Michael Dirr shares tree expertise, accepts award

Just two weeks after leading “A Walk with Legends” in the J. Frank Schmidt Jr. Arboretum, Dr. Michael Dirr took center stage at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Washington, DC. A highlight of the opening reception was his induction into the Society as an Honorary Member, “in recognition of notable service to the profession.”

The ASLA announcement notes that “Dirr’s work as a horticulturist, teacher, researcher, lecturer and consultant makes him one of the greatest influences of the landscape architecture profession over the past 35 years. His seminal book, the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, remains a must-have for landscape architects and all plant enthusiasts.”

Other notables honored include Adrian Benepe (New York City Commissioner of Parks and Recreation), Jonathan Jarvis (Director of the National Park Service), Congresswoman Doris Matsui, and Claire Cooper Marcus (author and professor). Profiles of all nine honorees, plus nominating and supporting letters (including one from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.), may be found here.

Dr. Dirr presented two educational sessions sponsored by the J. Frank Schmidt Family Charitable Foundation. He addressed standing-room only audiences; hundreds of landscape architects, eager to hear him speak “In Praise of Noble Trees.”

Beech, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Bald Cypress, Elms and Oaks are among Dirr’s favorite trees that he defines as “Noble.” Oaks are the most noble of all, he believes, partly due to their genetic plasticity – their ability to adapt and grow in a wide range of climates and soils, and across a broad geographic range.  His fast-paced talk covered tree genera from Acer to Zelkova, most of which are mentioned in the handout posted on the ASLA website. Click here to download a PDF of the handout.

With Bonnie Dirr (his wife and illustrator of the Manual) at his side, Mike signed hundreds of books during book-signing events at the EXPO. When the bookstore ran out of books, he signed Schmidt Reference Guides and gave them away to his admiring fans – along with encouragement for practicing landscape architecture, and advice for nurturing noble trees.

Dr. Dirr shares the spotlight at the Honorary Member reception with Adrian Benepe, NYC Commissioner of Parks and a leader of the MillionTreesNYC effort.

Dirr’s legions of fans included this group that lingered after his final lecture presented to standing room only crowds.

Dr. Mike Dirr saluted this grand old Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) as an example of a truly “Noble Tree.” It grows outside the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.