Landis Arboretum's Fred Breglia to Speak at Capital District Garden Show

SCHOHARIE REGION (03/03/2009)(readMedia)-- Living up to the record of educational outreach and accomplishment 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 Annual Capital District Garden and Flower Show at the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy on Saturday, March 28.

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

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.

Wildlife Comes to 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 - 1.5 miles off Route 20 in historic Esperance, NY . info@landisarboretum.org

To schedule an interview with Mr. Breglia: 518-875-6935; landisfb@midtel.net