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"The Wired Gardener" Online Newsletter
 August 2006
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Web Reviews
Don’t Miss: Parkway Exhibit at Moore College
“By Design: New Visions for the Parkway” at Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art & Design (July 12 to September 20) celebrates the visible changes and dynamic opportunities on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway by focusing on landscape, architecture and public art. The show highlights how the Parkway’s rich legacy has paved a path to a vibrant present and future. Look for PHS’s renovation plans for Logan Square at this exhibit, as well as “Paulownia Project” an accompanying exhibit of new sculptures by Linda Brenner, created from the Paulownia trees that formerly stood in Logan Square. And don’t miss Moshe Safdie’s model for the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Annex.
Summer Events in Philly Parks
Somewhere in the city there's a “Summer in the Neighborhood” event happening near you! All events, including live music concerts and outdoor screenings of favorite classic films, are free and open to the public. [more]
Harvest Time
August is a harvest time, but if your veggies aren’t looking great, consult Penn State’s Department of Plant Pathology’s page on vegetable disease identification.
Going Green
In case you missed Newsweek’s July 17 cover story “The New Greening of America” you can visit the online version.
Niche Book Publisher Timber Press Sold to Workman
Portland Oregon’s Timber Press, publisher of consistently high-quality gardening and horticulture books, has been sold to New York publisher Workman Press. [more]
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Save this Date! Growing Greener Cities Symposium
Growing Greener Cities: Symposium on Urban Environmental Issues
in the 21st Century City
October 15 - 17, 2006
Inspired by the film series Edens Lost & Found, this national symposium on sustainable urban environments is co-sponsored by PHS, the Institute for Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Media and Policy Center Foundation. [more]
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McLean Library Book Sale
Mark your calendar to attend the McLean Library Book Sale on Tuesday, October 3, 9:30 am - 5 pm in the library. Buy new gardening books at a discount and used gardening classics at exceptional prices. Book donations will be accepted until September 22, 2006. For more information, please contact library assistant Priscilla Becroft at 215-988-8772 or mcleanlibrary@pennhort.org.
At 11:30 Eriko Takahashi will demonstrate the Japanese art of wrapping gifts. Ms. Takahashi is a book artist and practitioner of Japanese paper craft, paper making, and printmaking.
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Photo Contest!
Last year, PHS launched the wildly successful Green Scene “Garden Photo Contest” and, happily, the contest is now back for 2006. [more]
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Teacher Training in October
Green City Teacher Training
4 Wednesdays beginning October 11, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA
This program, for Philadelphia teachers only, will show you how to integrate horticulture and environmental education into your classroom. Sessions include basic horticulture, food gardening, wildlife habitat gardens, trees, and indoor gardening. Join a network of green teachers and share ideas. Act 48 accreditation pending. For details or to register, contact Sally McCabe at 215-988-8846 or smccabe@pennhort.org Please leave your summer email address or phone number.
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PHS Events
Chanticleer Walk: Featuring Water in Your Garden
Wednesday, August 9, 6 - 8 pm
Chanticleer
786 Church Road
Wayne, PA
Water is the essence of life and a source of delight in the garden. [more]
Tree Tenders: Full Moon Hike
Wednesday, August 9, 7- 9 pm
6049 Daniel Street
Philadelphia, PA
A potluck dessert will follow walk. Please bring something to share and a reusable plate, fork, and cup. [more]
Chanticleer Walk: Flower Arranging from the Garden
Thursday, August 10, 6 - 8 pm
Chanticleer
786 Church Road
Wayne, PA
Why spend lots of money buying flowers when you can create something of beauty from what’s happening right outside in your garden, regardless of the time of year? [more]
Garden Tenders Third Thursday Workshop: Composting
Thursday, August 24, 6:30 - 8 pm
ROOTS Garden at Fisher Park
W. Spencer St. & N. Marshall St.
Philadelphia, PA
Learn how to reduce and/or eliminate garden and yard waste and turn it into rich, free compost for your garden. [more]
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Calendar of Plant Sales
See the annual list of hundreds of plant sales, tours, workshops and more in the Delaware Valley.
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Family-Friendly Gardening
Children’s Summer Reading
Thursdays, August 3 - 24, 10 - 11:30 am
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
Join us for readings of exciting books about the outdoors followed by hikes through the preserve in search of the plants and critters in our stories. Age 4 - 7, accompanied by an adult. [more]
Critters of the Night
Thursday, August 3, 8 - 9:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join educators Suzanne Clauser and Deborah Hemphill for a short indoor program followed by a walk outdoors to look for frogs, bats, owls and other night creatures. [more]
A Walk in the Moonlight
Saturday, August 5, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
Explore the natural world after sunset. Hear crickets and katydids, observe moths feeding on native plants and learn how to find spiders at night. All ages. [more]
Kidz Art: Mosaic Stepping Stones
Thursday, August 8, 10 - 11:30 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Decorate a 12-inch round stepping stone with tiles, buttons, stones, beads and more. Age 6 and older accompanied by an adult. [more]
Butterfly Ramble
Sunday, August 13, 1:30 - 3 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join educator Meg Barrett for a short indoor program followed by a walk outside to see butterflies in the Meadow Maze. Children of all ages accompanied by an adult. [more]
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Teeny Tiny Trackers: Terrific Turtles
Monday, August 14, 10 - 11 am, OR
Tuesday, August 15, 10 - 11 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Look for turtles around the pond and learn why turtles are so special. Age 3 accompanied by an adult. [more]
Tiny Trackers: Clever Crows
Thursday, August 17, 1 - 2:30 pm, OR
Friday, August 18, 1 - 2:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Look for crows, listen to their calls, and hear about these smart birds. Program includes lesson, outdoor walk, plus a craft. Age 4 - 6 accompanied by an adult. [more]
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Other Gardening News and Events
Amazing Butterflies
Tuesday, August 1 - Sunday, September 10
Butterfly House
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
The Butterfly House is filled with native butterflies in all stages of their life cycles, plus extensive plantings that feed both butterflies and caterpillars. [more]
Daily Guided Tours
Tuesday, August 1 - Tuesday, October 31, 2 - 3 pm
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
Join a naturalist for a walk on the Preserve’s trails. [more]
Summer Bird Walks
Wednesdays, August 2 - 30, 8:15 - 10:15 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join birders Tom Reeves and Bruce Wyman as they discuss the relationship between birds and their habitats. [more]
Weekday Wildflower Walks
Wednesdays, August 2 - 30, 11 am - 1 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join Richard Brenner and Dick Cloud to discover the diversity of plants blooming in various ecosystems. [more]
Butterfly Walk
Saturday, August 5, 10 - 11:30 am
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
Identify butterflies with naturalist Theresa Knipper, who will lead a walk through the preserve’s meadow and point out the best nectar and host plants. [more]
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Field Trip to Air National Guard Range
Sunday, August 6
South of Warren Grove
Burlington County, NJ
Explore rare orchid and other species in cedar swamps and fens with the Philadelphia Botanical Club. [more]
Pink Trail Ramble
Sunday, August 6, 9:15 - 10: 30 am, OR
Tuesday, August 8, 9:15 - 10:30 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Lois Brooks will lead a comfortably paced hike on this 2.3-mile trail through woodlands and meadows. [more]
Morning Meadow Tour
Wednesdays, August 9 - 30, 10 -11 am
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
Take this new guided tour through the meadow to learn about native warm-season grasses, meadow ecology, and plant-pollinator interactions. All ages. [more]
Morning in the Fragrant Garden
Wednesdays, August 9, 10 - 11:30 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join volunteer Aldys Davis and members of the Herb Society of America as they share their gardening knowledge and answer questions about the uses and cultivation of herbs. [more]
Meeting: West Jersey Rose Society
Wednesday, August 9, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Carman Tilelli Community Center
Cherry Hill Township Complex
820 Mercer Street
Cherry Hill, NJ
Membership discussion of the properties of recently introduced rose varieties. Call 856-234-6583.
Rain Garden, Wet Meadow & Water Runoff Solutions
Thursday, August 10, 6 - 8:30 pm
Longwood Gardens Continuing Education
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Bill Haldeman shows you how to create a man-made “rain” garden or use a natural wetland space to create a plant and wildlife area. [more]
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Field Trip to Bulls Island Recreation Area
Saturday, August 12
Hunterdon County, NJ
See interesting plants along the shore of the Delaware River, in the adjacent flood plain forest, and on rock walls. [more]
Grasses, Sedges & Rushes: Oh My!
Saturday, August 12, 9:30 am - 4 pm
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
Join botanist Bill Olson for a course on the grass, sedge, and rush families. Class includes lecture with slides, short plant identification walk, and a lab session. [more]
Night Hike
Saturday, August 12, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join guides Meg Barrett and Deborah Hemphill for a moderate-to-brisk hike followed by refreshments at the barn. [more]
Evening Wildflower Walk
Sunday, August 13, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join wildflower expert Dick Cloud on a leisurely walk through the meadows. [more]
Guided Tour: A Walk with the Curator
Monday, August 14, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Departs from Scott Arboretum Offices
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Andrew Bunting will point out recent plant acquisitions. [more]
Shade Perennials
Six sessions: Tuesdays, August 15 - 22, September 12 - 26, October 3
1 - 3 pm OR 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Longwood Gardens Continuing Education
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Learn the identification, culture and landscape uses of over 70 perennials for shade. [more]
Comprehensive Wedding Design
Four sessions: Wednesday - Saturday, August 16 - 19
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Longwood Gardens Continuing Education
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Learn the basic techniques for designing wedding flowers. [more]
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Annuals I
Six sessions: Wednesdays, August 16 - 30, September 6 - 20
1 - 3 pm OR 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Longwood Gardens Continuing Education
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Learn the identification, culture, problems, ornamental characteristics and landscape uses of over 60 annuals and their cultivars. [more]
An Evening in the Arboretum: Minas
Saturday, August 19, 5 pm
Scott Outdoor Amphitheater
Rain Location: Lang Music Building
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Enjoy an outdoor concert with the “Best of Philadelphia” award winner, Minas. [more]
Blue Trail Ramble
Sunday, August 20, 9:15 - 10: 30 am, OR
Tuesday, August 29, 9:15 - 10:30 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Lois Brooks will lead a comfortably paced hike on this shady 2.1-mile trail along Rocky Run stream. [more]
“Meadow Gardens”
Sunday, August 20, 2 pm
Valentine Gardens
358 N. Sandy Hill Road
Coatesville, PA
Free workshop on perennials at this nursery with plants for the rock garden, water garden, herb garden, shade garden, and perennial border. To register, call 610-857-9584 or email valentinegardens@allvantage.com.
In Veronica’s Garden
Tuesday, August 29, 7 pm
Longwood Gardens Continuing Education
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Author Margaret Cadwaladr tells the story of a British aristocrat who developed woodland gardens in Ireland and Canada. [more]
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How to Submit News & Events
The Wired Gardener is issued 11 times a year (no December issue) on the 1st of the month. We post notices of gardening events and give precedence to Philadelphia-area events. Deadline: the 15th of the month for listing in the next month's issue. Send brief details and contact information by email and reference "Wired Gardener" in the subject line. Press releases are not accepted. Please review and follow the format used in our Other Gardening News and Events section.
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Ask a Gardening Question
Our 20 gardening experts volunteer their time to answer your questions. Use the form on our web site.
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About the Wired Gardener
Edited by Janet Evans, library manager, McLean Library, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; contributions: Jane Alling and Priscilla Becroft.
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