February 2010

FOR THE BIRDS!       (Kids!)

            Saturday, February 6

            10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

We are getting ready for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count at the Crosby Arboretum next weekend.   IN this program, children will make a bird feeder using recycled materials, practice "eating like a bird" at the "Bird Beak Buffet", and demonstrate their birdwatching skills (weather permitting) with Master Naturalist Mary Cordray. All materials will be provided.  Cost is $2 for Arboretum members’ children, non-members’ children $4.

MISSISSIPPI ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION

Friday, February 12   

            1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  

Celebrate Mississippi Arbor Day by planting a tree at the Arboretum!  A special selection of trees will be planted into the Arboretum exhibits.  Area organizations and individuals are invited to assist.  Free admission, but please call the office to register.

ARBOR DAY PLANT SALE 

     Saturday, February 13  

     Members’ Only Sale, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

     General Public Sale – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To celebrate Mississippi Arbor Day, you can choose from a variety of trees and shrubs at this plant sale.  This is a good time to plant trees and woody shrubs, so come early for the best selection of native azaleas, mayhaws, hollies, mountain laurel, red maples, and many hard-to-find plants.  Plant professionals will be on hand to help you select the right plant for the right place on your property.  Free admission.  Arboretum greenhouse.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT     (Family!)

            Saturday, February 13

            8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Join us for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count at the Crosby Arboretum!  Admission is free for all those participating in this community event.  For more information, please call Robin Veerkamp at (601) 799-2311 Ext. 104.

PROJECT LEARNING TREE WORKSHOP

Saturday, February 20   

            9:00 to 3:00 p.m.  

Project Learning Tree is one of the oldest and most successful environmental education programs in the world, and Mississippi's program is one of the most successful in the system. PLT activities are unbiased, interdisciplinary, fun, hands-on lesson plans based on sound science.  All participants will receive the 96-lesson-plan, 400-page "PLT Pre-K-8 Activity Guide."  High School teachers will also receive two of PLT's five Secondary Education Modules.  The facilitator is providing all supplies.  Bring a brown-bag lunch.  Workshop is FREE to educators in Mississippi or Louisiana, through a DEQ grant. 0.6 CEU credits are available, at an additional $10.  Call the Arboretum office at 601-799-2311 to sign up for this workshop. 

SNAKES!  SNAKES!  SNAKES!  (Family)

Saturday, Feb. 27                

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

I just saw a snake!  Is it venomous?  Biologist Bryan Fedrick from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will de-mystify our much-maligned native reptiles—SNAKES!  Learn the characteristics that will help you recognize the differences between the six venomous and 48 non-venomous snakes found in Mississippi.  Fedrick will separate myth from reality and provide accurate information about our native snakes and their valuable place in the ecosystem.  Free to Arboretum members; $5 for adult non-members; children $2.  Please register by February 26.