Plant Inventory: A to Z and 1, 2, 3…
From the Abraham Darby rose to the Zululand Cycad, our plant database is a myriad of plant names and numbers. Twice a year our Plant Curator inventories the plants on our 20 acre site, recording and mapping new plantings and noting plants that were removed. Not every single plant is counted: it would be a never-ending task to try to determine just how many individual penta plants make up a grouping! But approximately 1,900 plants were individually counted on our May inventory.
Thanks to that count, we know we have more than 750 species and varieties of trees, shrubs, vines, bamboo, and other plants on our grounds. And the locations of all of our trees and most shrubs, cycads, succulents, palms and roses were checked or updated on our maps. Of course, the big trees don’t move very frequently, but you might be surprised how often other plants are changed out by our garden staff. And with more than 100 commemorative trees on our property, it’s important that we know where they are in the event the donor wants to visit their tree or we have another hurricane like Irma that knocked down many of our trees.
Plant inventories are also necessary for achieving museum accreditation, something our museum curatorial staff is working toward. Plants are considered a “living collection” and most national and international museum accreditation programs require that plants be inventoried in a similar manner as museum artifacts. This is especially true for historic sites like Edison Ford where some of the trees growing during the Edisons’ time are still standing, making them true original pieces of history.
The next time you visit the Edison Ford gardens, be sure to pick up one of the self-guided tours our Plant Curator made and learn about some of the most fascinating plants we have on the property.
How to Have a Stress Free Wedding Day
It’s the week leading up to your wedding and you just want the day to be perfect. All of the planning is finally going to pay off. You shouldn’t have to worry about anything except being with your friends and family who have traveled near and far to celebrate with you and your sweetie. The best way to achieve this goal is to stay calm and follow these tips for a stress free wedding day.
1. Get a Good Night Sleep
During the week of your wedding, you’ll be running around and putting the finishing touches on everything. With last minute appointments, confirming contracts, attending the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and all of your friends and family wanting to see you, it can be very easy to lose track of time and sleep. But, believe it or not, your wedding day is going to be so packed full of events, it will fly by quickly! Getting a good night’s sleep is important so you’ll feel refreshed and have a lot of energy to make it the best day ever.
2. Stay Hydrated and Eat
With all the nerves and anxiousness it is very easy to forget to eat and drink water. Eating a nutritional breakfast, snacking throughout the day and drinking lots of water are very important. Food and water will help you stay level headed and keep the nerves and anxiousness from getting the best of you. Be prepared and arrange for food and snacks ahead of time.
3. Prepare an Emergency Kit
You never know what is going to happen, so it’s better to be prepared for anything. Some important items to pack are thread, needles, safety pins, stain remover, wet wipes, makeup, hairspray, mints, and a snack. Pack everything you think you might possibly need and keep it with you throughout the day.
4. Delegate Tasks
On the big day, there are so many things to do and the couple should not have to worry about everything. Consult with all of your vendors and utilize them for everything that they offer. Trust their opinions since they are the professionals. Hire a planner or recruit a friend to be the wedding-day contact, so they can make sure everything goes the way you want.
5. Have Everything Needed for the day Packed and Ready to go a Week Out
Having everything packed and ready to go in advanced will help alleviate stress. Most importantly, keep your marriage license in a secure spot. Have everything labeled and ready to go.
6. Enjoy the Moment
You are getting married, so just enjoy your day and soak it all in. This is your big day and you will want to enjoy every moment. Dance, kiss, look each other in the eyes and just enjoy each other. These will become the best memories and the best photos the photographer will capture!
