Phantom Gardener's 2010 Workshop Series
The next best thing to being in the garden is learning in the company of fellow gardeners: enjoying the shared knowledge, the mutual enthusiasm, the sense ofbeing part of a tradition almost as old as humankind itself. We invite you to look through our workshop offerings this year; there are free wellness activities and walks in the yard, beginning and advanced gardening topics, even a workshop forthe little gardeners in your life. We look forward to seeing you! Workshops are $15 each, payable in advance unless otherwise indicated. To register please call 845-876-8606 or mail your payment to The Phantom Gardener 6837 Route 9 Rhinebeck, New York 12572.
Winter Wellness Workshops – FREE!! At Phantom, our passion for organic gardening goes hand-in-hand with our interest in general wellness. As our gift to you, we are offering two FREE winter workshops on topics of holistic health. Sign up for one or both, and get your year off to a more positive, more energetic start! Sunday, February 7 @ 1 p.m. FREE!! Therapeutic Essential Oils: Nature's Health Insurance Program Essential oils, the steam-distilled lifeblood of plants, were already in use thousands of years ago for balancing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual systems. Times have changed, but our need for balance remains! Join aromacologist Joan Apter for a hands-on "playshop" and learn to use essential oils for enhancing immune function, relieving pain and stress, uplifting mood and purifying your environment. Bring questions and concerns, and prepare to be amazed by the profound effect aromatherapy can have on your life. www.apteraromatherapy.com Saturday, February 13 @ 10 a.m. FREE!! Move Your Body, Change Your Mindset The idea of cozying up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa is so appealing during the winter months. Yet, too much inactivity can start an unhealthy cycle of increasing lethargy and decreasing mood. Let psychotherapist and wellness coach Pamela Neimeth, LMSW introduce you to a series of exercises that will get you moving, and send your winter blues packing! Come dressed for activity and leave with a healthier, more spirited approach that will help you sail through the season.
Gardening & More
Saturday, February 20 @ 10 a.m. What’s So Great About Houseplants? How many things can add beauty to your life and provide a creative outlet, all while cleaning the air in your home? If you have overlooked the joys and benefits of indoor gardening, it’s time to let Phantom’s own Sybille Schubert share her infectious passion for houseplants. She’ll introduce you to unusual tropicals, demystify the intimidating orchid, share tips for plant selection and care, and offer creative ideas for display.
Sunday, February 28 @ 10 a.m. The Organic Vegetable Garden
The healthiest way to eat is local and organic, and nothing is more local than your own backyard. Phantom owner Norbert Lazar, who got hisstart installing organic kitchen gardens, will inspire you to grow yourown produce in this overview of organic vegetable gardening. Learn about soil preparation, seed selection and plant varieties, disease and pest control, composting and more. There's nothing quite like the taste of a tomato picked from your own garden!
Saturday, March 13 @ 10 a.m. The Practical Garden Calendar Do seasonal garden chores tend to sneak up on you? Do you always miss the sowing dates for your favorite annuals? Would you like to spend less time playing catch-up and more time playing? Andrew Koehn, who expertly manages the gardens at Mohonk Mountain House to such stunning effect, can help you map out a calendar appropriate for your gardening year. You’ll leave feeling organized and ready to embrace the growing season! Bring a calendar with space for notes, or purchase a journal at Phantom.
Sunday, March 21 @ 10 a.m. Triumph with a Trowel: Tips for Your Most Successful Gardening Season Ever Manager of Outdoor Gardens at The New York Botanical Garden, Brad Roeller has spent decades overseeing fabulous horticultural displays, as well as his own residential showplace. Reap the benefits of his experience, as he shares the secrets to his success: picking the right plant for the right place, the best techniques for establishing plants in the landscape, and the proper maintenance for keeping your gardens looking their best. A great way to kick off spring, feeling empowered!
Saturday March 27 @ 10 a.m. Gonzo Gardening: Priorities, Shortcuts & the Part-Time Gardener “Gonzo gardening” is more about gritty style than polished perfection, about being involved with your landscape, not a slave to it. Learn the short cuts, low-maintenance tips, smart plant choices and prioritization employed by professionals in their own landscapes to keep gardening a manageable pleasure. Phantom’s own Norbert Lazar and Eli Joseph-Hunter will be joined by host of “The Garden Show” on WKZE, Sally Spillane for a lively and informative roundtable that will be especially helpful for weekend gardeners.
Sunday, April 11 @ 10 a.m. It’s Not Your Mother’s Front Yard The days of formula front yards – with uptight shrubbery and regimented perennials – are gone. This area of your landscape can be a welcoming expression of your style and a livable space. Explore the myriad possibilities for plant material, while addressing practical issues such as circulation and minimizing that unsightly garage door. Landscape architect and design instructor David Dew Bruner will inspire you with his artful approach to the landscape, and help you achieve a new vision for your front yard.
Sunday, April 25th @ 10 a.m. EARTH DAY FREEBIE! What Lies Beneath: Fertilizers & Soil health BBC broadcaster Marion Cran wrote “.... if I wanted to have a happy garden, I must ally myself with my soil.” It’s true: for a prolific garden, you must first consider the quality of the earth in which it grows, and learn how to feed the soil, not just the plants. Join Wade Long from Dr. Earth for a discussion of soil health, and how fertilizers can best be used to enhance it. You’ll learn why organics offer the best source of nutrition, and that not all fertilizers are created equal!
Sunday, April 25th @ 1 p.m. EARTH DAY FREEBIE! Pruning Basics Do you often find yourself poised with pruners, yet unsure about what, where and when to cut? Pruning can be such a daunting task, and yet is so important for achieving the optimal health, growth and form for your woody plants. Let Phantom owner Norbert Lazar guide you through the basics, and learn how to prune everything from evergreen screens to deciduous trees to ornamental shrubs. Dress for being outdoors, and bring your pruning shears and questions. Sunday, May 2 @ 10 a.m. Deer-Resistant Shade Plants Given up hope on that shady area of your landscape that is also a favorite spot for the deer? Planted some pachysandra and called it a day? Thought about paving it over? Master plantsman Michael Ruggiero felt your pain, with a similar setting on his Hudson Valley property. He tested scores of wonderful plants, and will suggest many tempting possibilities for this otherwise difficult setting. Michael is author of several books, including Annuals with Style, and a former Senior Curator at The New York Botanical Garden.
Saturday, May 8 @ 10 a.m. FREE!!Living Fences Make Good Neighbors We love living in the country because of the fresh air, the pastoral beauty – and the quiet seclusion. But a busy roadway, noisy neighbors or an unsightly air conditioning unit can limit our enjoyment of our homes. Increase privacy and add beauty to your property with a living screen. Stroll through our yard with Phantom woody plantsman Eli Joseph-Hunter as he recommends trees and shrubs that can serve as lovely buffers against intrusive sights and sounds, making your property a welcoming sanctuary.
Sunday, May 16 @ 10 a.m. Bog Gardening Have a wet area in your yard that's impossible to plant? Want to introduce moisture-loving plants into an otherwise dry landscape? “Obsessed gardeners” and owners of Hortus Conclusus Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano can guide you through the process of creating a bog garden. By constructing a water-retaining area, or taking advantage of an existing one, you can enjoy a variety of interesting plants, including bog perennials, edibles, and the ever-intriguing carnivorous plants. You’ll never complain about a wet summer again!
Saturday, June 12 @ 10 a.m. Graceful Grasses in the Landscape Is it any wonder ornamental grasses have become so popular? Low-maintenance, hardy and deer resistant, they add graceful motion, textural detail, seasonal color and winter interest to your yard. Let Amy Parrella, Horticulture Supervisor and Arboretum Director at Bard College, introduce you to the many species that thrive in our region. Learn their cultural requirements and ornamental features, and discover creative ways to incorporate them into your landscape. Saturday, June 19 @ 10 a.m. FREE!! Woody Plants for Wet Places Last summer was one of the wettest on record, causing tomato plants to succumb to fungus and gardeners to trade in trellis construction for ark building. Meanwhile, many woody plants fared beautifully, even thrived in the dismal damp. Let woody plant guru Eli Joseph-Hunter whet your appetite for moisture-loving trees and shrubs, perfect for pond and stream edges and other damp areas of your property. The graceful river birch, the lovely native sweet bay magnolia, willows of all sorts – the selection is vast and lovely, just brimming with possibilities!
Sunday, June 27 @ 10 a.m. Gardening with the Stars Some Phantom customers have truly made the most out of their purchases, so we thought we’d start an ongoing series of visits to the gardens of those “Phantom Stars”. For our inaugural tour, the inimitable Andrew Koehn, Garden Manager for Mohonk Mountain House, will join you at the Rhinebeck home of Donna Stanley, former Phantom employee and gardener extraordinaire. This late June visit will showcase Donna’s exquisite delphinium collection, and will provide you with endless inspiration for your own landscape.
Saturday, July 17 @ 10 a.m. Critter Control: Outwitting Deer & Other Pesky Mammals One of the many joys of living in our region is the abundant wildlife. Yet you don't need to allow rabbits, rodents, moles, opossums, raccoons, and deer to treat your property like one big salad bar. Neil Soderstrom is the author of the most comprehensive book on the control of furry garden pests, ranked by the Boston Globe as one of the 10 top garden books of 2009. Based on the latest scientific research and his own observations and testing of mammal behaviors, Neil provides guidance for every season, including fencing options, plant selection, sensory deterrents, scare devices, and live traps of his own design, based on low-cost repurposed materials. (Neil's book will be available at the workshop for purchase and signing.)
Sunday, July 25 @ 10 a.m. Wonderful Weeds & Other Useful Herbals Utility, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder: when it comes to plants, one gardener’s weed may be another’s medicine, and one gardener's kitchen herb can be another's favorite tool in fighting off the common cold. Let permaculture educator and simple-living blogger Anya Raskin open your eyes as she demonstrates how to concoct easy medicinal, cosmetic and domestic preparations from garden plants and common weeds. You’ll find reasons to cultivate plants you might not otherwise consider, and learn more uses for those you already grow - or weed out.
Kids in the GardenWhy should adults have all the fun?!3 Saturdays April 17, May 22 & August 21 from 11-12:30 Incredible Edibles! Kitchen gardening is a great way for kids to learn about nature, horticulture and nutrition while enjoying time outdoors. Let the cheerful Pied Piper of the Phantom gardens, Abbey Hart lead young ones on a season-spanning adventure of growing their own food. Participants will begin in April, planting lettuces and a pole bean tepee. Return in late May to enjoy a salad party and put in the next round of crops – tomatoes, zukes and cukes, cheerful sunflowers and more. The workshop will wrap up in August with more harvesting and sampling. Along the way, they’ll take home seedlings for their own yards, and learn important lessons about organic methods, composting, even participate in a ladybug release! Sign up the youngsters in your life and jump start a lifetime of gardening.
This workshop is recommended for kids ages 6-11, and has a limited enrollment. The fee is $20 per session, $45 for all three, and includes all materials and instruction. |
