UGJ Calendar

ROCHESTER

Frequent event contributors:

CCE/ONT: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ontario County, 480 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. 585/394-3977; counties.cce.cornell.edu/ontario.

CCE/MON: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County, 249 Highland Ave., Rochester, NY 14620. 585/461-1000; counties.cce.cornell.edu/monroe.

GCVM: Genesee Country Village & Museum, Flint Hill Road, Mumford, NY 14511. 585/538-6822; gcv.org.

GCVM/NC: Genesee Country Village & Museum Nature Center. See contact information above.

GLT—Genesee Land Trust, 500 East Avenue, Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14607. 585/256-2130; geneseelandtrust.org.

RCGC—Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620. 585/473-5130; rcgc.org.

ROC—Sponsored by the City of Rochester: 585/428-6770.

WAY—Wayside Garden Center, 124 Pittsford-Palmyra Road (Route 31), Macedon, NY 14502. 585/223-1222; waysidegardencenter.com.

Ongoing: Nature Walks, 2 pm Sundays. Follow a knowledgeable naturalist on a nature walk to learn about animals and plant life in the region. Themes change every week. Free with nature center admission. There are no walks on Easter or Christmas or on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. GCVM/NC

January 26: National Seed Swap Day, 9:30 am – 1 pm. Two talks: Mary Cropley: Garden Favorites from Seed—techniques for growing an abundance of garden plants from seed; direct seeding, encouraging volunteers, and starting seeds under lights, along with suggested plants and seed sources for a profusion of blooms throughout the seasons. Karen Klingenberger: Propagating Houseplants—all the standard techniques for making more houseplants, from stem and leaf cuttings to air-layering. Seed and houseplant exchange. $10. Registration required. RCGC.

January 29: Soirée at Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, 6 – 8 pm. This is a rare opportunity to view the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden at the Strong National Museum of Play in the evening. Butterfly enthusiasts say this is the best time to be there, when many species are making their evening forays. Not only will you get to see an amazing assortment of beautiful butterflies, but the gardens in the sanctuary are a warm and steamy paradise – especially on a winter evening! Brush the palm fronds out of your way and meander down a winding brick path that takes you into a brilliant maze of flowers and foliage, with waterfalls, ponds, and chirping birds. Bruce Zaretsky and Sharon Coates of Zaretsky & Associates will be there to share the fun as well as answer all your questions about this fascinating garden, designed and installed by Zaretsky & Associates, Inc. Refreshments included. $20; proceeds benefit the RCGC education program. Registration required. RCGC

January 29 through March: Horticulture School and 30 hour Pesticide Education Course. CCE/MON

February 4 – March 17: Yoga for Gardeners, 6:30 – 8 pm. Join Andrea Escos for this six-class series. Follow simple stretching and strengthening exercises, learn proper body mechanics and participate in a personal journey that can be practiced through old age. Andrea’s gentle style is ideal for beginners, and experienced students will benefit from the more advanced options. Andrea is committed to bringing yoga to the community for self-healing and stress relief. Members $70, non-members $85. Registration required. RCGC

February 5: Botany for Gardeners – Flowers, Fruits & Seeds, 6 – 9 pm. Plants are the touchstone of gardening, and the more we understand about how plants function, the better gardeners we will be. This lively, informative class is designed for students new to botany and those desiring a refresher course. Join Carol Southby, botanist and naturalist, and explore the hidden workings of flowering plants from a gardener’s point of view. Class will include live plant specimens and hands-on work, and will benefit from the use of a video projection microscope to view plant parts. Topics to be covered include the structure and functions of flowers; pollination, development and structure of fruits and seeds; and the conditions needed for germination. Part of the Rochester Civic Gardener’s Certificate. Members $39, non-members $49. Registration required. RCGC

February 5 – March 8: Rochester Civic Gardener’s Certificate. This six-class program offers high-quality basic training for gardeners of all experience levels, from the novice to the professional. The program is designed for serious gardeners wishing to expand or refresh their horticultural knowledge. Certification will provide students with a focus of study and documentation of courses taken. Classes: Botany for Gardeners (I: Flowers, Fruits & Seeds and II: The Green Plant), Soils, Woody Ornamentals, Herbaceous Perennials, and Pruning. Members $190, non-members $258. (Take this along with the Pruning Certificate (starts March 8), both certificates: members $230, non-members $315.) Registration required. RCGC

February 7: Meeting, Greater Rochester Perennial Society, 7 pm. Al Pfieffer of Oriental Garden Supply will discuss “Plants for the Landscape.” CCE/MON

February 9: Landscape Design Clinic, 10 am. Learn the basics of starting a new design project. With helpful handouts. WAY

February 12: Pruning Effectively, 1 pm. This meeting of the Master Gardeners will feature Elmer Dustman; registration is recommended. $5. CCE/MON

February 12: Botany for Gardeners – The Green Plant, 6 – 9 pm. See description under February 5. Topics to be covered: structure and function of stems, leaves and roots; photosynthesis and growth; and plant adaptations to different conditions. Part of the Rochester Civic Gardener’s Certificate. Members $39, non-members $49. Registration required. RCGC

February 14 – April 17: Botanical Drawing, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. In this 8-class series Deb VerHulst-Norris, a horticulturist with a B.S. in Fine Arts, will teach you to draw plants and flowers in accurate detail. Drawing skills will be developed by closely observing the structure and textures of the plants and flowers. The class will explore the use of graphite pencils, with colored pencil added to give depth and definition to drawings and bring your creations to life. No previous experience needed. Students 16 years and older are welcome. Members $96, non-members $116. Registration required. RCGC

February 16: Orchids, 10 am. Bring your tired and crowded in for spring renewal—$3 per plant (new pot not included). WAY

February 19: Woody Ornamentals, 6 – 9 pm. In this slide-lecture, author and landscape designer Christine Froehlich will discuss the landscape values of woody ornamentals, a number of favorites and their use, plant selection at the nursery, proper siting and planting of those all-important “bones” for any landscape. Part of the Rochester Civic Gardener’s Certificate. 3 Certified Nursery Professional (CNLP) credits. Members $35, non-members $45. Registration required. RCGC

February 20: Growing and Using Herbs for Health and Stress Relief, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Tracy Gaus, founder and owner of Herbly Wonderful in Batavia, will discuss how to grow and use culinary herbs for everyday health and wellbeing. Herbs are gentle and effective for headache relief, heart health, memory improvement, de-stressing and so much more. Students will make a stress-relieving sachet to take home. Members $20, non-members $30. Registration required. RCGC

February 23: Spring Garden Symposium, 8:30 am – 3 pm, Steamboat Landing, 205 Lakeshore Dr., Canandaigua, sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Ontario County. Program topics include “Hydrangeas in the North” with Tim Boebel, nursery manager for Wayside Garden Center, Macedon, “Cuttings: You Can Make More Plants!” with Karen Klingenberger, horticulture educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County, and “Victory Garden” with Audrey Dean, garden entrepreneur from Webster. $40 includes lunch, breaks and handouts. Registration required. CCE/ONT

February 23: Grow a Garden of Everlasting Flowers, Vegetables and Herbs, 10 – 11:30 am. A garden of everlastings is not only beautiful. It can provide you with the materials for lovely and natural home decorations and gifts. The trick is to use the right varieties, the ones that are best for drying and crafts. Arleen Oliver and her natural crafts have been featured several times in the Democrat and Chronicle as well as national magazines such as Early American Life. In this class she will cover everything you need to know to grow your own everlastings, from variety selection to culture, harvesting, drying and using your garden’s bounty. You'll go home ready to start, with a garden plan as well as seeds of some of the best everlasting plants. Members $20, non-members $30. Registration required. RCGC

February 23: Rain Garden Design, 10 am. WAY

February 26: Herbaceous Perennials, 6 – 9 pm. Marcella Klein, landscape designer and author of Rochester’s Favorite Perennials, will give you an in-depth look at the best perennials for home landscapes in upstate New York. She will focus on perennials that provide a long season of color while requiring minimal upkeep, plus those that will flourish under difficult conditions like poor soil, steep slopes, deep shade, and deer. Class will include a slide presentation of recommended perennials, discussion of planting and maintenance techniques, handouts, and a bibliography. Part of the Rochester Civic Gardener’s Certificate. Members $35, non-members $45. Registration required. RCGC

February 26: The Buzz About Honey Bees, Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave, 7 – 8:30 pm. Jason Sackett, native beekeeper and member of the National Beekeeping Association, will explain the importance of honey bees and the plight of native bees. Free and open to the public. GLT

March 1: Annual Spring Symposium, 9 am – 3 pm, Eisenhart Auditorium, Rochester Museum and Science Center, sponsored by the Rochester Civic Garden Center and Zaretsky and Associates. Featuring two down-to-earth New Englanders who have collaborated on many projects and share the challenges of designing gardens and choosing plants suitable to our northern climate. Author, garden designer and lecturer Gordon Hayward: The Welcoming Garden – how to create an engagingly beautiful garden at the front of your house while striking the right balance between neighborliness and privacy. Small Buildings, Small Gardens – how gardeners can use small buildings and structures to help anchor new gardens in the landscape as well as drawing family and visitors to appreciate the gardens up close. Photographer, author and painter Karen Bussolini: Jazzing up the Garden with Color and Contrast – how to create sizzling plant combinations; a new way of thinking about combining plants that anyone can easily use, focusing on color, texture and light. Members $45, non-members $55. Member tickets available through RCGC and at Wegmans. RCGC.

March 1: Winter Walk, Gosnell Big Woods Nature Preserve, 10 am – noon. With ancient hemlocks, stately oaks and maples, the Big Woods is a premier stand of old growth woods and is now protected in a partnership between the Town of Webster and the Genesee Land Trust. Reservations required. GLT

March 1: Seed Starting for Spring, 10 am. WAY

March 4: Soils, 6 – 9 pm. Soil is basic to all great gardens and may seem simple, but it isn’t! Andy Joss, head gardener at the George Eastman House, will lead participants through the basic principles of soils, including composition, physical and chemical properties, common soil problems, soil amendments, etc. Bring a pint of soil from your yard. Members $35, non-members $45. Registration required. RCGC

March 5: Collecting and Growing Seed of Native Trees, Shrubs and Forbs – An Easy Way to Restore Native Vegetation, 6 – 9 pm. Growing native plants from seed is the most economical and efficient way to restore native plants on a large scale. In this class Jim Engel will cover general propagation of woody and herbaceous plants from seed, with special attention to native plants and plant communities and their use in restoring natural areas. Topics discussed will include how and when to collect seed of various native plants, seed treatments, storage and stratification techniques, planting methods, and strategies to improve germination and survival under natural conditions. Samples of seeds will be available for hands-on demonstration. Jim is owner of White Oak Nursery, a native tree and shrub nursery in Canandaigua, and an avid promoter of native plants and their uses in both natural and human landscapes. Members $25, non-members $35. Registration required. RCGC

March 6: Meeting, Greater Rochester Perennial Society, 7 pm. Franz Seishab, Master Gardener and Community Forester, will discuss “Trees and Shrubs for the Perennial Border.” CCE/MON

March 6: Evolution of My Perennial Garden, a spring workshop with Sandra Lovell, 7 – 9 pm. Draw on Lovell’s 40 years of experience to learn about creating your own perennial garden, including site considerations and preparation, garden styles, plant selection, mapping of a plan, planting, maintenance, propagation and renovation. Review your property before the workshop and come with ideas and questions to discuss. $5. CCE/ONT

March 8: Pruning, 9 am – 12 noon. This seemingly complicated subject will be made simple by Mike Tanzini of Ted Collins Tree & Landscape. He will cover techniques and timing for pruning trees and shrubs, as well as the proper equipment to use. The class will go outside for demonstrations on the grounds of Warner Castle, weather permitting, so dress accordingly. Part of the Pruning Certificate. 3 Certified Nursery Professional (CNLP) credits, 3 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEU). Members $35, non-members $45. Registration required. RCGC

March 8: Spring Garden Preparation, 10 am. WAY

March 8, April 19 & June 21: Pruning Certificate, 9 am – 12 noon. This three-session program, taught by Mike Tanzini of Ted Collins Tree & Landscape, will cover the principles and techniques of pruning shrubs and small trees in the home landscape. Classroom instruction will be supplemented with in-field demonstrations presented at the appropriate time of year. 9 Certified Nursery Professional (CNLP) credits, 9 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEU). Members $80, non-members $110. Registration required. RCGC.

March 9: Meeting, Greater Rochester Iris Society, 2 pm. Dana Borglum will give a slide presentation on his 2007 garden. CCE/MON

March 11: Renovating a Perennial Garden, 1 pm. This meeting of the Master Gardeners will feature Megan Meyer; registration is recommended. $5. CCE/MON

March 13 – 16: GardenScape 2008, “It’s a Garden Life,” Greater Rochester's Flower & Garden Show, Dome Center, Henrietta. Sponsored by the GardenScape Professionals Association. For details, visit rochesterflowershow.com.

March 15: Early Spring Pruning Techniques, 10 am. WAY

• March 15: Natural Easter Egg-Dyeing Workshop, 10 – 11:30 am. This Easter, why not color your eggs using nature's own dyes? The old-fashioned art of dyeing eggs with natural materials is back in style, and a great family craft project. Arleen Oliver will demonstrate how to create many different colors using natural ingredients that can easily be found in almost any kitchen or grocery store. Then everyone in class will dye a dozen eggs to hop home with! Arleen and her natural crafts have been feature several times in the Democrat and Chronicle as well as national magazines such as Early American Life. Members $20, non-members $30. Bring a kid (15 or younger) for an additional $5! Registration required. RCGC.

April 5 & 6: Orchid Show & Sale, Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm, sponsored by the Genesee Region Orchid Society. There will be spectacular orchids on display and for sale, plus potting demonstrations, raffles and more. $5; children 10 and under free. Geneseeorchid.org.

April 25: Arbor Day Celebration, 11 am. Location TBA. ROC

May 9 – 18: Lilac Festival, Highland Park. In addition to the lilacs, visit the Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Ave., and the Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Ave.

May 11 – June 8: Flower City Days at the Market, Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union St., Sundays and the Friday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend, 8 am – 1 pm. ROC

May 17: Native Plant Sale, Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave, 8:30 am – 2 pm. Start your garden while giving to a great cause! This annual fundraiser for the Genesee Land Trust features the donations of over 12 nurseries and includes native plants, shrubs and trees. GLT

May 24: Annual Proud Market Plant Sale, 8 am ‘til the plants run out. This is at least the RCGC’s 23^rd annual plant sale; no one remembers exactly when it started or what the name means. But it is believed that “Proud Market” refers to the pride with which sellers offer their special plants. A great opportunity to buy all manner of plants, many of them unusual or hard to find, at really great prices. There are several regular vendors—garden clubs and small independent plant specialists—and you can count on some real “finds.” Lots of perennials, shrubs and trees, as well as annuals and vegetables. Go early—plants sell out fast. RCGC.

• May 30: Flower City Kids Picnic and Planting Day, Ontario Beach Park, 10 am – 2 pm. Thousands of Rochester students plant flowers started in the classroom. Sign up by March 14. ROC

May 31 & October 4: Rochester Blossoms, 8 am – 10 am. Thousands of flowers (and bulbs, in the fall) are planted throughout city parks during this huge one-day volunteer effort. Register by May 5 (September 26 for the fall), but call earlier to discuss planting locations. Plants will also be distributed to neighborhood groups planting in city open spaces. ROC

June 7: Odyssey to Ithaca, presented by the Rochester Civic Garden Center and the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal, 8 am – 7 pm. Please join us on our fifth annual bus tour! First stop will be Cornell Plantations, where we will tour the area around the visitor’s center, including their incredible containers collection, the herb, flower, peony, heritage vegetable and winter gardens, the groundcover collection and the rhododendron knoll. New this year: we will visit the Deans Garden, a courtyard garden with many unusual treasures, where a favorable microclimate allows plants rarely seen in western NY to flourish. Then on to three family-owned garden centers with tons of character: Bakers’ Acres for their delicious Herbal Sampler Lunch and fabulous selection of home-grown perennials and annuals, then Bedlam Gardens, with its amazing display gardens. Last stop is Dickman’s in Aurora, with a HUGE selection of specialty annuals, perennials, tropicals, and woodies, as well as 265,000 ft² of immaculately run greenhouses ,where they grow wholesale annuals and perennials for Ball Growers. We will go by coach, with ample room to transport all our plant purchases. Lunch provided; box dinner available for purchase, or bring your own to eat on the way back. Fee: $55. Registration required. RCGC

June 7 & 8: LilyFest 2008. The Genesee Valley Pond & Koi Club teams with Bergen Water Gardens to present Ray “Kingfish” Lucas, a spokesperson for various products, which he will discuss, demonstrate and then donate to Sunday’s auction. Along with Lucas, GVPKC members will be on hand to answer questions and make their own contributions to—and purchases at—the auction. 7443 Buffalo Road, Churchville, NY 14428. 585/293-2860; bergenwatergardens.com.

June 13 – 15: Maplewood Rose Festival, corner of Lake and Driving Park Aves. Celebrate the City’s horticultural history amidst the beauty of Maplewood’s historic rose garden. Lectures, home tours, workshops and more. The event kicks off with a giant gathering of neighborhoods on the Driving Park Bridge. ROC

June 21: Backyard Habitat Garden Tour, sponsored by the Genesee Land Trust, 9 am – 4 pm. This year’s properties include a top-notch habitat garden with a 25-acre meadow for bobolink nesting and a panorama of Penfield green space, plus more Penfield gardens; a city garden tended by a faithful tour attendee who nominated himself and won; Connie Ehindero’s secret oasis and a stately Brighton property with an un-mowed meadow for the snakes plus berries galore. The Southbys return with their ever-evolving garden, and they’ll educate all on how to attract butterflies—and there is much more! Tickets will be available in the spring at all Wegmans and through the Trust office by calling 256-2130. GLT

June 21: Hosta, Hosta, Hosta! An all-day event, featuring lectures and workshops, with Mike Shadrack. WAY

July 12: Rochester Civic Garden Center Summer Garden Tour. RCGC.

July 27: Plant Sale, 10 am – 2 pm. Various plant groups and societies, including the Greater Rochester Iris Society, will participate. CCE/MON

September 13: Gathering of Gardeners, Eisenhart Auditorium, East Ave. Featuring Matt Horn of Matterhorn Nursery and Stephanie Cohen, a parking lot sale, raffle and book sale. GatheringofGardeners.com.

September 13: Annual Dahlia Show, Perinton Square Mall, 6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Perinton. 1 – 7 pm. Presented by the Rochester Dahlia Society. Show flowers will be for sale Sunday, September 14 from 10 am – noon.

October 11 & 12: First National Bonsai Exhibition, Monroe Community Hospital. This is the first ever American bonsai exhibition—featuring over 200 museum-quality bonsai—organized and sponsored largely by Bill Valavanis to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of publication of his magazine, International BONSAI. Enthusiasts are encouraged to submit photographs of their best bonsai for consideration in the lineup. 585/334-2595; internationalbonsai.com.

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