Arboretum/Wildlife Learning Company at Capital District Garden Show;

ESPERANCE, NY (03/24/2008)(readMedia)-- The Landis Arboretum and the Wildlife Learning Company (WLC), Hartwick, NY, will join forces at this year’s Annual Capital District Garden and Flower Show at the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. The show opens Friday, March 28 and runs through Sunday. Each year, the show draws enthusiastic crowds from throughout the Capital Region to enjoy the newest offerings from area landscape, nursery, outdoor education, plant societies, and specialty exhibitors. And there is lots to see and enjoy at the shared Landis/WLC booth this year.

Friday, March 28

WLC Vice President and Landis Trustee Susan O'Handley and peregrine falcon, Pippin, will welcome visitors between 10 AM – 4 PM to the shared Arboretum/WLC booth. The Wildlife Learning Company took possession of Pippin, a permanently injured falcon for use in education programs. The bird, an endangered species in New York State, has a permanent wing injury and is unable to fly. He was sent to WLC from the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Saturday, March 29 and Sunday March 30

Nationally known, award-winning nature photographer Bill Combs Jr has created a special offering for visitors to this year’s Arboretum booth. His stunning collage representing 40 flowers from the Arboretum’s collection will be on display. Visitors who correctly identify the featured flowers will be entered into a drawing to win a 2’ x 3’ poster of the collage signed by Mr. Combs. A smaller version of the offering can be seen on the Arboretum’s website (www.landisarboretum.org) > The Acorn Shop. Bill’s award-winning images appear regularly on the Arboretum’s newly designed website. His own site is www.billcombsjr.com .

Saturday. March 29

Living up to the record of community outreach and horticulture accomplishments that led to his recognition as one of the Capital Region’s front-running business professionals, the Landis Arboretum’s ISA Certified Arborist Fred Breglia will again be seen at the Capital District Garden Show. Mr. Breglia will lead two discussions:

• 1 PM - Promoting Plant Health by Proper Pruning

• 3 PM - New and Unusual Trees for the Landscape

Mr. Breglia’s popular presentation on plant health care was supplemented last year by his well-received insights on "Discovering New York’s Ancient Forests", an informed perspective on the importance of preserving old-growth forests.

Depth, Experience Inform Talks

For many horticulturalists, environmentalists, and “earth watchers”— particularly in the extended Capital District — the name Fred Breglia conjures up near-instant associations with the George Landis Arboretum, where he serves as Director of Horticulture and Operations; The Earth Charter Roundtable, for which Mr. Breglia is a highly visible, active, and passionate advocate; and the New York Old Growth Forest Association, of which he is cofounder and president. He also is a regular guest on WAMC’s Vox Pop Gardening Show with Larry Sombke.

In 2007, Mr. Breglia received three commendations from extended Capital Region organizations: designation among the Capital Region’s 40 Under Forty young entrepreneurs by the Business Review; recognition as SUNY Cobleskill’s 2007 Alumnus of the Year; and The State University of New York as it marks the 40th anniversary of its Educational Opportunity Program.

The Landis Arboretum is a public garden that includes eight miles of hiking and walking trails overlooking picturesque Schoharie Valley near Esperance, NY. Forty acres are developed with plantings, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The remainder of the property consists of natural areas, woodlands, and open fields reminiscent of the former farm of founder Fred Lape.

The Arboretum's most recent land acquisition almost doubled the size of the site and contains a horticulture bonanza. Last summer, a team of old-growth-forest experts surveyed the site and found species of trees ranging from 150 to 350 years old. The Landis Arboretum is now one of only three arboreta in eastern North America that have old growth forests. The other two are the New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University.

The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meeting house and parking field for sky-watching events.

The Arboretum offers classes, workshops, guided and self-guided nature study, and is working toward providing meeting space within its bucolic setting for special events, lectures, and demonstrations. Ancillary workshops have focused on photography, basket making, botanical illustration and landscape painting. Among its hands-on and experience-focused offerings for 2008, the Arboretum will offer a Plant Propagation Course starting in next week.

Wildlife at Arboretum

The Landis Arboretum recently announced a dynamic partnership with Otsego County-based Wildlife Learning Company (Hartwick, NY). From the perspective of Arboretum Education Committee Chair Anne Donnelly, the synergy created by the shared vision of the Landis Arboretum (LA) and the Wildlife Learning Company (WLC) can be expected to bring a rich diversity of educational opportunities to teach and to learn about nature through seasoned educational professionals working within the spectacular 548-acre Arboretum.

Wildlife Learning Company, Inc. is a full-service environmental education company offering services and products to schools, libraries, environmental organizations and members of the general public. WLC promotes conservation through education and strives to connect people to nature by providing programs and products that foster an appreciation of the natural environment, impart an understanding of how natural systems function, and create a desire for people to explore the natural world further and take personal responsibility for its protection and care. Wildlife Learning Company provided programs to more than 6,000 participants last year. For more information: Susan O’Handley, Vice President, Wildlife Learning Company, Inc., 107 East Hill Road, Hartwick, NY 13348, (607) 293-6043 • Fax: (607) 293-6675; message@wildlearn.com, www.wildlearn.com.

To learn more about the Landis Arboretum (www.landisarboretum.org) : 518-875-6935/Fax: 518-875-6394, PO Box 186, Lape Road, Esperance, NY 12066-0186 -- one-and-one-half miles north off Route 20. info@landisarboretum.org

To schedule an interview with Mr. Breglia. Bill Combs, Jr., or Susan O’Handley, please call: 518-875-6935; landisfb@midtel.net – come to the new, improved Arboretum/WLC booth on the main floor of the spectacular Capital District Garden and Flower Show at the Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenburg Ave. (Route 4), Troy, NY 12180

Cost:

General Admission, at the door $10* ; Children under 15 Free Advance sale tickets $8 (available at Price Chopper February 26 - March 27 ) 2-day pass $14; Seniors (age 62) - $7.00 on SENIOR Day sponsored by CDPHP (at the door Friday, March 28 only)

Tour operators email info@gardenandflowershow.com for pricing *$1 discount coupons off general admission are available upon request from participating, exhibitors, vendors and corporate supporters.

For applications or other questions email info@gardenandflowershow.com

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Posted Monday March 24, 2008 at 08:39 am by Landis Arboretum