Adkins Arboretum is offering a full slate of programs for fall, from landscape design to the Underground Railroad, botanical art and basketry. Programs include:

Scott Arboretum and Tyler Arboretum Bus Trip
Wednesday, September 23, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Fee: $35 members, $45 general public includes admission to both facilities
Join a morning tour of the Scott Arboretum, encompassing more than 300 acres of the Swarthmore College campus and exhibiting more than 4,000 kinds of plants, and an afternoon tour of Tyler Arboretum, exploring 650 acres of horticultural collections, rare plant specimens, ancient trees, historic buildings, extensive hiking trails and the Totally Terrific Treehouses: Nature’s Play exhibit.

Feed the Birds
Friday, September 25. Bird walk 8–9:30 a.m., classroom program 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Fee: $15 members, $18 general public
Learn to attract birds by enriching habitats with native plants that support insects and produce berries, seed and nectar that provide food for birds. The program will begin with a bird walk to observe birds in nature followed by a classroom presentation of native plants that benefit birds. An overview of supplemental feeding and bird feeder care will also be covered in this program.

Landscape Design Workshop for Eastern Shore Homeowners
Two workshop dates are offered: Wednesday, September 30, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or Saturday, October 24, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fee: $65 for one all-day session
Is your home set on a lot that recently was a farm field? Does your property lack beauty and distinctive character, or do you want to add outdoor living spaces? This workshop will address typical challenges of Eastern Shore homeowners. Four experienced landscape designers and avid gardeners will lead participants through an all-day intensive planning session. Bring your property plat and photos, and leave with a landscape plan you have created with guidance from these landscape professionals.

Introduction to Color Pencil
Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2, 10 a.m. –4 p.m.
Fee: $110 members, $125 general public
Learn basic color pencil techniques in this two-day workshop led by artist Lee D’Zmura. The first session will include demonstrations of color pencil techniques and incorporate exercises that explore application and tonal effects on various surfaces. Hue, value and intensity will also be discussed. The second session will be devoted to individual projects emphasizing initial sketch, transfer, value study and color application. A demonstration of color pencil on Mylar will conclude the workshop. Materials list will be provided.

Color Pencil II
Thursday and Friday, October 15 and 16, 10 a.m. –4 p.m.
Fee: $110 members, $125 general public
This two-day workshop with artist Lee D’Zmura will introduce advanced color pencil techniques in the production of a botanical piece. The first session will explore composition and color pencil techniques, while the second session will focus on individual projects produced on black backgrounds, grissaile technique and color blending and detailing. Materials list will be provided.

Nature and the Underground Railroad
Wednesday, October 14, 2–3 p.m.
Fee: $15 members, $18 general public
Join Anthony Cohen, historian, author and explorer of the American past, to discover the role nature played for freedom seekers traveling the Underground Railroad. In 1996, Cohen embarked on a two-month journey to explore 1,200 miles of the Underground by foot, boat and rail. He is founder and president of The Menare Foundation, Inc., a national nonprofit restoring a Maryland plantation as a living history center.

Plant Communities—Changing with the Times?
Thursday, October 29, 10–11:30 a.m.
Fee: $10 members, $15 general public
As sea levels rise and climates change, what will happen to the Delmarva’s plant communities? Join a walk to learn what comprises a plant community and the process of succession. Back inside, discuss how sea level and climate change might change the future of plant communities and how land-use planning can help. Dr. Sylvan Kaufman is an ecologist with research experience in plant community responses to climate change and practical experience as a land manager.

Understanding Wood
Thursday, November 12, 10 a.m.–noon
Fee: $10 members, $15 general public
Whether you’re a woodworker, a naturalist or a lover of wood furniture, understanding the structure of wood is critical to understanding its uses. Learn about cell types and arrangement of cells used for wood identification. Participants will also learn about the characteristics of wood through hands-on experiments. Instructor Sylvan Kaufman is an admirer of wooden objects and an ecologist with a fondness for trees.

Introducing Wicker Basketry: The Melon Basket
Friday, November 13, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Fee: $45 members, $55 general public
Learn the basic techniques of this traditional gathering basket, using natural rattan and indigenous materials such as grapevine, honeysuckle and willow. Produce a functional, colorful, one-of-a-kind basket that will be both useful and beautiful, and use your new-found skills to continue on your own. Instructor Lee Zimmerman Nelson has exhibited her award-winning basketry for more than 30 years.

Macro and Close-up Photography Workshop
Saturday, November 14, 8 a.m.-noon
Fee: $50 members, $65 general public
Learn and apply macro and close-up techniques for creating striking images of fall colors, textures, and patterns. The workshop will focus on composition, close-up techniques and lighting. “Focus stacking” now available in Photoshop CS4 and with Helicon Focus software will also be covered. Instructor Joshua Taylor Jr. has presented photography workshops at the Smithsonian National Orchid Show, the U.S. National Arboretum, and the U.S. Botanic Garden, as well as for public gardens, preserves, and horticultural societies across the region.

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Journal Writing with Nature
Workshops about discovering nature through art and words
Fee: $15 members, $18 general public per program; $40 members, $55 general public for all three sessions
Webs and Fluff
Wednesday, September 2, 9 a.m.–noon
As the days begin to grow shorter, learn the secrets of the spider’s web weaving and the magic of its silk. See a different kind of silk from inside the milkweed pod as the wind helps to scatter its riches across the meadow. Write and talk about how these two miracles can shape your end-of-summer outlook. Bring your journal and some curiosity.

Bridges and Reflections
Wednesday, October 7, 9 a.m.–noon
Experience the uniqueness of the Arboretum’s bridges as you note the reflections of nature in the water beneath. Pause and narrow your gaze as you look not only on the surface of the water but also at the world that lies beneath it. Bring your journal, a desire to search for surprises, and an inclination to go with the flow.

Shedding the Out-of-Doors Life
Wednesday, November 4, 9 a.m.–noon
Shed your outdoor focus and explore the potential of nature’s transition to a quieter time when the light dims more quickly and the air begins to cool. Even as we feel like retreating indoors, we won’t give up on our chillier outdoor question: “Does the activity in the forest, meadow, and wetland ever truly stop?” Bring your journal and camera and join Ann and Richard Rolfing to record observations and the results of our creative imaginations.

Pre-registration is required for all programs. To register, call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org for additional information.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. Open year round, the Arboretum offers educational programs for all ages about nature and gardening. Through its Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, the Arboretum will build a new LEED-certified Arboretum Center and entranceway to broaden educational offerings and research initiatives promoting best practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.