Every time I’ve spoken to a landscape architect or nursery grower about taking an ecological approach to landscape design–something I’ve been doing a lot throughout the planning and development of the Garden‘s new Native Plant Garden–I keep hearing the same phrase repeated over and over:  “You should talk to Colston Burrell.”

Up until this point I’ve known Burrell mostly through his writing. Of recent note is his American Horticultural Society (AHS) award-winning Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide. This is the time of year when I really start looking forward to the blooming of the Lenten Rose and other garden hellebores, but Burrell’s knowledge goes far beyond the mere beauty of these harbingers of spring. Another book of his that won an AHS book award is A Gardener’s Encyclopedia of Wildflowers. Wildflowers . . .  Now isn’t that just a friendly term for native plants? Burrell is deeply involved with using and promoting native plants, whether he’s lecturing on plants and ecology at the University of Virginia, getting his hands dirty in his own garden, or working on designs through his firm Native Landscape Design and Restoration.

There are a lot of reasons to use native plants. They’re also commonly misunderstood, both  by those who overestimate their powers, and those who underestimate their potential. I’m looking forward to getting a real plantsman’s perspective on how to use native plants in the landscape, the perspective of someone who loves wildflowers and hellebores with equal passion. That’s why I’ll be in the front row on February 17, when Colston Burrell speaks as part of NYBG’s 2011 Winter Lecture Series. I hope to see you there!

Burrell’s lecture is at the Garden in the Ross Lecture Hall on Thursday, February 17, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. The cost is $39 for non-members, and $35 for Members. The third and final installment of the series will feature director of The New York Botanical Garden’s Children’s Gardening Program, rooftop farmer, and food advocate Annie Novak on Thursday, March 17.

It may seem hard to believe, but signs of spring are all around us here at the Garden. The Chinese witch-hazel has unfurled its sunny, yellow streamers, the Magnolia kobus near the Visitor Center is covered in buds, and there’s still a faint glow in the sky when we all head to Botanical Garden station to catch the 6:04 p.m. train back into the city. But, this is not to say that we all couldn’t use another assurance that spring is on its way. And isn’t the promise of being taught how to arrange the most gorgeous, fragrant spring flowers–lilies of the valley, muscari, lilacs–by two of Brooklyn’s most sought-after florists the very thing to raise your spirits?

The Adult Education department at The New York Botanical Garden is very pleased to announce three new floral arranging classes to be taught by Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua and Nicolette Owen of Nicolette Camille, known collectively as The Little Flower School.

Arrangement from the class Spring Flowers 101, photo courtesy of the Little Flower School

The first class, Fragrant Flowers, will be held on Wednesday, May 16 from 6-9 p.m in Manhattan at our Midtown Center. The class will focus on the art of layering flowers, not just to form a pleasing arrangement, but also to create an amazing aroma.

On Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. join Sarah and Nicolette at the Garden for From Garden to Vase. The class will begin with a curator-led tour of the Garden, and then after a break for lunch students will head inside to make wild, lush arrangements inspired by the Garden and featuring some very special cuttings from the grounds!

From Garden to Vase will be repeated on Sunday, September 11 from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. to take advantage of fall’s beautiful flowers, fruit, and foliage.

We are so excited to have Sarah and Nicolette joining us for these amazing classes at the Garden! Space is limited, so be sure to register for one, two, or all three soon.

Christmas has always been a DIY holiday. Who hasn’t strung cranberries and popcorn on thread to use as a homemade garland? Or maybe you’ve used an old hanger from they dry cleaner as a frame for a wreath of pine boughs scavenged from the woods or dusted pine cones in sparkling glitter for a pretty candlelit party buffet?

It seems that new ideas for a DIY holiday come around every year, and our instructors here at The New York Botanical Garden have some beautiful ideas for Christmas 2010. On Saturday, December 11, join instructor Diana Conklin as she teaches you to make a beautiful, large evergreen wreath or a five-foot long pine garland in one class, or a gorgeous hydrangea centerpiece that will last for seasons to come. On Tuesday, December 14, Deryck de Matas will teach a class on creating striking table decorations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Know someone who would love to take a class at The New York Botanical Garden? Adult education gift certificates make a fantastic Christmas gift for the gardener or crafter in your life.

There are many ways to get to the top: you can work long hours, ignore your family, sacrifice, lose sleep, and take classes.  But few classes can guarantee as swift a path to the top as the Garden’s Recreational Tree Climbing Workshop. In this amazing class, along with the popular elective Chainsaws – Safety and Maintenance, students learn valuable skills all while getting the best view of the Garden possible.

The Tree Climbing Workshop returns to the Garden this Saturday and Sunday. The Chainsaw class will be offered Saturday, November 13.  The classes will be taught by instructor David Fedczuk.

In the meantime, check out this interview with tree climbing expert and longtime instructor of the Garden’s tree climbing courses, A. Wayne Cahilly, manager of The New York Botanical Garden’s Lionel Goldfrank III Institutional Mapping Department.  To see a tree climbing student in action, check out this video from Travel + Leisure where portions of this interview were originally published.

Raccoons, squirrels and bee’s nests, oh my! Read the full interview below.

Register Now for Fruit/Flower Centerpiece Workshop with Bill Tansey

Trish O’Sullivan, who earned a Certificate in the Floral Design Program at The New York Botanical Garden, where she now teaches, is principal of Eco Floral Design.

As the world around us comes alive with color and the garden is busting with beauty, I want to share with you my enthusiasm for our upcoming Premier Floral Design Workshops and one designer in particular—the always gracious and talented Bill Tansey (right).

The bold and lush floral style of this world-renowned floral and event designer will bloom at the Garden’s new Midtown Education Center on May 11 with a demonstration of and commentary on how to create a fruit and flower centerpiece.

Bill’s high-end, refined work is a mainstay of major benefits, including the American Ballet Theatre, the Winter Antiques Show, and opening night at the Metropolitan Opera, which gives an idea of the scale to which he presents his breathtaking and simply stunning floral talent. read more »

Carol Capobianco is Editorial Content Manager at The New York Botanical Garden.

Liz Costa, Associate Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations, and her husband, Rob Yagley, moved in to their own home in September. Their small yard is framed by several trees, which can be challenging to landscape. As their first spring planting season approaches, they decided to seek help from the Botanical Garden’s Continuing Education program.

So both signed up for this Saturday’s Shade Gardening event—a day of classes for gardeners who want to understand the different levels of shade, design shade gardens, choose appropriate plants, and more. Liz and her husband have even split up the chores—she’ll attend three of the six sessions offered and he the other three so that they cover all the topics.

“As apartment dwellers most of our lives, we knew we needed help with our new yard, especially with gardening in the shade,” said Liz. “When we spotted the six different sessions offered on one Saturday, we knew we found the best way to start thinking about our shady spot!”

To find out more about Shade Gardening Saturday or to register, click here and search “shade garden” or call 718.817.8747.

Laura Collier is Marketing Associate at The New York Botanical Garden.

Best-in-Show from the Royal Horticultural Society, the Dianne Bouchier Founder’s Award for Excellence in Botanical Art, president of the American Society of Botanical Artists—with these accolades it would be hard to guess that instructor Dick Rauh had a career in motion picture special effects and graphics before he began to pursue botanical illustration.

When his wife enrolled in floral design classes at The New York Botanical Garden, Dick, too, began taking classes at the Garden, a little before retiring. He had always liked to draw trees, and while he was taking gardening classes, NYBG was starting its Botanical Illustration program. Dick began taking the art classes and by 1986 had completed his Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration.

Dick’s connection with the Garden deepened as he continued to study. Because he was creating illustrations for scientists, he took botany classes to gain a better understanding of the plants and their makeup and also earned a doctorate in biological sciences from CUNY. read more »

All-Day Workshop and Dozens of Classes Help You Along

Duncan Himmelman, Ph.D., is Program Manager for Continuing Education.

The first time I heard Grandpa say “Let’s put the garden to bed” I had visions of pillows nestled between the tomato plants. Of course, being 5 years old, what would I know about finishing up in the garden, let alone “putting it to bed”?

Now, after decades of tending to gardens of all types, I am more than well acquainted with the assortment of tasks that ensure all is in good shape before the onset of winter and that autumn is a great time for more than just tidying up the perennial patch. The quietude of fall lets you review the year’s successes and near-misses and inspires you to develop plans for “what’s next.” That’s what prompted me to design the Fall into Place: Autumn Gardening program slated for Saturday, October 17, during which a talented team of expert gardeners will introduce you to the benefits of fall gardening.

Autumn is perfect for planting trees and shrubs that add color, texture, and structure to the landscape. Container gardening using hardy plants alongside exotic succulents stretches the season well past Thanksgiving. Look ahead to brightening up the garden in spring with fall-planted bulbs, designed for maximum impact once winter fades. Become familiar with the spectacular displays of ornamental grasses that heighten the effects of the border from fall through winter. All of this on one day!

In addition to this special program, the Adult Education program offers courses that illuminate the principles of good gardening practices and teach you how to transform your garden bounty into tantalizing herbal products. Or jump into hands-on botanical crafts courses and design autumn-themed garlands, wreaths, and centerpieces to beautify seasonal table settings. (Watch a video of one of our instructors creating a holiday wreath and a fresh floral design.)

So, don’t put away those gardening gloves quite yet! Partake in our autumn courses and discover great new plants, the joy of putting the garden to bed properly, and the excitement of designing your spring bulb display for that spectacular burst of color after the snow melts. The more you can get done in the fall, the faster things get moving in the spring.

For more information or to register, call 718-817-8747.

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