Summer Blooms at Landis

ESPERANCE, NY (06/19/2011)(readMedia)-- July's warm weather and bright skies welcome lots of great activities at Landis Arboretum. Whether you take us up on one of the planned activities, or set your own pace for a hike, jog, or walk with your favorite canine, Landis is the place to find magic in July!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Your home in the city may suffer from light pollution, but the dark skies of Landis offer excellent views of the galaxies, star clusters, and more. Meet Alan French and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers on Friday or Saturday, July 1 and 2, at 10:00 p.m., outside the Meeting House, for July's Public Star Parties. Admission, parking, and use of their telescopes are free of charge, but donations to aid the Arboretum are always welcome. If skies are mostly cloudy, star parties are cancelled. Call Alan at (518) 374- 8460 to confirm the evening's program or for more details.

Commune with Nature, and Learn Something, Too

Join George Steele, respected science educator, on Saturday, July 9, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a Tree Walk along a variety of forest trails at the Arboretum. This is a great opportunity to learn about how trees grow, how to identify them, how they are used by animals, and by humans. Arboretum members: $5/person, $15/family; non-members: $10/person, $25/family.

Take a different kind of walk with Gina Nielsen at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, as you learn about using GPS units in the popular pastime of Geocaching. Participants will become familiar with the eTrex GPS unit and be introduced to the Geocaching website where caches are listed and described. There are several geocaches hidden on the Arboretum's grounds--come see if you can find them!! Bring a brown bag lunch and picnic afterwards. Reservations are necessary, and the class limit of 10 will be reached early, so call the Arboretum at (518) 875-6935 or register online at www.landisarboretum.org Arboretum members: $5, non-members: $10.

If you're more into things that wiggle or fly, two fun opportunities await. Once again join science educator George Steele from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday July 24, to Search for the Arthropod Squad. Who are the arthropods? Insects, spiders, centipedes and millipedes – and the Arboretum is full of them. We'll search high and low and use sweep nets to find these creepy crawlies and learn about who is who, what they do, how they grow, and where they go. Members: $5/person, $15/family; non-members: $10/person, $25/family.

Perhaps you're more into things that fly than things that creep and leap. If so, join Anne Donnelly, dragonfly surveyor for the NYS Natural Heritage Program from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27 to hunt for Dragonflies and Damselflies. 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. Members: $5/person, $15/family; non-members: $10/person, $25/family.

Stimulate Your Inner Artist

Whether it is music or the visual arts that draw you, you'll find something this month at Landis. On Sunday, July 10, at 5:00 p.m., the Bleeker Consort brings Stella Splendens: Early Music from Europe to the Arboretum. A historically-informed concert and a presentation on historical instruments by performers in period garb. The Bleeker Consort is an early music ensemble formed in 1989, specializing in medieval, renaissance, and baroque music, and is located in Albany, New York. The consort members come from a variety of professional backgrounds and play a diverse set of instruments, including vielle, mandola, lute, harp, recorders, cornamussen, kelhorn, dulcian, hurdy-gurdy, percussion, and, of course, voice. The concert will be held in the Meeting House. Attendees are invited to picnic on the Arboretum grounds. Arboretum members: $10; non-members: $15.

If you yearn to capture the beauty around you, join the Paint-Out from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 (rain day Sunday July 17). The Mohawk Region Chapter of the New York Plein-Air Painters will sponsor a "Paint-Out" on the grounds of the Landis Arboretum. Plein-air painting is practiced internationally and is growing in popularity. It refers to artwork, usually landscapes, created outdoors on-site. Artists typically work in oils and create relatively small paintings that can be completed in a few hours using folding easels and lightweight, portable equipment. All materials are carried in and carried out by the artists with a careful respect for the environment. Artists can park at the Meeting House. We will reconvene at 3:30 for a casual group critique, refreshments, and an opportunity to chat. In the event of rain (as in downpour) the event will be postponed to the same time the following day, Sunday, July 17. To sign up, or for more information, participating artists can contact Marilyn Fairman, Signature Member, New York Plein-Air Painters Mohawk Region Chapter, at wallkillart@msn.com or (518) 736-2249.

Finally, be part of a joyous crowd at the Bands For Landis Concert, July 30th starting at 1:00 p.m. to ?? Join us for a day of music to benefit Landis Arboretum. Many bands are coming together across a diverse range of music to help raise needed operational money. Parking is free, and the suggested donation is $10.

Landis Arboretum • 174 Lape Road • Esperance, NY 12066

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