Classes, Garden Party Continue June Bloom at Landis Arboretum

ESPERANCE, NY (06/15/2009)(readMedia)--

Whatever the day, month, or season, there is always a reason to visit Landis, the Capital Region's Arboretum - for family fun, relaxation, and learning....

June 20, Saturday, 4:30 - 8:30 PM

2009 GARDEN PARTY Fundraiser

Landis Arboretum, Esperance, NY; www.landisarboretum.org

Twilight dinner. Live entertainment. Silent Auction. Cash bar. All under the Great Tent among the rolling hills of the sweeping Schoharie Valley countryside. $45/person.

The Landis Arboretum will acknowledge two popular and respected New York State legislators at its annual Summer Solstice Soiree on June 20. This year's summer fundraising event will honor New York State Senator James L. Seward and Assemblyman Peter Lopez - both of whom have been instrumental in supporting initiatives at the not-for-profit Arboretum, including on-going work to establish a universally accessible garden.

According to Senator Seward, "It is always a pleasure to visit Landis. Energized by volunteer effort, this once best-kept secret of the northern Catskills has gained international recognition for its notable northeast oak collection and nature programs. I'm proud that it is within my district."

The gala evening will include:

  • A twilight dinner by Sweet Tooth Caterers (Esperance, NY);
  • The artistry of classical guitarist and Albany resident William Simcoe;
  • Open and silent auctions with an abundance of items from regional businesses;
  • An exhibit of art focused on global warming by award-winning artist and Arboretum ISA Certified Arborist Fred Breglia of Glen, NY. Selected works of Mr. Breglia's recently completed month-long exhibit on Global Warming: When Trees Talk - will be on display at the renovated Welcome Center during the Garden Party;
  • Table centerpieces will be auctioned at end of the event.

Convivial laughter and the scent of flowers will fill the night air as Arboretum Trustees and volunteers work in tandem to heighten awareness of and raise funds for educational initiatives at Landis and its legacy Van Loveland and Quarry gardens. To purchase tickets, call 518-875-6935. Always a night to celebrate and remember - especially with a table of friends!

June 20, Saturday, 9 AM - Noon

PRUNING: THE BASICS . . . AND BEYOND

Landis Arboretum, Esperance, NY; www.landisarboretum.org

Join Landis' Director of Horticulture and Operations Fred Breglia as he delves into the when, why, and how to prune trees and shrubs. Work and learn with an ISA certified arborist. All levels welcomed.

If possible, participants should bring their own pruning tools and gloves since there will be a hands-on component to the program. Some of the Arboretum's pruning equipment will be available for use during the program. The Acorn Gift Shop at Landis has quality pruning tools for sale. Register by June 25. Members $35, non-members $50.

June 27, Saturday, 2 - 3:30 PM

HERPETOLOGY HIKE

Landis Arboretum, Esperance, NY; www.landisarboretum.org

Enjoy a walk about the Arboretum's fields, forests and ponds in search of amphibians and reptiles. We hope to see several salamanders, frogs, snakes and turtles as we learn about their habits and habitats. Donation, $5 per person.

Leader: George Steele, Science Educator. George Steele is a seasoned and award-winning environmental education consultant and a popular guide at Landis, the Capital Region's Arboretum. Since 1992 he was worked with a wide range of programs for children's summer camps, museums, nature centers, outdoor education centers, state agencies, libraries, and schools throughout the Northeast.

June 28, Sunday, 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

NATIVE PLANTS AND BIODIVERSITY: A FIELD TRIP WITH ED AND ANNE

Landis Arboretum, Esperance, NY; www.landisarboretum.org

Bring a bag lunch and walk the Native Plant Trail with Ed Miller, curator, and Anne Donnelly, retired biology professor and Arboretum President. We'll talk about native plants and how to key them out - and about biodiversity, evolution, and how native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens. Bring your field guides and we'll help you use them, or use ours. Members $10, non-members $15.

Although formally trained to be an engineer, Ed Miller has always had an interest in nature. Following retirement nearly 25 years ago, he studied plants seriously with Ruth Schottman, Jerry Jenkins, Nan and Sue Williams, and others. He has twice served as the chair of the Northeastern section of the Botanical Society of America. Today, Mr. Miller ranks at the top of the Volunteers Who Know list at the Arboretum: he serves as curator to the Native Plant Collection, which he started at the Landis Arboretum in 1999.

Calling Children of All Ages

The Arboretum offers classes, workshops, guided and self-guided nature study. Workshop subjects include hawks, moths, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and arthropods. Horticultural interests are the focus of classes in pruning, tree identification, daylilies, roses, trillium, and plant propagation. Ancillary workshops have focused on photography, botanical illustration, and landscape painting.

The Arboretum is an ideal outdoor classroom for children. With more than 2,000 labeled species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world and two old growth forests with diverse wildlife habitats, children love the Arboretum and are eager to learn in this environment.

A 2008 partnership with the Wildlife Learning Company (Oneonta) has heightened interest and participation in Arboretum events. A full-service environmental education company offering services and products to schools, libraries, environmental organizations and members of the general public, the Wildlife Learning Company/Arboretum partnership 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.

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 is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions. The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic designated Route 20 in Esperance, NY, a beautiful and easy drive from within the Capital Region. There, with decades of history and the riveting beauty inherent in the Arboretum's noteworthy global collections, generations of extraordinary plantings continue to impart their secrets to its visitors.

For more information, call 518-875-6935; http://landisarboretum.org. Directions: http://landisarboretum.org/map.html