ART AT THE ARBORETUM

The Arboretum sponsors six art exhibitions each year, including an annual competition and an outdoor environmental art show. Please call the Arboretum at 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or e-mailinfo@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.

Baltimore painter Marc Boone’s exhibit, “What the Light Was Like,” continues through January 30. Boone’s abstract images hold a subtle and dazzling complexity of nature, landscape, water, sky, and earth.

The Arboretum’s Annual Art Competition Exhibition opens February 16 and runs through March 27, with a reception on Saturday, February 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. The winners of the Leon Andrus Awards, first and second places, will be announced. The show will include two- and three-dimensional fine art by regional artists. The show’s theme—Discovering the Native Landscapes of the Coastal Plain—celebrates the Arboretum’s conservation mission and the region’s nature and landscapes.

Columbia, MD, fine art photographer and mixed-media artist Denée Barr will exhibit new works from March 28 through May 29. A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. Barr’s work features Adkins Arboretum, as trees are an inspiration for her work. Visitwww.deneebarrartnews.blogspot.com.

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EVENTS

ARBOR DAY 5K RUN & FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK

Saturday, April 18

Registration 8–8:45 a.m., start time 9 a.m.

5K Fee (included T-shirt): $15; $20 day of event

Family Fun Run/Walk Fee: $10/family

Join fellow runners and nature enthusiasts for the fourth annual Arbor Day Run. The event, which features a 5K Run and a one-mile Family Fun Run/Walk, will kick off with a Kids’ 100 Yard Dash at 8:45 a.m. Participants will catch glimpses of spring as they traverse the cross-country course plotted along the Arboretum’s network of scenic forest and meadow paths. Prizes will be awarded and refreshments provided. To register, call 410-634-2847, extension 0 or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Pre-registration is required for all programs. Call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 for more information or to register.

Conservation Landscape Design Series
Tuesdays, February 10, 17, 24, and March 3, 1–3 p.m.
Series fee: $125 members; $140 general public
This series of four classes will guide participants through the landscape design process from site analysis and plant selection to installation, with inspiring thoughts from leading conservation designers and stunning photographs of native plant gardens—public and private—from throughout the region.

The Secrets of Buds and Bark in the Winter Forest
Wednesday, February 11, 1–2:30 p.m.
Fee: $15 members, $18 general public
Break the winter blues and discover the secrets revealed by spring buds and bark as clues to plant identification in winter and to the beautiful greenery of spring to come.

Green Cleaning Basics

Thursday, March 5, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Fee: $15 members, $18 general public
Ingredients in commercial cleaners can pollute the environment both inside and outside your home. Learn how to make your own “green” cleaning products and discuss natural products available in stores. Samples of both caustic and natural products will be on hand for comparison.

Pysanky: The Art of Ukrainian Eggs
Thursday, March 12, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Fee: $30 members, $45 general public
Create a beautiful egg in a Ukrainian tradition reaching back to antiquity. These eggs use symbolic motifs rooted in nature and the cycles of life. Among the designs used are spiders and sheaves of wheat, spirals, stars and circles, bees, acorns, garlands of flowers, clusters of grapes, birds, and mammals. Bring a bag lunch; drinks will be provided. Limited to 14 participants.

Back to Basics: Bird-watching
Saturday, April 4, 8–10:30 a.m.
Fee: $8 members, $10 general public
The Arboretum’s bird population is diverse throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and join a walk to learn the basics of bird-watching and identification.

Gardening for a Rainy Day: Using Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels for a “Greener” Landscape
Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Fee: $20 members, $25 general public
Pre-registration is required.
Gardeners are always looking for ways to keep their gardens green. Consider ways to truly “green” your garden and manage both stormwater and surface runoff at this workshop that addresses two easy methods of capturing rainwater: rain barrels and rain gardens.

Botanical Art Series—Exploring Ferns
Monday and Tuesday, April 6 and 7, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Fee: $110 members, $125 general public; limit 10 participants
This workshop will focus on learning about ferns and capturing their beauty in watercolor. The two-day program will emphasize not only the unique botanical structure of the fern family but also composition and the watercolor techniques employed to complete a botanical study.

JOURNAL WRITING WITH NATURE
SPRING SERIES
Workshops about discovering nature through art and words

First Wednesdays in spring—March 4, April 1, May 6, and June 3, 9 a.m.–noon
Fee: $15 per session, $55 for the series for members; $18 per session, $70 for the series for the general public. Pre-registration is required.

This series features two guest presenters who will collaborate with poet Erica Weick to explore creating paper and journals and viewing the natural world through a camera lens. Each workshop stands alone and will help participants unleash their imaginations and let their creativity flow.

DISCOVER NATURE WITH WORDS
March 4 and June 3
Poet Erica Weick will lead planned exercises to ease the way and lead you to explore uncharted territories, to learn fun ways to see spring with all of your senses. We will walk in the forest, listen, take notice, and write. The workshop offers the opportunity for a morning of guided introspection, nature observation, and much writing. Sharing is optional. New and experienced writers are welcome, as are those who express themselves through the visual arts.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE MIND’S EYE
April 1
Photography can trigger some interesting reflections. Images of nature can reveal truths that are new and interesting, yet profound and awesome. Join photographer Ann Rohlfing to search for symbolism through the viewfinder.

NATURE JOURNAL AS ART
May 6
Join teaching artist and naturalist Maureen Mikolajczak and build your own journal. Using nature as our inspiration, we will experiment with papermaking from natural materials and create our own handmade journals. Bring dried flowers or any plant material you may wish to include in your own distinctive journal cover. A variety of artistic materials will be provided. We also will wander the Arboretum paths to enjoy the spring ephemerals and write about our experience.

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CHILDREN’S/FAMILY PROGRAMS

Sense of Wonder Sundays—A Family Affair
Winter/Spring Sessions
Adkins Arboretum invites the whole family for a fun-filled Sunday afternoon. Program topics include nature journaling, life in winter, gardening with kids, and wetlands.
Fee: $5 per person members, $7 per person general public
Pre-registration is required; call 410-634-2847, extension 0 to register.

The Natural Year—Nature Journaling for All Ages
Sunday, January 25
11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Make a resolution to document the natural year in 2009. Start by creating your own nature journal and participating in journaling activities that will stimulate your creativity. This family program works best with children who can draw or write. Outdoor exploration will give us much to think about and document in our new journals. Pack a lunch and dress for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Alive in the Dead of Winter
Sunday, February 22
11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

The quiet of winter may be upon us, but life is thriving at the Arboretum. Come to learn about which plants are blooming despite the cold, and explore the Arboretum grounds for signs of animal activity. We’ll engage in activities that demonstrate why snow is a welcome blanket for many animals, which plants can melt the snow, and what it takes for animals to find suitable shelter. Pack a lunch and dress for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Gearing Up to Garden with Kids
Sunday, March 29
11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Spend an afternoon in the Arboretum’s Children’s Funshine Garden. We’ll discuss resources for gardening with children, learn how the children’s garden exhibit was designed, do a little routine garden preparation, and, if the weather is right for planting, plant the Three Sisters garden plot. Pack a lunch and dress for both indoor and outdoor activities.

WOW! Wetlands are Wonderful
Sunday, April 26
11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

After a spring thaw, the Arboretum’s wetland will be teeming with critters. We’ll use nets and field microscopes to investigate what is stirring in the water, and we’ll also explore why wetlands are so important to our land and waterways. Through simulation games and scientific investigation, we’ll look into what makes wetlands WONDERFUL! Pack a lunch and dress for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Preschool programs for 3- to 5-year-olds: Six-week session runs Mondays and Tuesdays, Feb. 9 through March 17, 10–11:15 a.m. Fee: $35 members, $45 general public for all six programs in the series. Pre-registration is required; call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 for information and to register.