undisclosed Amount

Benjamin Leder
$55

Christen Hoover
In Honor of Meredith Hebden
$20.55

Lee Ann Parker
$55.55

Anonymous
$55.55

Cathy Nechin
In Memory of John Applegit and Anne Close
$55.55

William Donaldson
$55.55

Curt Walton
$100.55

Shawn Villalpando
In Honor of TLM
$300

Nancy Gutierrez
Undisclosed Amount

Anonymous
$55.55

Larry and Audrey Mellichamp
$100.55

Anonymous
$100.55

Anonymous
Undisclosed Amount

Charles Pinkston
In Honor of Central Lake Norman Golden Boys
$30

Louis Eubanks
$100.55

Kathryn Jones
Undisclosed Amount

Anonymous
$250

John Denti
$100.55

Richard Lejk
$100.55

Tatia Prieto
$20.55

Trina Rumfelt
In Memory of Nikkie Seabolt, for always showing the beauty of a garden
$20.55

From left to right: Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), Pentas (Pentas lanceolata), Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Monkey grass (Liriope), Chinese abelia (Linnaea chinensi), Anemone (Anemone), Cestrum (Cestrum), Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana).