Student Eagerly Awaits Garden Talks for Inspiration
Posted in Learning Experiences on February 17 2010, by Plant Talk
Looks to Renowned Lecture Speakers for New Ideas
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Pamela Davis, a Master Composter with the New York City Compost Project, is a Landscape Design and Environmental Gardening student in the Garden’s Continuing Education Program. |
Now with the winter weather, I am limited to “armchair gardening” until I start my plants by seed indoors next month. Gathering all the gardening catalogs and magazines I received recently, I sat down on my couch with a cup of hot chocolate and proceeded to review them.
The first magazine I looked at was the February/March issue of Organic Gardening. I opened to the “Features” section and noticed there was an article by Barbara Damrosch. I was introduced to her book The Garden Primer as recommended reading for the vegetable gardening class I took in pursuit of my Gardening Certificate through the Continuing Education program. Her book is clear, concise, and full of so much information for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. I read it like a novel! So I just knew that I would be in for a treat reading her article.
The next page of the magazine had a picture of the cutest little girl barefoot in a garden. It seemed as if she had come across something that tickled her fancy. Then I realized that the picture was connected to an article about Fritz Haeg and his book Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn. It was one of the books on my “must have” list. A friend of mine lives nearby the property shown in the picture and has been mesmerized when passing it. I hope to visit this property as well in the near future.
Then I remembered that both of these pioneer gardeners would be at The New York Botanical Garden for the Special Lecture Series From the Ground Up: Gardens Re-Imagined. On February 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Barbara Damrosch will talk about growing food year-round. This topic is most intriguing to me, especially since I am trying to extend my vegetable growing season. On March 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Fritz Haeg will present Edible Estates: Full Frontal Gardening. I love the idea of replacing the front lawn with edibles and creating a living space that’s inviting and neighborly.
The articles became a reminder for me to register for both lectures. NYBG couldn’t have known the articles would be in the magazine…hmm. I have great expectations that I will be inspired to stretch my comfort zone (and growing season) as well as re-think the conventional front lawn to create a peaceful habitat.
