Aquidneck Island Originals–The origin stories of five local plants

By Joe Verstandig - Living Collections Manager

Ever since I began my journey in horticulture, the origin stories of plant cultivars have always been extremely fascinating to me. These captivating tales always remind me of the eternal connection between plants and people, shaping our history up to the present day. Humans have been propagating superior plants for thousands of years, selecting for certain qualities that give them added value over the typical wild type or species. These qualities may include disease resistance, increased fruit production, dwarf growth habit, and anything else that may benefit the cultivator. In modern times, plant discoveries and introductions are often thanks to the hard work and keen eyes of professional growers and amateur enthusiasts. Often times, luck is involved, either by a chance encounter with a plant wherever it may grow, or through mother nature’s ability to spontaneously produce something extraordinary right before our very eyes. Sometimes we can make our own luck through hard work, with the planting of thousands, even millions of seeds, hoping that just one of the resulting plants separates itself from the others. We can increase our chances through controlled crosses and hybridization, picking good parents to produce even better children. It is no surprise that growers are always in pursuit of exceptional plants. After all, eye-catching (good selling) and horticulturally valuable plants are vital for the survival of nurseries and landscapers, and key to the success of public gardens and arboreta.

Aquidneck Island has a rich horticultural history, and several valuable plants that appear in gardens near and far were “born” right here on the biggest island in Narragansett Bay. In this article, I will discuss the cultural history and current landscape status of the more common Aquidneck Island plant introductions. It is a story of people, their life’s work, their love of plants, and the legacy they leave in our gardens and landscapes...

Click below to continue reading Joe's article.

Upcoming Events

Tree Talks at Heritage Tree Center

A series of educational discussions held on the second Thursday of each month.

November Discussion: How to read the History of a tree

Date: November 11th, 2024

Time: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Registration:

• NTC members: Free admission
• Non-members: $1o

Join us at the Heritage Tree Center for an informative discussion on how trees record history, how that information is used in climate science, and how to interpret Newport’s history through the rings of a heritage tree. A brief tour of the November happenings at the greenhouse will be included, as well as a chance to ask questions and see our heritage trees before they get put to bed for the winter!

Sign up now for this event by clicking on the link below!

Annual Appeal

Your dedication to our cause continues to make a significant impact on our community and our environment. 

Some of our joint 2024 successes include:

Expanding Newport’s Urban Forest

• We purchased and planted over 200 new trees in Newport and propagated 115 progeny from 14 of our community’s most iconic trees
• Raised our Tree Equity score from 77 to 86

Ensuring Newport’s Tree Health

• We cared for 215 public trees, including the continued effort to monitor & treat beech leaf disease in our community. Our 2024 volunteer initiatives total over 330 service hours which helped support these very important activities.

Educating Our Community

• We delivered tree-focused programming to 571 youth in all of Newport’s public schools and summer programs, as well as providing 24 engaging community programs for over 540 adult learners.

Click below to donate and help us plant for the future! 

Other things of note

NTC was awarded the Gold leaf Award from the International Society of Arboriculture New England Chapter for our work on tree equity and community tree planting. The plaque was presented to NTC Executive director Natahsa Harrison by Scott Wheeler, 2024 ISA New England Chapter President, and the City of Newport's Superintendent of Parks, Grounds, and Forestry.

Request a Program with NTC!

The Newport Tree Conservancy is committed to connecting our community with trees, and that starts with environmental education for all ages. NTC’s experienced staff provides science-based, hands on programs for Newport’s K-12 students, as well as engaging programs for community groups ranging from summer camps to garden clubs. 

Click below to request a program!

By joining the Newport Tree Conservancy as a member, you are supporting a wide range of initiatives that benefit our community and our shared tree canopy: