Enjoy October's Bright Blue Weather at Landis Arboretum

ESPERANCE, NY (10/01/2010)(readMedia)-- The days grow short, the nights are crisp, and Mother Nature is preparing herself for a winter nap. It's the perfect time to indulge your senses at Landis Arboretum, morning, noon or night!

GAZE UPON THE STARS

There can be no better time of year to look upon the heavens than the fall of the year. Join Alan French and the Albany Area Astronomers for a STAR PARTY under the dark Arboretum skies at 8 PM on October 1 and 2. A variety of telescopes will treat you to views of nebulae, galaxies, planets, and other celestial sights. Alan will hold a short introductory program in the Meeting House fifteen minutes after the scheduled Star Party start time, followed by a short, outdoor tour of the prominent constellations. Parking and admission are free, but as always, donations to the Arboretum are welcome and greatly appreciated. Note that start parties are cancelled if the skies are mostly cloudy. Call Alan French at 518-374-8460 if you are in doubt about the weather or for more information.

ENGAGE YOUR EARS

Our new stage at the back or our 1830s English-style Barn is the site for the inaugural FALL CONCERT SERIES. Pull up a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music.

Sodbuster and the Blank entertain on Friday, October 1, 6 – 9 PM,

Ryan McGiver and Friends are on stage on Friday, October 8, 6 – 8:30 PM, and

Bentwood Rockers and Wild Mountain tune up on Sunday, October 10, 4 – 6:30 PM.

The suggested donation for each evening is $5 per Member and $10 per non-member. (If you are a stargazer, stick around on October 1 for the Star Party.)

STRETCH YOUR LEGS

Landis Arboretum welcomes the EMPIRE STATE CAPITAL VOLKSSPORTERS WALKING CLUB on Saturday, October 16, from 9 AM to 3 PM, starting out from the Welcome Center. The Volkssporters welcome other walkers to join them and meet other walking enthusiasts. The outing is free, but donations to the Arboretum are always welcome and greatly appreciated. More information on the club can be found at www.ava.org/clubs/escv/

EXPAND YOUR MIND

The Arboretum is a great place to learn new things. Consider how much fun these offerings will be:

TREE I.D. WITH FRED: Join the Arboretum's arborist Fred Breglia on October 9, from 9 AM to noon, to learn how to recognize the many different trees and shrubs that are native to New York State. Participants will learn methods to determine plant types and to identify the common plants they find around them. The donation is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

STARTING OUT WITH HONEY BEES: Since the beekeeper's year starts in the fall, October 23, from 1 to 4 PM, is the right time to learn what it takes to become a beekeeper. Master Beekeeper Anne Frey will lay the groundwork so that you'll feel comfortable as a beginning beekeeper. It will be taught through a combination of lecture and video. You will learn how to buy and assemble equipment, where to place your hives, how to acquire bees, how to care for your growing colonies, and how to prevent, identify, and treat diseases. Basic beekeeping has changed little over the past 150 years, but diseases and pests now make beekeeping more of a challenge. Integrated Pest Management will be emphasized. Though the first summer's honey is mainly left for the bees to get through their first winter, harvesting will be touched on briefly. The goal of this class is to help you begin beekeeping more confidently than if you were on your own. Anne Frey has had bees since 1989 and has been a beekeeper since 1994. Anne was the president of the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association from 2003 to 2004. The class will be held in the Library and is limited to 12 people. The donation is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

HALLOWEEN OWL PROWL: Join us on Friday, October 29, from 8 to 9:30 PM, as we prowl the Arboretum's woods listening for owls. The evening begins in the Meeting House with George Steele, Science Educator, as he provides background on owls and their behavior, then it's into the words to listen for, and if we're lucky, to look at owls. The donation is $5 per person or $15 for families for members and $10 per person or $25 for families for non-members.

RECOGNIZE OUR VOLUNTEERS

Join us on Saturday, October 2, from 3 to 7 PM, to recognize the efforts of our hard-working volunteers with a Plant Swap beginning at 3:30 (please visit the Arboretum website at www.landisarboretum.org for plant swap rules). A buffet will be provided at 4:40 by Landis Board Members, and we'll gather 'round a campfire at twilight. Wear your comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring chairs and blankets for sitting, and bug spray! Parking and admission are free. Sign up early at 518-875-6925 for a day you will not soon forget! No rain date is scheduled.