MINI Cooper, Garlic and Grass Pull Route 20 Traffic

To Landis Arboretum Fall Plant Sale, Sept. 15 - 16

ESPERANCE, NY (09/06/2007)(readMedia)-- Grass, Garlic and a Weekend’s Worth More…

The seasonal countdown to the annual Fall Plant/Used Book/Bake Sales at the Capital Region’s Arboretum on Saturday and Sunday, September 15 – 16th is in play and the arduous setup is under way beneath the spectacular September Schoharie sky.

And once again, visitors to Landis can expand their Arboretum outing to include the 7th annual Sharon Springs Garlic Festival & Invitation Art Show. Admission and parking are FREE, both shows go on rain or shine, and both begin at 10 AM. The Landis signature Fall Plant Sales runs until 4 PM; Garlicfest ‘til 5. The Arboretum Fall Plant Sale and the Sharon Springs Garlic Festival create a family-friendly double play along the scenically designated historic Route 20 Corridor that even opera fans won’t want to miss. What's not to like? (www.sharonspringsgarlicfestival.com; 518.284.2203).

Word is, there’s GRASS at the Landis Arboretum! And it’s true: ornamental grasses of many kinds will be available for the 2007 Fall Plant/Book/Bake Sale at Landis, including Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Pennisetum, Panicum, Festuca —and just about everything but Cannabis. All of the grasses offered are suitable and cold-hardy for Zones 4 and 5. The selections will be extensive! And as expected, visitors can take advantage of great buys and closeouts.

Books in Abundance The volunteer-driven and always popular Arboretum Used-Book Sale (under cover in the restored English Barn) will again offer thousands of books on all topics including horticulture, nature & science, cooking, philosophy, self-help, sports, mystery, science fiction and more.

The annual Used-Book Sale is made possible through the generosity of individuals and popular book haunts such as The Owl Pen of Greenwich, The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, and Catnap Used Books on Cobleskill’s Main Street. Volunteers clean and categorize the offerings – both hard and soft cover – and price them at levels that few can refuse.

Home Baked Goods Visitors also can expect the hallmark unusual and tasty baked cookies, cakes, pies and breads. Donations of home-baked baked goods would be welcomed. Call 518-875-6935 for information. Proceeds go toward Landis’s perennial gardens.

Drive to a Cleaner Environment In a bid to raise operating funds – and attract a new generation of visitors to its spectacular 548-acre site in Montgomery and Schoharie counties -- the Landis Arboretum will raffle a brand new MINI Cooper, with promotional assistance provided by Keeler MINI (Latham, NY). Only 350 tickets will be sold at $100 each. Interested raffle participants are invited to view the MINI Cooper at the Keeler Motor Car Company showroom at 1111 Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 7), Latham, NY (www.keeler.com) or at www.landisarboretum.org.

Instantly recognizable by its unique styling, the car is considered to be a compact powerhouse whose near-instant and widespread popularity has made it a break-through highway icon. With its bravura bulldog stance, the handsomely equipped MINI features six airbags and side protection, an Ultra-Rigid body, 1.6 L 16-valve Alloy Engine, and 118 horsepower @6000 rpm. The popular MINI includes an array of active and passive safety features, a boot-load of personal options, and impressive gas mileage of 32 MPG city/40 MPG Highway – making it one of the highest smiles for miles rating of any car in its class. MINI fans take pride in owning a car reputed for its huge impact on driving fun -- not the environment.

Participants in the Arboretum Raffle MINI Cooper Raffle fundraiser are eligible for two additional prizes: 2nd prize: $250 and 3rd prize: $150. Winning tickets will be drawn at the Landis Arboretum Winter Dinner Auction Fundraising Event on December 8 at The Crossings in Colonie. Participants need not be present to win. Proceeds of the raffle to benefit the Landis Arboretum.

Migrating Geese and Cobblestones Each year the Arboretum offers a quilt sponsored and created by member-volunteers. This year’s offering is titled Migrating Geese and Cobblestones. The beautiful 64 x 85 hand-sewn, cotton quilt with batting will be unveiled at the Plant Sale. Volunteer Toine Wyckoff(Niskayuna) assembled the pieces that comprise the comely quilt and well-known Voorheesville craftsman Lew “Quiltsmith” Schedlbauer combined and stitched the pattern to backing.

“This is more than a mere wall hanging,” says Toine. “Because of its size, the more utilitarian among us might just as easily use it for as a bed cover; and its colors – ranging from woody greens to florals include golds, greens, yellow, red and blue -- and animals in fine detail – expand its possibilities for any home’s style.”

The Arboretum’s Acorn Gift Shop offers some new and popular items include quality pruning and garden tools, polo and sweatshirts with our logo, animal tracks, animal puppets, nature games, and books.

In a Nutshell * Starting times and dates for the sale are firm. Purchases may not be made prior to the sale. * Arboretum plant experts will be available all weekend to answer your questions and to provide suggestions and advice on plant selection, site requirements, and proper planting and care techniques. * Landis cannot take orders or set aside plants prior to the sale. * Park cars in the upper parking area next to the Meeting House. * Limited handicapped parking and drop-off space is available. Please inform the parking attendants of your needs. * Dogs are not permitted at the Plant Sale. (Dogs should never be left in cars because temperatures rise quickly inside vehicles.) * Restrooms and picnic tables are available for your convenience. * All purchased items must be removed by 4 pm, Sunday. Landis does not make deliveries and is not responsible for items left after 4 pm. * Membership means a 10-percent discount and having membership cards handy means quicker checkout - and more time for planting and visiting the Sharon Springs Garlic Festival!

About the Sale Plant Donations: Those wishing to donate plants for the sale should ensure that they are “sale ready” and clearly labeled; the Arboretum will price appropriately. To donate plants, please call the office to make drop-off arrangements.

Help wanted! 875-6935: It takes many hands to orchestrate the plant sale. An event of this size takes a major effort by staff and volunteers on a variety of activities: set-up, plant arranging and clerical, in the week preceding the sale and lots of clerical and informational help on the days of the plant & book sale. Area residents who can help for a few hours or a day (or days), please contact our volunteer coordinator at (518) 875-6935.

Fun-for All Visitors to the Landis Arboretum Fall Plant Sale are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, bug spray, and to wear sensible shoes and attire appropriate for the natural terrain of the Arboretum. The Fall weather offers an excellent opportunity to walk the beautiful grounds of the Arboretum or to take advantage of its more than eight miles of walking/hiking trails.

Easy Access to and from Everyplace The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5. miles off Scenic US Route 20 in historic Esperance, NY.

Landis is an easy beautiful ride from Albany and Cooperstown and central to NYS Wine and Spa Trails. The Capital Region’s Arboretum benefits from its proximity to historic Sharon Springs, Old Stone Fort Museums Complex, Howe Caverns, the Iroquois Indian Museum, the refurbished Cave House, SUNY Cobleskill, and the reputed farms of Schoharie County.

Within under two miles travel distance from scenically designated Route 20 and the route I-88 corridor that links Albany with Cooperstown, Finger Lakes Regions and beyond, the Landis Arboretum is an accessible national treasure within easy reach of New York State’s Capital Region.

The Arboretum’s abundance of assets continues to find new admirers, supporters, and advocates each year: * One of only three arboreta in eastern North America with old-growth forests. Landis has TWO! * Nationally recognized collection of oaks of the Northeast; * 8-plus miles of hiking/walking trails; year-round programs – for kids of all ages * The beautiful Van Loveland Gardens; * Designated destination on NYS Route 20 Bluebird Trail. * Home of the Annual Arboretum 5K Cross-Country Forest Run

Whatever the season, there is always a reason to visit Landis, the Capital Region’s Arboretum -- where leaf-peeping turns to awe and Mother Nature hits her high notes!

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