FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (RIDGELY, MD—AUGUST 17, 2012)

Adkins Arboretum is offering a full slate of programs for fall, including guided walks,landscape design, art and holiday decorating. Offerings include:

Nature as Muse
Wednesdays, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Each month this writing group follows a different Arboretum path to quietly observe nature in detail and gain inspiration for writing. Enjoy how the Arboretum paths and the paths in your mind can lead you on an unpredictable but delightful journey. No previous writing experience necessary. Dress for both indoor and outdoor forest adventure. Registration required. This program is free with admission.

Second Saturday Guided Walks
Saturdays, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13, 1–2 p.m.
Horticulturalist Eric Wittman will lead a walk about gardening with ornamental native plants. Learn about native plants and how they can become a greater part of your home gardening experience. Registration required. This program is free with admission.

Fall Soup ’n Walks
Saturdays, Sept. 22, Oct. 20 and Nov. 17, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Following a guided walk through the Arboretum’s woodland, meadows and wetland, enjoy a delicious and nutritious lunch along with a brief lesson about the meal’s nutritional value. The September walk will focus on the Arboretum’s sunny meadows. October’s program will explore fall color, mushrooms and grasses; and November’s walk will focus on nuts and berries for wildlife. Registration required. Fee: $20 members, $25 general public.

Fall Harvest
Fri., Sept. 7, 10 a.m.–noon
Just because we can stop worrying about what to do with yet another summer squash doesn’t mean the food season is over. Late summer is the time to plant a fall garden and the time you’ll find the widest variety of produce all year. Elizabeth Beggins will show how a little preparation now can yield big returns as the weather turns cooler. Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

Identifying Fall Wildflowers
Sat., Sept. 8, 10 a.m.–noon
Learn to identify the Arboretum’s beautiful yellow, white and purple autumn flowers. Take a walk with ecologist Dr. Sylvan Kaufman for a close look at Delmarva's native fall wildflowers. Identification will focus on flower and leaf characteristics and learning to recognize plant families. Participants should bring a wildflower field guide and a hand lens if they have them. Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

Living in the Trees: Speaking to the Times
Sat., Sept. 8, 6:30–9 p.m.
Join a special program in which music and art cast a spell on one of the last evenings of summer. The Pam Ortiz Band will set the scene with thought-provoking songs that probe the bittersweet richness of life in our times. As the dusk fades into night, take a walk into the forest to see Night Walk, photographer Penny Harris’s images of human figures magically projected onto the trees. As if the spirits of the trees themselves have become visible, Harris’s figures hauntingly evoke the primal link between trees and human life. After a walk through the woods, lit by luminarias and flashlights, return to the Visitor’s Center for more music and refreshments. Registration required. Fee: $20 members, $25 general public.

Plants with a Purpose: Ecological Design and Edible Landscapes
Sat., Sept. 15, 1–2:30 p.m.
Beyond their beauty and bountiful flavors, edible landscapes provide socio-cultural, economical and environmental benefits within homes and communities. The food and garden movement is bringing to light the unsung role of edibles as a sustainability catalyst for green infrastructure design solutions. Jeanette Ankoma-Sey will present a series of various approaches to explore how edibles can play a key role in planning and design and as tools to restore, mitigate and improve how landscapes function to support stormwater management, soil health and habitat creation and biodiversity. Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

Backyard Hobby Farm Field Trip
Sat., Sept. 22, 10–11:30 a.m.
Robyn Affron and her arborist husband have transformed their half-acre property in Chestertown into a sustainable, productive and lively oasis. Share Robyn’s journey and joy of backyard farming and gardening with this visit to her hobby farm and lush chicken garden. See sustainable land practices in action, and meet the farm animals. Taste the difference of fresh free range chicken eggs by taking home a few fresh eggs to share with family and friends. Participants will meet at Robyn’s home in Chestertown. Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

Wetland Plant ID: Know 'em and Grow 'em
Wed., Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Facilitated by Environmental Concern, an organization dedicated to understanding wetlands, this program provides educators and docents with an understanding of wetland plant ecology and adaptations, and the resources to identify plant species in the field. Materials will also cover native and non-native species and planting tips. Participants will also gain inspiration to construct schoolyard or backyard wetland habitats. Registration required at www.wetland.org. Fee: $40.

The Second Annual Tent Symposium present: Sources of Inspiration
Sun., Sept. 30, noon–4 p.m.
Immerse yourself in a full day at Adkins Arboretum for the second annual fall symposium. Take a walk along the paths that bisect the Arboretum’s rich and unique native plant habitat—mature and young native forests, meadows, wetland and native gardens. Visit the Native Plant Nursery and plant sale, then enjoy lunch followed by inspiring presentations by Thomas Rainer and Dan Benarcik. Registration required. Fee: $65 members, $85 general public.

Collecting and Propagating Native Seeds
Tues., Oct. 2, 1–3 p.m.
Discover the basics of harvesting, processing, cleaning, storing and propagating seeds in this program with ecologist Dr. Sylvan Kaufman. Following a brief introduction to seed biology, participants will go into the Arboretum’s gardens, meadows and woods to collect seeds and then process them and learn about seed propagation at the Arboretum’s Native Plant Nursery. Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

Nature-Inspired Clayworks
Fri., Oct. 5, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Join Paul Aspell to create nature-inspired ceramics using hand-building techniques demonstrated in the first session of this three-part series. Paul is known for his combination of hand-built forms with thrown elements. He incorporates elements of the Eastern Shore into his pottery, as demonstrated by his washes and glazes and his use of shells and old bricks to leave imprints in the clay. Subsequent sessions will be held Fri., Oct. 19 at Paul’s Ridgely Studio and Fri., Oct. 26 at the Arboretum. Registration required. Fee: $55 members, $75 general public.

Foraging in Fall with Bill Schindler
Sun., Oct. 7, 1–3 p.m.
Bill Schindler, Ph.D. returns to the Arboretum to lead this hands-on workshop that will immerse participants in the exciting, sustainable and nutritious world of foraging for wild plants. Participants will be taken into the field to learn how to identify, harvest, and prepare many of spring’s wild edibles. It doesn’t get more local or organic than this! Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

First Detector Training for Insect and Disease Pests of Plants
Fri., Oct. 12, 1–3 p.m.
Join the front line of defense against new pests and diseases of plants. Adkins Arboretum is part of the Sentinel Plant Network, a network of botanical gardens that is on the lookout for emerald ash borer, Asian longhorn beetle, sudden oak death and other pests and diseases that threaten forest health. This workshop offers training for volunteers who can help spot potential problems, collect samples, and submit them to insect and disease specialists in Maryland. Registration required. This program is free with admission.

Landscape Design Workshop
Sat., Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
This workshop will address the typical challenges of homeowners in the Chesapeake Bay region. Three experienced landscape designers and avid gardeners will lead you through an all-day intensive design session. Come with your challenges and dreams, and leave with a landscape plan, ideas, and confidence to transform your home landscape for your enjoyment and pride. Workshop leaders are Arboretum Executive Director Ellie Altman; landscape architect Barbara McClinton, formerly of the Baltimore landscape architecture and land planning firm Daft, McCune, Walker; and landscape designer and native plant enthusiast Chris Pax, a graduate of the George Washington University sustainable landscape design master’s program. Registration required. Fee: $85 members, $110 general public.

Copper Bracelet Workshop
Sun., Oct. 14, 1–3 p.m.
Create your own power bracelet with instruction and guidance from renowned local artist Sue Stockman. Sue will guide participants in the process of forming 12-gauge copper wire into a bracelet armature and its adornment to create a unique piece of jewelry. All materials are included. Registration required. Fee: $35 members, $50 general public.

An Arboretum Campout
Sat., Oct. 20, 5 p.m.
Enjoy a fall campout under the stars. Roast s’mores over a woodland bonfire, take a flashlight hike, and celebrate fall colors on a morning tree walk. Delmarva Stargazers will be on hand to uncover the mysteries of the night sky, and children will make a fall craft to take home. Registration required. Fee: $20/person or $70/family for members, $25/person or $85/family for the general public.

Designing for Waterfront Landscapes
Sat., Oct. 27, 10 a.m.–noon
Waterfront properties present homeowners with a slew of both daunting challenges and precious opportunities. Join landscape designer and native plant enthusiast Chris Pax, a graduate of the George Washington University sustainable landscape design master’s program, for a look at plants that are good for waterfront landscape conditions and to review some of the special rules and regulations that may apply in your county. Registration required. Fee: $35 members, $45 general public.

Holiday Illumination
Fri., Nov. 2, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Join artist Lee D’Zmura to create an illuminated letter with the choice of either a winter botanical such as winterberry, mistletoe or pine or a traditional illumination with seasonal references. D’Zmura earned her certificate in botanical art at Brookside Gardens School of Botanical Art and Illustration and now teaches classes in advanced watercolor at Brookside. Registration required. Fee: $55 members, $70 general.

Rain Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms
Sat., Nov. 3, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
This one-day course facilitated by Environmental Concern introduces educators and docents to the concept of rain gardens and their value as schoolyard or backyard habitats. Participants will understand how rain gardens benefit the environment by improving the watershed and how they can be used as an extension of the classroom. Participants will leave with the basic knowledge of how to plan, design and implement a rain garden from start to finish. Registration required at www.wetland.org. Fee: $40.

Talking Bones
Sat., Nov. 10 1–2:30 p.m.
Join educator and naturalist Jenny Houghton to unravel the life stories of local wildlife through their bones. Participants will study cranial structures for clues to wildlife identification, as well as the creature’s age, diet and health. Registration required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general public.

Creating a Holiday Wildlife Tree
Sat., Dec. 1, 10–11:30 a.m.
Join Youth Program Coordinator Jenny Houghton in making natural ornaments designed to welcome wildlife. Raisin icicles, birdseed baskets, cranberry wreaths, suet pinecones, and more will make your outdoor tree festive and inviting to hungry creatures. All materials are provided; participants will create a variety of ornaments to take home. The workshop will close with hot chocolate and a holiday reading.. Registration required. Fee: $12/adult or $20 family for members, $15/adult or $25/family for general public.

Holiday Decorating Workshop
Sat., Dec. 1, 10–noon
Create beautiful natural decorations for the holidays at this workshop led by Nancy Beatty, garden designer and Arboretum docent. Participants will make elegant home decorations from fresh cedar, pine and boxwood greens and other natural materials. All supplies will be provided, but if you have a special container you would like to use, please bring it. Bring a sturdy box or basket to carry home your creations. Registration required. Fee: $35 members, $45 general public.

Build a Wave Hill Chair
Sat., Dec. 15, 10 a.m.–noon
Chanticleer Garden Horticulturalist and craftsman Dan Benarcik returns to Adkins Arboretum to lead a workshop in the construction of the Wave Hill chair. Based on a 1918 design by acclaimed Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld and modified in the 1960s, the chair was popularized in the garden at Wave Hill in the Bronx. This timeless comfortable chair is suitable for any garden setting. Join Dan to build your own chair at a significant discount from the retail price of $245. All materials, including pre-cut cedar and hardware, are included in the fee. Registration required. Fee: $150 members, $185 general public.

Registration is required for all programs. Visit www.adkinsarboretum.org for full program descriptions or to register, or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. Open year round, the Arboretum offers educational programs for all ages about nature and gardening. Through its Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, the Arboretum will build a new LEED-certified Arboretum Center and entranceway to broaden educational offerings and research initiatives promoting best practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Dr. Bill Schindler will return Oct. 7 to lead a program on foraging for wild plants.