Summer 2011 – June, July, August
Calendar of Classes, Symposia and Events
In chronological order
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605
ALL CLASSES REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
Call 706-542-6156 or register online at www.uga.edu/botgarden
Zumba® at the Garden
Every Wednesday 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Cora Keber, Certified Zumba Instructor, SBG Education Staff
Michelle Vaught, Certified Zumba Instructor
Visitor Center, Great Room (unless otherwise specified)
members $60; non-members $80 – OR—one time walk in members $8; non-members $10
What is Zumba? Zumba® fuses hypnotic latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got Zumba®! Zumba® and Zumba® Fitness are registered trademarks of Zumba Fitness, LLC. The Garden will be offering this as a continual program. The registration fee includes a 10 visit punch card.
Friends First Friday: What’s in a Name?: An Irreverent but Relevant Look at Plant Names
Wilf Nicholls, Director
Friday, June 3 9:00 am
Visitor Center, lower level Members $10; non-members $12
Gather at a made-from-scratch breakfast to meet other folks who enjoy the Garden. Each month a staff member speaks about a different subject during the breakfast get-together.
Cool-Season Grasses (A Certificate in Native Plants elective course)
Saturday, June 4 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $40; non-members $45
Elaine Nash, Naturalist, Conyers, Georgia
The economic and ecosystem functions of grasses will be reviewed, and basic terminology useful in grass identification will be presented. Students will work with fresh specimens to learn the parts of the grass plant, with an emphasis on vegetative characteristics that are useful in field identification, then examine native and exotic grasses in the field.
Garden Geology
Saturday, June 4 10:00 am
Meet at Visitor Center front patio free
Dan Williams, Forest Resources Manager, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources
Join Dan on a morning exploration of the Georgia Piedmont rock types found at the Botanical Garden and discover how they formed.
Mason Bee House Building Extravaganza
Tuesday, June 7 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $24; non-members $27
Shelly Prescott, Flower Garden Curator, SBG & Cora Keber, Education Coordinator, SBG
The Orchard Mason Bee is a wonderful beneficial insect that pollinates apple, cherry and other fruit trees. The biology of this bee does not allow for them to be destructive to wooden features but to nest in pre-existing holes in wooden forms. During this class we will show various types of mason bee homes and then supply materials to create a “home” to take home.
Art in the Garden: Plein Air Paint Out
Presented by The State Botanical Garden of Georgia & The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
Free reception: Sunday, June 12, 2011 1:00-4:00 pm
Art on exhibit: Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, 2011
Paint Out dates: Saturday, June 4 -Thursday, June 9, 2011
We are excited to announce that we have joined together with The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation to create Art in the Garden: Plein Air Paint Out! For 5 days in June, seventy professional and amateur artists will be painting 8”x10” canvases in the Garden, then each artist will submit up to three paintings. The judges will select 144 paintings to be displayed June 11th and 12th in The Alice Hand Callaway Visitor Center & Conservatory. On Sunday, June 12, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., each painting will be for sale in a free reception in the Conservatory. Each artist will set the price of their paintings, with 25% of each sale benefitting The State Botanical Garden of Georgia (SBG) conservation and education programs and 15% helping to promote The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) art initiatives. Each painting you purchase will be inspired by the State Botanical Garden. Acquire an original work of art for your home or office, listen to live jazz music, chat with people who enjoy art and gardens, and meet the painters during this afternoon reception. Vote for your favorite painting too; a people’s choice award will be announced that afternoon. The painters will be in the Garden from Saturday, June 4 through Thursday June 9th.
To help celebrate Art in the Garden June 11-12, Andrew Crawford will give an artist’s tour of Forged from Nature: an Exhibition of Garden Gates.
Artist Walk of Forged from Nature: An Exhibition of Garden Gates Saturday, June 11 11:00 a.m.
Meet inside the Conservatory free
You will enjoy a stroll through the display gardens with sculptor Andrew T. Crawford as he leads a tour to each of the six metal sculpted gates of Forged from Nature: an Exhibition of Garden Gates. You’ll be captivated by Andrew’s charm and talent and the detail of each gate as Andrew explains the design, installation and construction of this art exhibition.
Digital Plant Photography: Flower Portraits and Plants in the Landscape
(A Certificate in Native Plants elective course)
Saturday, June 11 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $40; non-members $45
Hugh and Carol Nourse, Nature Photographers/Authors
For flower portraits, the class will cover defining the subject, choosing a lens focal length, focusing, metering, isolating the subject, and lighting. For plants in the landscape, we will discuss how photographing in a larger setting differs from making plant portraits. Working through several examples, we will pay particular attention to how light affects the larger scene, and to composing the image to emphasize what you want to show the viewer. A portion of the class will be spent photographing in the Garden’s wildflower meadow (weather permitting) or the Conservatory.
Pollinator Madness
Saturday, June 11 9:30 – 11:30am
Visitor Center, Classroom 1 members $10; non-members $12
Kim Sutherland, Education Staff, SBG This program is designed for children ages 6- 10
What is a pollinator? Why are they important? How can we help them? We will answer these questions and more as we discover the important role butterflies, bees and other pollinators play in our life. Hands-on activities include a pollination relay race, a discovery hunt, a flower dissection and more! We will also ‘capture and release’ butterflies with insect nets and eat a snack provided by pollinators. The session will end as we plant seeds to help our pollinator friends
Summer Tree Identification (A Certificate in Native Plants elective course)
Saturday, June 18 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $40; non-members $45
Linda Chafin, Conservation Botanist, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Learn to identify common trees of the Georgia Piedmont by their leaves, bark, branching patterns, and tree form. Students will use a hand lens and a simple dichotomous key for woody plants to identify species. Class time will be divided between classroom exercises and a field trip to the woods at the Botanical Garden.
Plants, Pollinators and People
Monday, June 20 Session I: 2:00–4:00 pm/Session II: 6:00–8:00 pm
Meet in Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $15; non-member $18
Athena Anderson, Institute of Ecology, UGA, Doctoral Candidate
Anderson introduces the diversity, importance and natural history of pollinating animals then participants will hike through the Flower Garden to observe, photograph and identify pollinators. The program concludes with a session on gardening for pollinators and what you can do to aid in their conservation.
Sunflower Music Series: Modern Skirts (pop rock)
Tuesday, June 21 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Flower Garden lawn (Conservatory in inclement weather)
$15 ($10 members, $5 children ages 6-12)
This is a great way to spend summer evenings outdoors with family and friends. Bring a picnic basket, spread a blanket, kick off your shoes and enjoy! Ticket prices include light snacks and beverages.
In Search of Pollinators! Flower Garden Ramble
Thursday, June 23 7:00 pm
Meet at Visitor Center back patio Free
Shelly Prescott, Flower Garden Curator
Join Shelly as he introduces you to the pollinator–friendly plants as well as the pollinators that visit and make their homes in the Flower Garden.
Invasive Non-Native Pest Plants of the Southeast
(A Certificate in Native Plants elective course)
Saturday, June 25 8:30 am – 1:30 pm (bring sack lunch)
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $40; non-members $45
Connie Gray, M.L.A., Consultant in natural area restoration and management
This class is an introduction to the problem of invasive, non-native pest plants in Georgia. Students will learn to identify the major offenders, their current ranges and habitats, and how these plants impact natural plant communities. Basic management and control strategies will be discussed. Most of the class will be indoors; after an early lunch, there will be field identification exercises, management strategy discussions, and control demonstrations. Please note the extended class time and bring a sack lunch.
Friends First Friday: Flea Market Finds
Beverly Morton, Friends Membership Coordinator, and Friends member BJ Garrett
Friday, July 1 9:00 am
Visitor Center, lower level Members $10; non-members $12
Gather at a made-from-scratch breakfast to meet other folks who enjoy the Garden. Each month a staff member speaks about a different subject during the breakfast get-together.
Classic City Band Concert
Sunday, July 3, 2011 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Free Visitor Center & Conservatory
The Classic City Band has been performing their annual Fourth of July concert inside the Visitor Center & Conservatory for many years – always to a full house! Enjoy lively popular, classical and patriotic music, talented musicians, chairs and air conditioning – surrounded by a large, lovely garden.
Fairy House Workshop
Friday, July 15 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $40; non-members $45 (all supplies included)
Lorena Gay-Griffin and Aline Griffin, mother and daughter craft team of The Green Griffin
We’ll begin by viewing fairy houses created by others. We’ll reflect on what type of fairy we’re building for. Then we’ll take a walk through the gardens, foraging the ground for things she would like. Back in the classroom, you’ll be shown how to create our original fairy hammock, river rock furniture and acorn light fixtures, among other objects. You’ll pick a base for your scene, arrange the elements, sew, paint, glue, and share ideas. Materials provided include a small wooden house or cabinet, paint, moss, river rocks, wooden discs and plugs, dried flowers, fabric, antique lace, acorns, pine cones, pine nuts, glue, beads, marbles, floral wire, silk flowers, balsa wood, ribbons, sticks of all kinds, lots of ideas, and much much more.
Basic Orienteering
Saturday, July 23 10:00 – 11:00 am
Meet at Visitor Center back patio Free but limited to 15 participants
Wade Seymour, Grounds Foreman, SBG
Join Wade for an orienteering program on the trails of the Garden. He will introduce basic map and compass skills through a short mapped course.
Sunflower Music Series: Packway Handle Band (bluegrass/folk)
Tuesday, July 26 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Flower Garden lawn (Conservatory in inclement weather)
$15 ($10 members, $5 children ages 6-12)
This is a great way to spend summer evenings outdoors with family and friends. Bring a picnic basket, spread a blanket, kick off your shoes and enjoy! Ticket prices include light snacks and beverages.
Cooking in the Garden: Summer Salads and Pickling
Tuesday, August 2 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $24; non-members $27
Dean Neff, Sous Chef from Five and Ten, Athens
Join Chef Neff for an evening of learning how to use the summer garden for yourself and guests you may want to impress. We will create a simple pickling solution that works for a wide range of veggies. Feel free to bring produce from your own garden and watch it transform to pickled form. Planning a summer gathering and looking for new ideas? Chef Neff will provide new ways to bring your garden to the table in a simple summer salad fare. Neff graduated from the Atlanta based School of Culinary Arts in 2000. Neff currently resides as a Sous Chef at Five and Ten in Athens and a student of the Terry College of Business at UGA.
Friends First Friday: Planting to Support Winter Migrants
Jeannette Coplin, Director of Horticulture and Grounds
Friday, August 5 9:00 am
Visitor Center, lower level Members $10; non-members $12
Gather at a made-from-scratch breakfast to meet other folks who enjoy the Garden. Each month a staff member speaks about a different subject during the breakfast get-together.
Athens Brass Choir Concert
Sunday, August 7, 2011 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Free Visitor Center & Conservatory
An August afternoon in Georgia – the perfect time to come inside the air-conditioned Conservatory and listen to the very talented Athens Brass Choir. Expect marches, popular tunes and classical pieces during this free instrumental brass concert.
Concrete Leaf-casting
Thursday, August 11 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
SBG Greenhouse, Maintenance Center members $24; nonmembers $27
Pre-registration required
Lauren Zeichner, UGA Landscape Architecture Professor, Local Athens Artist
Garden décor with a large effect! We will use large leaves such as elephant ears to cast concrete forms. These forms can be used for bird baths or creative garden accents. Please wear something you do not mind getting wet.
Planning and Planting the Fall Vegetable Garden
Thursday, August 18 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $18; non-member $22
Jeremy Friedman, Sunrise Farm, Athens, Georgia
The Fall garden is an opportunity to have vegetables on your table, not only in the Fall but throughout the Winter and Spring. Topics will include but are not limited to: plant selection, crop rotation, cover crops, planting beneficial natives, composting, and drip irrigation set-up. Learn some tricks to get more out of your garden during the cooler months.
Earth Skills Series—Friction Fire
Saturday, August 20 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (bring a sack lunch)
Meet in Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $60; non-members $66
Limited to 12 participants ages 16 and up. Most of the time will be spent outdoors.
Tommy Tye, Assistant Director, Institute of Wild Intelligence, Athens
Our new Earth Skills series offers the opportunity to rekindle your ancestral relationship with nature by experiencing ancient earth living skills! Topics will include Friction Fire, Natural Fiber and Cordage, Shelter, Lost Proofing and Aidless Navigation, and more. It’s not about surviving; it’s about thriving!
Fire! The ability to create and use fire is one of the most fundamental primitive skills. This class will help you develop the skill to create fire from materials found in the wild. Methods will include flint & steel, bow drill, and hand drills. You will hold in your hands the power to stay warm, purify water, make tools, light up the darkness, and to cook and preserve food. This is an outdoor class a list of recommendations will be sent to participants. Learn more about Tye’s work at www.tommytye.com.
Sunflower Music Series: Grogus (Latin/world music)
Tuesday, August 23 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Flower Garden lawn (Conservatory in inclement weather)
$15 ($10 members, $5 children ages 6-12)
This is a great way to spend summer evenings outdoors with family and friends. Bring a picnic basket, spread a blanket, kick off your shoes and enjoy! Ticket prices include light snacks and beverages.
Plant Conservation: Protecting Plant Diversity in the Garden and in the Wild
(A Certificate in Native Plants core course)
Saturday, August 27 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Visitor Center, Classroom 2 members $90; non-members $100
Jennifer Ceska, Conservation Coordinator, and Jim Affolter, Dir. of Research, SBG
Plant conservation is an applied science that draws upon many fields of knowledge from ecology to horticulture, to ethics and politics. This course surveys threats to biodiversity in Georgia and worldwide, examples of rare plant research, techniques for restoration and reintroduction, and ways individuals and organizations are making a difference in protecting the rare plants of Georgia. Class will include demonstrations, hands-on activities, group discussions, tours of threatened species collections, and visits to the conservation research lab and the Outdoor Propagation Area for Rare Plants at the State Botanical Garden.
Advanced Beekeeping
Saturday, August 27 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Meet at Shade Garden Arbor members $14; non-members $16, pre-registration required
Dan Harris, Beekeeper, UGA Bee Lab, and Owner, Booger Hill Bee Farm, Danielsville, GA
Advance your beekeeping knowledge and skills with Dan as you perform a 24 hour Varroa mite count and apply a variety of fall treatments for Varroa and other pests. He will also discuss fall and over-wintering preparations for your hive. Completion of the Beekeeping for Beginners Series required.
Sunflower Music Series: Arvin Scott Quartet (jazz)
Tuesday, September 27 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Flower Garden lawn (Conservatory in inclement weather)
$15 ($10 members, $5 children ages 6-12)
This is a great way to spend summer evenings outdoors with family and friends. Bring a picnic basket, spread a blanket, kick off your shoes and enjoy! Ticket prices include light snacks and beverages.
GARDEN EARTH NATURE CAMP: AGES 5-8
Each session runs Monday – Friday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
members $105; non-members $115
Earth is a garden that we all share! During these weeklong adventures, children learn about garden earth while exploring the natural and cultivated areas of the Garden. Outdoor experiments, games, and garden walks highlight each day. Camp registration forms can be found on the Garden Website at www.uga.edu/botgarden or register in person at the Garden’s education office in the Visitor Center. Campers can attend one week from Garden Earth I and one week from Garden Earth II.
Garden Earth 1
Week I: June 6-10
Week II: June 13-17
In Garden Earth I, campers explore pollinators, soil critters and food chains in the gardens and forest of the Garden. Children meet puppets including Suga Magnolia who is in charge of the flowers, Oli Earthworm who takes care of the soil, and Madame Squirrel who runs a woodland restaurant for all the creatures who live at the Garden! Indoor gardening projects, solar cooking treats and crafts projects complement the exciting outdoor adventures!
Garden Earth II
Week I: June 20 - 24
Week II: June 27 – July 1
In Garden Earth II, campers investigate water, insects and trees. Visits to the Middle Oconee River and Orange Trail stream (both on the grounds of the Garden) bring the world of the water critters to life. Children explore insects in carnivorous pitcherplants, pitfall traps, and through fun discovery hunts. To top off the week children meet Old Man Spruce who takes campers on a tour of his Air Cleaning Factory though puppet shows, interactive games and forest investigations. Craft projects complement each day’s activities.
SWEET PEA CLUB CAMP: AGES 3 - 4
Tuesday through Friday: July 12 - 15
9:00 – 11:00 am
Visitor Center, Children’s Classroom
members $85 (fee for parent and child); non-members $95
Additional child fee members $35; non-members $45
Developed specially for young nature lovers and their parent or grandparent helpers, Sweet Pea Club offers a marvelous introduction to the natural world. Each day focuses on a different "earthy" topic. Sample daily topics include, A Visit with Old Man Spruce Tree! Adventures with Oli Earthworm in the Soil and Who’s Eating at Madame Squirrel’s Restaurant! Programs involve puppet shows, storytelling, indoor and outdoor learning games, nature crafts and garden explorations.
GARDEN EXPLORER’S CAMP: Rising 4th to rising 7th
Monday – Friday: July 18 - 22
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Visitor Center, Children’s Classroom
members $140; non-members $155
Garden Explorers will spend mornings hiking the trails and gardens as teams of ‘citizen scientists’ collecting data about pollinators, plants, birds, earthworms and more while also participating in fun discovery hunts and games. In the afternoons campers will participate in nature lore activities and make an Explorer’s kit including a nature journal, plant press and more.
JUNIOR CAMP COUNSELORS: Looking for a volunteer summer job? The State Botanical Garden is pleased to offer summer camp counselor positions. These positions afford adolescents opportunities to build confidence, serve as a role model for younger children, and learn new skills. If you have a child between the ages of 15 and 18 would like to apply to be a Botanical Garden Summer Camp Counselor, please contact Cora Keber at (706) 542-6156 for an application.
ALL CLASSES REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
Call 706-542-6156 or register online at www.uga.edu/botgarden
