October 2009

APPRECIATING OUR NATIVE PLANTS: THEIR LANDSCAPE AND CULTURAL USES

Saturday, October 3
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Get to know Mississippi native plants during this field workshop with Russell Williams, Greenwood Landscape Company, and Darrell Martin, Blue Boy Cottage Herbs.  Darrell will cover cultural and historical uses of native plants by early settlers, who learned through trial and error to use them for their food, medicine, and shelter.  Russell will describe how to choose native plants to fit your site conditions, and how to use them to create a low-care, sustainable home landscape.  Reservations are required.  A tasty boxed lunch will be available, if desired. Free to members, $5 for non-members. Register by Oct. 1.

TRAVELOGUE:  MONARCH BUTTERFLY WINTER MIGRATIONS IN CENTRAL MEXICO  

Saturday, October 3
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Kathy Collins, a.k.a. The Flower Garden Lady from Woolmarket, will present slides and tell about her incredible journey to Central Mexico last year, where she experienced the monarch butterfly migrations.  Free for Arboretum members and $5 for non-members.  Please register by October 1.

FALL PLANT SALE

Sat. Oct. 10 & Sun. Oct. 11
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sat 9 - 10 a.m. Members Only Sale

Grab a cart and choose from a variety of wonderful trees and shrubs for fall planting in your home landscape.  Come early for the best selection of many hard-to-find plants.  We’ll help you select the right plant for the right place on your property.  Free admission.  Arboretum greenhouse.

ARBORETUM FIELD WALK WITH HEATHER SULLIVAN (Family)

Saturday, October 17
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

If you are a native plant enthusiast, you will enjoy this opportunity to join Heather Sullivan in a field walk of the Arboretum grounds.  Heather is botanist and curator of the herbarium at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.  Admission is free for Arboretum members and $5 for non-members.  Please register by October 15.

PAINT-A-PUMPKIN   (Kids!)

Saturday, October 24 
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Children of all ages will enjoy preparing for fall by decorating their own pumpkins.  Materials will be provided (paints, glue and other items), but BRING YOUR OWN PUMPKIN.  Member’s children, $3, Non-members children, $4.

YOGA AT PINECOTE PAVILLION   (Adults)

Saturday, October 24     
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Join certified yoga instructor, James Sones, in the beautiful natural setting of Pinecote Pavilion for a gentle yoga class followed by a short meditation sitting.  Class size is limited to 16.  Yoga mats will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.  Please arrive at least 10 minutes early.  Admission free for members, $5 non-members.  Register by October 22.

GRASSES, SEDGES, AND RUSHES: IDENTIFICATION, IMPORTANCE, AND USES

Saturday, October 24 
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Dr. Mac Alford is herbarium curator and assistant professor at the University of South Mississippi in Hattiesburg, where he teaches courses in botany, plant taxonomy, and aquatic and wetland plants.  After a short indoor discussion of plant taxonomy, ecology and a little horticulture, the program will move outside into the savanna areas.  Dress for walking.  Free for members, $5 non-members.  Register by October 22.

CHILDREN’S BUTTERFLY GARDEN: OPENING CEREMONY (Family)

Saturday, October 3
3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Immediately following Kathy’s monarch presentation, please come enjoy refreshments while we cut the ribbon at the official opening of our new Children’s Butterfly Garden, made possible by a grant by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., Stennis Space Center.  Free admission.