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THE ULTIMATE GARDEN DESIGNER

by
Tim Newbury
Item
6207

Format:
Paperback 

ISBN:
9780600619871

Pages:
256

Copyright Year:
2010

Availability:
Usually ships within 24 to 48 hours unless otherwise noted in the product description.

With more than 100 garden designs to suit every plot, taste and pocket, The Ultimate Garden Designer has sold nearly a quarter of a million copies worldwide … and is sure to contain your ideal garden.

In this fully revised edition of Tim Newbury’s classic, expert advice shows you exactly where to put your patio and plant your perennials. With a comprehensive plant directory, a vast selection of garden features, and more than 600 beautiful color photographs, plans and drawings, this book is the complete guide to the world of garden design. It’s the next best thing to hiring a professional.

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OKLAHOMA CITY –

Oklahoma City residents wanting to learn about how filtration gardens can be integrated into subdivision design can attend a free class from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, September 27 at the OSU-OKC campus in the Agricultural Resources Center, Room 226.

Richard McKown, community developer and designer with Green Earth Land Design and Zach Roach, vice president of development with Ideal Homes, will offer insights into how storm water run-off and overall water quality can be enhanced by integrating rain gardens into the design of subdivisions.

Rain gardens use plants as a filter to remove pollutants and reduce downstream contaminants. The presentation will focus on an experimental rain garden featured in a Norman subdivision. Discussion will also address the costs associated with implementation and maintenance of these innovative structures.

The class is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Lunch is not provided, but participants are welcome to bring their lunch. This is the sixth in a series of free monthly green infrastructure classes offered through the City of Oklahoma City.

The OregonianWendy O’Brien’s winning entry from Serving Up Style 2011.The Portland Fall Home Garden Show is set to go at the Expo Center.  

The annual show is a one-stop-shop for advice, products, inspiration, and comparison shopping for everything home and garden related.  

“Now is a great time to improve the livability and value of your home, and we are here to help. We have hundreds of vendors, products, services and experts all in one place. Plus, you cannot find inspirational gardens, designer rooms, or hundreds of people wanting to help you with projects on the internet, you need to come to a real consumer show… and enjoy yourself!” said show manager Terry O’Loughlin.

For the fourth year in a row, the tabletop competition, Serving Up Style, is back and bigger than ever. The contest will feature 20 different rooms created by Portland-area interior designers and judged by a panel of experts in the field, including celebrity judge Emily Henderson. Henderson, who grew up in Coos Bay and finished high school in Portland, was named the 2010 winner of “HGTV Design Star.” Show gets under way Oct. 4 at the Expo Center.

— Bridget A. Otto

The Cedarcrest High School FFA team recently saw all of its hard work in the last few weeks of summer pay off, when the team won a third-place ribbon in the Evergreen State Fair’s landscape design competition. Student members Nicole Pearson, Willy Wilen and Byron Galusha created a distinctive garden design for the competition.

Their design included New Guinea impatiens, variegated Algerian ivy, dwarf boxwood, creeping jenny, purple fountain grass and fiber optic grass, plus a colorful and functioning antique water feature.

“I love going to the Evergreen State Fair every year just to see the projects that our students have created and designed,” said Donna Bielstein, Career and Technical Education Director. “The landscape design was beautiful, and the metals’ projects were outstanding.”

FFA Advisor, Les Collins said, “The members of the Cedarcrest FFA are always ready to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom as displayed with this year’s landscape.”

The following FFA students participated in the fair:Pearson exhibited in the Horse Division and several riding classes, earning blue ribbons in each class Elsa Brouwer earned the Reserve Champion Senior Fitting and Showing ribbon.

Byron Galusha entered five agriculture mechanics projects, including an Oliver tractor that he rebuilt, and received the AG Mechanics Outstanding Exhibitor for the 2012 FFA show.

Students also participated in 10 career development events, earning the following awards: second place in poultry; second place in dairy foods; third place in natural resources, second in potato judging,  third in apple judging, third in livestock judging, fourth in dairy judging, sixth in tractor judging.  Anniejoy Schutte also placed first as an individual in the food science competition.

 

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Bedford Garden Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the Bedford Library Meeting Room, 7 Mudge Way. Coffee is at 9:30 a.m., meeting at 10 a.m.

 Lynette Tsiang, a landscape designer, will convey her first hand experience visiting Japanese gardens in Kyoto, Japan. In 2007 she attended the Japanese Garden Intensive Seminar at Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts.  With that experience Lynette will pass on her impressions of eleven gardens she visited while in Kyoto, looking at five of them in depth:  Koto-in, Nazen-ji, Hashimoto Garden, Katsura Imperial Villa, and Umekoji Park. She received her design certificate from the Landscape Institute, formerly the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program. For further information call 781-275-6131.

View full sizePhoto providedJoe Palimeno sits in his Best of Show award winning display at the Singapore Garden Festival.

Joe Palimeno of Ledden Palimeno Design/Build Landscape Company almost turned down what ended up being one of the most memorable and successful opportunities of his life.

After many years of success at the Philadelphia International Flower Show, Palimeno was invited to travel overseas and compete in the Singapore Garden Festival.

“Representatives of the National Park System in Singapore visited the (Philadelphia) show in March, and were considering designers to invite to Singapore,” Palimeno said. “At first I said ‘no.’ I know it’s an honor, but it’s a lot of work and the dates were in June and July, right in the middle of my season here.”

But after careful consideration, Palimeno decided to accept the invitation and ended the adventure with a Best of Show and a Gold award at the Singapore Garden Festival.

“It was the biggest shock,” he said.

Palimeno said, when he enters the Philadelphia show, he goes in with the hopes of building an award-winning display, but when he went to Singapore, he never expected to win anything.

“We finished building the display and then had to leave for judging on Friday morning,” Palimeno said. “I got a phone call at 2 in the afternoon saying I was supposed to be back at the convention center.”

Apparently, Palimeno wasn’t planning to go back until later that evening and unfortunately had left his cell phone in his hotel room.

View full sizePhoto providedLedden Palimeno display at the Singapore Garden Festival.

“When I walked into the room, the phone was ringing,” he said. “It was one of the guys from the show. He said, ‘Mr. Joe,’ — they called me Mr. Joe over there — ‘Mr. Joe you need to get yourself together and get to the convention center. The press is here and they want to talk to you. Mr. Joe, you won Best of Show.’”

Palimeno said from that moment, he was in total shock. He hurried over to the center where there were four groups of between 20 and 25 reporters each.

“There were cameras going off and mics in front of me,” he recalled. “It didn’t sink in until that all calmed down.”

Palimeno’s winning display was different from anything he has built for the Philadelphia show, he said.

“This was a design that was designed and built for myself,” he said. “At the Philadelphia shows, I build for Suburu or EP Henry, but this was whatever I wanted.”

Palimeno’s display featured a pool, wooden trellis, fabric roofing and drapes and hundreds of exotic plants.

View full sizePhoto providedLedden Palimeno display at the Singapore Garden Festival.

He said the design was inspired by the work of Landscape Architect Robert Royston who lived from 1918 to 2008 and was a pioneering modernist who helped define landscape architecture in the early 1940s.

“It has always been the driving force in my design work to create functional and usable outdoor spaces as was his, whether in a backyard garden or a regional use plan, the goal is the creation of delight, joy and serenity for the people who inhabit the space,” Palimeno said. “We built our garden with a passion, and built it pretty quickly too.”

Palimeno has been a landscape designer since he was 24 years old after being inspired during his time working with Lawn Doctor.

“It opened my eyes what people are doing in their yards,” he said. “It evolved into an interest to do some of that on my own and from there, I started my own business.”

Ledden Palimeno is located at 102 Blackwood Barnsboro Road in Sewell. For more information, call 856-468-1700 or visit www.leddenpalimeno.com.

Contact Kelly Roncace at 856-845-3300 or kroncace@southjerseymedia.com.

Follow @KellyLin89

Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, City Officials and Olive Garden employees held a ribbon cutting ceremony for The new Olive Garden at 9:30 this morning.

Everyone was given a short tour of the restaurant after the ribbon cutting was over.

The Italian theme restaurant sits on the corner of Dawson and West Over. This is a dream come true for some here in Albany.

“I’m employing about 180 people. It’s about bringing jobs to the Albany area and it’s about partnership,” said Manager Kenneth Hall.

The restaurant hours are Sunday through Thursday 11am until 10pm. The store hours on Friday and Sat are 11am -11pm.

Here is a news release from Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden’s parent company-

 Olive Garden will open at 2701 Dawson Rd. in Albany, Ga. on Monday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. — creating 180 new jobs. The Olive Garden in Albany is the newest Olive Garden in the family of more than 750 local restaurants committed to providing every guest with a genuine Italian dining experience.

The 7,441 square-foot restaurant can host up to 246 guests and features a design that is inspired by traditional farmhouses found in Tuscany, Italy.  Olive Garden design teams traveled to Italy to work with Italian architects Fabio and Lucia Zingarelli and the result is a restaurant design that recreates the warmth and simple beauty of a Tuscan farmhouse.

The Albany Olive Garden has a rustic stone exterior, typical of the buildings in the Italian countryside, and an interior accented by Italian imports designed to make the dining experience here a tribute to the restaurant’s Italian inspiration.  Ceilings supported by exposed wood beams, stone and wood accents throughout, and terra cotta tile highlight the interior. 

In addition, the bar top is crafted from lava stone and hand-painted by artisans in Italy with a design created exclusively for Olive Garden.  Vibrant imported fabrics decorate windows and dining seats, while hand-painted plates, adorn rustic stone and stucco walls.

The restaurant also will feature a number of sustainable design elements, including recycled building materials, enlarged windows to increase natural light, low-water landscaping and energy-efficient equipment.  These enhancements are part of the Sustainable Restaurant Design initiative launched by Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden’s parent company.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the Albany restaurant and a great team at Olive Garden,” said Kenneth Hall, newly named general manager.  “In addition to our Italian specialties, including signature items like our homemade soups, garden fresh salad and warm, garlic breadsticks, the menu at the Albany Olive Garden will feature limited time offers like our Never Ending Pasta Bowl, which allows guests to order any pasta and sauce combination and receive unlimited refills.”

Hall has been with Olive Garden for a little more than a year, most recently as culinary manager of the Olive Garden located at 1961 Jonesboro Rd. in McDonough.  Hall attended Albany State University where his area of concentration was business management.

To recognize Hall’s role as head of the Olive Garden family in Albany and to emphasize the importance the company places on its general managers, Olive Garden honored Hall by setting his name in stone.  Travertine marble imported from Tuscany was chiseled with Hall’s name and placed prominently by the restaurant’s front door. 

Olive Garden is now accepting applications for employment.  To be considered for an interview, please apply online at www.OliveGarden.com/Careers.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 750 restaurants, more than 90,000 employees and more than $3.5 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a member of the Darden family of restaurants (NYSE:DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant operating company.

In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the second year in a row and is the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list.  Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. 

As part of this commitment, the Albany Olive Garden will participate in the Darden Harvest program, which has donated more than 50 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country.  For more information, visit www.olivegarden.com.

 

Copyright 2012 WALB.  All rights reserved.  

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Fall Home/Garden Show: The 23rd annual show returns to the Del Mar Fairgrounds from Sept. 14 to 16. The show features interior design displays, remodeling ideas, demonstrations, seminars, and home and garden-related shopping. Those hunting for plants can visit the Garden Marketplace for a selection of hundreds of varieties. Groups such as the San Diego Horticultural Society will be selling plants and helping out vexed gardeners. There will also be a six-room interior design walk-through display featuring the work of members of the San Diego American Society of Interior Designers. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 15 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16. Admission: $8, general; free, children under 12. Adults ages 55 and up get in for $1 on Sept. 14. Tickets are $6 after 3 p.m. The Del Mar Fairgrounds is at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Visit www.fallhomegardenshow.com for discount admission.

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Alta Vista Garden events: The botanic garden in Vista’s Brengle Terrace Park will host these events in September at 1270 Vale Terrace Drive. Admission is free or by donation. Visit altavistagardens.org .

• Playing for Change Day: Music program for children, 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 22

• Creative Healing Festival: Music, healing, healthy foods, art, yoga, dance theater, crystal bowls, drum circle and speakers, 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 22

• Fall Equinox Walk: Walk the labyrinth from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 22

• Full Moon Labyrinth: Walk and meditate to the full moon, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 29

• Fun Fall Festival: Games, relays, bobbing for apples, building scarecrows and the scarecrow parade, cooking demos, plant sale and much more, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6. Artists interested in vendor space can call 760-945-3954.

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All about macadamias: The UC Cooperative Extension, California Macadamia Society and Gold Crown Macadamia Association are holding their annual Field Day from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Thomas and Bobbi Rastle’s home, 1115 Valencia Drive, Escondido. Classes will address topics relevant to the macadamia industry, with plenty of time for attendees —- from macadamia novices to experienced growers —- to ask questions. Macadamia trees are native to Australia but have been grown in California since the 19th century. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Advance registration is $17, or $20 the day of the event. Visit www.macnuts.org/fieldday.htm or call 760-726-8081.

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MEETINGS

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Fallbrook Garden Club: Meets at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Fallbrook Community Center, 341 Heald Lane. Walter Parkola of Blossom Valley Protea will speak about growing protea. A events calendar will be available. The meeting starts with refreshments and socializing; the business part gets under way at 1:15 p.m. Visit fallbrookgardenclub.org .

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Lake Hodges Native Plant Club: Meets at 2 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Rancho Bernardo Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. Cary Sharp, director of horticulture at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, will talk about projects at the San Pasqual Valley park. Visit lhnpic.org or call 858-487-6661.

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Ramona Garden Club: Meets at noon Sept. 12 at the Ramona Woman’s Club, 524 Main St. Geranium authority Jim Zemcik will speak about geraniums and breeding them. Zemcik will offer geraniums for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Marston House at Balboa Park. The meeting begins with a potluck lunch. Visit ramonagardenclub.com or call 760-787-0087.

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San Diego County Cymbidium Society: Meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Ecke Building at San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Garden Drive in Encinitas. James Rose of Cal-Orchids will discuss “Laelia Anceps and Its Hybrids.” A culture class precedes the meeting at 6:30. A panel discussion will consider the question “What Is This Orchid and How Can I Grow It?” Email billtcwong@att.net or call 760-931-0502.

 

CLASSES

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Planting Fall Veggies workshops: Grangetto’s and Richard Wright of Edible Eden present a series of free workshops on planting and growing fall vegetable gardens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at different Grangetto’s locations. No registration required. For details, visit edibleeden.com.

• Sept. 22: 29219 Juba Road, Valley Center

• Oct. 6: 530 E. Alvarado St., Fallbrook

 

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The Water Conservation Garden: The El Cajon water-wise garden is offering these classes from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays in September. The fee is $28 per class. The garden is at 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West. Preregistration is required for all classes. Visit www.thegarden.org or call 619-660-0614.

• Sept. 15: “Toss the Turf!” Learn how to remove the grass, evaluate soil and retune irrigation systems and about water-wise landscapes.

• Sept. 22: “Landscape Design Basics.” A professional landscape designer talks about steps to develop a water-smart garden.

• Sept. 29: “Firescaping With Native Plants.” Workshop talks about proper plant placement and care to create a fire-wise garden with native plants.

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HOME AND GARDENING RESOURCES

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Free electronic waste collection in Encinitas: The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation is holding e-waste drop-off events from 9 a.m. to noon every fourth Saturday. Recycle San Diego will collect the items. Dates: Sept. 22 and Oct. 27; Solana Center, 137 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas; solanacenter.org or 760-436-7986, ext. 213.

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Compost bins for sale: The nonprofit Solana Center for the Environmental Innovation sells compost bins from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 137 N. El Camino Real in Encinitas. There are bins for vermicomposting (worms) and bins for regular composting. Gardeners can use compost to enrich soil and boost plant vigor, conserve water, reduce the need for fertilizer and fight pests. Advocates say doing so diverts valuable organic matter from landfills and reduces the amount of waste that’s transported from neighborhoods to waste disposal and processing centers. Encinitas residents pay $35 for either bin. Carlsbad residents pay $50 for regular compost bins or $40 for worm bins. Bins are $89 for residents of other cities. Visit www.solanacenter.org or 760-436-7986, ext. 222.

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ReStore offers building supplies: ReStore is a discount building supplies store run by San Diego Habitat for Humanity. The store stocks granite, plants, door hinges, lighting, bathtubs, appliances, cabinets and more at 10222 San Diego Mission Road in San Diego. Sales from the store help fund projects for Habitat for Humanity; in the past year, sales have helped to build four homes. Donations accepted; go to www.sdhfh.org/restore.php (also find information about volunteering at the store). ReStore is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

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Ask the Designer: The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon offers 45-minute landscape consultations with a professional designer by appointment. Those interested should bring photos of the house and the area to be redesigned, as well as photos of a favored design. Consultations are $75 each; make an appointment by emailing info@thegarden.org or calling 619-660-0614, ext. 10.

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Smoke alarms installed: The Burn Institute is offering free smoke alarm installations to qualified seniors in San Diego County. Seniors must be 55 or older, own their own homes and live in San Diego County to qualify for the ongoing program. Email ffurman@burninstitute.org or call 858-541-2277, ext. 13, to make an appointment. Go to burninstitute.org.

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New England Wild Flower Society’s Education Department has announced its October 2012 classes, courses, and field trips; and they are searchable/available online, downloadable online, and available by registering online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext. 3303). For more information, visit http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn.
October 2012 Listings – Adult Classes, Gardening, Horticulture, Field Trips in Eastern MA

Tuesdays, October 2, 9, 16, 2012, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturdays, October 13, 12-4 p.m.; October 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Framework Trees of New England, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Trees are the dominant plant type of New England with forests covering most of the land area. Instructor Karen Sebastian, principal, Karen Sebastian, LLC, Landscape Architecture, addresses identification and natural history of individual species as well as forest ecology. Since understanding today’s forests requires familiarity with their history, we review the changing landscape from the Ice Age through European settlement. Students learn to identify native New England trees and their habitats, to recognize different aged stands (pioneer, second growth, and other growth) and become familiar with forest communities of the northeastern temperate region. Consider the natural conditions and human disturbance factors that produce different forest associations. Weekend field trips take us to a variety of forest types off-site. Bring a bag lunch and water for the field trips. Fee: $231 (Member) / $277 (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 7-8:30 p.m., Certificate Program Orientation, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Join Bonnie Drexler, Education Director, and certificate program graduates for an illustrated talk that includes some of the fascinating stories that native plants have to tell, along with a look at the Society’s efforts to conserve the region’s native flora. Hear about the structure of the Society’s Certificate in Native Plant Studies program and how it can guide your learning. Everyone is welcome at this free presentation. Preregistration is requested, but not required. Fee: $free (Member) / $free (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (Bus departs Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA at 7:30 a.m.), High Line, New York, New York. Join us for a day trip to the remarkable High Line in New York City. The garden is built on a formerly abandoned mile and a half of elevated railroad line. Both the hardscape and the plant material are informed by the structure’s history as a rail bed. Native oaks, sassafras, sumacs, and an array of ornamental grasses are just a few of the plants that one rarely encounters in public gardens, but are among many of the outstanding plant choices explored by instructor Robin Wilkerson, landscape designer. A High Line docent will lead a tour of the garden and there will be time for lunch and exploration on our own. Don’t miss this chance to see and experience what has quickly become one of the world’s great urban wonders. Fee: $120 (Member) / $145 (Nonmember). Cosponsored by New England Wild Flower Society, Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, and Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. Registration deadline is September 19. Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Sunday, October 14, 2012, 1:30-3:30 pm, Rare Plants of Massachusetts, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Join Bryan Connolly, Massachusetts State Botanist, to hear the latest news on the Commonwealth’s rare plants and how we are meeting the challenge of helping them survive. Bryan is a former member of New England Wild Flower Society’s Conservation staff with a unique perspective on our state’s 254 vulnerable plant species currently protected by the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Bryan shares his history of working with Society staff and volunteers to protect our rare plants. After the talk, certificates will be awarded to our new graduates in our Certificate Program in Native Plant Studies and refreshments will follow. Fee: $free (Member) / $free (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 12:30 pm, Nature of New England, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. From wild forests and marshes to farms, towns, and cities, wild animals and plants can be found in amazing diversity if we make ourselves aware. Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman learned that for themselves when they set out to research their new guide to New England natural history. The Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England includes sections on wildflowers, trees, birds, fish, fungi, ferns and even the night sky. Hear of their favorite adventures, enjoy their favorite photos, and learn about the endless potential to make your own personal discoveries about nature. Book sales and signing follow the program. Fee: $free (Member) / $free (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 1:00-3:30 p.m., Mushrooms in Fall, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Puffball, sweet tooth, splash cup, swamp beacon – these are just a few of the mushroom species you might encounter while walking the New England landscape. Mycologist Lawrence Millman explains why fungi are so important to virtually every environment and speaks about his new book Fascinating Fungi of New England. Then he leads a fungal foray on the grounds of Garden in the Woods. Please note that this event focuses on ecology, not edibility! Book sales and a book signing will follow the program. Fee: $21 (Member) / $25 (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Thursday and Friday, October 18 and 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sustainable Landscape Design, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. What makes a landscape design sustainable? This two-part seminar is for people interested in learning how to design landscapes that follow an ecological paradigm, and that enhance a site’s beauty and utility. Landscape Architect and LEED Accredited Professional Tom Benjamin will define and discuss principles of sustainable landscape design, techniques to improve the ecological and human functions of existing landscapes, and how to approach sites with a variety of challenges. Discussion will include sustainable measures to improve your own projects, as well as a short trip to a nearby site that was designed for sustainability. Bring a bag lunch. Fee: $216 (Member) / $254 (Nonmember). Cosponsored by New England Wild Flower Society and Ecological Landscaping Association.. Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Native Plants for the Rambler, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Are you one who enjoys exploring the New England landscape – its woodlands, meadows, mountains and wetlands, i.e. a rambler? The pleasures of rambling can be enhanced by gaining familiarity with the native plants which you may encounter. How many of us can recognize Massachusetts state flower if we see the plant out of bloom? Instructor Al Levin, photographer and naturalist, enriches your year round ramblings with knowledge of approximately 60 perennials, shrubs and trees native to New England, presented in this entertaining and engaging program. Fee: $21 (Member) / $25 (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Sunday, October 21, 2012, 1:30-3:30 pm, Gowing’s Swamp and Thoreau’s Bog, Concord, MA. Visit at the height of fall color to see a locally rare level bog and vernal pool complex with a thriving bog community of black spruce, tamarack, bog rosemary, large and small cranberries, bog laurel, and tawny cottongrass. Some 53 species of lichens grow within Gowing’s Swamp, many on the black spruce-tamarack stands. The outer bog’s sphagnum mat supports a thicket of leatherleaf, maleberry, highbush blueberry, and sheep laurel. A magnificent palette of deep reds to clear yellows line the trails with blueberries at every level along with maple-leaved viburnums, sweet pepper-bush, sassafras, hop-hornbeam, American chestnut, sweet gum, American hazelnut, and a magnificent blooming hillside of witchhazel. Instructor Cherrie Corey, naturalist and photographer, has been studying and communing with the bog for more than three decades. Fee: $21 (Member) / $25 (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Mondays, October 22, 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., November 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ecological Landscaping Techniques, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Decisions we make in our gardens today can have large impacts on the landscapes of tomorrow. How do we ensure the long term sustainability of our backyards, business parks and public spaces? The Horticulture Staff, New England Wild Flower Society, identifies and addresses these potential problems by taking a comprehensive look at the landscape through the eyes of designers, horticulturalists and botanists. Receive hands-on training in soil health and composting, plant ID and selection, storm water management and organic techniques — all filtered through the concepts of modern design. Bring a bag lunch. Fee: $216 (Member) / $254 (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Saturday, October 27, 2012, 1:00-3:30 p.m., Autumn Beauties: Habitat Gardens in Acton, MA. Fall offers a long season of changing colors in the garden. Join this tour of several gardens designed primarily with native plants to please birds and butterflies, as well as her clients. Visit unique and colorful habitats with Dori Smith, M.Ed., owner, Gardens for Life, Acton, MA, including mature rain gardens; native prairie meadows; a sunny street-side gardenscape where delightful native plantings have replaced lawn; and a lush backyard, featuring a creative fieldstone patio enjoyed by the family and a fountain that attracts birds daily. You are welcome to tour the Acton Arboretum before or after the garden tour. Eligible for NOFA Organic Land Care re-accreditation credits. Fee: $30 (Member) / $34 (Nonmember). Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

Saturday, October 27, 2012, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Bark for Beginners, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Have you ever looked at a tree in winter and wondered what it might be? For nearly half the year, bark provides the best clue to tree ID. Instructor: Nancy Goodman, naturalist, helps us become familiar with the characteristic bark of common trees in different stages of growth, a further challenge! Easy-to-use field guides to bark and buds will help in this fun learning experience. Bring binoculars, warm clothes in layers, lunch, warm boots, and either of these 2 books: Bark by Michael Wojtech or The Tree Identification Book by George Symonds. Fee: $38 (Member) / $46 (Nonmember). Cosponsored by New England Wild Flower Society and MA Audubon, Drumlin Farm. Preregistration is required online or by calling the registrar (508-877-7630, ext 3303).

October 2012 Listings – Kids and Family Class, Field Trips in Eastern MA

Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Rock and Roll, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. Come to the Garden to collect rocks and watch them roll in our rock tumbler, becoming shiny and smooth. Instructor: Bonnie Drexler, Education Director, New England Wild Flower Society helps us study crystals, and learn about quartz, fool’s gold and geodes. How do scientists classify rocks? What kinds of things can you learn by smashing rocks open? Investigate these and other geological questions and create a rock collection to take home. For children in Grades 2-5. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $14 (Member) / $17 (Nonmember)