LECTURES

From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave: Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden
William Cullina
Ferns and grasses are the canvas on which nature paints its portraits. Stripping away names and associations, gardens and landscapes are fusions of form, color, and texture. The three act in concert to create spaces, moods, and aesthetic impressions. Though we tend to focus on color, it is form and texture that really create spaces and give them tone and mood. William Cullina, NEWFS Director of Horticultural Research and author of the newly published Native Ferns, Moss, and Grasses will introduce you to some of his favorite texturally rich and visually delectable native ferns, grasses, and sedges.

Backyards and Beyond: Plant Locally, Save Globally
Jim McCormac
In an increasingly urbanized landscape, the role of habitat restoration – backyards or bigger projects – takes on growing importance. The use of native flora is vital to the success of such projects. We’ll explore some fantastic and little-known plants, and the interesting ecological relationships that spring up around them. Our urban landscapes become globally important when one considers their value to winged wildlife, and we’ll look at the big picture of urban landscape roles. Jim McCormac works for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, where he specializes in ornithology. Prior to that, he was botanist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Gardening for Life
Doug Tallamy
For suburbia to become a functioning ecosystem for more than just humans, we must first accept that all plants are not created equal, particularly in their ability to support wildlife. Unless we restore native plants to the suburban ecosystem, the future of biodiversity in the U.S. is dim. Amidst the gloom and doom, though, is the optimistic message that this is actually quite easy to do. Doug Tallamy is Professor and Chair of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and the author of the 2007 book, Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in our Gardens.

WORKSHOPS

Growing Wildflowers from Seed
William Cullina
Bill Cullina will begin with an overview of seed development, seed collection, cleaning and storage aimed at encouraging participants to begin collecting and processing their own seeds. Time is also devoted to seed dormancy and germination, especially the unique strategies and obstacles necessary to germinate difficult genera such as trillium. Includes a hands-on demonstration of seed cleaning and sowing techniques.

A Walking History of the Land
Charles Davis
Follow freelance ecologist Charles Davis as he takes a tour of the Center’s new property and discusses the landscape history therein. Davis’ specialty is rare plant and animal surveys. He has taught courses in Plant and Tree Identification for the Johns Hopkins University Certificate in Environmental Studies and is currently completing natural resources inventories for the US Navy, the National Park Service, and other private clients.

Designing with Natives
Zolna Russell
Have you been reading about the “green” revolution and wondering how to make your property more sustainable? Join landscape architect and LEED Accredited Professional Zolna Russell in designing and implementing sustainable landscape practices for your garden. Ms. Russell will introduce the concepts needed to design and maintain your property sustainably and will assist participants in solving their individual design problems.