The
University of Vermont Horticultural Research Center, also known as the
"Hort. Farm," is home for many trees, shrubs, perennials, apples and
small fruit. More than 700 kinds of ornamental trees and shrubs,
many
of them uncommon or unique, are planted at the Hort. Farm. One of
the
largest known mature ornamental crabapple collections in the Northeast
is located here.
Purchased in the early 1950s, the 97-acre Hort. Farm
is used for agricultural research and instruction of UVM classes, and
by professional plant organizations and gardening groups. For
over 50
years, University horticulturists have been testing new and unusual
plants for their adaptation to the Vermont environment, especially to
our cold winters.
The Hort. Farm is open to visitors during public events and by appointment. (Directions to the Farm) A current list of events can be found at the Friends of the Hort Farm website. All questions pertaining to Friends events should be addressed to info@friendsofthehortfarm.org or (802) 864-3073. The phone number is (802) 658-9166. You are asked to sign in at the Blasberg Building before beginning your tour of the property. There is a "Woodland Walk" which is a self-guided tour that describes the collections in detail.
For information about the Research or Teaching programs at the Hort. Farm, contact Terry Bradshaw, at tbradsha@uvm.edu or call (802) 658-9166. For information about workshops or special events, contact The Friends of the Horticulture Farm at (802) 864-3073.
Special Collections and Points of Interest:
- Bat House Raising (October 2006)
On October 22, a group of about 14 "Friends" of the University of Vermont Horticulture Farm gathered to put their muscles to raising a 4 foot by 4 foot bat house on the Horticulture Farm property - not an insignificant task given the size of the house and the height at which it needs to be positioned.
Here are the vital statistics on the new bat house:
• The house itself is 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall.
• There are 9 roosting chambers within, with access holes leading from
one chamber to the next.
• The maximum capacity of the house is believed to be about 2,000 bats
once it is "discovered" (usually within a year of installation).
• The interior partitions are 1/2" AC (exterior grade) plywood and are
painted black.
• Each roosting chamber is 3/4" wide.
• All exterior materials are Western Red Cedar painted black.
• The roof is covered with a shingle for added protection.
• All exterior joints are caulked to keep the interior dry.
• The house is mounted on 6" x 6" x 10 foot pressure treated posts set
in 4 feet of concrete. The bat house is attached to 4" x 6" x 16 foot
pressure treated poles which are bolted to these footings. When bats
exit the bottom of the house each night to go hunting, they need to
swoop down before beginning their flight. The height of the house
ensures their protection from foxes, housecats and other predators
lurking below looking for a tasty meal.
• A nearly identical bat house was erected at the Inn at Shelburne
Farms in 2001 and has been occupied by bats since 2 weeks after it was
put up.
Next time you're in the area, stop by the Horticulture Farm on Green Mountain Drive in South Burlington and see the new bat residence - it's a pretty interesting sight. If you'd like more information on how you can attract bats to your own backyard, contact South Burlington's Barry Genzlinger at BatCabins@aol.com. He's a great spokesperson for these often little-understood creatures.
- Common
Ground Student-Run Educational Farm -
This CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm, started in 1994, is
organized and run by UVM students, with the guidance of faculty &
staff advisors. The club consists of committed and interested
students, working together toward common goals including the following:
To provide students with hands-on education in growing vegetables,
small fruits, herbs and flowers on a commercial scale, including
culture, harvest, crop scheduling, management and distribution issues;
To create a positive link between UVM and the greater Burlington
Community, through donation of 50% of produce to local emergency food
providers, such as the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf and the
Burlington Salvation Army; and To acknowledge aid from UVM supporters
through the provision of fresh, nutritious and delicious vegetables to
shareholders. The student farm is comprised of 3 acres at the
Horticulture Research Center.
- Cary Award Garden - Created during the summer of 2000, it is a collection of ornamental trees, shrubs, groundcovers and vines that are noted as outstanding plants for use in landscapes in Vermont. The garden was developed from matching grants received from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation - Urban and Community Forestry Program and The Friends of the Horticulture Farm. The Hort. Farm’s garden of Cary Award winning plants is the only collection of its kind in New England.
- Crabapple Collection - The crabapple collection of over 120
different kinds of mature crabapple trees is one of the largest in the
Northeast. A special open house is held in May when the crabapples are
in bloom. In autumn, crabapples have colorful foliage and showy
fruit.
- Apples
- Ongoing research is being conducted on apple scab, apple replant
disease, cultivar/rootstock combinations, and the Vermont Lattice
System (a new training system for growing apple trees). Scab-resistant
apple varieties are tested and evaluated.
- Lilac Collection - The lilac collection includes 90 kinds of lilacs ranging from 3 feet to 15 feet in height, and having a multitude of colors. Most of the lilacs are in bloom in late May.
- Juniper Collection -The juniper collection includes 60 kinds of junipers. They range from spreading groundcovers to tree size, and vary in shape and color.
- Other Woody Plant Collections - Rhododendrons, conifers, viburnums and many other kinds of trees and shrubs are represented in the plant collections.
- Perennials - A display border of a large number of labeled perennial plants useful in Vermont gardens is located near the parking area. Research on perennials has included cut flower studies, hardiness trials and disease control of mildew on phlox. Asters and solidago (goldenrod) are being evaluated for their characteristics, hardiness and potential uses.
- Natural Areas - The woodlands, meadows,
ponds and orchards offer a diverse habitat for wildlife. The Hort. Farm
is a favorite stopover for migrating birds
Last modified July 02 2009 09:56 AM
