Thursday, March 11
11 am – 12 pm:
Donna Traylor
Sussex County Farmland Preservation
“New Jersey Birds of a Feather Flock Together”
1 pm – 2 pm:
Lynn Groves Lussier
Resource Interpretive Specialist
Kittatinny Valley State Park
“Gardening With Nature”
“Imagine your property as a wildlife sanctuary, watching young birds learning to fly, and hummingbirds buzzing around your garden. Learn how a few simple choices can make your yard more attractive to New Jersey’s beautiful birds, butterflies, incredible insects, and other desirable species. We will discuss how to select the best plant species for your property, and how to set up your garden by providing food, water, and shelter to maximize its attractiveness to wildlife. Emphasis is placed on using native and drought tolerant plants, as well as keeping cats indoors. Handouts will be provided about how to choose plants that are beautiful and beneficial to wildlife.”
2:30 – 3:30:
Jeffrey L. Picher
Arborist/Representative for F.A. Bartlett TreeExperts
“Pruning Basics for Trees and Shrubs”
Will discuss the ANSI A 300 Standards for Pruning and discuss the methods, tools and timing of proper pruning for trees, ornamental trees and shrubs.
4 pm – 5 pm:
Brian Oleksak
Horticultural Program Associate
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County
“Vegetable Gardening for Small Spaces”
Growing your own vegetables is a practical way to save money and eat healthy in the summer time. This lecture will address the challenges of growing vegetables and herbs where space may be limited such as in apartments, condos and small properties. Attendees will learn about choosing appropriate vegetable varieties, the use of creative containers and sound cultural practices.
____________________________________
Friday, March 12
11 am – 12 pm:
Valerie Sudol
Garden Columnist
“Secrets of the Soil”
Nothing is more basic to garden success than the soil in which you are planting. A lively discussion of typical New Jersey soils, with an emphasis on "problem" types -- the heavy, clay-like soils of the northern counties, and the thin, sandy soils of the south. Beginning with the geological forces that formed them, the talk focuses on practical ways to get the most from each type of soil. Valerie will provide handouts listing plants that will thrive in heavy or sandy soils.
12:30 pm– 1: 30 pm:
Linda Sercus, Executive Director
Claudia Kolster, Garden Director
The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
“The History of the Gardens and Iris Cultivation in the Home Landscape”
For the past 82 years, the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens has grown to be the largest public display of irises in the world. Housing 10,000 irises, the living museum collection includes specimens dating back to 1500 and documents the evolution of the modern iris so loved by today's gardeners through the centuries. This talk will cover not only the rich legacy of the gardens, it will also inform the home gardener the proper care and cultivation of their own irises.
2 pm – 3 pm:
Valerie Sudol
Garden Columnist
“Plants to Know and Grow”
Even veteran gardeners may not know about unusual varieties of garden favorites. Plant breeders are constantly flooding the market with new hybirds -- which are worth growing? For example:What delphinium succeeds in N.J.'s hot, humid climate? Which impatiens can take the sun? Who has bred disease-resistant dogwoods? This is the kind of first-hand info you won't find in garden catalogs.
Valeries' lecture is illustrated with the speaker's photos of plants in her own garden.
4:45:
Springfest Poster Contest Winners Announced
"Growing Up Green" Children's Program
5 pm – 6 pm:
Priscilla E. Hayes
Luna Productions Environmental Education
“Laws of Nature, Dumps, Landfills & Recycling”
Props, visual aids and a game introduce children and adults alternatives to trash disposal: composting, reuse, source reduction and recycling. For all ages.
Priscilla E. Hayes
Luna Productions Environmental Education
“Composting – Feed the Worms and Microorganisms, Starve the Landfill”
In this activity, children learn about the process of composting – turning household and yard waste into humus, one of the most important components of soil. The children will also get close to live worms. For all ages.
____________________________________
Saturday, March 13
11 am – 12 pm:
Ellen Zachos
Garden Writer, Photographer,
Designer, and Instructor at the New York Botanical Garden
“No Space? No Problem!”
Book Sales & Signing to Follow
A local gardener with a national reputation, Ellen Zachos will speak about Small Space Gardening. Whether you have a small back yard, terrace, patio, or deck, a few well-planned containers can deliver a lot of pizzazz. (Not to mention some tasty herbs and vegetables!) This lecture offers unusual container set-ups: a container water garden, vegetable grow-bags, natural containers, flea market funk, and a containerized tree. Slides illustrate step-by-step planting instructions for each type of container, explaining how to make the most out of just a few square feet.
1 pm – 2 pm:
Paul Tukey
Author of the Organic Lawn Care Manuel and
Founder of SafeLawns.org
“Safe Lawns: How to Create Beautiful Landscapes Naturally”
Book Sales & Signing to Follow
2:45 – 3:45:
“A Chemical Reaction; The Story of a True Green Revolution"
Presented by Paul Tukey
The film tells the story of one of the most powerful and effective community initiatives in the history of North America. It started with one lone voice in 1984. Dr. June Irwin, a dermatologist, noticed a connection between her patients’ health conditions and their exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides. With relentless persistence she brought her concerns to town meetings to warn her fellow citizens that the chemicals they were putting on their lawns posed severe health risks and had unknown side effects on the environment.
6 pm:
“A Chemical Reaction” The Story of a True Green Revolution Presented by Paul Tukey
Documentary film: See description above
__________________________________________
Sunday, March 14
11 am – 1 pm:
Garrett LaFranco
Photography Instructor
”The ABC’s of photographing your garden from Asters to Zinnias”
Bring your camera with you, this is a hands on workshop.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm:
Ron Midgett, PhD
New Earth Orchids
“And They Smell Good, Too!”
3 pm – 4 pm:
Thomas L. Smith
President Garden State Koi & Aquatic Center
“Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Landscapes”
People have been capturing rainwater for centuries. As part of the Green Movement, homeowners are wanting to learn how to take this age old process and apply it to their backyard. Topics for this talk will include rain barrels, rainwater capture systems, rain gardens and sustainable landscaping.
11 am – 12 pm:
Donna Traylor
Sussex County Farmland Preservation
“New Jersey Birds of a Feather Flock Together”
1 pm – 2 pm:
Lynn Groves Lussier
Resource Interpretive Specialist
Kittatinny Valley State Park
“Gardening With Nature”
“Imagine your property as a wildlife sanctuary, watching young birds learning to fly, and hummingbirds buzzing around your garden. Learn how a few simple choices can make your yard more attractive to New Jersey’s beautiful birds, butterflies, incredible insects, and other desirable species. We will discuss how to select the best plant species for your property, and how to set up your garden by providing food, water, and shelter to maximize its attractiveness to wildlife. Emphasis is placed on using native and drought tolerant plants, as well as keeping cats indoors. Handouts will be provided about how to choose plants that are beautiful and beneficial to wildlife.”
2:30 – 3:30:
Jeffrey L. Picher
Arborist/Representative for F.A. Bartlett TreeExperts
“Pruning Basics for Trees and Shrubs”
Will discuss the ANSI A 300 Standards for Pruning and discuss the methods, tools and timing of proper pruning for trees, ornamental trees and shrubs.
4 pm – 5 pm:
Brian Oleksak
Horticultural Program Associate
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County
“Vegetable Gardening for Small Spaces”
Growing your own vegetables is a practical way to save money and eat healthy in the summer time. This lecture will address the challenges of growing vegetables and herbs where space may be limited such as in apartments, condos and small properties. Attendees will learn about choosing appropriate vegetable varieties, the use of creative containers and sound cultural practices.
____________________________________
Friday, March 12
11 am – 12 pm:
Valerie Sudol
Garden Columnist
“Secrets of the Soil”
Nothing is more basic to garden success than the soil in which you are planting. A lively discussion of typical New Jersey soils, with an emphasis on "problem" types -- the heavy, clay-like soils of the northern counties, and the thin, sandy soils of the south. Beginning with the geological forces that formed them, the talk focuses on practical ways to get the most from each type of soil. Valerie will provide handouts listing plants that will thrive in heavy or sandy soils.
12:30 pm– 1: 30 pm:
Linda Sercus, Executive Director
Claudia Kolster, Garden Director
The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
“The History of the Gardens and Iris Cultivation in the Home Landscape”
For the past 82 years, the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens has grown to be the largest public display of irises in the world. Housing 10,000 irises, the living museum collection includes specimens dating back to 1500 and documents the evolution of the modern iris so loved by today's gardeners through the centuries. This talk will cover not only the rich legacy of the gardens, it will also inform the home gardener the proper care and cultivation of their own irises.
2 pm – 3 pm:
Valerie Sudol
Garden Columnist
“Plants to Know and Grow”
Even veteran gardeners may not know about unusual varieties of garden favorites. Plant breeders are constantly flooding the market with new hybirds -- which are worth growing? For example:What delphinium succeeds in N.J.'s hot, humid climate? Which impatiens can take the sun? Who has bred disease-resistant dogwoods? This is the kind of first-hand info you won't find in garden catalogs.
Valeries' lecture is illustrated with the speaker's photos of plants in her own garden.
3:30 – 4:30:
Lois J. de Vries
Field Editor and Location Scout for
Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Media.
“Cultivating the Inner Gardener: Gardening for Personal Growth”
Lois' presentation explores what it means to garden for personal growth.
The presentation includes photos of several gardens that hold special meaning for their owners and illustrate a number of the concepts discussed. Everyone who wants to learn how to express more of their personality and creativity through gardening, how body/mind/spirit can play itself out in gardening activities, and how to take more pleasure in the journey, will benefit from adopting this mental outlook.
Field Editor and Location Scout for
Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Media.
“Cultivating the Inner Gardener: Gardening for Personal Growth”
Lois' presentation explores what it means to garden for personal growth.
The presentation includes photos of several gardens that hold special meaning for their owners and illustrate a number of the concepts discussed. Everyone who wants to learn how to express more of their personality and creativity through gardening, how body/mind/spirit can play itself out in gardening activities, and how to take more pleasure in the journey, will benefit from adopting this mental outlook.
4:45:
Springfest Poster Contest Winners Announced
"Growing Up Green" Children's Program
5 pm – 6 pm:
Priscilla E. Hayes
Luna Productions Environmental Education
“Laws of Nature, Dumps, Landfills & Recycling”
Props, visual aids and a game introduce children and adults alternatives to trash disposal: composting, reuse, source reduction and recycling. For all ages.
6 pm:
Lori Space Day & a Zoo Baby
Zoologist at Space Farms and author of The Zookeeper's Daughter
Growing up at Space Farms Zoo and Museum in New Jersey has given Lori a lifetime of unique stories about individual animals and many animal-related adventures. Her unusual lifestyle has enabled her to work with numerous different species from lions, tigers and bears to otters, opossums and squirrels.
Book Sales & Signing to Follow
6:45 pm – 7:45 pm:Lori Space Day & a Zoo Baby
Zoologist at Space Farms and author of The Zookeeper's Daughter
Growing up at Space Farms Zoo and Museum in New Jersey has given Lori a lifetime of unique stories about individual animals and many animal-related adventures. Her unusual lifestyle has enabled her to work with numerous different species from lions, tigers and bears to otters, opossums and squirrels.
Book Sales & Signing to Follow
Priscilla E. Hayes
Luna Productions Environmental Education
“Composting – Feed the Worms and Microorganisms, Starve the Landfill”
In this activity, children learn about the process of composting – turning household and yard waste into humus, one of the most important components of soil. The children will also get close to live worms. For all ages.
____________________________________
Saturday, March 13
11 am – 12 pm:
Ellen Zachos
Garden Writer, Photographer,
Designer, and Instructor at the New York Botanical Garden
“No Space? No Problem!”
Book Sales & Signing to Follow
A local gardener with a national reputation, Ellen Zachos will speak about Small Space Gardening. Whether you have a small back yard, terrace, patio, or deck, a few well-planned containers can deliver a lot of pizzazz. (Not to mention some tasty herbs and vegetables!) This lecture offers unusual container set-ups: a container water garden, vegetable grow-bags, natural containers, flea market funk, and a containerized tree. Slides illustrate step-by-step planting instructions for each type of container, explaining how to make the most out of just a few square feet.
1 pm – 2 pm:
Paul Tukey
Author of the Organic Lawn Care Manuel and
Founder of SafeLawns.org
“Safe Lawns: How to Create Beautiful Landscapes Naturally”
Book Sales & Signing to Follow
2:45 – 3:45:
“A Chemical Reaction; The Story of a True Green Revolution"
Presented by Paul Tukey
The film tells the story of one of the most powerful and effective community initiatives in the history of North America. It started with one lone voice in 1984. Dr. June Irwin, a dermatologist, noticed a connection between her patients’ health conditions and their exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides. With relentless persistence she brought her concerns to town meetings to warn her fellow citizens that the chemicals they were putting on their lawns posed severe health risks and had unknown side effects on the environment.
6 pm:
“A Chemical Reaction” The Story of a True Green Revolution Presented by Paul Tukey
Documentary film: See description above
__________________________________________
Sunday, March 14
11 am – 1 pm:
Garrett LaFranco
Photography Instructor
”The ABC’s of photographing your garden from Asters to Zinnias”
Bring your camera with you, this is a hands on workshop.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm:
Ron Midgett, PhD
New Earth Orchids
“And They Smell Good, Too!”
3 pm – 4 pm:
Thomas L. Smith
President Garden State Koi & Aquatic Center
“Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Landscapes”
People have been capturing rainwater for centuries. As part of the Green Movement, homeowners are wanting to learn how to take this age old process and apply it to their backyard. Topics for this talk will include rain barrels, rainwater capture systems, rain gardens and sustainable landscaping.
