New England Wild Flower Society's Northern Gardening Symposium

Saturday, April 11, 2009, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Cosponsored with The Fells, Hardy Plant Club, Friends of the Hort Farm and Master Gardeners

Join three inspirational speakers as they share insights and tips for lifting your garden a notch above the ordinary.  With a focus on native plants and sustainability, and with an eye to aesthetics, Richard Enser,  Elizabeth Farnsworth, and Gordon Hayward address topics of biodiversity, botany, and art as they relate to our designed landscapes.

Backyard Biodiversity: Conservation Biology for the Landowner -- Richard Enser

We are all responsible for the species that share the space we own or maintain, and our management decisions can have severe consequences for these species, and hence for the health of our communities.  Rick will suggest things we can do and things we should stop doing to better manage our land for the promotion of native biodiversity. 

Ferns in the Wild and in the Garden -- Elizabeth Farnsworth

Co-author of the most recent edition of Peterson’s Field Guide to the Ferns, Elizabeth is a bright, lively, bundle of energy.  She shares useful tips for gardening with ferns, and pays special attention to the ferns of northern New England, including some rarities in need of conservation.  Learn about identifying ferns in the field and the natural history of ferns and related species.

Fine Painting as Inspiration for Garden Design -- Gordon Hayward

Open your mind to new ways of perceiving your garden through art. Gordon uses images of paintings by Bonnard, Cezanne, Klimt, Matisse, Cole, and many others, in conjunction with garden images, first to explore style, and then to examine design principles applicable to both the canvas and landscape. Topics include defining depth, creating foreground and background, light manipulation, contrasting textures and forms, the role of line, mass, and volume, ending with an exploration of color.

About the Speakers:

Richard Enser moved to Vermont from Rhode Island after retiring from his position as coordinator of that state’s Natural Heritage Program, which he held for 28 years.  He is a founding member and past president of both the RI Wild Plant Society and the RI Natural History Survey.  For ten years, Enser taught a course in Endangered Species Management at University of RI, and he served as the state representative to the New England Plant Conservation Program since its inception. This past spring, he was presented with Rhode Island’s 2008 Distinguished Naturalist Award.

Elizabeth Farnsworth earned her Master of Science from UVM and Ph.D. in biology from Harvard.  Dr. Farnsworth currently is on the graduate faculties of UMass at Amherst, and the University of RI, and is a Master Teacher at the Conway School of Landscape Design. In addition, she is illustrating the forthcoming Flora of New England and is working with The Society to develop an on-line guide to the regional flora for teaching botany.  For five years, she served as The Society’s Senior Research Ecologist, where she coordinated planning for the conservation and management of over 100 species of rare plants. She coauthored the most recent edition of Peterson’s Field Guide to the Ferns.

Gordon Hayward began his gardening career doing part-time work for clients while teaching high school English. He restored gardens in the Cotswold Hills in England and he and his wife began developing their own gardens in southern Vermont.  In 1984, garden design, lecturing, and writing became his full-time work. Hayward has written numerous articles for magazines including Horticulture, Fine Gardening, American Horticulturalist, and ten books on various aspects of garden design.  His latest, Art and the Gardener was published in late 2008. He consults across the country for residential clients and their architects and builders.

Location:  Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, VT

Course Code: SYM0901

Fee: $47M/$53NM includes cafeteria lunch, symposium packet, and free parking.  Member fee applies to members of any of the co-sponsoring organizations. 

Registrations: by mail to Thelma Hewitt, NEWFS-VT, P.O. Box 2333, New London, NH 03257

• Checks payable to NEWFS-VT,  with your name and e-mail address  clearly written (for confirmation and directions), postal address and phone number, and organizations with which you are affiliated, or
• MasterCard or Visa -- include card number and expiration date

Registration

Design Inspirations

Saturday, April 11, 2009. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, VT (Interstate 89 at Exit 4).

Map and directions will be sent or emailed to registrants.

Registration Fee: $53, non-members; $47 for New England Wild Flower Society members, Friends of the Horticulture Farm, The Hardy Plant Club, The Fells, and Master Gardeners.

Fee includes symposium packet, lunch, and free parking. 

Registration Deadline: No cancellations will be accepted after March 30.

(Please PRINT clearly)

Name                                                              .

Address                                                          .

City                                                                 .

State          Zip Code                                      .

Email                                                                .

Daytime Phone                                               .

Evening Phone                                                .

Check if you are a member of

New England Wild Flower Society   ,

Friends of Horticulture Farm   , 

HPC   ,

The Fells   ,

Master Gardener __.

Total amount enclosed $                 .

Make checks payable to NEWFS VT (preferable)

Master Card / Visa #                                                    .  Exp. Date             .

Signature:                                                         .

Mail to:   NEWFS, VT Chapter

               Thelma K. Hewitt

               PO Box 2333

               New London, NH 03257

or email above information to tkhewitt@aol.com

For more information, please call 508-877-7630 x3303.