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"The Wired Gardener" Online Newsletter
 September 2006
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Web Reviews
Perennial Plant Conference
It’s not too late to register for this important conference, to be held on Friday, October 20 at Swarthmore College. Co-sponsored by PHS, Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group and Swarthmore’s Scott Arboretum, this day-long conference features internationally known experts and more.
Bringing in Your Houseplants
If you’ve sent your houseplants on a summer “vacation” by letting them spend the warm months outside, September is the ideal time to move them indoors. When doing so, inspect the plants carefully. Do they need repotting? Are some simply too infested to bring inside? Follow recommendations from the University of Vermont Extension Service in making this seasonal transition easy on your plants.
Where Can I Find Free Compost in Pennsylvania?
Check out PROP, the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania’s compost directory. Click on your county for a list of nonprofit and municipalities engaged in composting programs. Consider making your own compost pile. The PROP website links to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s “Backyard Compost Education Program” in partnership with participating Pennsylvania county extension offices.
Other good sites: Cornell’s home composting guide
US EPA site “Composting is easy"
Why Save Seeds?
An excellent brief article on The Exploratorium’s Science of Gardening site makes the case for the need to save seed.
Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations. SSE has an online catalog of heirloom seeds.
According to the International Seed-Saving Institute’s web site, “We are on the verge of losing, in one generation, much of the agricultural diversity humankind created in the last 10,000 years.” This site includes instructions on basic seed-saving techniques for common vegetables and links to its commercial arm, Seeds Trust which sells seed for high-altitude gardens, organically certified seed, heirloom varieties, and natives.
The Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a living history museum that collects, conserves, exhibits, and interprets Pennsylvania German material, culture, history, and heritage from 1740 through 1940. Its heirloom seed project focuses on varieties of vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals associated with Pennsylvania Germans and of interest to mid-Atlantic gardeners.
Plant Pansies and Enjoy in Fall and Spring
Plant pansies between Labor Day and mid-October, allow them to over-winter, and enjoy them in the spring. Which pansies to plant? Consider “Icicle” a brand of pansies and violas bred especially for northern climates and for over-wintering. Click on “where to buy,” enter your zip code, and get a list of retailers near you.
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Register Now for Growing Greener Cities Symposium!
Growing Greener Cities: Symposium on Urban Environmental Issues
in the 21st Century City
October 15 - 17, 2006
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
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 News
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. For more information, please contact Priscilla Becroft at 215-988-8772 or mcleanlibrary@pennhort.org.
Eriko Takahashi will give a demonstration of the Japanese art of wrapping gifts at 11:30 am. Ms. Takahashi is a book artist and practitioner of Japanese paper craft, paper making, and printmaking.
Book Club Reconvenes in October
Join us for our sixth year of the “Stories from the Garden” book discussion group. Each month, we’ll read and discuss works of fiction or non-fiction having to do with gardens, plants, or the land. We meet on the first Thursday evening of the month, beginning October 5, 5:45 to 7:45 in the library. While discussions are free and open to all, we ask attendees to pre-register by contacting Priscilla Becroft by email at pbecroft@pennhort.org or 215-988-8772.
Book Club Selections for 2006-2007
| October 5 |
Robert Frost, Selected Poems |
| November 2 |
Herbert Mason, Gilgamesh: a Verse Narrative |
| December 7 |
Mary Doria Russell, The Sparrow |
| January 4 |
Jorge Luis Borges, “The Garden of Forking Paths” (short story) |
| February 2 |
William Gass, In the Heart of the Heart of the Country (selected stories) |
| April 5 |
Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek |
| May 3 |
J. L. Carr, A Month in the Country |
| June 14 |
Italo Calvino, The Baron in the Trees |
History of Botanical Illustration Class to be Held in Library
Five Centuries of Botanical Illustration
Three Mondays, October 23, 30; November 6, 6 - 7:30 pm
PHS McLean Library
100 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA
Taught by Dr. Alfred E. Schuyler, this class will explore how botanical illustrations have communicated information about plants for medicinal, botanical, and aesthetic purposes. [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
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PHS Events
Chanticleer Walk: Vines
Thursday, September 7, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Chanticleer
786 Church Road
Wayne, PA
Add a new dimension to your garden! There are vines suitable for all kinds of situations: climbing on a trellis, meandering up a tree, growing on the wall, or scrambling through a perennial border. [more]
Garden Tenders: Fall in the Perennial Garden
Monday, September 11, 8:30 am - 2 pm
Valentine Gardens
Coatesville, PA
Bus trip to Valentine Gardens. Join us for a trip through the Chester County countryside to a specialty nursery and greenhouse operation. [more]
Philadelphia Tree Tenders Basic Training
Three Wednesdays: September 13, 20, & 27, 5:45 - 8:45 pm
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
This is a three-part series for groups and individuals interested in caring for trees in their neighborhoods and receiving resources to plant trees. [more]
Chanticleer Walk: Late Season Shade
Wednesday, September 20, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Chanticleer
786 Church Road
Wayne, PA
Horticulturist Przemek Walczak will guide us through the enchanting grounds of Chanticleer and highlight the splendid shade-loving plants that you can enjoy in your garden all summer, but which come into their full glory in the cooler nights and shorter days of autumn. [more]
Bus Trip: City Gardening Series and Garden Tenders
Chanticleer through the Seasons
Thursday, September 21, 5 - 9 pm
Chanticleer
786 Church Road
Wayne, PA
Join us on a bus trip for an enchanting evening at Chanticleer [more]
In The Garden: The Japanese Garden, Basic Design Principles
Saturday, September 30, 10 am - Noon
Shofuso Japanese House, Horticulture Center
Belmont Avenue and Montgomery Drive
Philadelphia, PA
Designed for the novice, this program will cover the basic principles of Japanese gardening, including how to use forced perspective, textures, and placement to create a peaceful oasis. [more]
Fall For Your Park
Saturday, September 30, 8:30 am - 1 pm
Ferko Playground and Tacony Creek Park
J St. & E. Cayuga St.
Philadelphia, PA
More than 400 park advocates and volunteers from across the city will work together with neighborhood residents to transform the site for all to enjoy. [more]
Open House and Garden Tours
Saturday, September 30, 10 am - 5 pm
Meadowbrook Farm
1633 Washington Lane
Abington Township, PA
Enjoy a great day of fall shopping when Meadowbrook Farm hosts its annual Fall Open House. [more]
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Family-Friendly Gardening
Teeny Tiny Trackers: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
Monday, September 11, 10 - 11 am, OR
Tuesday, September 12, 10 - 11 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Hunt for bugs, examine bugs, create a bug craft and hear a bug story. Age 3 accompanied by an adult. [more]
Garden Sprouts: Peter Rabbit’s Garden
Tuesday, September 12, 1 - 2 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Come listen to a story, search for Peter’s vegetables and sample some of his favorite treats. Age 4 - 5 accompanied by an adult. [more]
Tiny Trackers: Magical Butterflies
Thursday, September 14, 1 - 2:30 pm, OR
Friday, September 15, 1 - 2:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Visit Tyler’s Butterfly Garden, learn butterfly facts, and make a butterfly “sandwich”. Age 4 - 6 accompanied by an adult. [more]
Garden Sprouts: Garden Flavors and Fragrances
Tuesday, September 19, 1 - 2 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Discover the flavors and scents of herbs, play an herb guessing game and create a craft to take home. Age 4 - 5, accompanied by an adult. [more]
Family Evening Nature Hike
Saturday, September 30, 6 - 7:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Use your senses to discover the animals, insects and birds that come out when the sun goes down. Ages 8 - 12, accompanied by an adult. [more]
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Other Gardening News & Events
In addition to the listings below, be sure to check out the 2006 Plant Sales and Events page.
Continuing Education Courses
September, 2006
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Longwood Gardens Continuing Education is offering a wide variety of classes in September, including pest and plant diseases, walks, fall lawns for homeowners, installing pools and other water features, forcing bulbs indoors, plant illustration, and more. Students may take individual workshops as well as complete curricula in specialized areas to gain a certificate of merit. [more]
50 Years, 50 Countries, 50 Expeditions
Friday, September 1 - Sunday, October 15
Music Room
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Plant Exploration Exhibit features personal artifacts, video interviews with explorers, and historic notebooks. See listing for September 30 Plant Explorers Reunion. [more]
Evening Yoga at the Arboretum
Tuesdays, September 5 - 26, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join instructor Judy Spadoni in yoga postures and breathing practices outdoors in grassy areas of the arboretum. Suitable for all abilities. [more]
Fall Bird Walks
Wednesdays, September 6 - 27, 8:15 -10:15 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join birders Tom Reeves and Bruce Wyman to search for fall migrants and winter residents. [more]
Weekday Wildflower Walks
Wednesdays, September 6 - 27, 11 am - 1 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join Richard Brenner and Dick Cloud to see wildflowers in their seasonal guises. [more]
Workshop: Yoga for Gardening Series
Thursdays, September 7 - 28, 1 - 2 pm
Parrish Lawn
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Learn breathing techniques and yoga postures that support mindful movement every day and in gardening. [more]
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Art Loop Reception
Friday, September 8, 5:30 - 8 pm
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 North Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
The Community Gallery at DCH will feature works from Blue Streak Gallery through October 27. [more] or call 302-658-6262.
Master Gardener Fall Fest
Saturday, September 9, 9 am - 3 pm
Smedley Park
Baltimore Pike between Springfield Mall and the Blue Route
Springfield, PA
The Delaware Valley Master Gardeners will sponsor gardening and cooking demonstrations, guided garden tours, a plant sale, and a special pre-registered series of workshops including lunch and a composting bin. Call 610-690-2655 or email.
Native Woodland Walk and Blue Trail Ramble
Sunday, September 10, 9:15 - 10:15 am, OR
Tuesday, September 19, 9:15 - 10:15 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join Lois Brooks on a ramble through the woodland walk before heading down the 2.5-mile Blue Trail. [more]
Hobby Greenhouse Association
Saturday, September 9, 10 am
The Horticulture Center
West Fairmount Park,
Philadelphia, PA
The Delaware Valley Chapter’s meeting will include a slide presentation by accredited orchid judge Paul Sheetz and an orchid plant sale. For information, call Bernie Wiener at 610-446-2160 or email.
Begonia Society Meeting
Saturday, September 9, 10 am
Meadowbrook Farm
1633 Washington Lane
Abington Township, PA
Call Debbie Evans at 215-836-1590 or email.
Guided Tour: The Late Summer Garden
Saturday, September 9, 10 am - Noon
Departs from Scott Arboretum Offices
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Enjoy the bounty of late summer blooms at the arboretum. [more]
Summer Garden Open House
Saturdays, September 9 - 30, 10 am - 2 pm
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 North Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
Stroll through the garden, eat lunch under the pavilion, use the garden library, and bring garden questions to DCH staff on duty. [more] or call 302-658-6262.
Tree Spree Fair
Saturday, September 9, 10 am - 3 pm
Carousel Park
3700 Limestone Road
Wilmington, DE
Celebrate the many benefits of trees with workshops, live demonstrations, and children’s activities, all sponsored by Delaware Center for Horticulture. Part of Pike Creek Community Day. [more] or call 302-658-6262.
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Barclay Friends Festival of Gardens
Saturday, September 9, 10 am - 3 pm
West Chester, PA
Self-guided tour of twenty gardens in the north section of West Chester borough to benefit Barclay Friends Horticultural Therapy Program. Contact Shannon Heverin at 610-696-5211 or email.
Night Hike
Saturday, September 9, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join educator Deborah Hemphill for a moderate-to-brisk hike in the cool autumn air to observe the summer season winding down. [more]
Sunday Wildflower Walk
Sunday, September 10, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join Dick Cloud in search of late-season bloomers in the arboretum’s meadows and woodlands. [more]
Guided Tour: A Walk with the Curator
Monday, September 11, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Departs from Scott Arboretum Offices
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Andrew Bunting will point out recent plant acquisitions and discuss why some plants were removed from the collection. [more]
Meeting: West Jersey Rose Society
Wednesday, September 13, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Carman Tilelli Community Center
Cherry Hill Township Complex
820 Mercer Street
Cherry Hill, NJ
An exhibition and judging of members’ roses. Call 856-234-6583.
Horticulture Workshop: Ornamental Grasses
Friday, September 15, 9:30 am - 2 pm
Scott Arboretum Classroom and Gardens
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Join curator Andrew Bunting to explore the world of ornamental grasses. [more]
GardenFair
Friday, September 15 - Sunday, September 17
10 am - 6 pm (10 - 5 Sunday)
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate
5105 Kennett Pike
Winterthur, DE
Includes two special symposia, free lectures, gardening advice, plants from specialty nurseries, and garden ornaments and furniture. [more]
Critter Hunt for Grown-ups
Saturday, September 16, 10 am - 12 Noon
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join ecologist and naturalist Steve Tessler to discover the hidden world of insects, fungi, moss and other small wonders of nature. [more]
Community Harvest Fair
Saturday, September 16, 10 am - 3 pm
Old Central School
Saxer Avenue
Springfield, PA
Bring your vegetables, fruits, flowers, and baskets with your bounty for judging. Call Helen Lightcap at 610-544-8044 or email.
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Fleas for Trees
Sunday, September 17, 10 am - 4 pm
Fleisher Art Memorial parking lot
700 block Christian Street
Philadelphia, PA
Bella Vista United Civic Association and Fleisher Art Memorial will sponsor a flea market to support Bella Vista tree planting and sweep programs. Vendors contact Rebecca at 215-339-5024 or email.
“Trees and Shrubs”
Sunday, September 17, 2 pm
Valentine Gardens
358 N. Sandy Hill Road
Coatesville, PA
Free workshop on trees and shrubs at a nursery with plants for the rock garden, water garden, herb garden, shade garden, and perennial border. To register, call 610-857-9584 or email.
Herb Lecture and Luncheon
Wednesday, September 20, 11:30 am - 2 pm
Goodstay Manor and Gardens
University of Delaware, Wilmington Campus
2600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilmington, DE
Join herb expert Art Tucker for a lecture, lunch, and tour sponsored by Delaware Center for horticulture. Call 302-658-6262 ext 22.
Landscape Design: Where Art and Nature Meet
Wednesday, September 20, 7:30 pm
Mandell 114
Henry Schmieder Arboretum of Delaware Valley College
700 East Butler Avenue
Doylestown, PA
Lecture by Darrell Morrison, followed by Fall Raffle drawing. Call 215-489-2283.
“America’s Garden Celebration”
Saturday, September 23, 5 - 10 pm
River Farm
Alexandria, VA
James van Sweden, known for the “New American Garden” style of landscape design, will serve as honorary chair of the American Horticultural Society’s 2006 Gala. Enjoy dinner with music, open bar, live auction and silent auction. All proceeds to benefit River Farm. For information call Trish Gibson at 703-768-5700 x 114 or email.
Red Trail Ramble
Sunday, September 24, 9:15 - 10:30 am
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Lois Brooks will lead an invigorating, comfortably-paced hike on this 3.1-mile trail, which features two ascents. [more]
Fresh Herbal Wreath
Sunday, September 24, 1 - 4 pm
OH Greenhouse Headhouse
Henry Schmieder Arboretum of Delaware Valley College
700 East Butler Avenue
Doylestown, PA
Workshop with Betsy Jacobs. Call 215-489-2283.
The Weekend Gardener: Transplanting and Dividing Perennials
Sunday, September 24, 2 - 3:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
In this hands-on workshop, Tyler gardener Marie Tomlan will teach specific techniques that guarantee success in transplanting and dividing a variety of plants. [more]
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Fall Butterfly and Bird Migration Trip
Wednesday - Thursday, September 27 - 28
Departing from Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Join Tom Reeves for birding and monarch watching along the coast of southern New Jersey, take a boat tour to see resident water birds, visit Cape May Point to observe migrating species and learn about monarchs with expert Mildred Morgan. [more]
Vine and Wine Garden Tour
Thursday, September 28, 5:30 - 7 pm
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 North Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
Informal discussion and tour of great vines for the home garden. Call 302-658-6262 ext. 22.
50 Years, 50 Countries, 50 Expeditions
Saturday, September 30, 9 am - 4:30 pm
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Plant Explorers Reunion will feature short presentations by several of the more than 37 plant explorers who will reunite for a day of story sharing and reminiscing. [more]
Wall Plaque Mosaic Workshop
Saturdays, September 30 and October 14, 1 - 3:30 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Create a mosaic wall plaque featuring a nature motif of your choice. Mosaic artist Barbie Henig will show you how to break and attach the mosaic pieces, then grout and complete your project two weeks later. [more]
International Maple Society
Thursday - Saturday, October 12 - 14
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
100 Northwestern Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Annual meeting of North American Branch will include maple-oriented talks from well-known horticulturists highlighting the arboretum’s extensive maple holdings, plus tours of Delaware Valley public gardens. Call 215-247-5777 or email.
Pennsylvania Community Forestry Conference
Thursday - Friday, October 19 - 20
Toftrees Resort
State College, PA
This year’s conference theme is Maximizing Marketing Impact and Citizen Support: Effective How-To’s of Promoting Natural Resources and Community Forests. Contact Bill Elmendorf or Carol Leitzell at 814-865-7541.
Perennial Plant Conference
Friday, October 20, 8 am - 4 pm
Lang Performing Arts Center
Swarthmore College
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA
Annual conference sponsored by Chanticleer, Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, Longwood Gardens, Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group and PHS. Call 610-388-1000 ext. 507.
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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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