For this exciting new class, Longwood partners with Mt. Cuba to teach you the ins and outs of planting with native spring wildflowers.  Enjoy this Certificate of Merit course taught by Jeanne Frett and Rick Lewandowski.

Spring wildflowers are thrilling to observe in nature, and gardeners often wish to recapture that enchantment in their home gardens. Plants in this class were selected by the knowledgeable staff at Mt. Cuba Center for their garden adaptability and availability. As nursery propagated plants, this course will present information on identification and cultivation of many herbaceous perennials and woody plants native to our area. Students will gain valuable tips on purchasing, site selection, planting, maintenance, and companion plants as well. You will take guided plant walks at Mt. Cuba Center and Longwood Gardens.

Jeanne Frett has been a research horticulturist at Mt. Cuba Center for the past nineteen years. Her responsibilities include native plant propagation and production research. Jeanne has authored several horticultural references including Asters in the Mid-Atlantic Region and Trilliums at Mt. Cuba Center, A Visitor’s Guide.

Rick Lewandowski has been the director at Mt. Cuba Center for ten years and was formerly the director of horticulture at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania for seven years. Rick has published numerous articles about gardening and horticulture and currently is a featured monthly columnist for The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware.

DATE: Tuesdays, April 13–May 18, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member

or

DATE: Tuesdays, April 13–May 18, 6 sessions, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member

For more information about education at Longwood Gardens, visit http://www.longwoodgardens.org/Learning_1_3_4.html. 

Don't Forget Your Discount!

Garden Pass Members receive a 10% Discount on more than 140 classes, workshops, daytrips and educational offerings.  Check out these great upcoming classes:

Small Flowering Trees
Weekly beginning Tuesday, March 28 through May 5; 1-3 pm OR 7-9 pm
$162 Garden pass member $180 non-member

Flowering trees are among the most eye-catching plants in season. Defined as flowering trees less than 40 feet tall, small flowering trees make spectacular statements, accents, and specimen trees in any landscape. This course will focus on identification, culture, and landscape uses of the favorites such as dogwoods, cherries, and magnolias, in addition to some beautiful, lesser known species like the snowbell (Styrax spp.) and dove tree (Davidia involucrata).

Floral Fun: Gorgeous Green
Thursday, March 11, 6:30-8:30 pm
$45 Garden pass member $50 non-member
Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with an o’rrangement using green foliage and green flowers. The variety will amaze you.

Get the Dirt on Dirt
March 6 OR March 20, 9am-Noon
$36 Garden pass member $40 non-member
Get your hands dirty while learning about a soil profile, bulk density, and the soil horizon. The mystery of soil testing will be solved and you will learn about PH as well as how to use an EC meter. With practice in the interpretation of different reports and results, you’ll be able to make good decisions about your soil.

A Green Roof – Is it for the Birds?
Saturday, March 20, 9:00 AM to 12 Noon
$81 Garden pass member; $90 non-member
Birds will be moving right in to the most environmentally friendly bird house in the neighborhood. We’ll provide birdhouses that have been created using reclaimed wood with a special plantable roof. A wide variety of plants specially suited for green roofs have been selected for you to plant. Learn about planting medium and how to care for your green roof. Once your house is complete, we’ll discuss the best placement to keep those feathered friends winging their way to your yard.
 

In the Field: Community Supported Agriculture at Public Horticulture Institutions

Shari Edelson, Longwood Graduate Fellow at the University of Delaware, is intrigued by the intersection between Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and public gardens. “My thesis research focuses on the implementation of CSA projects at public horticulture institutions in the U.S.  CSA's are an emerging trend in sustainable agriculture, and my research examines how public gardens are responding to the opportunities they present.”

CSA is a type of farming in which community members purchase a share, and in return receive a weekly portion of produce throughout the growing season. “It really encourages consumers to get to know their local farmers,” Edelson says. “Over the past ten years or so it’s become very popular.”

Edelson found that although few public horiticulture institutions currently have CSA projects, many are interested. Her nationwide survey of members of the American Public Gardens Association showed that approximately 25% of respondents had considered implementing CSA.

Next, she conducted case studies to see if the experience at institutions with CSA programs were relevant to other sites. “All the programs were extremely popular and highly valued by visitors and members. They provide excellent educational opportunities. Additional advantages to the institutions were building community, increasing visibility, and creating a sense that measurable good was being done.”

The shareholders also experienced benefits, including food security, a source of healthy fresh produce, and a better understanding of where their food comes from.

“Longwood teaches visitors about food through display and through workshops and classes,” says Edelson. “The Idea Garden is a great place to learn about how to grow produce at home. Passholders can also take advantage of continuing education classes.”

Starting a CSA program requires a strong institutional commitment. Says Edelson, “Growing produce for consumption is a huge shift in focus for gardens that traditionally focus on ornamental or display horticulture. It also requires dedicated land and staff.

“Despite those obstacles, my research definitely left me encouraged,” she adds. “There’s a lot of interest out there.”

To find a CSA farm to join, visit the Buy Fresh Buy Local PA website, www.buylocalpa.org. The site is a project of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.