Daily Archives: February 1, 2011

Garden Photography Competition

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The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Club of America (TGOA/MGCA) sponsors an annual photography contest, with categories such as wildflowers, roses, landscapes, and more. This competition is meant to encourage good photography and continual education in conjunction with home gardening and other interests of the TGOA/MGCA membership.  American Horticultural Society members are encouraged to enter, as well as members of the sponsoring organizations, and complete rules may be found on their website, www.tgoa-mgca.org, or you may request a copy of the contest manual from Sherra Schuck at sschuck4@kc.rr.com.  There is a February 16 deadline, so get on this right away if you are interested.  You may also call 515-278-0295. Best of Show 2009 winner, Echinacea purpurea with two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly by Karyn Chaffin of the Denver Gardeners of America is shown below.

Wednesday, March 30, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Working with Stone: Creating a Connection with the Spirit of Place

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Rescheduled from February 1 due to snow. The gardener’s perspective is the perfect loci for seeking inward and reaching outward, for ordering the experience of time and space, and observing higher orders.  Dan Snow is a designer of outdoor spaces in stone, and an art maker specializing is dry stone constructions.  He is the author of In the Company of Stone and Listening to Stone—Hardy Structures, Perilous Follies, and Other Tangles with Nature and the subject of the PBS documentary Stone Rising.  Working solo to build garden walls and dry stone features, Master Craftsman Dan Snow finds that the most successful designs are born of an intimate relationship with the landscape and knowledge and understanding of the materials at hand. Dan’s presentation will examine the many uses of stone in the garden; how stone can support a garden design, or simply be the garden itself. Illustrated with images of his work, the presentation will also explore the “give and take” experience of working in nature, and the connection to spirit expressed through stone.  Book-signing to follow. Co-sponsored by Trinity Church and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.

The lecture and reception will now take place Wednesday, March 30, beginning at 7 pm. Tickets $20 member, $25 non member, available at The Shop at Trinity (206 Clarendon Street, lower level), by phone (617.536.0944 x225) or online arboretum.harvard.edu. Questions: Kathy Acerbo-Bachmann, 617.536.0944 x217 or kacerbobachmann@trinitychurchboston.org.  The beautiful photo below of Dan Snow’s work in Vermont is by Peter Mauss.

Saturday, February 19, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Indoor Seed Starting

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Mystified by the how-tos of seed starting, yet want to grow your own food, herbs and flowers? Come learn some easy, low-tech ways to get started at home this season. Priscilla Williams of Pumpkin Brook Organic Gardening will explore seed catalogs and how to order the greatest tasting and most vigorous varieties at the best value, then delve into timing, techniques and record keeping. Equipment selection and set-up of indoor light stands will also be discussed. Each participant will transplant seedlings to larger containers and take them home for further growth. She will take an organic approach to this topic, including troubleshooting.  The Tower Hill Botanic Garden class will take place Saturday, February 19, from 9 – 12 noon, and is priced at $35 for THBG members, and $40 for non-members.  To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.