Landis Arboretum: Action-Packed August Starts with End-of-July Pond Exploration & Art Exhibit

Affordable Family Fun at 548 Acre Capital Region Arboretum

SCHOHARIE REGION (07/20/2009)(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....

July 25, Saturday, 2 - 3:30 PM

POND ECOLOGY

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

The pond ecosystem is full of life. Join us as we explore who is who, what they do, how they grow and where they go in the pond environment.

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 has 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. $5 per person; $15/family.

Through July 31

Arboretum Arborist Exhibits Awarding-Winning Art on Global Warming at Moon and River in Historic Downtown Schenectady

Without missing a beat after returning from a national conference at which climate issues took priority, FERDINAND BREGLIA, the Landis Arboretum's ISA Certified Arborist, is again about to walk the talk with an exhibit focused on global warming. Already mounted in Schenectady's trendy Moon and River Café, the month long exhibit will run through July 31.

Subtitled "Can't Stand the Heat? Its only gonna get hotter!", the exhibit will showcase 10 of Mr. Breglia's highly praised pieces, which have arrived at the Schenectady location after successful openings at Gallery 107 (Cobleskill) and Cooperstown Art Association (CAA) in conjunction with Earth Festival 2009.

Whether it is Art imitating nature or ego acting out through unconscious, creative activity, Mr. Breglia's artistic expressions have found a following. At both former showings, his offerings provided a fresh flashpoint for discussion, and his visual musings on the future of global warming are accomplished and provocative.

"The Moon and River is excited about this installation," says proprietor Richard Genest. Who also hosts "Schenectady Today," the County's longest running open mic each Friday on cable channel 16 SACC. "We're pleased to exhibit Mr. Breglia's work throughout this month, which focuses on drawing people to what has evolved to become a dynamic downtown destination. The Moon and River is an evening coffee house with light vegetarian fare and become a gathering place in renovated, historic Schenectady. This exhibit on global warming focuses on issues that are important to most of our clientele and reflects their worldview on issues of concern today."

Even Gallery visitors who know Mr. Breglia may be surprised by the diverse array of large-scale acrylic-on-canvas offerings that include:

  • Stuck, a 3-dimensional hanging sculpture showing distressed faces cast in plaster;
  • Global Warming, the title piece of the show depicting the iconic Great Oak at the Arboretum - in deep distress;
  • Dave Yarrow, an homage to environmental activist - and major influence on Mr. Breglia; and
  • A Requiem for the Trees, a 16"x20" painting illuminating a beautiful forest of trees as imagined on ghostlike, moonlight night.

One of the show's centerpieces - and perhaps a Breglia favorite, is The Gyre, a blend of plaster molds made from his and his wife Erin's faces, amid three-dimensional shapes of plastic bottles, forks, computer ink cartridges, and other pieces of modern plastic trash covered with murky layers of acrylic paint. The artwork brings attention to at least five areas in the world's oceans where currents have creates a watery wasteland of plastic debris discarded from countries, garbage barges, and ships.

August 1, Saturday, 1:00 - 3:00 PM (Rain date: Sunday, August 2)

DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES

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

Dragonflies love those hot summer days! You will learn what to look for, how to tell dragonflies from damselflies, how to recognize habitat preferences, and how to capture and identify using a field guide. We will walk around the various Arboretum ponds in different habitats and will capture, identify, and release these winged jewels.

Led by biologist ANNE DONNELLY, official surveyor for the NYS Natural Heritage Program, and President of the Arboretum Board of Directors. $5/person; $15/family.

August 8, Saturday, 2 - 3:30 PM

SEARCH FOR THE ARTHROPOD SQUAD

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

Who are the arthropods? Insects, spiders, centipedes and millipedes -- and the Arboretum is full of them. We'll search high and low to find these creepy crawlies and learn about who is who, what they do, how they grow and where they go. George Steele, Science Educator. The pond ecosystem is full of life. Join us as we explore who is who, what they do, how they grow and where they go in the pond environment.

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 has 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. $5/person; $15/family.

August 15, Saturday, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

PROJECT WET

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

Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a collection of water-related activities that are hands-on, easy to use, and fun! Project WET explores the physical and chemical properties of water, water's impact on all life, our cultural and historic relationship to water, and issues relating to water use, conservation, pollution, and management. All participants receive a 500-page curriculum guide containing 91 activities. This workshop is appropriate for formal and informal educators of students grades K-12. $20/participant. To register, call the Wildlife Learning Company, 607-293-6043.

August 18, Tuesday

PUBLIC STAR PARTY at 9:30 PM

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

THE ALBANY AREA AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS (AAAA) meet regularly by the Landis Arboretum under the leadership of Alan French. The public is invited and attendance and parking are free. Experience this event for yourself!

  • August 18 (Tues) at 7:30 PM
  • August 21 & 22 (Fri/Sat) at 9:30 PM : Club meeting (Meeting House) and star party
  • September 11 & 12 (Fri/Sat) at 8:30 PM
  • October 16 & 17 (Fri/Sat) at 8:00 PM
  • November 13 & 14 (Fri/Sat) at 8:00 PM

ALAN FRENCH and his wife, SUSAN, have been sharing the night sky with people at star parties in the Capital District for close to 40 years. French is a telescope maker, but also enjoys naked-eye astronomy. He is Vice President of Dudley Observatory's Board of Trustees and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers.

The AAAA owns an 18 inch telescope, and members bring a variety of other telescopes to these gatherings, and are happy to share the views of deep sky wonders or offer help to those new to the hobby. Programs such as The Walk Among the Stars include constellation tours, the myths, and stories associated with the constellations, and hints on enjoying the night sky.

Visitors to the Arboretum event should bring something to sit on, and dress according to the season. A sweater is always a good idea for late evenings at Landis. Programs are cancelled if the sky is cloudy. Participants are encouraged to register by calling 518-374-8460 so that they can be notified if cloudy skies force a cancellation.

August 21/22, Friday/Saturday, 9:30 PM

PUBLIC STAR PARTY

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

THE ALBANY AREA AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS (AAAA) meet regularly by the Landis Arboretum under the leadership of Alan French. The public is invited and attendance and parking are free. Experience this event for yourself!

  • August 21 & 22 (Fri/Sat) at 9:30 PM : Club meeting (Meeting House) and star party
  • September 11 & 12 (Fri/Sat) at 8:30 PM
  • October 16 & 17 (Fri/Sat) at 8:00 PM
  • November 13 & 14 (Fri/Sat) at 8:00 PM

ALAN FRENCH and his wife, SUSAN, have been sharing the night sky with people at star parties in the Capital District for close to 40 years. French is a telescope maker, but also enjoys naked-eye astronomy. He is Vice President of Dudley Observatory's Board of Trustees and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers.

The AAAA owns an 18 inch telescope, and members bring a variety of other telescopes to these gatherings, and are happy to share the views of deep sky wonders or offer help to those new to the hobby. Programs such as The Walk Among the Stars include constellation tours, the myths, and stories associated with the constellations, and hints on enjoying the night sky.

Visitors to the Arboretum event should bring something to sit on, and dress according to the season. A sweater is always a good idea for late evenings at Landis. Programs are cancelled if the sky is cloudy. Participants are encouraged to register by calling 518-374-8460 so that they can be notified if cloudy skies force a cancellation. Those who do not pre-register can call to check about two hours before the start time.

August 23/SUNDAY, 2 PM

HOT TUNES for HARD TIMES

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

An afternoon in the open air with nine hot regional bands donating their time and talent to benefit the Landis Arboretum. Stretch out on the rolling lawn, relax in the Meetinghouse and let yourself be moved at the 548-acre Arboretum. Expect Hot Tunes from Cool Bands. Produced by WALTER WOUK (Finnegan's Wake/ http://finneganswakemusic.org).

Mr Wouk's familiarity with the music scene and the respect he elicits from area performance artists made it easy for him to lineup performers ready share their talents to showcase and aid the Landis Arboretum.

Among the talented performers and groups who will create Hot Tunes for Hard Times are:

  • THE BLANK - Math Rock without all the Math, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Math_rock;
  • LOATHSOME RITUAL - experimental heavy metal;
  • BEARFOOT BOB - acoustic folk rock;
  • MARK BAPTISTE - acoustic and electric guitar. Sings a mix of folk and traditional American tunes; http://home.rr.com/markbaptiste
  • WILD MOUNTAIN - Celtic and traditional folk;
  • ORGANIZED CHAOS - Home-grown folk rock; maintains the spirit of the Grateful Dead;
  • OWEN NIED - 11-year-old blues guitarist;
  • RODNEY LOUIS BAKER - original R&B, Pop and Soul ;
  • PAT PATERSON - Acoustic originals from a local singer songwriter.

Rain or Shine, Hot Tunes for Hard Times starts at 2 PM on August 23 at the Arboretum Meetinghouse. Bring Your Own Basket - although water and soft drinks will be available for sale. Suggested $10/person.

August 29, Saturday, 9 - 10:30 PM

SOUNDS OF SUMMER NIGHT WALK

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

Katydids, crickets, frogs, owls, and maybe even coyotes, join in the summer night time chorus. Use your sense of hearing and fine tune your night vision to find these night time inhabitants of the Arboretum's forests and fields. The pond ecosystem is full of life. Participate to explore who is who, what they do, how they grow, and where they go in the pond environment.

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 has 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. $5/person; $15/family

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 dynamic 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 meetinghouse 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 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

174 Lape Road • Esperance, NY 12066 • 518 875 6935;

www.landisarboretum.org; info@landisarboretum.orgThe grounds are open daily

from dawn until dusk every day of the year!