Summertime, Family Time: The Arboretum Offers Something for Everyone:

July Programs that Entertain, Inform, and Delight

SCHOHARIE COUNTY, NY (06/16/2008)(readMedia)--

Even the sizzle of July is incapable of shrouding the natural beauty of Schoharie County that awaits visitors around every bend in the road.

No matter what your druthers, the Landis Arboretum and Schoharie County have a lot to offer in July. Start at Landis, the Capital Region's Arboretum, and work your way through an amazing selection of options (visit http://www.schohariechamber.com, http://FuelingTheFun.com and http://didyouweekend.com/weekend..

July 6, Sunday, 9 am-12 noon

PRUNING: THE BASICS. . . AND BEYOND

Join Landis' Director of Horticulture and Operations Fred Breglia as he delves into the when, why, and how to prune trees and shrubs. Work and learn with an ISA Certified Arborist. If possible, participants should bring their own pruning tools and gloves since there will be a hands-on component to the program. Some of the Arboretum's pruning equipment will be available for use during the program. The Acorn Gift Shop at Landis has quality pruning tools for sale. Register by June 25. $35 members, $50 non-members. All levels welcomed.

July 11, Friday, 8:30-10 pm

BAT ECOLOGY EXPLORATION

The Arboretum's fields, forests, ponds and buildings offer great habitat for bats. We'll be looking and listening for them as we learn about their place in the ecosystem. Leader: George Steele, Science Educator. Suggested donation, $5.

July 15 (class repeated September 16),Tuesday, 6-8 pm

CONFRONTING OUR CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE: Soil Fertility, Carbon Pollution & Renewable Energy

Micro-organisms, the least of all life, created Earth's atmosphere and gave us our climate. Reversing climate change means putting carbon back in the soil. Renewable energy produced from plant biomass yields a charcoal by-product that can sequester carbon in soil to hold water and minerals, and provide habitat for microbes. Gardeners, farmers, landscapers, and foresters can all help reverse global warming and create a foundation for sustainable society and food supply. Instructor: David Yarrow. $35 members, $45 non-members. To register, call the Arboretum.

July 18, Friday, 7-8:30 pm

KNOW YOUR TREES

We'll help you to be able to answer the question-"What's that tree?" You'll learn how to use a tree key, the tool botanists use to identify trees, while also investigating how trees fit into the ecosystem and are used by us. Leader: George Steele, Science Educator. Suggested donation, $5. Participants will meet in lower parking lot.

July 25, Friday, 9:30 pm and July 26, Saturday, 9:30 pm

PUBLIC STAR PARTY . BE THERE when the Stars Shine Bright At Landis

-- with Alan French and Albany Area Astronomers.

THE ALBANY AREA ASTRONOMERS meet regularly at the Landis Arboretum meetinghouse for its dark skies and good horizons. On sun/ moon picnic dates, the club's special solar telescope is used to provide a safe view of the sun. Lunar and star-gazing is continued after dark. Visitors are welcome to join the club's activities; bring a blanket and a picnic supper if you wish. The events are free although a suggested donation of $5 is always welcomed to offset upkeep of Landis, the Capital Region's Arboretum. For more information, visit http://www.timesunion.com/communities/astronomy.

At public star parties, telescopes are set up to show guests sights in the night sky. The Walk among the Stars programs include constellation tours, the myths and stories associated with the constellations, and hints on enjoying the night sky. Star Parties and A Walk among the Stars programs are cancelled if the skies are mostly cloudy. Registration is encouraged by calling Alan French at 374-8460 so that we can call you if an event is canceled. You can also call to check about two hours before the start time if you did not register.
The Albany Area Astronomers foster public interest and enjoyment of astronomy. This group of more than 125 enthusiasts, from beginner to expert, meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm at the Schenectady Museum, with the exception of the August meeting, which is held at the Landis Arboretum in Esperance, NY. Meeting programs include speakers, films, slide shows, and planetarium demonstrations. Some club members write a daily astronomical telephone message for Dudley Observatory. Phone 382-7584 after 5 PM or on weekends to hear this free recording.

The AAA 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.

Mr. French has been exploring the night sky for more than 40 years. He and his wife, Susan, have been sharing the night sky with people at star parties in the Capital District for more than 30 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. Visitors to the Arboretum event should bring something to sit on, and dress warmly. The program is 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. For more information, visit www.timesunion.com/communities/astronomy. Star Parties are canceled if the skies are mostly cloudy. To check if a particular star party is happening or not, call 518-374-8460.

LANDIS ARBORETUM SCHOHARIE COUNTY DRIVE-ABOUT GARDEN TOUR

The Landis Arboretum invites you to tour four exquisite gardens on Saturday, July 26, from 10 am to 3 pm. These gardens are located in a convenient circuit throughout the lush and rolling hillsides of Schoharie County in the Jefferson, Summit and Cobleskill area. Members $25; non-members $35. Contact the Arboretum to register and receive a map. 875-6935

CAROLE AND ROBERT OLSEN Homestead

1102 Westkill Road

Jefferson, NY 12093

This amazing property on more than two deer-proofed acres features multiple gardens created by the Olsens. Stroll along the pond path to find large Cimicifuga and Rodgersia. A clematis-clad porch, surrounded by scented thyme and other steppables (tough plants you can step on), commands a wonderful view of the many gardens. Carole and Bob keep a detailed database cataloging over 600 different species of botanical treasures such as daylilies, Salvia spp., Oriental and Asiatic lilies, Buddleia, roses, clematis, phlox and seldom seen trees such as Stewartia are expected to be on bloom. The tour will be hosted by Carole and Bob, both avid garden partners, and Arboretum stalwarts who have created this inviting masterpiece.

ROSMAN GARDENS

1136 Enid Road

Summit, New York

(518) 287-1701

Joanne and Andy Rosman own and operate Rosman Gardens, a private botanical garden in the woods. It is home to a diverse collection of native plants and rare woodland wonders, a large collection of ornamental grasses, English Garden perennials, and over 200 roses. Many plant varieties are available for purchase. There are garden rooms and patios throughout, with winding pathways that lead to wonderful surprises. The tour will be guided by Joanne Rosman, who is a Garden Designer, nationally published garden writer and photographer, master gardener, and ARS Certified rose expert. Rosman Gardens has been featured in Woman's Day Magazine - Gardening & Deck Design, and American Rose Magazine.

SWALLOW HILL FLOWER FARM

Route 10, PO Box 59

Summit, NY

518-287-1361

Swallow Hill Flower Farm is a beautiful place to visit with many different types of gardens; an exquisite alpine garden, tree lined shade garden with numerous varieties of hosta, Astilbe, Tiarella, brunnera and Lamium, and of course fields of dayliles. Their specialty is daylilies and they grow over 300 different cultivars in various colors and shapes. They have a special gift shop with hand crafted gifts from local artisans. This tour will be hosted by Nancie and Bryan Bidwell who will also hand-dig your selections from their field grown perennials.

SUNY Cobleskill

SUNY Cobleskill

Curtiss Mott Hall

SUNY Cobleskill

Terry Forsyth, well-known educator at SUNY Cobleskill, invites you to visit these "teaching" gardens at SUNY Cobleskill. He'll be ready to answer your questions as you wander through these greenroom facilities used by the SUNY Cobleskill faculty and students in the Herbaceous Plants classes. He has optimized the gardens formal classroom style layout to present as s many different plant species as possible. You'll marvel at the extensive collection of labeled plants, native species, introduced / exotic species, perennials, annuals, and ornamental grasses.

For more information about the Landis Arboretum and Adventures in Schoharie County:

  • The Landis Arboretum may well be the northern Catskill Region's best-kept secret. With centuries of history and the riveting beauty inherent in the Arboretum's world-class, global collections, generations of extraordinary plantings continue to impart their secrets to its visitors. http://www.catskillregionguide.com/articles/article.php?id=995
  • Spectacular Beauty? Sustainable Fun? A Schoharie County Weekend - by Schoharie Buzz. http://www.catskillmtn.org/publications/articles/2008-05-spectacular-beauty-sustainable-fun.html

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