Lectures and Workshops to chose from...
Shrubs & Hedges
Shrubs and hedges are the subject of my latest book. We will explore a vast a array of topics including a brief history of shrubs, how they are named, what makes a shrub dependable, the differences between hedges and hedgerows and why these two forms of landscaping are important for habitat and humans, how to purchase shrubs and what to look for, propagating shrubs, attracting pollinators and other wildlife, and shrubs for riparian areas and rain gardens.
A book signing will follow. (Lecture)
Color in the Garden
Have you ever heard of forest bathing? In Japan this is a custom and a way to rejuvenate the soul. Walking amidst the color green, is healing and restorative. Now think of applying all colors to the garden to create a healing space that will enliven all your senses. (Lecture)
Container Gardening
This workshop/presentation provides information on container selection – soil options, and of course, plant opportunities for the consumer. Consider grouping pots and then change them as they continue to bloom or go out of bloom. A myriad of options awaits the imaginative gardener. (Lecture or Workshop)
Creating a Woodland Garden
Learn how to transform an area of your landscape into a woodland oasis. If you already have a grove of trees or are thinking of planting one, this presentation will help you make the proper selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. I will discuss the process involved in woodland gardening from garden planning to soil preparation, planting, and ongoing care. My process is something you can integrate at your own pace. Learn what to plant to provide year-round interest from early-blooming bulbs to shrubs with colorful berries in fall and winter. You'll learn how to attract wildlife too! (Lecture)
Fragrant Gardens
Fragrances stimulate memory and turn an ordinary garden into extraordinary. Explore the possibilities when we use fragrant plants as markers for time and space. (Lecture or Workshop)
Front and Backdoor Gardening
The most important person you need to impress is yourself. When your home looks good – you feel great every time you enter or leave your home. Learn tips on how to design and change entryways to provide seasonal color and drama. (Lecture or Workshop)
Gardening for Wildlife
Starting out with small changes in your garden will enhance your environment to welcome wildlife. You’ll be amazed at how your life will change as you begin to share your garden space. (Lecture)
Gardening in Small Spaces
Just because you have a small space, doesn’t mean that you can’t have a wonderful landscape filled with a diversity of plants to create a special retreat. We will explore the many possibilities for small space gardening. (Lecture)
Gardening in Winter: A New Twist
Most people don't consider the winter garden to be much to look at but if it is planned well, there can be a full range of bloom and color throughout the bleak winter months. Come join me for a talk on the fourth gardening season (winter) and the myriad of plants. (Lecture)
Food Forests to Attract Birds, Furry Friends and Humans too!
Creating beautifully designed food forests and shrubby borders attract a myriad of animals to visit our gardens. One shrub with varying cultivars can feed birds six months or more - planning is key. Knowing what to plant will make you a more conscious gardener for improving habitat and migratory flyways. (Lecture)
Hand-tied Bouquets and Vase Arranging
How many times have you brought flowers home and tried to arrange them in a vase that you have sitting on a shelf?
I will show you the tricks of the trade for vase arranging and hand-tied bouquets. The techniques are centuries old. (Lecture or Workshop)
Pruning – Accentuating the Natural Beauty of Shrubs
We will discuss the structure of shrubs and then I will demonstrate the pruning techniques to maintain a shrub’s natural, shapely beauty. (Workshop)
Rain Gardening
Instead of trying to divert water off of your property – keep it to intensify your landscape. Using rain in combination with water-loving plants – the two will create lush areas of diversity and color even during drier periods. The natural cooling affect of these areas will provide oases to enjoy all summer long. (Lecture or Workshop)
Riparian Buffer Restoration
Learn how you can help restore natural barriers along stream banks and help prevent flooding in your own backyard – while increasing interest in the landscape. This class is great for greening groups and large and small parcel property owners with streams and/or ponds. (Lecture or Workshop)
Sustainability in Your Garden
What does sustainability really mean in the landscape? Creating sustainable landscapes means less work for you and more work for the plants. Ideas include no mow lawns, rain capture and reuse, easy ground covers, plants that need minimal pruning, plant diversity, new native cultivars that attract more wildlife and bring greater activity to areas that were once visually lifeless. Once you have established a good plant palette you can sit back and enjoy the results.
(Lecture)
Window Boxes
They say that when window boxes appear on houses, it is a sign of a very healthy community. We explore the diversity of options using window boxes and how to plant them for year round enjoyment. (Lecture or Workshop)
Wreaths - For All Seasons
From a historical perspective, wreaths have been used for hundreds of years. After you make a wreath with me, you will appreciate the labor of love that goes into the centuries old tradition. (Workshop)
Apple Tasting - (December through February)
How many apples have you tried and were able to discern the subtle flavors. This workshop was developed for my Food Crops class while teaching at Temple University. After seeing how much my students loved this workshop - I am offering it up for groups. Get ready to have fun and laughter at the daunting apple selection. You will never eat an apple the same way again. Recommended for adults and children. (Workshop)
Gardening with Children
Once you get a child hooked on gardening – they are a gardener for life. The following are workshops designed for children that will provide endless hours of fulfillment and joy for any child.
Creating a Terrarium – Each child creates their own terrarium. They learn about this micro-environment and learn how much this small area is like our earth. (Workshop)
Planting Seedling – Sprouts – Children learn to plant seeds and transplant seedlings for their gardens. Learning how to care for seedlings encourages stewardship. (Workshop)
Shrubs and hedges are the subject of my latest book. We will explore a vast a array of topics including a brief history of shrubs, how they are named, what makes a shrub dependable, the differences between hedges and hedgerows and why these two forms of landscaping are important for habitat and humans, how to purchase shrubs and what to look for, propagating shrubs, attracting pollinators and other wildlife, and shrubs for riparian areas and rain gardens.
A book signing will follow. (Lecture)
Color in the Garden
Have you ever heard of forest bathing? In Japan this is a custom and a way to rejuvenate the soul. Walking amidst the color green, is healing and restorative. Now think of applying all colors to the garden to create a healing space that will enliven all your senses. (Lecture)
Container Gardening
This workshop/presentation provides information on container selection – soil options, and of course, plant opportunities for the consumer. Consider grouping pots and then change them as they continue to bloom or go out of bloom. A myriad of options awaits the imaginative gardener. (Lecture or Workshop)
Creating a Woodland Garden
Learn how to transform an area of your landscape into a woodland oasis. If you already have a grove of trees or are thinking of planting one, this presentation will help you make the proper selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. I will discuss the process involved in woodland gardening from garden planning to soil preparation, planting, and ongoing care. My process is something you can integrate at your own pace. Learn what to plant to provide year-round interest from early-blooming bulbs to shrubs with colorful berries in fall and winter. You'll learn how to attract wildlife too! (Lecture)
Fragrant Gardens
Fragrances stimulate memory and turn an ordinary garden into extraordinary. Explore the possibilities when we use fragrant plants as markers for time and space. (Lecture or Workshop)
Front and Backdoor Gardening
The most important person you need to impress is yourself. When your home looks good – you feel great every time you enter or leave your home. Learn tips on how to design and change entryways to provide seasonal color and drama. (Lecture or Workshop)
Gardening for Wildlife
Starting out with small changes in your garden will enhance your environment to welcome wildlife. You’ll be amazed at how your life will change as you begin to share your garden space. (Lecture)
Gardening in Small Spaces
Just because you have a small space, doesn’t mean that you can’t have a wonderful landscape filled with a diversity of plants to create a special retreat. We will explore the many possibilities for small space gardening. (Lecture)
Gardening in Winter: A New Twist
Most people don't consider the winter garden to be much to look at but if it is planned well, there can be a full range of bloom and color throughout the bleak winter months. Come join me for a talk on the fourth gardening season (winter) and the myriad of plants. (Lecture)
Food Forests to Attract Birds, Furry Friends and Humans too!
Creating beautifully designed food forests and shrubby borders attract a myriad of animals to visit our gardens. One shrub with varying cultivars can feed birds six months or more - planning is key. Knowing what to plant will make you a more conscious gardener for improving habitat and migratory flyways. (Lecture)
Hand-tied Bouquets and Vase Arranging
How many times have you brought flowers home and tried to arrange them in a vase that you have sitting on a shelf?
I will show you the tricks of the trade for vase arranging and hand-tied bouquets. The techniques are centuries old. (Lecture or Workshop)
Pruning – Accentuating the Natural Beauty of Shrubs
We will discuss the structure of shrubs and then I will demonstrate the pruning techniques to maintain a shrub’s natural, shapely beauty. (Workshop)
Rain Gardening
Instead of trying to divert water off of your property – keep it to intensify your landscape. Using rain in combination with water-loving plants – the two will create lush areas of diversity and color even during drier periods. The natural cooling affect of these areas will provide oases to enjoy all summer long. (Lecture or Workshop)
Riparian Buffer Restoration
Learn how you can help restore natural barriers along stream banks and help prevent flooding in your own backyard – while increasing interest in the landscape. This class is great for greening groups and large and small parcel property owners with streams and/or ponds. (Lecture or Workshop)
Sustainability in Your Garden
What does sustainability really mean in the landscape? Creating sustainable landscapes means less work for you and more work for the plants. Ideas include no mow lawns, rain capture and reuse, easy ground covers, plants that need minimal pruning, plant diversity, new native cultivars that attract more wildlife and bring greater activity to areas that were once visually lifeless. Once you have established a good plant palette you can sit back and enjoy the results.
(Lecture)
Window Boxes
They say that when window boxes appear on houses, it is a sign of a very healthy community. We explore the diversity of options using window boxes and how to plant them for year round enjoyment. (Lecture or Workshop)
Wreaths - For All Seasons
From a historical perspective, wreaths have been used for hundreds of years. After you make a wreath with me, you will appreciate the labor of love that goes into the centuries old tradition. (Workshop)
Apple Tasting - (December through February)
How many apples have you tried and were able to discern the subtle flavors. This workshop was developed for my Food Crops class while teaching at Temple University. After seeing how much my students loved this workshop - I am offering it up for groups. Get ready to have fun and laughter at the daunting apple selection. You will never eat an apple the same way again. Recommended for adults and children. (Workshop)
Gardening with Children
Once you get a child hooked on gardening – they are a gardener for life. The following are workshops designed for children that will provide endless hours of fulfillment and joy for any child.
Creating a Terrarium – Each child creates their own terrarium. They learn about this micro-environment and learn how much this small area is like our earth. (Workshop)
Planting Seedling – Sprouts – Children learn to plant seeds and transplant seedlings for their gardens. Learning how to care for seedlings encourages stewardship. (Workshop)