September 2009

GROWING AND USING CULINARY HERBS

Saturday, September 12 (Adults)
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Learn the best varieties of herbs to add flavor to your cooking, and how to cultivate, harvest and use them, in a fun and informative program by Dr. Wayne McLaurin, Professor Emeritus UGA, and Visiting MSU Research Professor with the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station and Dr. Sylvia McLaurin, Master Gardener and Newspaper Columnist.  Together they published "Herbs in the Landscape" through the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Free to members; $5 for non-members.  Register by September 10.

HOME LANDSCAPE DESIGN (Adults)

Saturday, Sept. 12              
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Prepare for shopping at our Fall Plant Sale next month!  Senior curator Pat Drackett will discuss the landscape design process, and how you can use these basic principles as a framework to analyze your property and guide your planting decisions.  An overview of some outstanding plants for Mississippi landscaping will also be discussed. Free to Arboretum members; $5 for non-members.  Please register by September 10.

(Family Event!)

Friday, Sept. 18, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Bring the family for a two-day extravaganza of buggy events!  Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we’ll open to insect collecting for pre-registered school groups, and from 2 to 6 p.m. for collecting on your own. Volunteers will provide collecting tips.  A large cast of professors, researchers, educators, 4-H members and MSU “bug campers” are assisting this year.   An insect i.d. and mounting station will be set up Friday and Saturday on the Pinecote Pavilion.  At 6 p.m. Friday, the Buggy Midway will open, with a variety of crafts and games for all ages.  Don’t miss our “Roach Races”!  At dusk, kids and adults will enjoy night collecting.  Bring a flashlight or headlamp!  We’ll set up collecting sheets with black lights and sodium vapor lights to draw insects. Saturday morning, self-guided collecting and Midway activities will continue, along with mini-sessions on  various insects, and collecting techniques.  The New Orleans Audubon Insectarium BUGMOBILE will present at 1 and 2 p.m. and collecting activities will continue until 5:00 p.m.  Cost: Friday’s school field collecting activities, until 6 pm, $2 per child (free for teachers/chaperones, bus drivers).  Friday evening 6 pm-10 pm events, Saturday events, Adults $5, children $2.  

INSTRUCTIONS TO BUG COLLECTORS:  A condensed version of the 4-H Entomology Manual can be dowloaded from our website to guide teachers in developing a class project on insect collecting.  Bring nets and collecting jars to daytime activities, and collecting jars and a flashlight or headlamp to evening collecting. If you intend to mount your insects, please bring insect pins and a mounting board.  Sources for purchasing collecting supplies and instructions for making nets and jars will be given in the Entomology Manual.  Limited supplies will be available for purchase, (i.e. mounting boards, pins, and collecting jars), and some nets will be available for check-out, but it is recommended that those who wish to collect arrive prepared.  School groups can pre-order collecting jars up until the Monday prior to the event.  For questions, or to pre-order jars, please contact CrosbyBugFest@gmail.com. 

NATURAL AREA FIELD TRIP: HILLSIDE BOG

Saturday, Sept. 26       (Family)
12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Join us in a fall trip to one of the Arboretum’s favorite natural areas, a highly diverse 70 acre habitat in northern Hancock County, with longleaf pine, sweetbay-tupelo-swampbay, and scrub oak communities.  A path has been cleared along the eastern perimeter to allow access to the creek at the eastern edge of the site.  Meet at the Visitors’ Parking Area to carpool.  Moderate trek through woods and savanna, off-trail at times; some potential areas of underbrush. Bring refreshments,dress for walking. Members free, non-members $5.  Register by Sept. 24.