ADKINS ARBORETUM
SEPTEMBER 2011 PROGRAMS/EVENTS
MAGIC IN THE MEADOW
Saturday, September 24, 6–9:30 p.m.
Adkins Arboretum promises an enchanted evening Saturday, September 24, when it hosts the fourth annual Magic in the Meadow, a dazzling event to benefit the Arboretum’s education and conservation programs. As twilight falls, guests will mingle in the meadow surrounded by the Arboretum’s 400 acres of majestic native gardens, wetlands, forests and streams.
The twilight event promises an enchanting evening under the stars, with tantalizing hors d’ouevres; cocktails; delicious wines; dinner prepared by the Eastern Shore’s premier caterer, PeachBlossom; and the music of the incomparable Stef Scaggiari. Exciting live and silent auctions will offer an array of fabulous travel opportunities, local adventures, luscious wines, art and much more. The winner of “12 Nights on the Town,” an exclusive live auction item, will receive gift certificates for twelve of the Mid-Shore’s finest restaurants, plus a dozen crab cakes and a Smith Island cake to take home at the end of the evening celebration.
Join friends for a wonderful evening in support of Adkins Arboretum. Individual tickets are $125 per person ($75 per ticket is tax deductible), with tables of ten available for reservation. Guests can choose to sit with friends or simply join a table of Arboretum supporters for a fun evening under the twinkle-lit tent.
To purchase tickets, visit www.magicinthemeadow.org, e-mail magic@adkinsarboretum.org, or call Lynda Tison at 410-634-2847, ext. 21.
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FALL NATIVE PLANT SALE
Members-only Sale—Friday, September 16, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (new members welcome)
Public sale days—Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Enjoy fall in the garden! Shop the region’s largest selection of ornamental native trees, shrubs, flowering perennials, grasses, and ferns. Members, including those who join on the sale day, receive a 10% discount on plants, new books, and gift shop items. Members at the Contributor ($100) level and above receive a 20% discount on plants. Arboretum volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer gardening questions. The sale benefits the Arboretum’s education programs and educates the public about the benefits of gardening with native plants.
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PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
An eight-week series of programs for three- to five-year-olds begins the week of September 20. Taught by popular teacher Jenny Houghton, the programs teach preschoolers lessons about nature through stories, songs, and outdoor adventures. Each session includes a healthy snack and a craft. $60 members/$75 general public for eight programs in the series. Visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 to register.
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Science for Home School Students
Thursdays, October 20–December 1 (no class on November 24), 1–2:30 pm
Fee: $55 members, $70 general public
Program is designed for students 7 to 14 years of age
Uncover the fascinating origins of modern science with a glimpse into the past. Home school students will journey from the birth of science in ancient Mesopotamia to science in the 21st century, with stops along the way in ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, the Scientific Revolution, and The Age of Reason. Delving into the components of the scientific method, students will learn to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and conducting research. Students will use their newfound knowledge in the field, working in teams to create and test hypotheses related to the Arboretum’s forest, wetland, meadow, and stream habitats. The program will culminate in a science fair showcasing team projects. Registration required. Limit: 15.
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ART AT THE ARBORETUM
The Arboretum sponsors art exhibitions throughout the year, including an annual competition and outdoor environmental art. Call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.
Second Sitings, an outdoor show of environmental sculptures by Centreville artists Howard and Mary McCoy, remains on view through September 15. Each of these eight site-specific works was inspired by the Arboretum’s forest and created exclusively with vines and fallen branches the artists gathered there.
The power of nature is unmistakable in Kit-Keung Kan’s exhibit, Water, Water and Water, on view in the Visitor’s Center August 1 through September 30. A retired physicist who lives in Bethesda, Kan captures breathtaking scenes of rushing water in his large Chinese ink and watercolor paintings on rice paper. Although best known for his distinctive painting style mingling modernism with classical Chinese landscape painting, Kan is familiar to many Arboretum visitors for his scrolls of calligraphy hung in the forest in the winter of 2009–10.
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Migration Bird Walk
Saturday Mornings, September 3 and 10, 7:30–9 a.m.
Free with admission
Join avid birders Karen Harris and Danny Poet, each with more than 25 years of birding experience and members of the Talbot County and Caroline County bird clubs, on a guided walk of the Arboretum. Scout out the fall warblers; Chestnut-sided, Tennessee, and Blue Wing on their way to South and Central America. Reservations requested.
Nature as Muse
Wednesday, September 7, 10 a.m.–noon
Free with admission
Each month this writing group will follow a different winding path through the Arboretum to quietly observe nature in detail. This will provide inspiration for expressing ideas that begin as seeds in our minds and then blossom into discovery as we write. No previous writing experience necessary. Enjoy how the paths in the Arboretum and the paths in your mind can lead you on an unpredictable but delightful journey. Dress for both indoor and outdoor forest adventure. Reservations requested.
Eating Seasonally
Wednesday, September 14, 1–2:30 p.m.
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public
Learning to eat in rhythm with the seasons will also attune you to your body’s special needs. Root vegetables are grounding and are perfect for times when we are moving indoors during winter, while greens abundant in spring are cleansing and appropriate for reemergence. Explore where to shop, what to buy, the distinctions between confusing terms like natural and organic, and ideas for simple ways to preserve summer’s harvests. Each participant will come away with enthusiasm for becoming dedicated “locavore”!
Elizabeth Beggins is a freelance writer and educator with over a decade of experience as a market gardener on the Eastern Shore. She believes that health depends on a keen understanding of what we eat and that our choices as consumers are vital to sustaining ourselves and our planet. She also manages The You Food Project, a grassroots initiative designed to connect youth to food and the environment through school gardens. For more information, contact her at youfoodproject@gmail.com or call (410)745-3457.
Gardening in the Woods Series
Thursdays, September 29 and October 6 and 13, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $15 members each program or $35 for all three, $20 general public each program or $45 for all three
Join ecologist Dr. Sylvan Kaufman for this three-part series on woodland gardens. Learning about the ecology of forests provides deeper understanding of gardens that mimic the structure and function of the forest. This series is also suitable for homeowners on wooded lots who want to learn more about their forest.
Forest Ecology for Gardeners
Thursday, September 29
Whether you have a well-established woodland garden or want to start one, understanding the basics of forest ecology will help you understand your garden. This class will look at types of natural forests in Maryland and how forests change over time. Learn the roles that plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria play in the forest ecosystem. Recognize the factors that threaten forest health and how you can maintain a healthy forest or woodland garden.
Describe Your Forest
Thursday, October 6
Learn the secrets of your forest. From how it has been used in the past to what species you might expect to find, looking carefully at a forest can tell a lot about its future. This hands-on outdoor class will examine several forested areas around Adkins Arboretum; assess the forest community type; look for past and present disturbances; and look at overall forest health. Participants can then apply these techniques to their own land to help decide what to plant and how to manage their woodland garden or forest. In case of inclement weather, an indoor class exercise will be substituted.
Woodland Native Plants
Thursday, October 13
From groundcovers to spring flowers to summer whites and fall color, there are many delightful native plants for the woodland garden. This talk will focus on coastal plain woodland species but will include some easy-to-grow Piedmont woodland plants as well. Participants will come away with a great list of native plants suitable for woodland gardens.
Chanticleer Garden bus trip
Thursday, September 22, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Fee: $95 members, $120 general public
Truly one of the world’s most creative gardens, Chanticleer is located just outside Philadelphia in Wayne, Pennsylvania. A visit in early spring included an onion snow—the last snow of the season—early bulb blooms, and unfurling of new growth. Now participants will visit to see the garden with a full summer’s worth of growth and flowers and seed. Originally the estate was known for its majestic trees and verdant lawns. Today the trees and lawns remain, but the focus is on plant combinations, containers, textures, and colors, often relying on foliage more than flowers. A vegetable garden complements a cut-flower garden. Courtyards are a framework for unusual combinations of hardy and tropical plants. Vines grow in nooks and crannies, trailing and twining. A serpentine of cedars, boulders, and agronomic crops undulates through a mown hillside. A woodland garden full of rarities leads to a water garden surrounded by exuberant perennials. Sculptural, homemade seats, benches, wrought iron fences, and bridges highlight the uniqueness and personal nature of the garden. For more information about Chanticleer Garden, visit www.chanticleergarden.org/. After touring the gardens in the morning, participants will have lunch at Terrain, the hip Garden Center and Café by the founder of Anthropologie. For more information about Terrain, visit http://www.shopterrain.com/.
Fee includes bus transportation, admission, garden guided tour, and a buffet lunch at Terrain Garden Center and Cafe.
Exploring Nature and Five Movements of Life through Writing, Reflection, and Community
Monday, September 26, 1-3:30 P.M.
Fee: $25 members, $30 general public
Many cultures look to nature as teacher, and we too might use nature’s lessons to encourage our own growth and connectedness to life around us. By exploring five elements honored in
traditional Chinese wisdom, we can be part of the graceful flow of seasons. Celebrate late summer as part of nature’s cycle of seasons—a time to reflect on the joys of summer’s passing and renew our appreciation for the abundance of earth and its fullness.
We’ll listen to poetry, try a few gentle writing exercises, spend some time outdoors, and engage in simple collage activities. No previous experience in these areas is necessary! The Arboretum provides a perfect location to immerse ourselves in nature and discover how it speaks in our own lives. Instructor Katherine Johnson is a life coach and teacher of creative practices as SoulCollage®, writing, meditation, and personal growth. She holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland and teaches for Tai Sophia Institute and Johns Hopkins University, as well as several holistic learning centers. Katherine’s life journey has integrated practices of traditional professional development with a rich blend of holistic learning.
GUIDED WALKS
Guided Walks
Saturday, September 3
Free with admission
Explore the Arboretum’s diverse plant communities on a guided walk led by an Arboretum docent naturalist. Explore the bottomland forest and upland paths, meander through majestic beech trees, traverse the native meadows, and follow the narrow Tuckahoe Creekside path to glimpse creek waters and wildflowers. Guided walks are free for members and free with admission for the general public. Tours begin at the Visitor’s Center and last approximately one hour.
To schedule a guided walk for more than 10 participants, contact Adult Program Coordinator Ginna Tiernan at gtiernan@adkinsarboretum.org or 410-634-2847, ext. 27.
Second Saturday Walk
Saturday, September 10, 1–2:30 p.m.
Free with admission
Come on a unique journey toward understanding native plants and how they can become a greater part of your home gardening experience. Horticulturalist Eric Wittman will lead visitors on a walk designed to help all gardeners improve their knowledge and use of native plants, from containers to large-scale plantings. Each walk will cover the aspects of where and how plants of the Delmarva can find a place in everyone’s gardening space.
Wittman’s green background started in the golf course industry through his installation of high-profile, deer-resistant plantings for several prominent courses on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He served as director of horticulture for a highly regarded arboriculture firm in the Washington, DC, area before becoming co-owner of Terra Firma Plantcare, where he is responsible for ornamental IPM, invasive plant management, and specialty maintenance programs. He has spoken about native plants to Arboretum docents, Master Gardeners, national garden clubs, and government agencies.
Fall Soup ’n Walks
Nature, Nurture, and Nutrition
Saturday, September 10, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Fee: $20 members, $25 general public
Pre-registration required; register online at www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
Track the changing landscape from summer to fall. Following a guided walk with a docent naturalist, enjoy a delicious and nutritious lunch along with a brief lesson about the meal’s nutritional value. Copies of recipes are provided.
Theme: See the Sunny Meadows with the Golden Brown Grasses and Many Yellow and Purple Flowers
Plants of interest: Milkweed, black-eyed Susan, goldenrod, Maryland golden aster, purple love grass, pearly everlasting, Indian grass, big bluestem
Menu
Sweet potato leek soup
Quinoa, green bean, and tomato salad
Wheat bread with seeds and hummus spread
Oat berry scones
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A Hurricane Tip
Move any loose items in your yard, on your patio or porch into a secured area such as a shed or into the house. Common items to look for include: Trash Cans, Hose Reels, Recycling Bins, Chairs, Tables and any other loose items.
Check with your neighbors and help them do the same.
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