Duke Gardens events: Jan.-Aug. 2012

Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ new education guide is now online. The PDF includes class descriptions, instructor information, meeting times/locations and fees for all classes between January and August 2012.

Below is a quick rundown of the season’s offerings, including page numbers where you can find more information. Please also see our education/events page with links to different types of classes and events and information about how to register.

As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions for our enrichment programs. We hope to see you here soon!

Children and Family Classes

Mysteries of Magnetism (Feb. 25) – pg. 6

Nature’s Kazoos (March 10) – pg. 5 (canceled)

Nature Storytime: Free Drop-in Book Club (March 15, April 7, May 5, May 17, June 2, and June 21) – pg. 7

Wind World (March 24) – pg. 5

Nature Ranger Cart: Free Drop-in Activities (Fridays, April, May, and June) – pg. 7

Nature for Sprouts (Fridays, April 6-27 or May 4-25) – pg. 7

Feathered Friends (April 7) – pg. 5

Nature for Sprouts (Fridays, April 6-27 or May 4-25) – pg. 4

Nature Adventures Camp: CAMP OUT! (April 9-13) – pg. 8

Spring Family Fun: Free Drop-in Activities (April 15 & 29, May 6 & 20) – pg. 7

Heroes and Villains (April 25) – pg. 6

Drip Drop: Be a Raindrop for a Day (April 28) – pg. 5

Seed and Soil Olympics (May 5) – pg. 6

Awesome Amoebas (May 26) – pg. 6

Paperhand Puppet Intervention (June 10) – pg. 7. Canceled by the artists. Sorry.

Nature Adventures Camp: Become a Scientist (June 11-15) – pg. 8

Nature Adventures Camp: Treasure Hunters (June 18-22) – pg. 8

Nature Adventures Camp: Science of the Sun (June 18-22) – pg. 8

Nature Adventures Camp: Animal Homes (June 25-29) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Animals in the Garden (June 25-29) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Treasure Hunters 2 (July 9-13) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Time Travelers (July 9-13) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Drawing on Nature (Aug. 6-10 and/or Aug. 13-17) – pg. 9

Gardening and Horticulture

Ikebana International club (2nd Monday monthly) – pg. 24

Triangle Orchid Society (2nd Monday monthly) – pg. 24

Durham Garden Forum: “A Garden of Moss” (Jan. 17) – pg. 18

Planting the Landscape: Design II (3 Tuesdays, Jan. 17-31) – pg. 14

Plants of Distinction: Winter/Spring (Jan. 18, March 7, May 16, July 18) – pg. 14

Vegetable Gardening Through the Year (3 Thursdays, Jan. 19-Feb. 2; March 22-April 5) – pg. 15

Gardening with Herbs (Jan. 22; part of the Master Gardeners’ Extension Gardener Series) – pg. 19
Beekeeping for Beginners (2 Saturdays, Feb. 4-11) – pg. 15

Durham Garden Forum: “Great Perennials for the Garden Bed” (Feb. 21) – pg. 18

Native Plants in our Gardens (Feb. 26; part of the Master Gardeners’ Extension Gardener Series) – pg. 19

Spring Flower Walk in the Arboretum (March 9 and/or April 13) – pg. 13

Container Gardening (March 18; part of the Master Gardeners’ Extension Gardener Series) – pg. 19

Durham Garden Forum: “Herb Gardening” (March 20) – pg. 18

Historic Gardens Color Walk (April 5 and/or May 3) – pg. 13

Lecture: "Across the Pond: A Celebration of 300 Years of Anglo-American Gardening" (April 5) – pg. 16

Spring Pruning (April 7) – pg. 16

Durham Garden Forum: “Vegetables as Ornament” (April 17) – pg. 18

Durham Garden Forum: “Introduction to Plant Propagation” (May 15) – pg. 18

Japanese Gardens in the U.S.: Growing from Cultural Outreach to Community Restoration (May 15, 7-9 p.m.; newly added program).

Durham Garden Forum: “Garden Advice Fair” (July 17) – pg. 18

Durham Garden Forum: “Creating New Plants” (June 19) – pg. 18

Field Trips

Early Spring Jewels: Field Studies (March 31) – pg. 28

Local Flora: Spring (4 Saturdays, April 7, 14, 28, May 5) – pg. 29

Wildflowers and Waterfalls (May 11-13) – pg. 20

Hemlock Bluff (June 3) – pg. 21

Botanical Art and Craft

Moss Gardens in a Dish (Jan. 21) – pg. 25

Creating Your Own Bonsai Plant (Feb. 18) – pg. 25

Designing with Flowers (6 Saturdays, Feb. 25-March 31) – pg. 26

Spring Flower Basket (April 5) – pg. 25

Creativity and Choice: Floral Design Studio (canceled) – pg. 26

Terrarium (June 9) – pg. 26

Natural History

Walk on the Wild Side (Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, Aug. 2) – pg. 13

Winter Botany (2 Saturdays, Jan. 21-28) – pg. 27

Human Impact on the Environment: The Ecology of Change (4 Wednesdays, Feb. 8-29) – pg. 27

Basic Botany and Plant Growth (4 Thursdays, Feb. 9-March 1) – pg. 28

Water: The Ecology of Change (4 Tuesdays, Feb. 21-March 13) – pg. 28

Early Spring Jewels: Field Studies (March 31) – pg. 28

Local Flora: Spring (4 Saturdays, April 7, 14, 28, May 5) – pg. 29

Bird Walks (April 7 & 28) – pg. 29

Nature Photography

Durham Photography Club (2nd Monday monthly) – pg. 24 (info on their Facebook page)

Digital Photography: Understanding Digital Camera, Camera to Computer & Photo Editing (3 Wednesdays, Jan. 18-Feb. 1) – pg. 31

Nature Photography Winter Workshop (Jan 28-29) – pg. 30

Introduction to Nature Photography (Feb. 10-12) – pg. 31

Photoshop for the Nature Photographer (3 Saturdays, Feb. 11-25) – pg. 31

Learn from the Masters (3 Saturdays, March 31-April 14) – pg. 32

Photographing Plants (2 Wednesdays, May 16 & 23, and Saturday, May 19) – pg. 32

Composition and Light (2 Thursdays, June 14 & 21, and Saturday, June 16) – pg. 32

Image Improvement Before Post-Processing (Saturday, June 23) – pg. 33

Photographing North Carolina (July 12, 7-9 p.m.; newly added program)

Japanese Tea Gatherings

First Voice of Spring Tea (Friday, Feb. 24) – pg. 34

St. Patrick’s Day Tea (Saturday, March 17) – pg. 34

Cherry Blossom Festival (Sunday, March 25) – pg. 34

Spring Blossoms Tea (Friday, April 13) – pg. 34

Children’s Day Tea (Saturday, May 5) – pg. 34

Special Events

Swing at the Gardens - swing dance (Saturday, Feb. 11)

Spring Plant Sale (Saturday, March 31, 8 a.m.-noon; Gardens member pre-sale, March 30)

Duke Performances' Music in the Gardens summer series (more info)

Duke Gardens February Events

Curator Stefan Bloodworth leads the Walk on the Wild Side tours.

Following is our February schedule of classes and special events. Please call 668-1707 or e-mail Alice LeDuc for more information. We hope to see you at Duke Gardens soon!

Thursday, Feb. 2, 1-4 p.m.
Chinese Brush Painting
Visiting artist Alice Zhao, from Hubei Province in China, will teach technical skills and help you explore basic strokes and complete a painting of bamboo, orchids, animals or other Chinese-inspired images. $50; $40 Gardens Friends. See blog post about Chinese Brush Painting here.

Thursday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.-noon
Tour: Walk on the Wild Side
Join curator Stefan Bloodworth in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to see which plants are in bloom, learn strategies to design with native plants and discuss regional ecology and global environmental issues affecting native ecosystems, and your role in protecting our home planet. $5; free for Gardens Friends. Registration required. Details on all Gardens tours here.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Soils
Learn to assess soil using simple field tests and then how to remediate the soil deficiencies you find. Instructor Daniel D. Richter Jr., professor of soils and forest ecology at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, will introduce you to texture and ribbon tests to determine just what is in your soil. Then he will help you devise a plan to improve your soil structure, water retention capacity and nutritional value for your garden plants. All lab materials included. $75; $60 Gardens Friends.

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2-4 p.m.
The Soil Food Web: It’s Alive
*CANCELED* Soil is an intricate web of plants, animals and rock that reflects the plant community it supports. Join instructor Daniel D. Richter Jr., professor of soils and forest ecology at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, for specific information about sustainably managing your garden soil. $15; $10 Gardens Friends.

Tuesdays, Feb. 9, 16, 23, 7-9 p.m.
History of Nature Photography
Become acquainted with some of the great names and works in nature photography as you learn the powerful influence nature photography has had in our country. Work with profession photographer Jennifer Weinberg to develop your ideas and practice techniques first used by the masters. $75; $60 Gardens Friends.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6:30-8 p.m.
Durham Garden Forum
Forum meets monthly to learn from expert speakers and to troubleshoot. This month: Landscape design strategies with Jan Little, director of education and public programs. $10/ free for members. Information: 237-3376; Durhamgardenforum@gmail.com. See more on the Garden Forum here.

Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 14
Workshops & free lecture with author Toby Hemenway
Hemenway is a frequent teacher, consultant and lecturer on permaculture and ecological design throughout the U.S. and other countries. These special events are co-presented with Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. All events full. Details here.

Friday, Feb. 12 10:45 a.m.-noon.
Traditional Japanese Tea Gathering
As a guest to Tea, you will experience the patterns and poetry of Chado, or the Japanese “way of tea,” while enjoying an enticing bowl of whisked tea and a seasonal treat. Meet at the Doris Duke Center, then head to the Japanese Pavilion. $30; $20 Gardens Friends. Additional tea gatherings will be April 10 and May 7, and there'll be a family Japanese Tea Gathering March 6 and May 8 for families with children age 6 and older.

Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 15-16, 3-5 p.m.
Geology of the Piedmont
Duncan Heron, professor emeritus of geology at Duke University, will discuss the forces that have acted on our land and the rock formations that underlie the various soils that are the basis for the different plant communities in the Piedmont and especially the Triangle. Class also includes a 4-hour field trip Feb. 19. $75; $60 Gardens Friends.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1-4 p.m.
Rose Care and Pruning
Roses are unique, in their history and in the inspiration people find in them. Join David Pike, of Durham’s Witherspoon Rose Culture, to learn how to work with roses and create the most vigorous growth and flowering for your enjoyment. $20; $15 Gardens Friends.

Saturday, Feb 20, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
2010 Spring Gardening Symposium: Your Natural Garden
Your garden is essential to the health of our world. Learn how to extend that environmental contribution. Includes an optional garden dinner and Sunday workshop. See a brochure here. Register online here or call 684-4444.

Friday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m.
Tour: Spring Flower Walk in the Arboretum
Join Culberson Asiatic Arboretum curator Paul Jones as he guides you to some of the little-known garden spaces and unique plants. $5; free for Gardens Friends. Pre-registration required. Additional Flower Walks March 19, April 9 and May 14. Details on all Gardens tours here.

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2-4 p.m.
Free class: Smart Water Management in the Home Landscape
County consumer horticulture agent Michelle Wallace will teach several methods of managing water in the home landscape, including irrigation approaches, water harvesting, water-wise gardening and creating rain gardens. (Registration required.)