Research at Adkins Arboretum
For information on research support by Adkins Arboretum, contact Sue Wyndham at 410-634-2847, ext. 24 or swyndham@adkinsarboretum.org.
Native orchids
Although many people are familiar with the tropical orchids grown indoors and used in flower arrangements and corsages, not so many realize that native orchids thrive in neighboring bogs and woodlands. There are several species of native orchids at the Arboretum. Three of these can be observed along the Arboretum paths: the cranefly orchid, Tipularia discolor, the downy rattlesnake plantain, Goodyera pubescens, and the pink lady's slipper, Cypripedium acaule.
Arboretum staff and volunteers monitor populations of pink lady's slipper orchid for the number of plants, flowering, and seed set. This orchid has beautiful pink flowers in spring, but often fails to set seed due to poor pollination. Orchids appear to flower more readily when there is more light. To promote flowering, staff trims trees around the orchid populations.
Meadow restoration
Nancy's Meadow is being overtaken by a native vine, trumpet vine (Campsis radicans). Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage is working with the Arboretum to control trumpet creeper and other woody plants and will plant sections of the meadow with different mixes of grasses and native wildflowers in the spring. The planting mixes and maintenance techniques are monitored to determine which is most successful.
Project Owlnet
Adkins Arboretum has been a site for banding Northern Saw-whet Owls as part of Project Owlnet since 1998. The Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus, is a very small owl, less than 10 inches in length and weighing less than 4 ounces. This nocturnal owl principally feeds on mice and voles. For detailed information about Northern Saw-whet Owls, visit The Owl Pages website.
Project Owlnet participants research the migration patterns of the saw-whet owls and other owl species in North America. David Brinker, an ecologist at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, created the project and has been studying owls for more than twenty years. At Adkins, volunteers from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and other organizations set up mist nets nearly every night in October and November and measure, band and release birds caught. This data is used along with data from other banding stations to create a picture of owl migration patterns. For more information please visit the Project Owlnet website.
Eastern bluebird research
The Arboretum has maintained a bluebird trail of 23 boxes for several years. The Arboretum's meadows provide ideal nesting habitat for bluebirds.
Research Stipends
Adkins Arboretum has supported advanced undergraduate and graduate research projects related to the Arboretum's mission of conservation of native plants. Projects funded have included: