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DESIGNING THE WOODLAND GARDEN: A WORKSHOP with RICK DARKE AND FRIENDS HOR4018

Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Monday, September 29, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

This is a tremendous opportunity for garden and landscape designers to consider a host of ideas and issues for the design of woodland gardens. Landscape designer and author Rick Darke will be joined by horticulturists Cheryl Lowe and Bill Cullina for the day-long seminar. Design ideas, plant material, ecological considerations, and practical issues will be on this interactive agenda. Lectures will address several themes, including the design process, dynamics of woodland plant growth, aspects of color and texture that are important in woodland gardens, and what’s going on underground in woodland soils. Included in the workshop is a field session to examine a case study at Garden in the Woods—the “Rich Woodland” garden area that is under construction. The workshop will end with ample opportunity for the participants to bring up other themes and to participate in an informal discussion. The workshop is co-sponsored with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.

Instructors: Rick Darke is a widely published author, horticulturist, and landscape design consultant. Formerly the curator of plants at Longwood Gardens, his recent books include The American Woodland Garden, In Harmony with Nature: Lessons from the Arts & Crafts Garden, and The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses. Cheryl Lowe is Director of Horticulture for the New England Wild Flower Society and author of Gardening for Butterflies in New England. Bill Cullina is Nursery Manager at Garden in the Woods, and is author of The New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the U.S. and Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines.
Fee: $150M/$175NM includes lunch ST

DESIGN AND PLANT A PERENNIAL GARDEN IN THE FALL HOR1505
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Tuesdays, September 30, October 7, 7–9 p.m.
Get a jump on spring by planting your perennial garden now—roots will establish over the winter and when spring comes, you will already have a garden! Fall bargains abound in the nurseries, and this is an ideal opportunity to coordinate your perennials with hardy bulbs. In this two-part slide-illustrated program, landscape designer Laura Eisener will suggest plant species and offer low-maintenance tips to ensure success for your new garden.
Instructor: Laura Eisener, Laura D. Eisener Landscape Design, is Massachusetts editor for People, Places and Plants, and teaches at the Arnold Arboretum Landscape Design Program
Fee: $36M/$44NM Limit: 20 participants ST

SELECTING TREES AND SHRUBS FOR THE SMALL URBAN OR SUBURBAN LOT HOR2012
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Wednesday, October 1, 7–9 p.m.
Field session: Sunday, October 5, 12–3 p.m.
A surprisingly broad palette of woody plants can be used to enhance but not overwhelm any garden located on a small property. Horticulturist Richard Stomberg will discuss trees and shrubs on the small end of the plant spectrum that have interesting foliage, flowers, overall form, and the ability to grow in less-than-ideal soils and spaces. This program will also get you thinking about techniques of espalier, trellis, and pruning to create new forms from traditional plantings. The evening lecture will be followed by a weekend visit to a model garden in an urban setting, with additional information about choice native species and planting and maintenance techniques. Co-sponsored with the Cambridge Center for Adult Education.
Instructor: Richard Stomberg, horticulturist and manager of Harvard University glasshouses
Fee: $43M/$53NM Limit: 16 participants ST

FALL PLANTING AND WINTER CARE OF TREES AND SHRUBS HOR3011
Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, MA
Wednesday, October 1, 6:30–9 p.m.
Early fall is the preferred time to plant many trees and shrubs. Learn from a certified arborist how to proceed with fall planting, which trees and shrubs to plant at this time of year, and what you can do to help your woody plants survive the winter. Tom Akin will discuss planting techniques, proper watering schedules, and winter protection for your plants. He will also try to debunk some of the myths and sales pitches for unnecessary products. Co-sponsored with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. Instructor: Tom Akin, Assistant Superintendent of Grounds, Arnold Arboretum
Fee: $22M/$26NM Limit: 24 participants ST

GREAT FALL PERFORMANCES: THE GARDENER, THE PLANTS, THE PROJECTS HOR1605
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH
Thursday, October 2, 6:30–9 p.m.
How do you honestly feel about your garden after Labor Day? Have you planned for pockets of “Oh My!”—plant groupings where changing foliage, fruit, or late flowers paint fresh pictures to inspire you as you set about cleaning up or perhaps planting some bulbs? Is there any beauty to encourage you to work outside, to take advantage of our warm soil temperatures, cool nights, and increased rainfall to make next year’s garden better now? Join garden designer Susan Dumaine for an informative look at perennials, shrubs, and trees that extend garden interest well into the fall and even winter. Many of these special plants are native to our region. Susan will also discuss soil and garden improvements appropriate to this splendid season. Co-sponsored with the Strawbery Banke Museum and Historic Gardens.
Instructor: Susan Dumaine, garden designer
Fee: $20M/$25NM Limit: 40 participants ST

SHADES OF LIGHT: A GARDEN DESIGN WORKSHOP WITH JULIE SIEGEL HOR4032
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Tuesday, October 7, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Light, depending on time of day, weather, season, and other factors, greatly influences our perceptions. In this seminar for garden and landscape designers, Julie Siegel will explore the effects of light and shadow on our gardens. Learn techniques for enhancing colors and textures and manipulating the sense of space by using natural light advantageously. Julie will discuss examples from the larger landscape, the arts, and some of her company’s projects to highlight often-overlooked steps in the design process. Participants will have an opportunity to hone their observation skills and apply them to specific model sites. Come prepared to notice, assess, and ask questions in an interactive discussion. Bring a bag lunch and enjoy further conversation with the instructor following the seminar. Co-sponsored with the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
Instructor: Julie Siegel, principal of J. Siegel Designs, Inc., is a Chicago area garden designer. Her design aesthetic considers form, light, texture, color, proportion, fragrance, and seasonal change, as well as the emotional connections to landscape. Her design work emphasizes low-maintenance and environmental sustainability.
Fee: $55M/$65NM ST

GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE HOR4235
Drumlin Nature Center, Lincoln, MA
Thursday, October 9, 7–9 p.m.
Every planting decision you make opens up the opportunity to create habitat for native wildlife. We will explore the basic principles that guide the creation of a more fauna- friendly garden, including ways to encourage bees, butterflies, birds, and amphibians to visit your backyard. The resulting garden will be more beautiful as well as healthier for all. Planting ideas and plant choices will be discussed. General reference information will be provided to help participants initiate their own planting projects. Co-sponsored with Massachusetts Audubon-Drumlin Farm and Habitat.
Instructor: Robin Wilkerson, garden designer
Fee: $20M/$26NM Limit: 24 participants

THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROCESS DEMYSTIFIED HOR4009
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Thursday, October 16, 7–9 p.m. and
Friday, October 17, 9:30 a.m.–12 noon
Creating a landscape with strong natural elements requires an interactive process between landscape architect or designer and the landowner. Landscape architect Tom Wirth will discuss some of the possible approaches to designing a landscape that embodies a natural quality that will truly “speak” to its owner. He will suggest ways the designer and client can look for clues in a landscape to create a design that makes use of its existing natural features and balances architectural elements with characteristics of the site. An evening seminar will be followed by a morning visit to one or two case studies in the metrowest Boston area.
Instructor: Thomas Wirth, ASLA, principal of Thomas Wirth Associates, Sherborn, MA; author, lecturer, and frequent contributor to PBS’ This Old House and Victory Garden programs
Fee: $50M/$60NM Limit: 25 participants ST

EAST MEETS NORTHEAST: CHOICE PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN
A PLANT DESIGN SEMINAR WITH DAN HINKLEY AND BILL CULLINA HOR3160
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Wednesday, January 14, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Join two of the country’s outstanding plant propagators for a seminar designed for horticulturists and landscape/garden designers. Dan Hinkley and Bill Cullina will discuss some of the excellent plants available in the nursery trade today, adaptable for New England’s cold climates. Comparing families, genera, and species that cross over between Asia and northern North America, they will discuss which plants can be paired in landscape design, including their similarities, differences, and the unique attributes that make them so desirable. Lecture, discussion, and interactions with participants will cover a variety of design elements such as color, foliage, and the range of plants, from trees to shrubs, vines, and perennials. Co-sponsored with the Wellesley Friends of Horticulture.
Dan Hinkley is founder of Heronswood Nursery on Kitsap Peninsula, Washington. He is a well-known plant explorer and is author of The Explorer’s Garden: Rare and Unusual Perennials. Bill Cullina is nursery manager for the New England Wild Flower Society, and is author of The New England Wild Flower Society’s Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers and Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines.
Fee: $150M/$175NM includes lunch and handouts ST

BASIC PROPAGATION HOR3098
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Tuesday, January 20, 7–9 p.m.
Winter is a great time to plan an abundant stock of plants for when the outdoor growing season arrives. Horticulturist Russ Bragg will describe how to build your stock of plants without using a greenhouse or misting chamber. Learn how to grow new plants from tip and root cuttings, by layering, and through division. Russ will give directions for proper seed collection and germination techniques, will show some of the simple tools of the trade, and will discuss individual species and the best way to propagate them.
Instructor: Russ Bragg, proprietor of Underwood Shade Nursery, N. Attleboro, MA, specializes in propagation of shade-tolerant perennials, ferns, and grasses
Fee: $20M/$25NM Limit: 25 participants

IMPROVING YOUR SOIL QUALITY HOR3903
Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, MA
Wednesdays, February 4, 11, 25, March 3, 6:30–9 p.m.
Soil is the basis for life on earth as we know it; a healthy, biologically diverse soil insures a bountiful harvest and a lush landscape. However, without a basic understanding of soil systems, gardeners often fall prey to the allure of fertilizer as a “silver bullet.” The following topics will be covered during this four-part course on characterizing soil quality and what it means for your garden.
• Soil quality criteria
• Soil biology, soil organic matter building, and maintaining a rich soil through composts and mulches
• Traditional and not-so-traditional soil testing and test result interpretations
• Soil chemistry, soil pH, and plant nutrient availability
• Soil minerals, movement of air and water through the soil matrix, and region-to-region soil variability

Come learn how to build a sound, no-nonsense, sustainable soil. Co-sponsored with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
Instructor: Tom Akin, Assistant Superintendent of Grounds, Arnold Arboretum, holds an MS in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Massachusetts
Fee: $90M/$108NM Limit: 30 participants ST

VINES FOR THE HOME GARDEN HOR2801
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Tuesday, February 10, 7–9 p.m.
Too often, the vertical space in the garden is overlooked and underutilized. Why not expand your garden palette and use colorful vines to fill these spaces? This class will explore some of the hardy vines available in the trade, including native species that attract wildlife and provide texture to the landscape. Information on growing techniques, types of trellises to use, and sources for vines will be provided.
Instructor: Laura Eisener, Laura D. Eisener Landscape Design, is Massachusetts editor for People, Places and Plants, and teaches at the Arnold Arboretum Landscape Design Program
Fee: $18M/$21NM Limit: 25 participants

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN HOR4001
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Tuesdays, February 24, March 2, 16, 23, 30,
April 6, 13, 7–9:15 p.m.
In this seven-session course, you will be introduced to the landscape design process with special emphasis placed on native plants in the residential landscape. Workshop sessions will focus on the design process using site analysis techniques and schematic design tools. In consultation with the instructor, you will work on a project of your own choosing. Interspersed with design work will be lectures focused on different native habitats, including information on plant choice and placement in the landscape. Required materials: 11” x 17” quadrille graph paper, 12” x 18” tracing paper, and a ruler and pencil.
Instructor: Laura Eisener, Laura D. Eisener Landscape Design, is Massachusetts editor for People, Places and Plants, and teaches at the Arnold Arboretum Landscape Design Program
Fee: $158M/$190NM Limit: 12 participants ST

EARLY SPRING LAWN AND SOIL CARE HOR3900
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Saturday, March 27, 1–4 p.m.
Early spring is a great time to begin giving your lawn and garden soil the proper care to get your plantings off to a much better start. We’ll consider the fertility, pH, physical structure, organic matter, and moisture-holding capacity of your soil, and how to engage in ecologically beneficial practices. This workshop is designed to show some new and old methods to help grass lawns and garden plants thrive. The focus will be on inexpensive, organic, and ecologically sustainable practices that work. The workshop will include handouts and a demonstration of materials and tools. Materials and procedures for obtaining a soil test will also be provided to each participant.
Instructor: Lindsay Strode, Cape Organics, Harwich, MA
Fee: $26M/$32NM Limit: 20 participants ST

DESIGN and PLANT A NATIVE PERENNIAL GARDEN IN THE SPRING HOR1506
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, March 27, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Early spring is the perfect time to begin or enhance a perennial border or woodland edge garden. Landscape designer Laura Eisener will discuss how to design with native plants, taking color, shape, texture, and plant growth characteristics into account. She will suggest plant species and offer low-maintenance tips to ensure success for your new garden. Co-sponsored with the Strawbery Banke Museum and Historic Gardens.
Instructor: Laura Eisener, Laura D. Eisener Landscape Design
Fee: $35M/$40NM

PRUNING WITH THE PROS HOR3115
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
Saturday, April 3, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Join NEWFS horticulturist Pam Thomas and Garden in the Woods’ staff for a hands-on workshop on proper pruning techniques. Participants will work in small groups for guided practice on woody members of the Garden’s collection. Learn to enhance a plant’s vigor, health, and appearance while discovering what types of tools to use, when to prune, and how the plant responds. Bring hand-pruners and dress for working outdoors, rain or shine.
Instructors: Pam Thomas, NEWFS Horticulturist, and NEWFS staff
Fee: $26M/$32NM Limit: 15 participants ST

LANDSCAPING WITH MEDICINAL PLANTS: HEALING OUR BODIES, HEALING THE EARTH HOR6005
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Thursday, April 22, 7–8:30 p.m.
Approximately two-thirds of the world’s population uses medicinal herbs as a primary method of healing. We have an opportunity as gardeners and landscapers to heighten awareness of the usefulness of wild plants in everyday health, and to help preserve at-risk medicinal plants in our native landscapes by growing them in our gardens. Corinne Martin will discuss the uses and properties of medicinal plants and their status in the wild. She will provide ideas and suggest resources for those interested in cultivating herbs.
Instructor: Corinne Martin is a clinical herbalist and an amateur naturalist. Author of Herbal Remedies from the Wild: Finding and Using Medicinal Herbs, she teaches integrative medicine studies at the University of Southern Maine’s College of Nursing, and writes a monthly column for the magazine People, Places and Plants.
Fee: $15M/$18NM

For more information on courses and events, contact the NEWFS Education Dept., 508/877-7630, ext. 3303, or email: registrar@newfs.org
Or download and print the registration form and mail or fax it with your payment to Registrar, NEWFS, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701-2699; FAX 508/877-3658

NEWFS members receive a special discount on courses. For information on how to join the New England Wild Flower Society, contact Membership, New England Wild Flower Society, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701-2699, or call 508/877-7630. Email: membership@newfs.org

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