NATIONAL PUBLIC GARDENS DAY
Friday, May 6—Free admission to Adkins Arboretum in honor of National Public Gardens Day. 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely. 410-634-2847, ext. 0, www.adkinsarboretum.org or info@adkinsarboretum.org for more information.

ART AT THE ARBORETUM
The Arboretum sponsors art exhibitions throughout the year, including an annual competition and outdoor environmental art. Call 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org for gallery hours.
Baltimore artist Ruth Pettus uses layers of color to distill a sense of vast space and atmosphere. She fills her surfaces with markings and luminous hues evoking landscapes that are scarred and time-worn, yet simultaneously radiantly beautiful. Rite of Spring, Pettus’s abstract oil pastels on paper, will be on view in the Visitor’s Center through May 27. There will be a reception on Saturday, April 23 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Quilting the Waterway, by University Park artist Leslie Berns, will be on view May 31 through July 29. In the Visitor’s Center Gallery, she will exhibit works of art made from folded Dixie cups sewn together in patterns based on symmetry and the motifs of Oriental carpets. The works’ references to textile handwork, traditionally associated with women and compatible with care-giving, proffer an ethic of caring for the environment and water resources from a feminist ecological perspective. Outdoors, Berns will exhibit a site-specific, floating sculpture in the water that incorporates cloth. There will be a reception on Saturday, June 25 from 3 to 5 p.m.

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GUIDED WALKS
Saturdays through November, 11 a.m.
Explore the Arboretum’s diverse plant communities on a guided walk led by an Arboretum docent naturalist. Explore the bottomland forest and upland paths, meander through majestic beech trees, traverse the native meadows, and follow the narrow Tuckahoe Creekside path to glimpse creek waters and wildflowers. Guided walks are free for members and free with admission for the general public. Tours begin at the Visitor’s Center and last approximately one hour.

Second Saturday Walk
Saturdays, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, 1–2:30 p.m.
Free with admission
Come on a unique journey toward understanding native plants and how they can become a greater part of your home gardening experience. Horticulturalist Eric Wittman will lead visitors on a walk designed to help all gardeners improve their knowledge and use of native plants, from containers to large-scale plantings. The walk will cover the aspects of where and how plants of the Delmarva can find a place in everyone’s gardening space.

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ADULT PROGRAMS
Forest as Muse—Walk and Reflection with Nature Journaling
Saturdays, May 7 and June 4, 11 a.m. Public guided walk followed by journaling session
Free with admission
Join one of the Arboretum’s docent naturalists for a walk through the forest. Listen to the muse of the trees, breathe in the forest air, and walk along paths dappled with sun and shadow. Enjoy the theme of the day and return to the Visitor’s Center to write/journal about your flights of fancy inspired by the wood nymphs, or just research the plants that intrigued you in the reference library. No previous writing experience is required; bring your favorite journal if you have one. Reservations requested; reserve a spot online at www.adkinsarboretum.org, call 410-634-2847, ext. 0, or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org.

Basketry: Free-form Cracker Basket
Friday, May 13, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Fee: $45 members, $55 general public
Bring a lunch, basin or small tub, clippers, awl, and jackknife, and join the fun. Make a free-form rimmed cracker basket with wild jasmine vine and natural and dyed rattan using traditional melon basket technique. This functional, colorful, one-of-a-kind basket can be used as a serving piece or can be hung as art sculpture. Instructor Lee Zimmerman Nelson has exhibited her award-winning basketry nationally and abroad for more than 30 years and teaches regularly at Arrowmont (Tennessee) and the John C. Campell Folk School (North Carolina), as well as in Maryland and Virginia. She integrates her knowledge of the craft and love of teaching in a relaxed and informative manner. Materials will be provided. Bring a sack lunch. Pre-registration required; register online at www.adkinsarboretum.org, call 410-634-2847, ext. 0, or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org.

Foraging in Native Landscapes
Sunday, May 15, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public
This hands-on workshop will immerse participants in the exciting, sustainable, and nutritious world of foraging for wild plants. Participants will be taken into the field to learn how to indentify, harvest, and prepare many of spring’s wild edibles. It doesn’t get more local or organic than this!
Bill Schindler, Ph.D. is a professor of anthropology and archaeology at Washington College. His research focuses on prehistoric foodways and technologies. Dr. Schindler incorporates wild foods into his and his family’s diet on a regular basis. Please note that foraging by individuals is not permitted on the Arboretum grounds. Pre-registration required; register online at www.adkinsarboretum.org, call 410-634-2847, ext. 0, or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org.

Painting the Tulip Tree Flower
Wednesday and Friday, May 18 and 20, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fee: $125 members, $140 general public
With its majestic stature and stunning yellow-and-orange blossoms, the tulip poplar has been designated Adkins Arboretum’s signature tree and its 2011 Native Tree of the Year. In this two-day workshop, artist Lee D’Zmura will focus on the study and creation of botanical illustrations of this stately member of the magnolia family. Instruction will include watercolor techniques to capture the tulip flower’s unique characteristics. Some watercolor experience is required; a materials list will be provided. Bring a sack lunch. Pre-registration required; register online at www.adkinsarboretum.org, call 410-634-2847, ext. 0, or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org.

Spring Soup ’n Walks
Nature, Nurture, and Nutrition
Saturdays, May 21 and June 18, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Fee: $20 members, $25 general public
Pre-registration required; register online at www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
Discover the excitement of spring blooms. Following a guided walk with a docent naturalist, enjoy a delicious and nutritious lunch along with a brief lesson about the meal’s nutritional value. Copies of recipes are provided.

May 21—Check out the Beautiful View Along Tuckahoe Creek and Beyond Mountain laurel, beech tree, tulip tree, black cherry tree blossoms, pinky lady’s slipper, and Solomon’s seal and mayapple fruit (one- or two-hour walk option; two-hour walk begins at 10 a.m.)

Menu
Scallop and vegetable soup
Roasted red beets and carrots on lettuce
Apple date wheat bread with cherry jam
Fruity nutty oatmeal bars

June 18—Find the Green Summer Ferns Among the Cool Blooms
Lady fern, cinnamon fern, New York fern, netted chain fern, Christmas fern, Indian cucumber, bluets, blackberry, deerberry, and arrowwood blooms

Menu
Light and fresh vegetable soup
Gingered cantaloupe with kiwi
Double oat bread with wild blueberry jam
Red, white, and blue trifle

Goats vs. Weeds: A Targeted Grazing Demonstration
Thursday, June 2, 10 a.m.–noon
Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m.–noon
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public per session
Invasive species crowd out native woodland plants and animals and can strangle trees and bring down limbs. Machines often can’t reach problem areas, manual removal is very labor intensive, and herbicides can inflict collateral damage on water, plant, and animal resources. Targeted grazing with goats can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of controlling invasive species on your property. Goats graze in places that mowers can’t reach and humans don’t want to go, including bramble and poison ivy thickets.

This demonstration is your chance to see goats in action at the Arboretum and learn how to implement this practice on your own land. Presenters will include Nevin Dawson, forest stewardship educator, University of Maryland Extension; Sylvan Kaufman, Sylvan Green Earth Consulting, and Brian Knox, president of Sustainable Resource Management, Inc. and supervising forester for Eco-Goats. Light refreshments will be served, including goat cheese.

Garden Journals
Sunday, June 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fee: $45 members, $55 general public
Have fun making a pocket-size garden journal under the direction of artist and teacher Martha Graham. Your handmade journal will have a cover, pockets for seeds, pages for photos as your garden progresses, and illustrations with space for personal notes. Instructions for adding pages will be provided. Bring lunch and colored pencils and/or markers if you wish.

Nature-Inspired Pop-up Cards with Elissa O’Loughlin
Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fee: $45 members, $55 general public
Learn the basics of pop-up construction and use inspiration from the natural world to decorate these fun moving cards. Using a variety of papers, explore cutting, folding, and assembling components to make at least two finished cards that you can use as examples for working in your own creative space. A 1975 graduate of Moore College of Art, O’Loughlin pursued studies in paper conservation and for the last 10 years has been senior conservator at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. She has a special interest in historical artist’s techniques. Her studio is in Galestown. All materials and supplies will be provided. Bring a sack lunch.

Introduction to Wetlands
Thursday, June 16, 10 a.m.–noon
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public
Arboretum visitors enter the Visitor’s Center by a bridge that spans a constructed wetland alive with flora and fauna. Wetlands are the most biologically diverse and fascinating ecosystems in the world, so it is no wonder that it can take some time to cross the bridge if you stop to observe all that is happening there. Join Leslie Hunter-Cario to learn the basics of wetland ecology and wetland plants.
Leslie Hunter-Cario is the nursery manager at Environmental Concern Inc., a public not-for-profit corporation dedicated to working with all aspects of wetlands. Leslie holds a degree in environmental science and is a certified professional horticulturist through the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association.

Plein Air Painting
Sunday, June 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fee: $60 members, $80 general public
Learn how to capture the beauty of summer’s splendor on canvas under the guidance of local art educator and artist Dawn Malosh. Participants will learn about composition, color, basic acrylic painting techniques, and the joy of “plein air” painting while composing their own original rendition of the Arboretum in all its grandeur. All materials are included. Bring a sack lunch.

Collography with Martha Graham
Friday, June 24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fee: $75 members, $90 general public
Collography is the art of designing the surface of a “plate,” inking it, and hand printing. At the end of this session, you will have a piece ready for framing plus fun and inspiration for further work. All materials will be provided. Bring a sack lunch.

Exploring Nature and Five Movements of Life through Writing, Reflection, and Community
June 29, 1–3:30 P.M.
Fee: $25 members, $30 general public
Many cultures look to nature as teacher, and we too might use nature’s lessons to encourage our own growth and connectedness to life around us. By exploring five elements honored in traditional Chinese wisdom, we can be a part of the graceful flow of seasons.

Celebrate summer as part of nature’s cycle of seasons. This is a time of warmth, joy, and playfulness with the opening of our hearts. We’ll listen to poetry, try a few gentle writing exercises, and engage in simple collage activities. No previous experience in these areas is necessary! The Arboretum provides a perfect location to immerse ourselves in nature and discover how it speaks in our own lives.
Instructor Katherine Johnson is a life coach and teacher of creative practices as SoulCollage®, writing, meditation, and personal growth. She holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland and teaches for Tai Sophia Institute and Johns Hopkins University, as well as several holistic learning centers. Katherine’s life journey has integrated practices of traditional professional development with a rich blend of holistic learning. She brings joy and love as she serves.

Nature Prints
Saturday, July 9, 1–3:30 p.m.
Fee: $30 members, $35 general public
Join Dawn Malosh to learn the basics of printmaking while exploring the principles of art and composition using natural objects. Applications for wallpaper, wrapping paper, fabric, scrapbooking, and journaling pages will be explored. All materials are included.

Nature Collage Portraits
Sunday, July 17, 1–3:30 p.m.
Fee: $30 members, $35 general public, $25 per person for two or more family members
Represent yourself through fruits, nuts, grasses, flowers, and leaves in this fun abstract collage portraiture class. While learning about the eccentric and fascinating Renaissance nature portrait artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo, students will create a portrait of themselves using pictures of fruits, vegetable leaves, and nature. The program is open to all. Families, parents, grandparents, and children eight years and older are welcome to attend together for a special rate.

Instructor Dawn Malosh is a local artist and educator. She serves as a Teaching Artist through her Outside Art programs and creates a variety of nature-inspired artworks in her Sherwood, MD, studio. For more information on Malosh and her Outside Art programs, visit www.outsideartlessons.com.

Marvels of Milkweeds
Wednesday, July 27, 10–11 a.m.
Fee: $10 members, $15 general public
Milkweeds have a rich cultural and natural history. From commodity to noxious weed, they are loved by some and hated by others. Their ecology is a story unto itself as milkweeds support a whole community of insects, including the monarch butterfly. Explore the marvels of milkweeds with ecologist Dr. Sylvan Kaufman. This class will be held both indoors and outdoors.

Asters, Goldenrods, and Other Composites
Wednesday, August 24, 10 a.m.–noon
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public
The Asteraceae family offers a dazzling array of plants to admire in meadows, wetlands, woods, and gardens, but the diversity of this family makes identifying them confusing. Learn how to tell members of the Asteraceae family apart and how to identify common species in the field. The field portion of the class will use Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Bring a hand lens if you have one. Ecologist Dr. Sylvan Kaufman will lead the class.

CHILDREN’S/FAMILY PROGRAMS

Wee Nature
Mondays, May 2–23, 10–11 a.m.
Fee: $25 per mom
Join other moms and tots for an Arboretum social hour! Explore the Arboretum’s stroller-friendly paths with Children’s Program Coordinator Jenny Houghton, then return to the gallery for coffee, tea, and treats while children enjoy playtime with toys inspired by nature. Pre-registration required; register online at www.adkinsarboretum.org, call 410-634-2847, ext. 0, or e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org.

Outside Art Adventures for Kids
Sundays, May 8, 15, and 22, 10 a.m.–noon
Fee: $45 members, $50 general public
Aspiring artists and young nature enthusiasts will explore and learn about the natural world through art in this fun outside class. Kids in grades 1–5 will learn how to draw, sketch, sculpt, and paint plants, trees, bugs, birds, animals, and much more in this exciting eco-art class. Projects include nature sketching, animal sculptures, ink painting, nature prints, watercolor painting, and plein air painting. Offered by professional artist and experienced art educator Dawn Malosh, founder of Outside Art Programs. Visit www.outsideartlessons.com for more information.

Eco-Art Kids
Sundays, May 8, 15, and 22, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $45 members, $50 general public
Young artists in grades K–3 will have opportunities to explore with natural materials while expressing themselves creatively in this discovery-based art and nature class. Projects include nature prints, mud painting, earth art, nature sculptures, fiber weaving, and much more!

An Arboretum Campout
July 30–31, beginning at 6 p.m.
Fee: $10 per person/$45 per family
Enjoy a midsummer campout under the stars with your family. Roast hotdogs and marshmallows over a meadow bonfire, catch fireflies, take a flashlight hike, and relax to the strains of a wetland serenade. A representative of the Delmarva Stargazers will be on hand to uncover the mysteries of the night sky, and an ornithologist will lead a morning bird walk. Bring your own snacks and tents; light supper and breakfast fare are provided.