The Hamilton College Arboretum will continue its popular Third Saturday series next semester beginning with a program on January 17. All events begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon. Events are held in the Taylor Science Center Kennedy Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Parking is available near the building. All events are free and open to the public and everyone interested in gardens and landscapes is encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is not required.
Mike Mahanna, consulting arborist and owner of a landscape company, will present “The How-To-Gardener” on Saturday, Jan. 17. His topic is “Container Gardens: Thrill, Spill and Fill.” He has more than 25 years of experience in the field. In 1993 he obtained Certified Arborist Status with the International Society of Arboriculture and is an active member of the NYS Arborist Association.
Fred Breglia, executive director of Landis Arboretum, Duanesburg, N.Y., will present “Plant health Care! Pruning, Planting and Mulching!” on Saturday, Feb. 21. Join him as he discusses the most current and effective methods of pruning, planting and mulching your yard and garden.
Breglia is a certified arborist with more than 26 years of experience in the green industry. He is a nationally known, award-winning arborist, frequent speaker and educator. Capital District residents know him well as the “Tree Man,” a regular guest on WAMC’s Vox Pop Radio Show. Breglia has been employed for more than 15 years at Landis Arboretum.
Evelyn Hadden, a national speaker and award-winning author of four garden books presents “Beautiful No-Mow Yards” on Saturday, March 7. She’ll share strategies to help people create and maintain comfortable, functional, nature-friendly landscapes with less or no lawn. Her books Beautiful No-Mow Yards (2012) and Hellstrip Gardening (2014) are both Timber Press bestsellers.
Hadden founded the informational website LessLawn and is a founding member of the national Lawn Reform Coalition, as well as a partner at the lauded and provocative team blog GardenRant.
Christie Higginbottom, research historian and garden history consultant, will present “Fashion in Flowers: Ornamental Gardens in the Early Nineteenth Century,” on Saturday, April 18.
She has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. Higginbottom coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs.
The Hamilton College campus has been designated as an arboretum; please consider time to explore if you attend one of the events.
Membership in the Arboretum is encouraged as it helps support the programs offered throughout the year. Members are also invited to two special members-only events held in May and July. Membership forms are available at the event sign-in or online.
