Landis Arboretum Lines Up Events for March

SCHOHARIE REGION (02/22/2009)(readMedia)--

On Wednesday, February 25, the enigmatic David Yarrow joins Mr. Breglia in Gallery 107 for a double-teamed focus on Confronting Climate Change Challenge: carbon-negative strategy for sustainable communities. The multi-faceted Mr. Yarrow is well-know as author, journalist, teacher, Earth Advocate, and Executive Director of the Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary, East Greenbush, NY. He is never at a loss for words on environmental issues and technological advances that support his perspectives. (http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/yarrowccchallenge).

A capacity crowd filled the TriCounty Arts Council's Gallery 107 on Friday February 6 for the launch of a month-long exhibit of Mr. Breglia's perspective - Global Warming: When Trees Talk.

Speaking on behalf of Gallery 107, Mark Eamer, Executive Director of the TriCounty Arts Council noted: "The level of artistry and draw of this exhibit surpassed the expectations of all but a few of Mr. Breglia's most ardent fans.

"This was arguably the best-attended opening night in the Gallery's history. Cliché that it is, visiting the Gallery and seeing the Exhibit first hand are the best ways to understand why."

Fifteen large-scale works by Mr. Breglia are complemented by his personal perspective/overview on global warming by Mr. Breglia, an ISA Certified Arborist and Head of Horticulture at Landis, the Capital Region's Arboretum.

Artful Expression

Mr. Breglia as artist is, perhaps, less well known outside the circle of individuals who have nurtured his desire to express and depict his deep relationship with the earth through art.

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.

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.

See and experience this timely exhibit for yourself! Gallery 107 at the TriCounty Arts Council is located at 107 Union Street (off Main) in Cobleskill, NY. 518.254.0611. There is no admission fee and the gallery is open to all. Show ends on Friday.

Contact: Katie Horn-Scarpulla: 518-254-0611; grantcoordinator@tricountyarts.org;

March 8

SECOND SUNDAY SNOWSHOE

Explore the Arboretum on snowshoes with ISA certified arborist and snowshoe king Fred Breglia. Along the way, you'll identify animal signs, discuss winter botany, and, in March, look for harbingers of spring. End the day with a hot beverage. Beginner and experienced snowshoers are welcomed. Bring your own snowshoes or borrow a pair from Landis (no reservations! First come/first served). No snow? We'll take a hike. Free - but donations always welcomed.

SUNDAY, March 22, Noon - 3 PM

Rite of Spring Brunch & Auction to Lift Your Spirits

The Vernal Equinox marks the time at which the sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator and signals the start of Spring in the northern hemisphere. Although there is no shortage of rituals and traditions surrounding the coming of Spring, this year the Arboretum initiates one of its own.

Merrymakers Entertain

Nestled in the heart of picturesque Oak Hill, NY, at the foot of the Catskill Mountains is the Oak Hill Kitchen, home to a special group of regional musicians in what was once an opera house at the turn of the 19th century. We're delighted that the Oak Hill Merrymakers will help us usher in the planting season ahead.

Abundance and More to Please!

• Gather in the warmth and laughter of close friends and associates at the Arboretum's first annual Arboretum Rite of Spring Brunch & Auction. Can there be a better time to throw off the weight of winter and embrace the seasons ahead?
• Share your pride and delight by sharing your table with friends and associates.
• Embrace those who have embraced our Arboretum and who support our efforts through their advertisements in our Newsletters. Think of them first and often as purveyors of quality goods and services. Yes. Do support those who support us - throughout the year.
• Join Trustee Donna Vincent (Duanesburg) and the Rite of Spring Brunch & Auction Committee (Barbara Brabetz (Amsterdam), Gail Browning (Esperance), Anne Donnelly (Lawyersville), and Marcie Reiff (Delanson) at this sure-to-be Arboretum classic. The time for New Beginnings and renewal is at hand.

RESERVE NOW! Call 518-875-6935. Choose Option #2. Or write: landisfun@midtel.net - your passports to an afternoon of delight!

March 27 - 29

Capital District Garden and Flower Show

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ISA Arborist Fred Breglia, Peregrine Falcon Draw Nature Lovers to Booth;

Award-wining Nature Photographer Offers Opportunity to Win Signed Exhibit

The Landis Arboretum welcomes visitors to its booth at this year's Capital District Garden and Flower Show at the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. The show opens Friday, March 27 and runs through Sunday, March 29.

Friday, March 27

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

Saturday, March 28 and Sunday March 29

Visitors will have an opportunity to participate in a raffle at the booth to win a signed and mounted poster, which depicts the rich diversity of wildlife at Landis. Mr. Combs created this poster and other images as a fundraising resource for the Landis Arboretum. Support the Arboretum and purchase this and other original images from Combs' Landis Collection at http://wcombsjr.ipower.com/Florida/store.html

Saturday, March 28

The Arboretum's ISA Certified Arborist Fred Breglia will again be seen at the Capital District Garden Show. Mr. Breglia, a regular guest on WAMC's Vox Pop Gardening Show on Northeast Public Radio, will lead two discussions:

• 1 PM Promoting Plant Health by Proper Pruning
• 3 PM New and Unusual Trees for the Landscape

Event Snapshot

Location: Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenburg Ave. (Rt. 4), Troy, New York 12180

Dates & Times: Friday, March 27, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. ; Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.;

Sunday, March 29, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

General Admission, at the door $10; Children under 15 Free Discount Admissions

• Advance sale tickets $8 (available at Price Chopper February 23 - March 26 )
• 2-day pass $14
• Seniors (age 62) - $7.00 on SENIOR Day sponsor TBA (at the door Friday, March 27 only)

Come to See What's Springing to Life at Landis Arboretum!

Award-winning nature photographer Bill Combs, Jr., is the self-appointed photographer-in-residence at the Landis Arboretum. He and his wife Dannielle - and their two grandchildren - are frequent visitors to Landis. Please enjoy their chronicle of a recent day at Landis -- and read more (below) about a Limited Edition poster that Bill has created as a fundraiser for our Arboretum!

by Bill & Dannielle Combs

My wife Dannielle and I moved from South Florida to Upstate New York in 2006. We immediately started to look for a get-a-way to replace the Florida Everglades, where we spent almost every other weekend exploring the outdoors and photographing nature. We had heard of Landis Arboretum and wanted to see it. We fell in love with the gardens, hiking trails, wetlands, ponds, and woods -- on our first visit. It was also a place that we have come to share with our grandchildren who often accompany us there.

The sun was shining, the weather warming, and I was ready to get out of the house and do some photography. I drove to Landis last Monday. I arrived about 9am and parked my jeep at the top of the hill next to the Meeting House. Immediately, I noticed new green growth on the trees, revealing many different textures and shades of green.

I spotted a male and female Bluebird sitting atop opposite nest boxes, going in and out of them trying to choose which one would be their home for this year's new hatchlings. Leaving them to their house hunting, I walked down to the farm pond. I caught a Chipmunk peeking out of a gap in one of the old rock walls, no doubt checking to see if Spring had arrived -- and if it were safe to come out and forage for food. I was so caught up in photographing him that it took a while for me to notice the Painted Turtle emerging from the leaf litter to bask in the morning sun. He had no doubt spent the long cold winter bromating at the bottom of the farm pond. Upon further investigation, I noticed that he was not alone: there were three more turtles sunning themselves on the edge of the pond.

I walked toward the garden area and was surprised to find Snow Drops, Luecojum vernum var carpathicum and Crocus Chrysanthus all starting to bloom, and little green shoots of unknown splendor popping up everywhere. After spending another 30 minutes photographing the new life that was all around me, I crossed the road and headed up the hill to the recently restored Quarry Garden to find Scilla in bloom and Winter Aconite springing up between the rocks. Moving on toward the Upper Ponds, I could hear the friendly chatter of Black Capped Chickadees at the edge of the Old Growth Forest. I spotted an Eastern Flycatcher standing on top of one of the cattails left over from last year. After nearly two hours walking, photographing and exploring the grounds at Landis, I headed back to the jeep. Living in South Florida for the past 34 years, I had forgotten how beautiful spring could be.

Just when I was about to leave I noticed something fluttering out of the corner of my eye. Much to my surprise it was a Painted Lady Butterfly. She had come out of hibernation where she had spent the winter in the Meeting House and was now sunning herself on an outside wall. Despite my many years photographing the beauty of nature, I was amazed that something so small and fragile could survive the long, harsh cold winter of upstate New York.

After spending an exhilarating morning at Landis, seeing the new growth springing out of the ground in anticipation of the seasons ahead, I know that I will return again and again alone and with my family. We appreciate the fact that this 548 acre public garden is open every day of the year from dawn to dusk. We invite anyone with the time and love of the environment to come see what is springing to life at the Landis Arboretum. Just go for a walk. Or sit. And listen. Enjoy Nature as she is reborn this Spring.

www.landisarboretum.org; info@landisarboretum.org; 518-875-6935

Posted Sunday February 22, 2009 at 11:10 pm by Landis Arboretum