KINGSTON, R.I. – May 16, 2005 — Amateur gardeners interested in learning about specific facets of their hobby are invited to participate in the second Summer Gardening School sponsored by the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Cooperative Extension. This informal series of eight bi-weekly sessions, including tours of the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Botanical Garden, will be held on Tuesday evenings from May 24 to Aug. 30.
“This year’s school is designed to address many of the challenges facing both new and experienced gardeners, ranging from the environmental concerns faced by gardeners living along the coast to how much shade will shade-tolerant plants tolerate,” explained Marion Gold, director of the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Cooperative Extension Education Center.
In addition to shade gardening and coastal landscaping, participants in the Summer Gardening School may attend sessions covering sustainable gardening practices, maintaining an orchard, installing water gardens, growing healthier vegetables, cultivating new varieties of roses, and managing a hobby greenhouse.
“These are very informal sessions,” Gold said. “They are not so much ‘classes’ as evening strolls through äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBվ’s gardens, lead by an expert in the field. Participants may attend as many sessions as they wish – it is not necessary to take the entire series.”
The sessions will be taught by a variety of äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Master Gardeners, Cooperative Extension staff and other experts. Most sessions will be held in the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Botanical Gardens, located at 3 East Alumni Avenue, on the Kingston Campus. Some sessions will be held at äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBվ’s East Farm, located on Route 108, about one mile south of Route 138. All sessions will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The fee is $15 for each lecture. No university academic credits are earned through this series.
For more information or to register for these events, call the Cooperative Extension Education Center at 401-874-2900.