Garden Lecture Series Begins Next Week at Elizabeth Park

Friends of are sponsoring their annual Garden Lecture Series beginning Wednesday, Jan. 18. All lectures will be held at the Pond House. 

The cost for all eight lectures including a buffet dinner with the final lecture on March 28 is $85.00 (Package Deal).  Lectures can be attended individually with a cost of $10 per lecture and $40.00 for the dinner lecture.  You can sign up in advance by going to www.elizabethpark.org or pay at the door.

Lecture 1 

 Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

Karen Bussolini, garden photographer, writer, speaker and eco-friendly garden coach.  

Survival in the Darwinian Garden: Planting the Fittest Figuring out how to satisfy the needs of fussy plants can be an exercise in frustration.  Choosing plants that want to grow where we plant them is a good way to have a garden that provides more pleasure.  We will explore good, tough, well-adapted plants and gardeners’ strategies for encouraging them to survive beautifully in our gardens.  Snow date:  2/1/12

Lecture 2

Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.

Carol Quish, horticulturist at UCONN Home and Garden Center. 

Compost Happens Learn how to compost in your own backyard, with a bit of science on how food scraps and garden waste become black gold for your plants.  Snow date:  2/1/12

Lecture 3

Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.

Amy Sampson, owner of AES Landscape Design; Lecturer, Certified Horticulturist and CT Accredited Nursery Professional.

Sustainable Residential Landscaping Your foundation and outlying plantings can be both beautiful and thrive with minimal care.  Come learn about micro-climates and plants appropriate for different exposures.  Amy will highlight six major sustainable landscape goals and present shrubs and trees that are ideal for residential landscapes.  Snow date 2/22/12

Lecture 4

Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.

Dr. Robert Ricard, UCONN Senior Extension Education. 

Urban and Community Forestry in Connecticut An overview of the multitude of on-going efforts around the state determined to improved the health, care and management of CT’s public trees.  Snow date:  2/22/12

Lecture 5

Wednesday Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.

Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, owner of Natureworks Horticultural Center and gardening book author. 

The Blended Garden: Weaving Edibles Into Your Ornamental Gardens  Learn how to incorporate all sorts of delicious edibles right into your existing boarders, flower gardens and containers.  Explore the ornamental qualities of vegetables, herbs salad greens, and small fruits.  You will make your garden much more practical and exciting in 2012.  Snow date:  3/14/12

Lecture 6

Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m.

Bill Turull, owner of Garden Sales and Friends of Elizabeth Park Board Member. 

Do’s and Don’ts of Shopping at Your Garden Center A fun and informative lecture from the point of view of the garden center owner:  What do I look for when I first see a customer.  What a customer should expect from a sales person.  Tips on purchasing plants and when is “special” really a special.  Snow date 3/14/12

Lecture 7

Wednesday, March 21 at 7 p.m.

Marci Martin and John Mattia, both rosarians.  Marci is the rosarian for the park and John is a longtime friend of the park. 

Fireside Chat:  Marci and John’s Favorite Rose Stories Join us for a memorable evening with Marci and John, both well respected and knowledgeable rosarians.  Through their stories we will learn about roses, the people who love them and the unusual things that can happen.  Snow date 4/4/12

Lecture 8 and Dinner

Wednesday, March 28 at 6 p.m.

Louis Lista, Chef and Pond House Owner

Everything you wanted to know about planning a party, but were afraid to ask Learn from Louis, who masterminds many events, the secrets of planning a fun and successful party without stressing out.  A delicious dinner prepared by the Pond House is included.  Snow date 4/4/12