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: Feb. 1 for March/April, April 1 for May/June, June 1 for July/August and Aug. 1 for September/October.

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September 9 (Thursday) 9:30 to 11:30 am
Free Sustainable Lawn Care Seminar at the Windham County Extension Office in Brooklyn, CT. No preregistration is necessary. Fact sheets and handouts are provided. Powerpoint presentations are followed by question and answer time. Topics covered will include how to select the best type of grass for different lawn conditions, renovation or repair options, weed and grub control, mole, shade and moss issues, and fertilizer selection and application timing. The focus is on turf management practices that are effective and environmentally sound. Homeowners are welcome to ask questions concerning individual lawn problems. For more information, call the UConn Home & Garden Education Center at (877) 486-6271 or visit, www.ladybug.uconn.edu

Sept. 9 (Thursday) 7 pm
Organic Lawn Care 101 at the Atwater Memorial Library in North Branford, (203) 315-6020. The world of science has now joined forces with the organic movement to offer easy to use, highly effective alternatives to petro-chemical fertilizers and toxic poisons. Many homeowners use readily available 4- or 6-step chemical programs for their lawns and do not realize the danger this causes to their own health and the health of their children, their pets and the environment as a whole. Join Susan Holland, NOFA accredited land care professional, and learn how to have a happy, healthy organic lawn.

September 10-12 (Friday through Sunday)
Garden Photography Workshop Weekend with Rich Pomerantz. $575 includes transportation between gardens (White Flower Farm, Hollister House and a couple of private gardens) and all meals. Rich Pomerantz Photography, 10 Church Hill Road, New Milford, CT. Lodging is provided by a local inn and is offered to workshop participants at a special rate of $100-125 per room. Preregistration required. For more information, call 860.355.3356 or visit www.richpomerantz.com

Sept. 11 (Saturday) 11 am to 4 pm
2010 CT Folk Festival and Green Expo at Edgerton Park in New Haven. Exhibitors, vendors, food and live music. Free admission. More than 75 booths with exhibitors, educators and vendors. Workshops and activities for adults and kids. For more information, visit www.ctfolk.com/ctff/greenexpo.html

Sept. 12 (Sunday), noon to 4 pm
CHS Garden Tour -- Steve Silk & Kate Emery, Farmington. New projects should be (more or less) complete (Steve hopes) at the 2-acre hole in the woods where he and Kate indulge a love of container gardening and employ colorful, dramatic foliage and all manner of tropicals and annuals. They have recently added a sunroom and are continuing to develop their new pond. Visit www.cthort.org for directions.

Part of the The Connecticut Horticultural Society Garden Tour program. Join them for viewing the diverse, beautiful gardens of members and friends, while supporting the programs and operations of the society. Admission to each garden is $5 per person; children 12 and under are admitted free. No pets please. Open gardens are held rain or shine. For more information, contact Steve Silk at (860) 676-9946 or silk.steve@yahoo.com

Sept. 12 (Sunday), 1-6 pm
CHS Garden Tour -- Rob & Debby Wallace, Ellington. Rob and Debby's 40 years as stewards of a simple 1841 Greek Revival home and property have seen a transformation from a backyard orchard in the 1840s to a property surrounded by spring, fall and shrub borders. The grass area has been reserved for lawn games and family weddings. Enter the oversize rear "room" through an arbor to the vegetable/cutting garden, which is enclosed by a cottage border. An herb garden sits on the foundation of a former blacksmith shop; nearby is a goldfish pond and beyond a hosta garden. A kitchen patio garden of local quarry stone is home to containers and a 20-year-old bay tree. A more formal street-front appearance gradually gives way to a more natural treatment at the rear, where emphasis is on benefiting the birds and bees. The compost area behind a shield of evergreens is usually amok with self-sown pumpkins, squash and sunflowers. Sandy soil has been a blessing and a curse, causing Rob and Debby to do battle with every prolific traveler, including several bamboos. Many of the shrubs and trees have been fortunate winning bids at CHS auctions. Visit www.cthort.org for directions.

Sept. 14 (Tuesday) 6:30-7:30 pm
Food-drying Program -- Learn how to preserve the harvest from your garden by drying it. Diane Wright Hirsch of UConn's Cooperative Extension will cover the basics of dehydrating fruits, vegetables and herbs commonly grown in our state. UConn Middlesex County Extension Center, 1066 Saybrook Road, (Rte. 154), Haddam. $5 members, $10 nonmembers. Limited to 35 participants. To register, contact the CT Horticultural Society at 860-529-8713. Registration must be received by Sept. 8. Visit www.cthort.org/Seminars/Seminars.asp for a registration form.

Sept. 14 (Tuesday) 7 pm
Organic Lawn Care 101 at the Edward Smith Library in Northford, (203) 484-0469. The world of science has now joined forces with the organic movement to offer easy to use, highly effective alternatives to petro-chemical fertilizers and toxic poisons. Many homeowners use readily available 4- or 6-step chemical programs for their lawns and do not realize the danger this causes to their own health and the health of their children, their pets and the environment as a whole. Join Susan Holland, NOFA accredited land care professional, and learn how to have a happy, healthy organic lawn.

Sept. 17 (Friday) 1-5 pm & Sept. 18 (Saturday) 9 am to 4 pm
"The Farmers' Market," a standard flower show sponsored by The Branford Garden Club and held at Van Wilgen's Garden Center, 51 Valley Road, North Branford. The event features floral designs, horticultural and educational exhibits, quilt display, a farmers' market, refreshments, hayrides and speakers. Wine & Appetizer reception on Sept. 17, 6 to 8 pm, with silent auction of baskets provided by garden club members. For a complete listing of times and to order tickets, visit www.branfordgardenclub.org. Tickets $15, children under 12 free. Tickets for "A Garden Party," reception are $30 and include daily entrance to the flower show. For info contact Sandy at brosandra@gmail.com. For tickets, contact Janet Dahl at (203) 240-9458 or janetdahl@comcast.net

Sept. 18 (Saturday) 10 am to 4 pm & Sept. 19 (Sunday) 11 am to 4 pm
Live Green Connecticut! festival at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk. Food, eco-shopping, music, environmental speakers and exhibits. See and experience businesses that are showcasing their new technology to positively impact our lives and environment. Come away with tips and ideas that will save you money. Free admission. Parking $5: 100% of every $5 car fee goes directly to selected environmental and conservation organizations. 'Green' dogs welcome on a leash. For more info, email info@livegreenct.com or visit http://livegreenct.com

Sept. 21 (Tuesday) 9 am to 3 pm
Producing and Applying Actively Aerated Compost Tea. Location TBA. Call CT NOFA at (203) 888-5146, email ctnofa@ctnofa.org or visit www.ctnofa.org

Sept. 24 (Friday) 7 pm
Connecticut Horticultural Society's Fall Plant Auction & Sale at the Tolland County Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Ave., Vernon, CT. Free. For info call (860) 529-8713, email connhort@aol.com or visit www.cthort.org

September 24-26 (Friday through Sunday)
American Conifer Society (ACS) Northeast Region annual members meeting will be held in the Litchfield Hills this year. The keynote speaker will be landscape designer Larry Weaner, known for integrating the traditions of garden design with the science of ecological restoration. His experience and extensive work with native plants give him a unique perspective on the ecological importance of designing with native conifers. There will also be a garden tour, auctions and a tail-gate sale. The host hotel is the Danbury Plaza Hotel. For more information, and registration forms, go to the ACS website at www.conifersociety.org or contact Melanie Wyler at (203) 222.1817 or melanie.wyler@gmail.com

Sept. 26 (Sunday) noon to 4 pm
CHS Garden Tour -- The Anthony Garden, Wallingford. This suburban yard was a cow pasture 15 years ago. Over the years, the owners developed a passion for plants and created a collector's garden full of unusual flora. The front garden, with hydrangeas, crape myrtle, Japanese maples and a gold dawn redwood, only hints at what is around the corner. A stroll through the plum-colored arbor leads to the backyard, where a lush, colorful scene explodes in front of you. Large mixed borders containing foliage of chartreuse, blue, maroon, cream and green abound, along with vibrant flowers. Emphasis is on interesting woody plants with either summer-to-autumn bloom times or colorful foliage. Perennials accent the mixed borders with punches of color. Vines such as clematis, roses, hydrangeas and honeysuckle bloom on various structures and up into shrubs and trees. Walking along the many garden paths leads to hidden treasures and the opportunity to smell the wonderful floral fragrances. Colorful containers of annuals are scattered around the yard, but are especially concentrated in the numerous seating areas, beckoning one to relax among them. Visit www.cthort.org for directions.

Sept. 26 (Sunday) 1:30 pm
Fall Wildflower Hike at Sleeping Giant State Park on Mt. Carmel Ave. in Hamden. Meet at the bulletin board/kiosk near the park entrance. Hikes are on forest trails (rocky in places and slippery at times); wear sturdy, trail-appropriate, supportive shoes. Dress for the weather. Bring snacks and water, and a camera if you wish. No pets, please! These events are free and are open to the public. For more information, check our website at www.sgpa.org or email Barbara and Irwin at beitch1@cox.net. Those without internet access may call them (203) 272-7841, between 10 am & 10 pm.

Oct. 9 (Saturday) 9:30 am
Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association Walk at Devil's Den Nature Center in Weston. The leader is Elaine Heffernan, (914) 276-0548. Handy equipment includes a basket, wax paper and/or wax paper bags, a small knife, a whistle, a magnifying lens, and an insect repellent containing Permethrin (non-toxic) or DEET for tick protection. The walks are followed by a communal lunch and a mushroom identification session. Bring your lunch (and something to share) and a mushroom manual to help with the identification of our finds. (COMA cannot be responsible for mushroom identification.) Walks are free and open to the public. For directions or more information, visit www.comafungi.org

Oct. 14 (Thursday) 8 am to 4 pm
2010 Connecticut Invasive Plant Symposium convened by the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG). The symposium, titled "Challenges and Successes: Working Cooperatively to Manage Invasive Plants," is open to the public and will take place at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. It will address the importance of native habitats, how invasive species harm these habitats, and why cooperative efforts are vital to understanding and managing our natural landscapes. It seeks to draw together municipal staff (parks & rec, public works, inland wetlands/conservation commissions), nursery, tree and landscape professionals, educators, students, landscape architects, gardening enthusiasts, state and federal employees, and members of conservation organizations and the public into a discussion of the challenges presented by invasive plants and how we can promote natives by managing invasives. Keynote speaker Dr. Bernd Blossey will present "The Power of Choice: New Frontiers in Invasive Plant Management and Conservation." Concurrent afternoon sessions will cover the industry perspective -- what's working, early detection and rapid response, invasives management research, invaded forests, Cooperative Weed Management Areas and local success stories. Research posters and other educational exhibits featured throughout the day. Registration fee includes parking, information packet, lunch, refreshments: $40 (postmarked by Sept. 18); $55 if postmarked after Sept. 18 or for walk-ins. Student fee with ID: $25. CT DEP Pesticide Recertification and other Continuing Ed credits available. Program, registration form and other info available on the CIPWG website: www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg. You can also contact Donna Ellis at (860) 486-6448 or at donna.ellis@ uconn.edu. Send registration and checks (payable to The University of Connecticut) to: Donna Ellis, University of Connecticut, Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture, 1390 Storrs Road, Unit 4163, Storrs, CT 06269. For more info, volunteer opportunities, or a hard copy of the registration brochure, contact Donna Ellis at (860) 486-6448.

Oct. 16 (Saturday) 9 am to noon
Best Methods for Planting. Do you really know how to plant a tree, shrub or perennial? In this three-hour field demo program, we'll get into the latest science behind installing plants -- digging the hole, transplanting B&B versus container plants, prepping the soil, adding nutrition, backfilling, moisture needs, what roots want, educating the customer once you leave. Richard Weir will teach all this and more. Presented by the Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association at Wickham Park in Manchester. $49 first person, $39 additional staff ($79 nonmembers). Register online

Oct. 16 (Saturday) 8 am to 5 pm & Oct. 17 (Sunday) 8 am to 4 pm
Connecticut Orchid Society's "Orchid Harvest" Orchid Show & Sale will take place at Van Wilgen's Garden Center, 51 Valley Road, North Branford, CT. The society has teamed up with the Van Wilgen family to present an AOS sanctioned and judged bench show. The bench show will be AOS judged Friday, Oct. 15. Eight vendors, including plant and art vendors, have accepted our invitation to partake in the show. There will also be lectures, educational booths, instant orchid raffles and a Junior Orchid Growers booth. “Good To Go” will cater the event and are offering a varied autumn-themed menu of foods and beverages. Daily admission is $5. For more information, visit www.ctorchids.org

Oct. 16 (Saturday) 12:30 to 3:30 pm
Connecticut Iris Society meeting at the Elizabeth Park Friends Room in Hartford. Presentation/discussion by Dave Nitka and Rebecca Wong: "2009 Louisiana Iris Convention." For info visit www.irisgarden.org/cismain.htm, call Norine Veal at (860) 896-1910 or Ruth Bennett at (860) 873-1305.

October 18 (Monday) 11:30 am
Simsbury Garden Club -- monthly meeting at the Apple Barn, 60 Old Farms Road, West Simsbury, CT 06092. Kristen Taylor, a master gardener with a degree in garden design from England will demonstrate work from Perenity, a volunteer workshop she co-founded that collects flower arrangements from weddings, parties, funerals and transforms them for delivery to hospices. She will also speak about the significance of flowers and herbs in world history. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Oct. 30 (Saturday) 12-4 pm & Oct. 31 (Sunday) 10 am to 3 pm
The Nutmeg State African Violet Society will hold its annual show and sale at the Homewood Suites, 6905 Main St. (Rte. 110), Stratford, CT. For more info, email Donna Presnell at dpresnell@snet.net

Oct. 31 (Sunday) 9:30 am
Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association Walk at Mianus River Park in Stamford. The leader is Carol Levine, (203) 322-2051. Handy equipment includes a basket, wax paper and/or wax paper bags, a small knife, a whistle, a magnifying lens, and an insect repellent containing Permethrin (non-toxic) or DEET for tick protection. The walks are followed by a communal lunch and a mushroom identification session. Bring your lunch (and something to share) and a mushroom manual to help with the identification of our finds. (COMA cannot be responsible for mushroom identification.) Walks are free and open to the public. For directions or more information, visit www.comafungi.org

Feb. 24-27, 2011 (Thursday through Sunday)
Connecticut Flower & Garden Show 2011 (Capture the Magic) at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. More than 80 hours of seminars and demonstrations. All seminars are included with a general admission ticket. More than 250 booths with fresh flowers, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds, gardening books, garden equipment and more. For information, call (860) 844-8461, email shows@northeastexpos.com or visit www.ctflowershow.com

Calendar — Venues with Multiple Events

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

• Oct. 9-11 (Saturday through Monday)
Ballek's Columbus Day Weekend Tag Sale featuring perennials, trees, shrubs, houseplants and garden ornaments.

Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, 151 Brookdale Road, Stamford, CT 06903
For more information, call (203) 322-6791, e-mail visitorservices@bartlettarboretum.org or visit www.bartlettarboretum.org
The 91-acre nature preserve is a living museum of majestic trees, rare plant collections, charming gardens and varied natural habitats and landscapes traversed by hiking and walking trails. The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens is open to the public every day of the year from 8:30 am until sunset.

• Through Sept. 30 (Monday to Friday)
Plant Clinic. Do you have a plant or gardening dilemma? Bring any 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 am to 3 pm and Friday, 9 am to noon. For information, call Regina Campfield at 203.322.6971, ext. 24. This is a free service.

• Sept. 18 (Saturday) 3:45 pm
Gardens in Bloom Walking Tour. Starts at the Visitor Center terrace. Master Gardeners will guide you around the arboretum's seasonal gardens.

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 10:30 am
Vegetable Garden Walk-through. Starts at Visitor Center terrace. The Bartlett Vegetable Garden has a Native American "Three Sisters" garden planted with corn and pole beans planted next to the corn so they grow up the stalk. Summer squash grows between the corn, shaded from the sun. Very eco-friendly and way ahead of the Europeans.

• Oct. 2 (Saturday) 8 am to 3 pm (member previw 8-10 am)
Fall Plant Sale. The Arboretum's annual fall plant sale has a new twist. Enjoy the usual popular selections of woody plants, as well as the additions of mums, cabbages, kales and houseplants. New this year will also be pumpkins, cornstalks, apples, baked goods and apple cider. You can also take advantage of the Arboretum's fall foliage.

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

• September 19 (Sunday) 2 pm
Afternoon Garden Walk: Fall Seasonal Bouquet. A leisurely and informative stroll through the 1915 parterre garden of heirloom roses, lilacs, peonies and other fragrant blooms. Walks led by the museum's Master Gardener, horticultural staff and special guests. $7 and $5 (CTL members). Historic Garden members free.

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

• Oct. 2 (Saturday) TBA
Luscious Landscaping with Fruiting Trees, Shrubs and Vines.* What could be more pleasant than picking luscious fruits from a plant that you also admire for its beauty? Author and landscape consultant Lee Reich will discuss some of the best trees, shrubs, and vines for this purpose, plants that require little maintenance yet provide stunning flowers in spring, color in autumn and neat form in winter. For landscaping, the ideal is a plant that also is low maintenance, being pest-resistant and requiring little or no pruning. Learn how to grow shadbush, gumi, actinidia, medlar, and other ornamental, fruiting plants, and how to use them to beautify your yard. Lee plans to bring samples of different fruits for tasting. Cost $25. Pre-registration required.

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

Connecticut College Arboretum, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT 06320
Call 860.439.5020 or visit http://arboretum.conncoll.edu
Free Sunday public tours through Oct. 31. First Sunday -- Campus Collection. Second Sunday -- Caroline Black Garden. Remaining Sundays -- Native Plant Collection. Meet by the blue sculpture in front of the Olin Science Center at 2 pm. For more information, call (860) 439-5060.

• First Saturday of every month at 10 am
Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones meet in the Olin Science Center lounge. Wild Ones promotes the concept of landscaping in harmony with nature and the use of native plants.

• Sept. 12 (Sunday) 9 to 10:30 am
Creating Native Meadows: The Arboretum Experience with Glenn Dreyer, Arboretum Director. Planted from the seeds of five native grasses and 18 wildflowers in 2006, the five-acre meadow north of Benham Road is part of a 12-acre complex of open, sunny habitat. This successful project is in peak bloom during early September, and participants will observe little bluestem, big bluestem, Indian grass, and a host of wildflowers. Topics to be covered include the importance of such early successional habitats to conservation in southern New England, how to start a meadow from seed, and the various maintenance techniques to keep a meadow from being overrun with invasives. Meet at the dirt parking area on the north side of Benham Avenue, just west of railroad tracks. Free. Registration suggested, call (860) 439-5060.

• Sept. 24 (Friday) 11 am to 2 pm
Mum and Pumpkin Sale in front of Crozier Williams College Center. In case of rain, the sale will be held inside Crozier Williams. Mums extend the time of beauty in our fall landscapes. This is the time of year when the mums should be at their apex and there will be a wide range of autumn colors from which to choose your purchases at the Arboretum sale. Pick up a pumpkin too for the full autumn effect. Note of interest: Did you know that chrysanthemums have been shown to reduce indoor pollution?

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 10 to 11 am
"Stopping The Asian Longhorn Beetle Threatening our Forests and Landscapes" with Victoria Smith, Deputy State Entomologist. The Asian longhorned beetle is killing our trees. It has caused tens of thousands of hardwood trees to be destroyed, and has put trees in forests and cities all across America at risk. The beetles are known to attack maple, horsechestnut, elm, willow, birch, poplar and ash trees. Early detection of infestations is crucial for the successful eradication of this pest. Smith is involved in survey and inspection for exotic pests and diseases, including the Asian Longhorned Beetle. In her lecture, participants will learn how to identify this pest, and learn what role they can play in its control and eradication. New London Hall, Room 112. $8 for Arboretum and New London Garden Club members; $10 for general public. Registration required, call (860) 439-5060. Co-sponsored by The New London Garden Club.

• Oct. 9 (Saturday) 10 am to Noon
Recognizing Trees at a Glance, a tree ID workshop with Jim Luce, Supervisor of Grounds. While there are several ways of identifying trees, in this workshop, Jim will focus on identifying trees by their leaves. There are more than 300 billion trees in the United States alone and, once you learn to identify a few of them, you will feel a new connection with nature. The text, "Trees of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada" by William Harlow is essential to the class. If you already own the text, deduct $9 from your registration fee. Meet in New London Hall, Room 112. $15 for members and $18 general public. (Registration fee includes the cost of the text book.) Registration required, call (860) 439-5060.

• Oct. 23 (Saturday) 9 to 10:30 am
Annual Fall Foliage Walk. Enjoy the beauty of autumn on this walk through the Arboretum with Glenn Dreyer, the Arboretum's director. You will view a spectacular display of color, and Glenn will explain the chemical process behind the phenomena. He will point out the species that have the most colorful foliage. Meet at the main gate of the Native Plant Collection on Williams Street. Free. Registration suggested, call (860) 439-5060.

• Nov. 6 (Saturday) 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
8th Annual SALT (Smaller American Lawns Today) Seminar for Homeowners: "Designing Your Home Grounds for Beauty and Sustainability." Held in Olin Science Center. Arboretum members and Wild One members -- $68, general public -- $78, early bird special -- deduct $10 (by Sept. 20). Last day to register is Oct. 22. Includes continental breakfast and buffet lunch.

Connecticut Horticultural Society, Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT
Regular meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month. Nonmembers are welcome with a suggested donation of $10. For more information call 860.529.8713, email connhort@aol.com or visit www.cthort.org

• Sept. 16 (Thursday) 7:30 pm
"Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love" with Julie Moir Messervy of Saxtons River, VT

• Sept. 24 (Friday) 7 pm
Fall Plant Auction at the Tolland County Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon, CT

• Oct. 21 (Thursday) 7:30 pm
"Understanding Perennials" with Bill Cullina of Southport Island, ME

• Oct. 23 (Saturday) 1 to 3 pm
Building a Stone Wall Demonstration -- Learn the basics of building a stone wall in order to try it on your own or understand the process better before you interview and hire a contractor. Expert stonemason Bud Smallwood demonstrates. Better Stones and Masonry Supply, 200 Tolland St., East Hartford. $10 members; $15 nonmembers. Visit www.cthort.org/Seminars/Seminars.asp for a registration form.

• Nov. 6 (Saturday) 10 am to Noon
Sharpening Garden Tools -- Would you like to become self-sufficient in caring for your garden tools? Kevin Wilcox of Farmington Valley Nursery in Avon will lead participants in dismantling (if necessary), cleaning, sharpening and reassembling hand pruners, loppers and pruning shears. Bring goggles and the tools you'd like to sharpen, along with any sharpening stones you may have. Private home: 205 Thompson Hill Road, Portland, CT. Cost: $5 members, $10 nonmembers. Limited to 15 participants. Visit www.cthort.org/Seminars/Seminars.asp for a registration form.

• Nov. 18 (Thursday) 7:30 pm
"Life Lessons from the South, North and My Father" with Lee May of East Haddam, CT

• Jan. 20, 2011 (Thursday) 7:30 pm
"Our Strange Relationship with the Soil" with Michele Owens of Saratoga Springs, NY

• Feb. 17, 2011 (Thursday) 7:30 pm
"Great New Magnolias for New England Gardens" with Stefan Cover of Cambridge, MA

Elizabeth Park, Prospect Avenue and Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117
Call 860.231.9443 or visit www.elizabethpark.org

• Sept. 23 (Thursday) 7:45 pm
Full Moon Tour (Corn Moon). Pond House, 1555 Asylum Ave., West Hartford. The rain date is Friday, Sept. 24.

• Sept. 29 (Wednesday) 9 am to Noon
Closing the Perennial Garden Workshop in the Perennial Garden

• Oct. 9 (Saturday) 10 am
History Tour. Info Center.

• Oct. 22 (Friday) 6:30 pm
Full Moon Tour (Harvest Moon). Pond House, 1555 Asylum Ave., West Hartford. The rain date is Saturday, Oct. 23

• Nov. 6 (Saturday) 9 am to Noon
Closing Rose Garden Workshop in the Rose Garden

• Nov. 13 (Saturday) 10 to 11 am
Closing the Iris Garden / Iris Garden Winter Cleanup. Preparing Irises for the winter. At parking lot next to greenhouses. Bring tools and dress for outdoor weather. The rain/snow date is Nov. 20. For more information: visit www.irisgarden.org/cismain.htm

The Garden Conservancy Open Days Program. Tours of more than 360 private gardens in 21 states. Many are rarely, if ever, open to the public. The 2010 Open Days season begins in early April and extends through the end of October. It includes gardens from southern Maine to southern California, from the tip of Long Island, N.Y., to Bainbridge Island, Wash. 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 203.869.9242 or visit www.gecgreenwich.org
Classes coded with * are co-sponsored by The New York Botanical Garden at 800.322.6924

• Sept. 15 (Wednesday) 1-4 pm & Sept. 16 (Thursday) 10 am to 3 pm
Third annual Dazzling Dahlias Show. Free.

• Sept. 23 (Thursday) 2 to 4 pm
Preserving Your Bounty -- Gifts from the Garden. Most gardeners have an abundance of homegrown vegetables and herbs in there gardens at this time of year. There is no way you can eat all of your gardens bounty at the peak of freshness. The only reasonable thing to do is to preserve them so they can be enjoyed all winter. Chef Pam Carey Williams will teach you how to freeze your homemade sauce and pesto from some of your favorite garden crops, or your purchases from the local gardeners market. Members $35, non-members $45.

• Oct. 17 (Sunday) Noon to 3 pm
Harvest Moon Festival -- Celebrate autumn and the center's teaching vegetable garden at this family friendly activity day, rain or shine. Entertainments include a pumpkin parch, pony rides, face-painting and a scavenger hunt. Children's author Gina Ingoglia will be on hand at 2:30 pm for story-telling and book-signing. Ann Robertson, the floral artist from Dirt, will demonstrate chic styling for garden cuttings (containers provided). Horticulture Director Lisa Beebe will guide Daffodil planting. Healthy baked treats provided by volunteers will be for sale. Area gardeners are encouraged to submit homegrown veggies for the Local Vegetable Contest. Judging for child and adult categories include: biggest, most crooked, roundest, tallest, most unusual, etc. All vegetable entries will be displayed. Samuel Owen Gallery will provide portrait photography sittings for the discounted price of $35 per sitting (donated directly to GEC). Early registration $25, at the door $35.

• Oct. 21 (Thursday) 10 am
Abstracting the Chinese Garden: Creating Spaciousness in a Limited Area. Richard Bergmann's lecture is based on two Chinese garden study trips he took in 2007 and 2008. He observed that, while westerners plant their gardens, the Chinese build them. The Chinese garden is usually taken up by structures such as bridges, walkways and viewing pavilions, with no sense of ending as in western gardens. Chinese landscape utilizes techniques of manipulating space and light, revealing and concealing. With its tight spaces, sudden angles and cutout vistas. The Chinese garden is between architecture and landscape painting. These are some of the lessons Bergmann learned from Chinese gardens in shaping spatial illusions to create a varied landscape in the residential suburban garden. Bergmann trained in both architecture and landscape architecture at the University of Illinois, Cornell and The New York Botanical Garden where he also lectures. Members $35, non-members $45.

• Oct. 28 (Thursday) 10 am to noon
Putting Your Garden to Bed. This hands-on workshop is geared to preparing your perennial or vegetable garden for a long winter's sleep. We will take a walk through the gardens in the Montgomery Pinetum and talk about what needs to be done now for a healthy garden in the spring; we will consider whether there are areas that would benefit from spring bulb plantings, as well as learn about how to prepare your tender bulbs for winter storage. Bring a notebook and proper footwear for walking in the garden. Garden gloves will be provided. Cost: A $5 donation for the ongoing care and maintenance of the Teaching Vegetable Garden.

• Nov. 2 (Tuesday) noon to 3 pm
Election Day Plant Sale. Visit the greenhouse and brighten up your home with orchids, ferns, succulents, cyclamen and more.

• Nov. 17 (Wednesday) noon to 3 pm
Carri Raven Orchid Sale. The Orchidphile is coming to town. Carri Raven is back with some of her most unique orchids. These plants are for sale.

Gilbertie's Herb Gardens, 7 Sylvan Lane, Westport, CT 06880
Visit www.gilbertiesherbs.com or call 203.227.4175. Reservation required.

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.

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 2 pm
Woodland Conversation. Peter Del Tredici, senior research scientist at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and lecturer at Harvard's Department of Landscape Architecture, will discuss his new book, "Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast, a field guide." Autographed copies of his book will be available. To make a reservation, call (203) 938-8809.

• Oct. 16 (Saturday) afternoon
Wildlands and Woodlands: A Vision for the New England Landscape with David Foster, director of the Harvard Forest at Harvard University and president of the board of the Highstead Foundation. Foster is the primary author of "Wildlands and Woodlands: A Vision for the New England Landscape." He will discuss the compelling opportunity to protect the forests of New England and the need to rethink the way that we live in and conserve our landscapes across America. To make a reservation, call (203) 938-8809.

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 (May through October).

• Sept. 10 (Friday), Sept. 14 (Tuesday), Sept. 24 (Friday), Sept. 28 (Tuesday), Oct. 5 (Tuesday) & Oct. 15 (Friday), noon
Lunchtime Trail Walks. Hill-Stead's 152-acre estate has approximately 3 miles of blazed walking trails traversing meadows, woodlands and wetlands. Enjoy a little lunchtime exercise on this 45-minute trail walk with estate naturalist Diane Tucker as your guide. $3 members, $5 members-to-be.

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 2 pm
Greensward Getaway Walk. Theodate Pope Riddle styled her landscape in the English fashion, even calling her front lawn a "greensward." She employed gardeners to mow at exactly three inches and dandelions were pulled by hand. See how the lawn is maintained these days and explore the meadow of wildflowers with the museum's estate naturalist, Diane Tucker. $3 members, $5 members-to-be.

• Oct. 3 (Sunday) 2 pm
First Sunday Guided Estate Walk. Enjoy this last guided estate walk of the season, as interpreter Betty Collins leads participants through the historic Sunken Garden, then north through meadows, wooded trails and by the former dairy barn, offering historical tidbits along the way. Catch a glimpse of one of Hill-Stead's purebred Shetland sheep, on seasonal loan to the museum. Free to members or with museum admission.

• Oct. 17 (Sunday) 2 pm
Walk on the Wild Side -- This walk is for those who want to see the lesser-utilized parts of Hill-Stead's trail system. We may even venture forth onto the Metacomet Trail that connects to the museum's property under an agreement Theodate Pope made with the Connecticut Forest & Park Association.

• Oct. 22 & 23 (Friday & Saturday) 9 am to 1 pm
Put the Garden to Bed -- Gather with fellow garden enthusiasts to help prepare the historic Sunken Garden for winter. Lunch provided. To participate, call (860) 677-4787, ext 120.

• Nov. 6 (Saturday) 10 am
Mushrooms & Miscellany Nature Walk -- Fall is a great time to look for mushrooms and identify different varieties. As the trees lose leaves, it is also fun to see where birds and insects make nests that are not visible in summer foliage. The secrets of breeding season are revealed out on the Woodland Trail with estate naturalist Diane Tucker. Proper footwear recommended; the terrain may be wet or uneven. $3 members, $5 members-to-be.

• Nov. 20 (Saturday) 2 pm
Evergreen Walk -- There are plants other than "evergreens" that keep their color all year round. Find out what they are, and learn how to tell various evergreens apart on this festive November nature walk with estate naturalist Diane Tucker. $3 members, $5 members-to-be.

Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT 06793
Visit www.hollisterhousegarden.org, email info@hollisterhousegarden.org or call 860.868.2200.
The non-profit garden in Washington is open to the public every Saturday from May 1 through Sept. 25. 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 $3 donation per person. Group visits are welcome by appointment.

Natureworks, 518 Forest Road (Route 22), Northford, CT 06472
Call 203.484.2748 or visit www.naturework.com

• Sept. 11 (Saturday) 9:30 to 10:30 am
Free Garden Walk. Unusual Ornamental Grasses and their Fall Companions. Go way beyond Miscanthus and Panicum and learn all about the many cool ornamental grasses now available. Get inspired to pair these grasses with all sorts of colorful fall flowering perennials and shrubs. We will stroll through the gardens to see examples of some of these combinations are used at Natureworks.

• Sept. 18 (Saturday) 9:30 to 10:30 am
Organic Lawn Care 101 -- The world of science has now joined forces with the organic movement to offer easy to use, highly effective alternatives to petro-chemical fertilizers and toxic poisons. Many homeowners use readily available 4- or 6-step chemical programs for their lawns and do not realize the danger this causes to their own health and the health of their children, their pets, and the environment as a whole. Join Susan Holland, NOFA accredited land care professional, and learn how to have a happy, healthy organic lawn.

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.

• Sept. 22 (Wednesday) & Sept. 29 (Wednesday) 1:30 to 2:30 pm
at the Lapham Community Center and

• Oct. 6 (Wednesday) 1:30 to 2:30 pm
at the New Canaan Nature Center

Living Green. Get up-to-date information on the Green Movement. Find out what's happening in the world of sustainable living. Learn what you can do to live a little greener and be a part of the solution. Speakers will address such topics as creating green homes, sustainable gardening, and the hazards of technology. Members free, non-members $10 per lecture or $25 for all three. Call (203) 594-3620 to register with Lapham Community Center.

• Sept. 30 (Thursday) 10 am to 2:30 pm
Dazzling Bulb Combinations.* Fall is the time to plant hardy spring-flowering bulbs. Explore innovative bulb combinations and bulbs that look great with flowering and evergreen shrubs, perennials and trees. Learn what to do after the bulbs flower and go dormant, and discuss the question of which perennials and annuals to plant as companions. Please bring lunch. Members $56, non-members $62.

• Oct. 7, 14, 21 & 28 (four Thursdays) 10 am to 1 pm
Fundamentals of Gardening 1.* Explore the basic principles underlying good gardening, including the structure and physiological processes of plants and their relationships to the environments in which they grow. You learn not only what to do, but why. Topics include soils and their improvement, seed sowing, vegetative propagation, planting, pruning, watering, weeding, mulching, shading, ventilation, and disease and pest control. Members $252, non-members $280.

• Nov. 20 (Saturday) 10 am to 2:30 pm
The How, When, and Where of Pruning.* Learn the elements of pruning evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs and how to maintain the woody plants in your garden. Bring your pruners for a discussion of proper tool selection and maintenance. The afternoon is spent outside analyzing pruning techniques. Class is held rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring lunch. Members $56, nonmembers $62.

• Dec. 1 (Wednesday) 10 am to 2:30 pm
Redesign Your Existing Garden.* Do you want to redesign your garden? Does your existing landscape have a collection of beautiful plants that lack a cohesive design style? Join us for a look at some of the best techniques used by designers to coordinate a landscape design. Discuss imaginative ways in which you can create a new design for an existing landscape. Please bring lunch. Members $56, nonmembers $62.

• Jan. 4, 11, 18 & 25 (four Tuesdays) 10 am to 1 pm
Soil Science for Gardeners.* Understand how the nature of soil affects the overall productivity of plants. Theory is kept to a minimum and practical applications are stressed. Topics include soil formation, physical properties of soil, soil-water relationships, and management techniques, such as irrigation, drainage, and fertilization. Basic soil sampling, pH, and nutrient testing are introduced. Members $252, nonmembers $280.

• Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12 (four Saturdays) 10 am to 1 pm
Pruning Techniques. Improve the vitality of small ornamental trees, evergreens, and deciduous shrubs, as well as the value and appearance of your property, by learning techniques for pruning. Discover when and how to rejuvenate old plantings, encourage new vigorous growth, and keep plants under control. Lectures are enhanced with slides, demonstrations, and hands-on experience outdoors. Please bring lunch for classes meeting all day. Dress for the weather. Members $252, nonmembers $280.

O'Brien Nurserymen, 40 Wells Road Granby, CT 06035
Call 860.653.0163 or visit www.obrienhosta.com

• Sept. 17-19 (Friday thru Sunday) 10 am to 5 pm
Unique Conifers for the Winter Garden

• Oct. 1-3 (Friday thru Sunday) 10 am to 5 pm
Japanese Maples for Great Fall Color

• Oct. 15-17 (Friday thru Sunday) 10 am to 5 pm
End of the Season Sale

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
Reservations are required. Dress appropriately for the weather. Some classes will be held outside. Call 203.869.3418 for reservations or visit www.sambridge.com

• Oct. 2 (Saturday) 10 am
Where do you put spring bulbs to enhance your garden? Free.

• Oct. 2 (Saturday) 1 pm
Winter Preparations. Find out what you need to help your plants survive the cold and what can be brought into the house. Free.

UConn -- Master Gardener classes are open to the public for a fee. Classes are being added on an ongoing basis, call the Home & Garden Education Center at 877.486.6271 or check www.ladybug.uconn.edu

• Sept. 14 (Tuesday) 10 am to 1 pm
Hot Topics -- Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Topics will include, small fruit culture, updates on bed bug infestations and the Emerald Ash Borer invasion. The same class was also offered last spring in Vernon. Only one Hot Topics class is required per year. $75 non-Master Gardener, $50 Master Gardener, No Fee for Certified Advanced Master Gardener. Deadline: Sept. 8. This class is open to all, but is a requirement to maintain active status as a Certified Advanced Master Gardener. Please contact the County Coordinator (Sandi Wilson, 203.207.3261, Sandra.wilson@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Sept. 22 (Wednesday) 1:30 to 3 pm
Composting -- Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens Visitor Center, 151 Brookdale Road, Stamford. Learn the requirements of proper residential composting -- the controlled microbial aerobic decomposition of organic matter. Topics covered are the general scientific principles of composting, i.e., the six main requirements of composting, including the proper carbon to nitrogen ratio; the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of compost piles, cages and bins; and proper ingredients for your compost "recipe." Fee: $38 non-Master Gardener, $30 Master Gardener. Deadline: Sept. 15. Contact the Home & Garden Center with questions.

• Sept. 23 (Thursday) 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Tree Fruits for the Home Gardener -- Norwich Extension Office, 562 New London Turnpike, Norwich. Would you like to walk out your door and pick fresh fruit off trees in your yard? You can. Learn what it will take including details about proper site selection, varieties, planting, pruning, key pests and their management and harvesting. Come with all your questions. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Sept. 16. Please contact the County Coordinator (Susan Munger, 860.885.2823, Susan.munger@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 10 am to 3 pm
The Tree Tour -- Young's Nursery, 130 Washington Road, Woodbury. Join Kevin Wilcox as he takes you on a tour of the distinctive trees at Young's Nursery. This Woodbury nursery has 50 acres of specimen evergreens, flowering and shade trees, and specimen dwarf conifers to learn about. We will start in the morning, take a break for lunch on your own and then return to Young's for the rest of the walk. We strongly encourage you to bring a picnic lunch, as you won't want to leave. While we won't cover all 50 acres, this will be a walking tour. Please wear appropriate outerwear and footwear. It will be muddy. Transportation is on your own -- directions will be provided. Carpooling is encouraged. Fee: $60 non-Master Gardener, $50 Master Gardener. Deadline: Sept. 18. Contact the Home & Garden Center with questions.

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 10 am to 2 pm
Anyone Can Build a Stonewall, Everyone Should Try It -- Building stonewalls really is easy. Come and learn about the fundamentals of stone wall building: tools, base preparation, the stones themselves and how to pile them up. Walls vary, from literally a longitudinal pile of stones to the "perfect" wall. The final product depends on the available stones, the builder's skill, and what you want. Then get your 'hands on' as we work with the stones and walls Jim Raynor is building at his home. The rain date is Oct. 9. The class is limited to 15. Fee: $70 non-Master Gardener, $60 Master Gardeners. Deadline: Sept. 17. Please wear appropriate clothing, shoes/boots and gloves. Safety glasses are recommended. Contact the Home & Garden Center with questions.

• Oct. 5 (Wednesday) 6 to 8 pm
Tree Myths -- Norwich Extension Office, 562 New London Turnpike, Norwich. Leo Kelly and John Cox will highlight over a dozen popular tree myths -- conventional wisdom about trees -- that are partially or totally wrong and give you the correct information. Drawing on scientific research and empirical findings, they will provide you with knowledge to enhance your ability to care for trees. Topics covered will include tree responses to injury, pruning myths and what can be learned from tree rings. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Sept. 29. Please contact the County Coordinator (Susan Munger, 860.885.2823, Susan.munger@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Oct. 6 (Wednesday) 10 am to Noon
Common Pest Insects of Connecticut Plants -- Norwich Extension Office, 562 New London Turnpike, Norwich. This class will cover foliage feeders, stem feeders, and root feeders of all types of plants. Whitney Cranshaw's book "Garden Pests of North America" will be our guide. Identification, biology and management options will be given. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Sept. 29. Please contact the County Coordinator (Susan Munger, 860.885.2823, Susan.munger@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Oct. 20 (Wednesday) 7 to 9 pm
Woody Ornamentals for Spring -- Hartford County Extension Center, 1800 Asylum Ave., West Hartford. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Oct. 13. Please contact the County Coordinator (Sarah Bailey, 860-570-9023, Sarah.bailey@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Oct. 22 (Friday) 2 to 4 pm
Wildlife in Crisis -- Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Have you ever been asked -- How do I get rid of a woodchuck that is under my porch? How do I dissuade skunks from hanging around my house at night? What do I do about bats that have nested in my attic? Who do I call if I see an injured wild animal in my backyard? This class will look at a variety of indigenous wild animals, some tips on our cohabitation with animals in their native habitat and some common issues and solutions. Come armed with your most frequently asked questions and concerns. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Oct. 15. Please contact the County Coordinator (Sandi Wilson, 203.207.3261, Sandra.wilson@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Oct. 28 (Thursday) 9:30 am to Noon
Landscape Design: Plan Then Plant -- The Anatomy of a Garden. Litchfield County Extension Center, 843 University Drive, Torrington. It is natural to pick plants we're attracted to, and then casually try to fit them into our gardens. However, this approach doesn't always give the best results. Using the analogy of a human body, the instructor will present a guide to landscape design planning from the evergreen "bones" out. Learn to apply professional design techniques that can give your garden season-long interest and a cohesive, polished look. The instructor will use Powerpoint presentations, handouts, and plant lists to explain the theories, and the class will do design exercises using graph paper. Drawing skills are not necessary. Materials List: 1 pad of quad graph paper, 1 pencil, 1 eraser, 1 Jumbo Circle Template (T-826), 1 Small Circle Template (T-800). Templates available from C-thru Ruler Company, www.cthruruler.com. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Oct. 21. Please contact the County Coordinator (Pat Eldredge, 860-626-6240, Patricia.eldredge@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Nov. 3 (Wednesday) 7 to 9 pm
Woody Ornamentals for Summer -- Hartford County Extension Center, 1800 Asylum Ave., West Hartford. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Oct. 27. Please contact the County Coordinator (Sarah Bailey, 860-570-9023, Sarah.bailey@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Nov. 10 (Wednesday) 10 am to Noon
Life in the Salt Marsh -- New Haven County Extension, 305 Skiff St., North Haven. Plant treasures of the Connecticut coastline are explored in this presentation by Juliana Barrett. Learn about the ecology of the salt marshes along Long Island Sound and the physical processes maintaining these dynamic systems. We will discuss the plants and animals commonly found in the salt marshes of Long Island Sound, some of the rare plants one might find in these areas, as well as how invasive plants, climate change, and land use are impacting the vegetation of these coastal habitats. The publication, "Salt Marsh Plants of Long Island Sound," will be available for purchase ($5). Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Nov. 3. Please contact the County Coordinator (Jude Hsiang, 203-407-3167, Judith.hsiang@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Nov. 17 (Wednesday) 9:30 to 11:30 am
Extending the Harvest -- Windham County Extension Center, 139 Wolf Den Road, Brooklyn, CT. What could be better than harvesting fresh vegetables in December? Learn how to keep greens and other hardy vegetable producing well into fall, and gain a jump on your spring garden as well. With the use of cold frames, low tunnels, plant selection and timing you, too, can extend your harvest. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Nov. 10. Please contact the County Coordinator (Kim Kelly, 860-774-9600, Kimberly.kelly@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Dec. 7 (Tuesday) 2 to 4 pm
Earthworms and Soil Health -- Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Earthworms are important for processing organic matter and for maintaining soil health. Dr. Wade Elmer will present an overview of the different kinds of earthworms that are found in Connecticut and will discuss their role in processing organic matter and how earthworms help to increase soil health. He will also discuss his re- search on earthworms and show how their activity can suppress certain soil-borne diseases of vegetables. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Nov. 30. Please contact the County Coordinator (Sandi Wilson, 203.207.3261, Sandra.wilson@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

• Dec. 8 (Wednesday) 7 to 9 pm
Woody Ornamentals for Fall -- Hartford County Extension Center, 1800 Asylum Ave., West Hartford. Fee: $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener. Deadline: Dec. 1. Please contact the County Coordinator (Sarah Bailey, 860-570-9023, Sarah.bailey@uconn.edu) with any questions about class content or location or the Home & Garden Center with questions about registration.

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.

• Sept. 11 (Saturday) 10 am to 10:45 am
Fall Magic Container Workshop -- Select and produce an autumnal colored container of Van Wilgen Grown fall blooming plants with earth tones to compliment your front porch, patio or deck. Bring gloves. Fee $35.

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.

• Sept. 25 (Saturday) 9 am to 2 pm
Celebrate National Public Lands Day With a hands-on Stone Wall Repair Workshop. Begin the day at 9 am with a park ranger-led walk focusing on the history of stone walls at Weir Farm National Historic Site and New England. The workshop will continue with a demonstration of stone wall construction, followed by the opportunity for participants to try their own hand at wall repair. Participants should bring work gloves, sturdy footwear, clothing that is appropriate for outdoor work and a brown bag lunch. Drinking water will be provided. There is no fee to participate, but registration is required and space is limited. To register or for more information, (203) 544-9829, ext. 11 by Friday, Sept. 24.

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. Learning seminars are free, unless otherwise indicated. Advance registration is required only where noted.

• Sept. 16 (Thursday) afternoon & Sept. 18 (Saturday) morning
Houseplant TLC -- Bring in your needy houseplants (maximum of 2 plants per customer, please) and we will transplant, fertilize and trim them as needed. Our time and expertise are free; you pay only for any materials needed.

• Oct. 9 (Saturday) 9:30 to 10:30 am
Critter Control -- Sarah Bailey, Master Gardener Program Coordinator with the CT Cooperative Extension Service, returns to WG with her practical advice on what to do about the critters who want to munch in your garden. This program is about deer, woodchucks, voles, etc. -- all those animals we'd like to go munch elsewhere.

• Oct. 16 (Saturday) 9:30 to 10:30 am
Perennials Perfected -- Was it a good year for your perennials? What would you do differently next year? What CAN you do differently next year? Bring all your questions. Sue McNeil, our Perennial Specialist, will answer them and will lead a fun and informative discussion on perennials. Then she'll guide you through the fall maintenance your perennials may need -- division, clean-up, soil improvements, winter protection.

• Oct. 23 (Saturday) 9:30 to 10:30 am
Putting Your Roses to Bed -- Autumn is an extremely important season for rose gardeners. The work you do now will get your plants ready to face the upcoming winter. Consulting Rosarian Marci Martin will cover such topics as how to protect roses from the wind and cold and how to prevent snow and deer damage. If you have roses, you need to know Marci! She's got tons of great advice about rose gardening.

• Oct. 30 (Saturday) 9:30 to 10:30 am
Practical Pruning of Trees & Shrubs -- We're bringing you this program again because it's one you ask always for. Learn all about pruning evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs from our Nursery Specialist, Clint Covell. He'll demonstrate basic fall pruning techniques as well as how to choose the correct pruners for the job. Bring your questions -- he's got very practical, very helpful advice.

• Nov. 13 (Saturday)
Annual Holiday Open House -- Need some holiday inspiration? Our designers will be giving decorating demonstrations, the store will be fully decorated in its new holiday themes, and the greenhouse will be colorful with our poinsettias and holiday plants. Holiday refreshments will be served and there will be entertainment. In addition, Cindy Fagan from the Windsor African Violet Society and Judy Arth of the CT Orchid Society will be in the greenhouse to answer your questions about growing and caring for African violets and orchids. The day is entirely free and lots more details will be forthcoming.

Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Ave., New Haven, CT
For information on events or programs, call 203.432.3776 or 203.432.6646, email peabody.events@yale.edu or visit www.peabody.yale.edu

• Sept. 12 (Sunday) 1:45 to 4 pm
Horse Island Field Trip -- Join botanist Lauren Brown on a short excursion to the Thimble Islands off Branford. Access to the islands is quite limited, but we have permission to explore this island owned by the Yale Peabody Museum. The Thimbles are an unusual ecosystem unto themselves and we'll see an interesting mix of coastal and early successional vegetation, with the feel of coastal Maine. Please be aware that some of the walking will be over uneven, rocky terrain, so appropriate footwear is required. Fee: $40 members, $45 nonmembers; includes ferry ticket. Registration and fee required. To register, call (203) 432-3775 or email peabody.education@yale.edu

• Oct. 23 (Saturday) 10 am to 2 pm
Photographing for the Online Flora -- The New England Wild Flower Society is seeking volunteers to contribute photographs of New England plant species for its forthcoming Online Flora of New England, a project funded by the National Science Foundation. For each of several thousand plant species in our region, we need photographs of a plant's habit, leaf, flower and fruit, as well as images of bark and buds for woody species. This fun workshop will prepare you to take pleasing "diagnostic photographs" that you may wish to contribute to the Online Flora. Learn the tips and tricks of successful plant photography from an accomplished botanical photographer. Bring your digital or film camera and a tripod for the outdoor practicum, which will follow an indoor slide presentation. Fee: $22 members, $26 nonmembers. Registratiuon and fee required. To register, call (203) 432-3775 or email peabody.education@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: Feb. 1 for March/April, April 1 for May/June, June 1 for July/August and Aug. 1 for September/October.