Calendar — Single Events
If you visit the calendar regularly, please click your browser's refresh button so that you see the most recent version. To avoid problems, it's always advisable to call ahead to confirm dates, times and space before attending any of these events. Calendar listings are free of charge and may be mailed to Connecticut Gardener, P.O. Box 248, Greens Farms, CT 06838-0248 or emailed to ctgardener@optonline.net. Deadlines for inclusion in our print edition are as follows: February 1 for March/April, April 1 for May/June, June 1 for July/August and August 1 for September/October.
Feb. 7-9 (Tues-Thurs) 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
From the Ground Up Gardening Lecture Series -- Three-day gardening seminar at the UConn Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Day One: Soil "The Beginning" & Site Evaluation. Day Two: Perennials, Vines & Woodies. Day Three: Integrated Pest Management & Invasives. $250. All materials and refreshments provided. Send checks payable to "Roots to Shoots" at 17 Pocono Road, Newtown, CT 06470. Registration ends Jan. 28. Note: this seminar is not part of UConn's Master Gardener program. For more info call (203) 417-5156 or email starlet@roots-to-shoots.com
Feb. 8 (Wednesday) 7 to 9 pm
Conifer Cultivars II at the Hartford County Extension Center in West Hartford with Kevin Wilcox. $50/$40. Deadline: Jan. 4. We continue our exploration of the wonderful world of conifers with a tour through the many cultivars. Kevin will discuss the cultivars within the conifer genera, providing identification characteristics and cultural information, accompanied by his extensive photo library. This is the second part of a two-class series. Students are encouraged to take both classes, as different plants will be covered each evening. To register, follow the directions in the Garden Master course catalog posted at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center. For more info, call the Home & Garden Education Center at (877) 486-6271 or (860) 486-6343, or call the Hartford County Extension office at (860) 570-9023.
Feb. 9 (Thursday) 1 to 2:30 pm
Naturescape Your Yard with Karen Bussolini at the Lucy Robbins Welles Library in Newington. Learn how to create a natural backyard retreat with an accredited organic land care professional. Register at the Adult Information Desk or call (860) 665-8700. www.newingtonct.gov/library
Feb. 11 (Saturday) 10 am to noon
Good Bug / Bad Bug at the New London County Extension Center in Norwich with Carol Quish and Pamm Cooper. $50/$40. Deadline: Feb. 3. A look at insects commonly found in Connecticut and where they fit in the greater scheme of things. We will cover identification tips and likely places and time of year to
look for both pests and beneficials. How predatory and parasitic insects may negatively affect other insect species, insecticide considerations, and biological control options will be discussed. Can you attract the good insects and repel the bad without going crazy? This class is for people who are interested in becoming better acquainted with insects, whether good, bad, or benign. To register, follow the directions in the Garden Master course catalog posted at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center. For more info, call the Home & Garden Education Center at (877) 486-6271 or (860) 486-6343, or call the New London County Extension office at (860) 885-2823.
Feb. 11 (Saturday) 9:30 am to 4 pm
Winter Botany at Nasami Farm in Whately, Mass. Includes a classroom lecture on the taxonomic characteristics of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous and evergreen plants in winter, including hands-on ID of twig and plant specimens, followed by a walk around the site to put your classroom knowledge to work. Learn the significance of macro and micro characteristics including growth habit, bud morphology, phyllotaxy, leaf and bundle scars, floral patterns and fruits. Acquire experience with an extensive array of classroom specimens and field ID of woody plants. Gain confidence using a key to ID unknown specimens, whether you are a beginning or experienced botanist. The program provides lecture notes and twig samples to take home. Bring a hand lens and a bag lunch and dress for the weather. Required text: Fruit Key & Twig Key to Trees & Shrubs, by William M. Harlow, Ph.D., Dover Publications, Inc. Copies will be available for purchase at first class. $82/$98. www.newfs.org
Feb. 13 (Monday) 11:30 am
The Simsbury Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting and program at the Apple Barn, 60 Old Farms Road, West Simsbury. Rita Bond will discuss "Gardening in the Shade." She'll offer tips and ideas for those who lack sun in their garden. The meeting is free and open to the public. For information contact Nicki Cox at 860-658-4849 or visit www.simsburygardenclub.org
Feb. 13 (Monday) 7:30 pm
Monthly meeting of the Manchester Garden Club at Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St., Manchester. The guest speaker will be Master Gardener Elaine Widner, vice president of the Charter Oak Photographic Society and CT Horticultural Society board member. She'll be sharing her ideas on "Photographing Your Garden" with a focus on "Seeing, Composing and Completing your Pictures." Guests are welcome. A $5 donation is suggested. http://manchestergardenclubs.org
Feb. 14 (Tuesday) 10 am
The Cherry Brook Garden Club of Canton presents a lecture by Marlene Snecinski discussing "Mushrooms, To Know Them is to Love Them" at the Canton Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton. Snecinski is a past executive officer of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society. She has led walks and lectures for non-profit organizations including the Roaring Brook Nature Center, the Canton Land Trust and the Farmington River Watershed Association. The talk starts with refreshments and a short club meeting. The lecture is free and open to the public. Guests are welcome.
Feb. 14 (Tuesday) 7:30 pm
"Grafting and Air Layering Demonstration" with Jeff Smith at the meeting of The Bonsai Society of Greater New Haven at Edgerton Gardens on Whitney Ave. Free. For info: call (860) 669-7160 or (203) 799-0437.
Feb. 14 (Tuesday) noon
"All Season Color in the Garden" with Colleen Plimpton at the meeting of the Leetes Island Garden Club at the Guilford Library. The public is welcome.
Feb. 14-16 (Tues-Thurs) 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
From the Ground Up Gardening Lecture Series -- Three-day gardening seminar at the UConn Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Day One: Soil "The Beginning" & Site Evaluation. Day Two: Perennials, Vines & Woodies. Day Three: Integrated Pest Management & Invasives. $250. All materials and refreshments provided. Send checks payable to "Roots to Shoots" at 17 Pocono Road, Newtown, CT 06470. Registration ends Jan. 28. Note: this seminar is not part of UConn's Master Gardener program. For more info call (203) 417-5156 or email starlet@roots-to-shoots.com
Feb. 15-17 & 21-22
Annual NOFA Organic Land Care Course at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. The snow date is Feb. 23. www.organiclandcare.net
Feb. 16, 23 & March 1 (Thursdays) 7 to 9 pm
Beginning Beekeeping at the Ridgefield Recreation Center. Includes a visit to a local apiary on Saturday, May 12. Join Discovery Center Beekeepers Tammy Conley, Ann Murray and Terry Bearden-Rettger for three class sessions and a visit to an apiary to see inside a beehive. You'll learn the basics needed to start your own hive this spring. $65 includes handouts and honey tasting. Mail your reservation fee to: The Discovery Center, P.O. Box 926, Ridgefield, CT 06877. For more information, contact Terry Bearden-Rettger at (203) 438-1654. This class is co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Recreation Center and The Discovery Center at Ridgefield.
Feb. 17-20 (Fri-Mon)
The Great Backyard Bird Count. www.birdcount.org
Feb. 18 (Saturday) 10 am
The CT Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society is presenting a grafting workshop with Adam Wheeler at Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden. $10. (860) 822-6589.
Feb. 18 (Saturday) 2 pm SOLD OUT
"The World According to Dirr: Trees and Shrubs for the 21st Century" at Monument Mountain Regional High School, Route 7, Great Barrington, Mass. Annual Winter Lecture of the Berkshire Botanical Garden. A reception and booksigning of Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs and the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (call to reserve advance copies) follows the lecture. $35/$42. Snow date: Feb. 19. Reservations required: call (413) 298-3926 or go to www.berkshirebotanical.org
Feb. 18 (Saturday) 10 am to 1 pm
How to Plan For a Bountiful Vegetable Garden at Common Ground High School in New Haven. CT NOFA and Common Ground will cover the basic principles of planning for organic vegetable and flower gardens. Choosing the site and style, soil testing and improvements, choosing the right vegetables for the season, crop rotation and companion planting will be covered. $10. www.ctnofa.org
Feb. 21-23 (Tues-Thurs) 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
From the Ground Up Gardening Lecture Series -- Three-day gardening seminar at the UConn Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Day One: Soil "The Beginning" & Site Evaluation. Day Two: Perennials, Vines & Woodies. Day Three: Integrated Pest Management & Invasives. $250. All materials and refreshments provided. Send checks payable to "Roots to Shoots" at 17 Pocono Road, Newtown, CT 06470. Registration ends Jan. 28. Note: this seminar is not part of UConn's Master Gardener program. For more info call (203) 417-5156 or email starlet@roots-to-shoots.com
Feb. 23-26 (Thurs to Sun) 10 am
31st annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show -- Traditions of Nature -- at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Exhibits, design & horticultural competition, booths and continuous seminars. Adults $16. For info call (860) 844-8461 or visit www.ctflowershow.com
Feb. 27-29, March 1-2
Annual Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care Charlestown, R.I.
The snow date is March 5. www.organiclandcare.net
Feb. 28 (Tuesday) 7 to 9 pm
Power Struggle: Balancing the Needs of People, Power and Trees -- A free, educational forum at Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien.
March 3 (Saturday) 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
CT NOFA Winter Conference at Manchester Community College. CT NOFA is having its 30th anniversary and to celebrate in a big way they're having an over-the-top Winter Conference. The year's keynote speaker, Jeffrey Smith, is an inspirational consumer advocate. Smith will speak on the health dangers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs); how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials, putting the health of society at risk. Plus, they are building a lineup of 40-plus cutting-edge workshops, a large farmers/vendors market of Connecticut treasures, music, food at our signature potluck and more. Cost of admission goes up after Feb. 17. Online registration. For more information, call (203) 888-5146 or visit www.ctnofa.org
March 3 (Saturday) 10 am
Annual March Into Spring Symposium at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wethersfield. "Rare & Unusual Woody Plants That You Are Sure To Love" with Ron Rabideau at 10:30 am. "Garden Design Emphasizing Leaves -- Their Color, Texture, Shape & More" with Warren Leach at 1 pm. $35 until Feb. 19, $40 thereafter. Includes a lunch of soups and breads. For info, call (860) 747-8175 or visit www.cthardyplantsociety.org
March 3 (Saturday) 8:15 am to 3:30 pm
Rhode Island Gardening Symposium: Food, Flowers & Family! at the URI Center for Biotechnology & Life Sciences, Kingston, R.I. Featuring Barbara Emerson, Sydney Eddison, Kerry Ann Mendez, Rudi Hemp, Sejal Lanterman and Julie Murphy. (401) 874-2900 or email outreach@uri.edu
March 7 & 8 (Wednesday & Thursday)
Ecological Landscaping Association's Annual Conference & Eco-Marketplace at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. For more information, call (617) 436-5838, email ela.info@comcast.net or visit www.ecolandscaping.org.
March 10 (Saturday) 10 am to noon
Starting Seedlings Workshop at Common Ground High School in New Haven. Learn about starting your own vegetables and flowers from seed. Demonstrations for both planting and transplanting, plus a list of which plants are set out by seedlings and which ones are directly sown by seed into the ground. $10. www.ctnofa.org
March 15 (Thursday) 8 am to 4 pm
2012 Perennial Plant Conference at the Lewis B. Rome Commons on UConn's Storrs campus. A conference For the professional horticulturist. Features a mix of nationally renowned speakers and local experts, including Doug Tallamy and Sydney Eddison. Topics were selected to appeal to professional landscapers and designers, nursery and greenhouse producers, and retail garden center operators. $80/$90. Program and registration information, including online registration, available at www.2012perennial.uconn.edu. For more information, contact Donna Ellis at (860) 486-6448 or donna.ellis@uconn.edu
March 16 (Friday) 8 am to 4:30 pm
UConn Garden Conference -- A Conference for the Home Gardener at the Lewis B. Rome Commons on UConn's Storrs campus. Features national speakers and local experts, including Doug Tallamy. Educational opportunities for gardeners of all levels. $80/$90. Program and registration information, including online registration, available at www.2012garden.uconn.edu. For more information, contact Richard McAvoy at (860) 486-0627 or richard.mcavoy@uconn.edu
March 17 (Saturday) 10 am to 1 pm
Soils and Compost Workshop at Common Ground High School in New Haven. CT NOFA and Common Ground will cover the basics of building great soil in our gardens and in the compost pile. Demonstrations of composting skills as well as great hand outs will be available. $10. www.ctnofa.org
March 17 & 18 (Sat & Sun)
Garden Expo 2012 at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. www.thegardenexpo.com
March 24 (Saturday) 8 am to 4 pm
Master Gardener Symposium -- "Exploring Diversity in Garden Designs" at Manchester Community College. Speakers include Karen Bussolini, Ken Druse, Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, Sal Gilbertie, Scott LaFleur, Lee Reich, Ray Rogers and Vincent Simeone. Members and their guests $65. Non-members $85. For more information, go to www.ctmga.org
March 30-31 (Fri & Sat)
The 30th National Pesticide Forum: "Healthy Communities: Green Solutions for Safe Environments"
will be held at Yale University in New Haven. The conference will focus on organic landcare, urban/suburban pesticide use, organic food, and protective national, state, and local policies.
The conference will be held in the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies' Kroon Hall. Info and registration at www.beyondpesticides.org/forum/
Oct. 25 (Thursday)
2012 Invasive Plant Symposium in the ballroom of the Lewis B. Rome Commons on UConn's Storrs Campus. A biennial event convened by the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group.
Calendar — Venues with Multiple Events
Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831
Call (203) 869-5272 or visit http://greenwich.audubon.org
Ballek's Garden Center, 90 Maple Ave., East Haddam, CT 06423
Summer hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm. For more information, visit www.balleksgardencenter.com or call 860.873.8878
For groups of 10 or more, Ballek's will provide free tours, lectures and workshops. Each attendee is given a $5 gift coupon toward a purchase of $25 during their next visit. Slide lectures are given in their stone house meeting room. Check website for a list of available topics.
Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, 151 Brookdale Road, Stamford, CT 06903
For more information, call (203) 322-6791, e-mail admin@bartlettarboretum.org or visit www.bartlettarboretum.org
The 91-acre nature preserve is a living museum of trees, rare plant collections, gardens and varied natural habitats and landscapes traversed by hiking and walking trails. The grounds are open to the public every day of the year. Self-guided tours of the Bartlett's gardens and trails can be done any day of the week. Individual garden and trail maps are available in the Visitor Center or at the parking lot gazebo. Call to arrange a private group tour. Bartlett also offers a Plant Certificate Course and Professional Tree Classes.
• Feb. 9 (Thursday) 10 am to 12 pm
Eat Your Weeds with Carolynn Sears. How rewarding is it to apply a weed poultice to a minor wound or drop a handful of freshly pulled weeds into a pot of water for dinner! During this presentation, recognize common garden and lawn weeds and their usefulness. Learn what weeds tell us about the environment, how we can use them, as well as how to control them. When possible, this program includes a treat made from weeds and a look at live samples.
• Feb. 12 (Sunday) 1 to 2 pm
Signs of Spring with Todd Dupont. Discover plants and animals getting ready for spring. You'll spend time out in our gardens and on our trails looking for signs of animals as well as new growth on plants. $5 members, $10 non-members. Call (203) 322-6971 to reserve a spot.
• May through September (Mon-Fri)
Free Plant Clinic. Bring questions or plant samples to the UConn Master Gardeners for help. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday throughout the growing season and is located in the Visitor Center library on the 2nd floor. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 to 3 and Friday, 9 to noon. For information, call (203) 322-6971, ext. 24.
Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St. North, Bethlehem, CT 06751
Call 203.266.7596 or email bellamy.ferriday@ctlandmarks or visit www.ctlandmarks.org
Open for tours May 1 through Columbus Day, Oct. 11
May through August: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
September & October: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
Open on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day
Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262
Call 413.298.3926, email info@berkshirebotanical.org or visit www.berkshirebotanical.org
• Feb. 11 (Saturday) 10 am to noon
Begonia Workshop. Not only are begonias outrageously glam, they are a cinch as houseplants -- if you know the ropes. Join Tovah Martin, curator of the begonia collection at Logee's Greenhouses for 25 years and lifelong begonia addict, for a begonia workshop. She'll spill the goods on which begonias make the best houseplants as well as revealing which begonias to avoid. She'll recommend begonias that make a smooth transition from indoors to outside. In fact, she'll introduce you to the entire begonia family with scenic detours to show you her favorite real live plants. Care, maintenance, watering, pruning, repotting and propagating will be demonstrated with plenty of hands-on interaction. Bring home several begonia cuttings in a mini-greenhouse. $37/$45.
• Feb. 11 (Saturday) 1 to 3 pm
Meadows Turned Garden. Meadows are not only beautiful landscapes, but also valuable habitats for plants, pollinators and birds. Information on creating and maintaining a meadow are included in the talk. Consider plant selection, siting, planting, cultivation and maintenance of native plants suitable for a meadow garden. View plants and combinations that will enhance properties in a natural way. In the first hour explore the native and non-native species that call meadows home and learn how meadows function. In the second hour discuss creating meadow gardens and look more closely at the cultural requirements of native meadow species. $22/$27.
• Feb. 25 (Saturday) 10 am to noon
Big Bold and Hot! Summer Bulb Standouts. Summer bulbs make great standouts in the late summer garden. Join Barb Pierson, garden manager for White Flower Farm in Litchfield for a lecture/demonstration. Learn about the best of the bunch including Cannas, Dahlias, Eucomis and more. See why summer bulbs are among the most exotic and exciting plants in our gardens. This lecture will cover top tips for growing and storing, and Pierson Barb will be bringing some great varieties for sale following the lecture. $25/$30.
• Feb. 25 (Saturday) 1 to 3 pm
Hot Scaping with Succulents, Orchids and More ... Investigate the trend of gardening with plants from around the world. Consider agaves and other succulents as low maintenance patio plants that double as houseplants for the winter months. Learn about orchids and how to care for these exotic beauties. Practical information on selection, cultivation, maintenance and overwintering will be covered, with a focus on keeping plants beautiful and healthy. Students will practice dividing and repotting a variety of specimen plants and take home divisions to grow on. $37/$45.
• March 3 (Saturday) 10 am to noon
Growing a Cutting Garden. Cutting gardens are lovely to look at and provide fresh cut flowers for indoors. Learn how to make a small, highly productive cutting garden. Consider all aspects of growing cut flowers, including selecting varieties that hold up best, sowing times and techniques, planting and transplanting, cultivating and preparing for market. This program is designed for both the home gardener and the nascent market gardener. After the presentation, participants will sow some of the instructor's favorite seeds and transplant seedlings to grow on at home. $25/$30.
Broken Arrow Nursery, 13 Broken Arrow Road, Hamden, CT 06518
* Pre-registration is required. Call 203.288.1026, email info@brokenarrownursery.com or abrand@brokenarrownursery.com, or visit www.brokenarrownursery.com
Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main St., Hartford, CT 06103
Call 860.522.1806, email butler.mccook@ctlandmarks.org or visit www.ctlandmarks.org
Open for Tours: April 1 through December 31
April: Saturday & Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
May through September: Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
October through December: Saturday & Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
The Center for Sustainable Living, 90 Cabbage Lane, Bethlehem, CT 06751
Email cynthia@hgconnsoil.com or call 203.266.5595 with questions. A registration forms are available at www.connsoil.com
Connecticut Botanical Society
www.ct-botanical-society.org
Field trips are a long-standing tradition of the society. They provide an opportunity to learn about Connecticut's plants and habitats from some of the area's most knowledgeable botanists -- and an opportunity to share your knowledge with others. Wear sturdy footwear and bring lunch. Sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended. For plant ID, you may want to bring field guide(s), a hand lens, and a small notebook. Familiarity with plant taxonomy is helpful, but not required. Non-members are welcome to join our field trips. No registration is required, unless otherwise stated in the trip description. Visit the society's website for details.
Connecticut College Arboretum, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT 06320
Call 860.439.5020 or visit http://arboretum.conncoll.edu
Free Sunday public tours start on May 1 and run through Oct. 30. First Sunday -- Campus International Tree Collection. Second Sunday -- Caroline Black Garden. Remaining Sundays -- Native Plant Collection. Meet in front of the Olin Science Center at 2 pm. For more information, or to register, call (860) 439-5060.
• First Saturday of the month from 10 am to noon
The Connecticut Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones meets the first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. in the Olin Science Center Lounge on the campus of Connecticut College in New London. It is closely affiliated with the Connecticut College Arboretum's SALT (Smaller American Lawns Today) program. Each month, after a brief business meeting, the group enjoys an activity related to the goals of the chapter. Visitors are welcome. Note: the May meeting will be held on April 30. Wild Ones is a non-profit environmental education and advocacy organization that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. It is a national membership organization with chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, contact Kathy Dame at (860) 439-5060 or kathy.dame@conncoll.edu or visit www.conncoll.edu/green/arbo/8598.htm
Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library, 1 Elizabeth St., Hartford, CT 06105
For information call (860) 236-5621 or go to www.chs.org
• March 1 (Thursday) 5 pm
Imagine Your Town Without Trees: A Panel Discussion About Urban Forestry. Free.
Connecticut Horticultural Society, 2433 Main St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067
For information call (860) 529-8713, email connhort@aol.com or go to www.cthort.org
Meetings are held at Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, at 7:30 pm, on the third Thursday of the month, except for April, when meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday. Non-members are welcome with a suggested donation of $10. Registration required for classes. A form is available on the website.
• Feb. 16 (Thursday) 7:30 pm
"Sustainable Lawns (To Lawn or Not to Lawn, That is the Question)" with Thomas Christopher, writer, lecturer and graduate of the NYBG's school of horticulture. Christopher will explain how to make your lawn more ecologically friendly and suggest some alternatives to lawns.
Elizabeth Park, Prospect Avenue and Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117
Call 860.231.9443 or visit www.elizabethpark.org
Elizabeth Park is America's oldest municipal Rose Garden and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located in Hartford, on the West Hartford border. They have many gardens in addition to the 15,000 rose bush garden: a bulb garden, annual garden, perennial sun garden and perennial shade garden. The Herb Society, Dahlia Society, Hosta Society and Iris Society have display gardens as well. Events are free unless noted.
2012 Garden Lecture Series at Pond House Hall
Lecture tickets are $10 each. Walk-ins are welcome. Tickets may be purchased online. For more information, visit www.elizabethpark.org/garden-lecture-2012.htm
• Feb. 8 (Wednesday) 7 pm
"Sustainable Residential Landscaping" with Amy Sampson
• Feb. 15 (Wednesday) 7 pm
"Urban and Community Forestry in CT" with Robert Ricard
• Feb. 29 (Wednesday) 7 pm
"The Blended Garden: Weaving Edibles Into your Ornamental Gardens" with Nancy DuBrule-Clemente
• March 7 (Wednesday) 7 pm
"Do's & Don'ts of Shopping at Your Garden Center" with Bill Turull
• March 21 (Wednesday) 7 pm
"Fireside Chat: Marci and John's Favorite Rose Stories" with Marci Martin and John Mattia
Fairfield Woods Branch Library, 1147 Fairfield Woods Road, Fairfield, CT 06825
For info, or to register, call (203) 255-7308 or visit www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org
• Feb. 25 (Sat) 2 pm
Nightshade Gardening with Nick Mancini. Learn how to start tomato, pepper or other nightshade plants indoors to be transplanted outside in May. Free. Registration required.
• March 1 (Thurs)
Seed-to-Seed Library. Beginning in March, visit the Fairfield Woods Branch Library to “check out” your vegetable seeds.
• March 3 (Sat) 2 pm
Starting a Vegetable Garden: Grow It, Eat It with Eric Frisk. Learn about different options for vegetable gardening: square foot, lasagna or raised beds. Free. Registration required.
Ganim's Garden Center & Florist, 320, King's Highway Cutoff, Fairfield, CT 06824
Call (203) 333-5662, email Info@GanimsGardenCenter.com or visit www.ganimsgardencenter.com/home.html
The Garden Conservancy Open Days Program. Tours of more than 300 private gardens in 18 states. Many are rarely, if ever, open to the public. The 2011 Open Days season runs from May to September. For a schedule with information on gardens that agreed to have their information posted online, visit http://gardenconservancy.org/opendays/events.pl. You can sort the schedule by state. Admission to each participating private garden is $5 per person; children 12 and under are admitted free. Open Days are rain or shine events and no reservations are required. To sign up for email updates about gardens in your area, or to purchase the directory, visit http://gardenconservancy.org/opendays/
Garden Education Center of Greenwich, 130 Bible St., Cos Cob, CT 06807
Call 203.269.9242 or visit www.gecgreenwich.org
Classes coded with * are co-sponsored by The New York Botanical Garden, 800.322.6924
• Feb. 23 (Thurs) 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Trunk Show (9:30-11:30) and Orchid Growing Workshop (11:30-1:30). Trunk Show free. Workshop $20/$25.
Gilbertie's Herb Gardens, 7 Sylvan Lane, Westport, CT 06880
Visit www.gilbertiesherbs.com or call (203) 227-4175. Call for reservations.
Hardy Plant Society, Conn. Chapter, Solomon Welles House, 220 Hartford Ave., Wethersfield.
For more information, contact Leslie Shields at (860) 747-8175 or Selchie1@comcast.net
or visit www.cthardyplantsociety.org
Meetings start at 7 pm. Programs start at 7:30 pm. The public is welcome. Admission is free for members. The suggested donation for non-members is $5.
Harrington's Organic Land Care, 70 Highland Park Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Call (860) 243-8733, email events@harringtonsorganic.com or visit www.harringtonsorganic.com
Highstead, 127 Lonetown Road (Rte. 107), Redding, CT 06896
Call (203) 938-8809, email info@highstead.net
or visit www.highstead.net
Visiting hours are by appointment 8:30 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience:
- 150 acres of diverse woodland, meadow, pond and swamp habitat
- the timber-frame "barn" headquarters that provides office, lecture, work, greenhouse, library and herbarium space
- more than two miles of trails that traverse Highstead's undulating topography, diverse natural communities and native plant collections
- Events such as research demonstrations, workshops, art exhibits, lectures and guided tours.
Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Road, Farmington, CT 06032
Call 860.677.4787 or visit http://www.hillstead.org
Guided Estate Walks at 2 pm on the first Sunday of the month (June through October).
Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT 06793
Visit www.hollisterhousegarden.org, email office@hollisterhousegarden.org or call 860.868.2200.
The non-profit garden in Washington is open to the public every Saturday from April 30 through October 1. Visitors step through time into a romantic English garden situated on a sloping hillside behind a rambling 18th Century farmhouse. High walls and hedges divide into three formal garden rooms opening onto 25 acres of Litchfield County vistas. Always evolving, the garden this year will be adding a new section called the Sunken Terrace facing onto a large pond. During May and September, the hours are 10 am to noon, and 2 to 5 pm; for June, July and August, the hours are 8 to 10 am and 3 to 6 pm. There is a suggested $5 donation per person. Group visits are welcome by appointment.
Natureworks, 518 Forest Road (Route 22), Northford, CT 06472
Call 203.484.2748, email nature@iconn.net or visit www.naturework.com
Classes are held at Zion Episcopal Church in North Branford. Pre-registration required. Events are free unless noted.
• Feb. 18 (Saturday) 11 am to 1 pm
Fabulous Ferns and Foliage Plants for Your Shade Garden. $18.
New Canaan Nature Center, 144 Oeneke Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Call 203.966.9577 or visit www.newcanaannature.org
Classes coded with * are co-sponsored by the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). To register for NYBG courses at the New Canaan Nature Center, call 718.817.8747 or 800.322.6924 and ask for the Continuing Education Department.
• Feb. 11 to May 5 (Saturdays) 8:30 to 10:30 am
Backyard Gardening Series with "Uncle Buck" (Randy Brown) in the greenhouse. The series consists of 10 lessons/workshops over 13 weeks on choosing the right plants for your garden, seed propagation techniques, making and rooting cuttings, soil amendment, preparing your garden bed, transplanting tips, container gardening, insect/disease control and more. You'll work in the greenhouse to plant and raise your seedlings, learn to avoid and remedy common gardening pitfalls and benefit from expert guidance when the time comes to transfer seedlings into your own garden or Nature Center plots. This course will concentrate on organic techniques, but information on other growing methods will be available on request. You'll have access to the greenhouse throughout the week and share the responsibility of watering and looking after the seedlings. $225/$250. Weekly attendance encouraged but not mandatory. A variety of seeds and plants will be provided for demonstration and growing, but participants may also provide their own. Call (203) 966-9577, ext. 20, to register.
• March 1, 8 & 15 (Thurs) 10 am to 1 pm
Introduction to Landscape Design* with Emily Kelting. The course introduces terminology, concepts, and basic design principles relating to the shaping of landscape space. Compositional ideas, abstract and concrete, are explored and expressed through lectures and simple two-dimensional exercises. This course is recommended for students with little or no background in design. $126/$140.
New England Wildflower Society, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701.
Call 508.877.7630 or visit www.newfs.org
All events are held at the society's Garden in the Woods. Pre-registration required.
The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10458-5126
Call Adult Education at 800.322.6924 (NYBG), email conted@nybg.org or visit www.nybg.org/AdultEd
• Feb. 16 (Thursday) 10 am to noon
"Bringing Nature Home" with Doug Tallamy. Gardens and managed landscapes are part of the terrestrial ecosystems that sustain humans and surrounding flora and fauna. Plants cannot be viewed as ornament alone; their ecological roles must be considered when selecting them for gardens. Tallamy discusses the importance of native plants in our landscapes and best practices in caring for them. He also addresses the role of insects as essential components of local food webs and how without them ecosystems would fail. In this crowded world, gardeners benefit from understanding the ecological impacts of our horticultural practices. $31/$35. Part of Annual Winter Lecture Series. Held in Rose Hall.
• March 15 (Thursday) 10 am to noon
"The Backyard Revolution" with Thomas Christopher. A generation ago, the need to conserve water revolutionized gardening in the American West; now it is our turn here in the East. Christopher will share insights into the challenges that are confronting gardeners throughout the eastern states as development stretches water supply systems to capacity and climate change alters regional patterns of precipitation. He'll present exciting new styles of design -- from water harvesting to rain gardens and "whole system design" -- that are emerging to address these challenges. Learning how to use water more effectively is a necessity, but it's also an opportunity. We can make our gardens greener, more exciting, and distinctively local. $31/$35. Part of Annual Winter Lecture Series. Held in Rose Hall.
O'Brien Nurserymen, 40 Wells Road Granby, CT 06035
Hours 10-5 only on the days listed. Also by appointment. Call 860.653.0163 or visit www.obrienhosta.com
The Organic Gardening Workshop, 484 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880
For more information, call (203) 227-4717 or visit www.organicgardeningsimplified.com
• Feb. 18 (Saturday) 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Starting Seeds the Organic Way. $25.
• Feb. 25 (Saturday) 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Pruning and Espaliering Fruit Trees. $25
Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, 55 South Main St., Suffield, CT 06078
Call 860.668.0055, email phelps.hatheway@ctlandmarks.org or visit www.ctlandmarks.org
Open Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day Weekend, Saturday & Sunday, 1 to 4 pm. Group tours may be scheduled by appointment by contacting the education department at 860.247-8996, ext. 11.
Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North St., Greenwich, CT 06830
Dress appropriately for the weather. Some classes are held outside. Free unless stated otherwise. Reservations required. Call 203.869.3418 or visit www.sambridge.com for changes and sign up.
Stonehedge Landscaping & Garden Center, 1616 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111
Reservations required, call (860) 667-1158. For more information email info@stonehedgelandscapingco.com or visit www.stonehedgelandscapingco.com
UConn Master Gardener classes are open to the public. Fee and registration required. For information, call (877) 486-6271, visit www.ladybug.uconn.edu or click on the following link to see a PDF of the 2012 Winter/Spring catalog.
Van Wilgen's Garden Center, 51 Valley Road (off Route 139), North Branford, CT
Call 203.488.2110, ext. 0, email info@vanwilgens.com or visit www.vanwilgens.com
Pre-registration is appreciated.
Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Road, Wilton, CT 06897-1309
For more information, call (203) 834-1896 or visit http://www.nps.gov/wefa/index.htm
The grounds are open all year from dawn until dusk. The Burlingham House Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, from May through October and Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, from November through April. To arrange a group visit, call (203) 834-1896, ext. 12. All groups arriving in three or more cars are required to call ahead. Guided Tours, an introduction to the landscape and artistic legacy of the farm, are available at specific times. If you are planning to bring a large group, contact the site to make arrangements. The parking lot cannot accommodate RVs or buses.
White Flower Farm, P.O. Box 50 (Route 63), Litchfield, CT 06759
For more information, visit www.whiteflowerfarm.com
Woodland Gardens, 168 Woodland St., Manchester, CT 06042
Call 860.643.8474, email WoodlandGardens@sbcglobal.net or visit www.woodlandgardensct.com for a class schedule or to register. Learning seminars are free, unless otherwise indicated. Advance registration is required only where noted.
Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Ave., New Haven, CT
For information on events or programs, call (203) 432-3776, email peabody.events@yale.edu or visit www.peabody.yale.edu
To avoid potential problems, it's always advisable to call ahead to confirm dates, times and space before attending any of these events. Calendar listings are free of charge and may be mailed to Connecticut Gardener, P.O. Box 248, Greens Farms, CT 06838-0248 or emailed to ctgardener@optonline.net. Deadlines for inclusion in our print edition are as follows: February 1 for March/April, April 1 for May/June, June 1 for July/August and August 1 for September/October.