Wild Turkey on the Rocks? Ecosystems of Southeast Impact Numbers

Meleagris gallopavo.The reintroduction of America's beloved
holiday fowl has been one of conservation's great triumphs--
but now some populations are plummeting. What's going on?
Photograph by Andrew Zuckerman.

By T. Edward Nickens

Audubon Magazine, November-December 2013

 

The scene is a staple of American holiday traditions, a verity founded during the birth pangs of the nation. The place: Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts. The year: 1621. In countless illustrations of what is considered that first Thanksgiving feast, tables groan with the harvest of field and forest while black-clad Pilgrims and leather-clad Wampanoag natives encircle the centerpiece dish--a perfectly browned wild turkey. While there's no question that a harvest meal was held in Plymouth Colony, there's no direct evidence that a turkey made the menu. The one surviving document that mentions the formative feast suggests that the big bird on the table--or birds, considering that the gathering drew 140 or more--was likely goose or duck. Just prior to the fete, wrote Plymouth leader Edward Winslow, the colony governor "sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoyce together after we had gathered the fruit of our labours."

Kathleen Wall, a culinary expert at Plimoth Plantation, the Massachusetts living history museum, provides some insight. "When Englishmen referred to 'fowling,' they are generally talking about waterfowl. Winslow specifically mentions deer, so we know there was venison on the table. And earlier, the governor wrote that turkeys were plentiful that year." After that oblique reference, however, the turkey track goes cold. "As far as that first harvest meal," Wall allows, "we simply can't say there was turkey."

These days that's not the only mystery surrounding Meleagris gallopavo. The reintroduction of the wild turkey to North America is frequently touted as the greatest wildlife conservation success story of the last century. Heavily hunted since the earliest days of European occupation, pushed out of huge swaths of its range by logging and land clearing, wild turkey populations reached a nadir in the early 1930s, with a continental population of about 30,000 birds. Today, after a massive trap-and-transfer effort that has spanned a quarter-century, about 7 million wild turkeys strut, gobble, and yelp from every state where they are native, and then some. "This was a monumental, continent-wide effort," says Tom Hughes, assistant vice president of conservation programs for the National Wild Turkey Federation. "There aren't many stories as inspiring in the history of wildlife conservation."

See full article, http://goo.gl/vVy2gc.

Counterpoin(settia): Break Out of the Poinsettia Rut for Holiday Florals

By Lindsey Taylor

WSJ, Nov. 22, 2013

When the holidays sneak up on you, with all their attendant stress, it's tempting to take the easy way out. Ordering gift cards for everyone. Grabbing a quart of supermarket eggnog. Buying a few no-brainer poinsettias in their blandly cheery foil and plopping them in the usual spots. But the nagging sense that you didn't muster much originality can just add to your anxiety. So I try to resist the path of least resistance, at least when it comes to living things. It doesn't take much extra effort to overcome predictability, and it leaves me feeling strangely peaceful.

To be clear, I have nothing against poinsettias, the humble genus native to Mexico. As with most botanical clichés, it's not so much the plant that's tired as how people use them. My primary advice: Get rid of the foil and pop the plastic container into another vessel. It could be an urn you bring in from the garden, a silver ice bucket or a Chinese decorative pot. I like clustering a group of mini poinsettias—one of the happy consequences of extensive breeding—on a table in Ben Wolff's Milton Pots or Footed Herb Pots ( grdnbklyn.com ). For a more organic approach, try wrapping the plastic pot in burlap. And don't assume that supermarket poinsettias are the only options: It's possible to find the plant at garden centers in unusual colors like apricot, salmon or variegated pink and cream.

But the poinsettia isn't the only plant that looks good this time of year and evokes a sense of the holidays. When searching out alternatives, I focus on flowers that are currently at their peak—e.g., those of tropical origin—and somehow seasonal in hue. I tend to stick to white and shades of pink and red. In the depths of winter, scent is a bonus. After all, a seasonal tableau is about bringing nature indoors, despite the odds.
     
One of my favorites is the florist cyclamen (3, 9)—which often shows up in Home Depots, garden centers and florists soon after Thanksgiving—a softer, shyer alternative to the in-your-face poinsettia. Their butterfly-like flowers are either quite petite or larger (up to 1.5 inches) and range in color from snowy white to soft pink to deep crimson. Their sweet, intricately marked heart-shaped leaves add to their appeal. Water cyclamens carefully. Too much and they wilt; too little and they dry up—so wait until the soil is dry to the touch and make sure it's draining well.

Then there are the easy "forced bulbs," such as amaryllises (6, 12) and paperwhites (8), that you nurture into bloom; both make great hostess gifts. You can either mail-order bulbs online (try whiteflowerfarm.com or brentandbeckysbulbs.com ) and pot up your own, or buy ready-made kits at garden centers or big-box hardware stores. The resplendent amaryllis comes in many varieties, from spidery striped blooms ('Lima' or 'La Paz') to elegant white trumpets with green throats ('Evergreen' or 'Trentino'), to name a couple. For paperwhites—which stand tall like a host of particularly attentive angels—I look for the newer varieties like 'Galilee', 'Inbal' or 'Nir.' Their scent is less off-puttingly intense than some of their breed. Like amaryllises, paperwhites look great in groupings, planted in terra-cotta pots and dressed with moss. Unlike poinsettias, which are static, both plants continually grow and change, sending up shoots and edging their way into bloom.

Though winter is the peak bloom time for orchids (4, 10), this flower is often perceived as too refined to be jolly, and overlooked in favor of the more assertively festive poinsettia. But if your taste leans toward the modern, a white Phalaenopsis (moth) orchid is an elegant indulgence. I find a pink orchid refreshing, too. And, of course, orchids last months longer than any cut flowers. Find them at the suppliers mentioned above, and (incredibly affordably) at IKEA. Keep them out of direct light and water once a week.
Though merely green, topiaries can be lovely. I like to line a mantle with myrtle (5) that's been whimsically shaped into small trees or balls ( shopterrain.com ). And one of my favorite moves is to group little cypress trees (7) in a window box indoors or out. You end up with a miniature forest that's Christmassy but not over the top. Look for the variety called 'Lemon' which has a citrus scent ( shopterrain.com ).

I'm also a fan of Christmas cactus (1), a tough houseplant that can live on little water and light and which blooms in the winter, hence its name. Nestled into a pretty pot with its cascading flowers spilling over the edge of a foyer table, it welcomes your dinner guests when you're too preoccupied with cooking to do much more than mumble "Hello." If you can't find a Christmas cactus at the grocery store or Home Depot, try eBay, which offers an almost implausibly wide variety.

Finally, two plants that are normally seen outdoors—and too low to the ground to be fully appreciated: I recently noticed that farmers' markets and florists were offering small potted heathers (2), with their sprigs of vibrant magenta, and Lenten rose or hellebore Niger (13, pre-bloom), whose subtle beauty will impress your gardener friends. It's rare to see these hardy plants up-close when they're flowering. And if the ground in your area hasn't frozen, you can plant them in the garden to grow on once the hectic season's done.

Gardens + Art: NC Botanical Gardens presents "Sculpture in the Garden"

Don't forget to visit the NC Botanical Gardens exhibit on thru Dec. 8.

Every fall the North Carolina Botanical Garden hosts an outdoor exhibition of exciting sculptures by North Carolina artists. This year, for the 25th anniversary of this dynamic exhibition, we have 44 pieces of outstanding art framed by our fall garden landscapes. Twenty-eight artists, 9 of whom are new to the show, were chosen to bring in their artwork that has been delighting visitors. Be sure to visit several times over the more than two-months-long exhibition! Read an article about the show in the Daily Tar Heel.

The juror for the 2013 invitational sculpture show was Steve Litt, art and architecture critic from The Plain Dealer (and formerly of the Raleigh News & Observer). Awards were announced at the festive opening reception on September 20th:

Best in Show Award—Mark Hewitt's Polka Vase, above left
People's Choice Award—Stan Harmon's Dionaea Muscipula Arboresque, above right
Merit Awards: Joseph Gargasz's Amulets 1 - 10 and Craig Usher's Crushed Up Wave (see link to photos, below)

View the sculptures and artists' statements HERE.
Purchase sculptures HERE.

There is no admission fee for visiting Sculpture in the Garden or any part of the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Please come and enjoy a self-guided tour anytime now through December 8.

Turning Water Into Trees: Water Bill Program Funds Durham Beautification

Redbuds Cercis canadensis  blooming in downtown Durham.

By Alex Johnson City of Durham
The Durham Herald
 

As of this week there is an easy way for you to support planting more trees in Durham, and you should really consider doing it. The “Water into Trees”  program allows water customers to contribute a  little or a lot via their water bill to the fund that allows the city’s Urban Forestry crews to replace some of the trees that they take down, and even make up for  the loss of trees elsewhere. 
The amount you donate is up to you.  You can round-up your bill to the nearest dollar, allowing you to slowly contribute as time goes by, or you can increase you bill each month by a set amount.  You can also make a one-time donation with the option to contribute in honor of someone or to commemorate an event.
 
So what’s the connection between water and trees?  It’s been known for a long time that trees located in areas where water quality is low on account of urban conditions can help bring pollution levels down.  They do this by putting out a canopy over paved or compacted surfaces, intercepting and slowing the movement of water, and taking up a lot of the excess water and pollution (in the form of nutrients) through their roots.  Those roots also hold together soil and keep erosion in check. 
Durham has enjoyed steady growth, despite the recent recession, and as we develop and pave over areas that once were forest, our ability to manage the flow of water moving through our storm sewers becomes increasingly challenging.  One way to manage pollutants from impervious surfaces is to  plant more trees, and we will happily do it for you, on city right-of-way, and take care of them into the future.
 
However, we can’t do it without help.  The amount of money needed to purchase a tree to be planted in an urban setting varies according to size, species and the overall trend in nursery costs.  Each year the allotted funding for tree planting in Durham is subject to the budgetary process, which in recent years has called for cuts and creative resource management. 
Having a budget that is supported by voluntary contributions helps to fill the gaps left by cuts and material price increases. It also clearly illustrates that the residents of this proud community care about their trees. 
 
 If you are interested in opting into the program, or adopting a tree, visit the Urban Forestry website at http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/gs/Pages/Urban-Forestry.aspx , or shoot me an email at Alexander.Johnson@durhamnc.gov .
 
Alex Johnson is urban forestry manager for the City of Durham.

2013 Durham Veterans Hospital Poinsettia Project

2012 Poinsettia Project in the Durham VA Hospital Chapel.

Heritage Garden Club is selling red poinsettias to be displayed in the chapel of the Durham VA Hospital for patients to enjoy through the holidays. The poinsettias are in 6-inch pots, 18-20” tall with green foil pot covers and sell for $7 each.
The Heritage Garden Club asks that you consider purchasing a poinsettia in memory or in honor of someone in the military. Each plant will have a name placard of a service member honored, as well their name listed on a large poster in the hospital's main lobby and a second poster on the adjacent wall to the chapel. Members of the Heritage Garden Club will water the poinsettias throughout December, and in January the plants will be donated to patients who might enjoy caring for them.

Profits from the 2013 Poinsettia Project will go toward the 2014 Memorial Day flowers placed on all patients’ dinner trays and for flower arrangements for Veterans Day.

Orders http://goo.gl/yYdKQ3 with payment must be received by Nov. 17. Make checks payable to:

HERITAGE GARDEN CLUB
2116 W. Club Blvd.
Durham, NC 27705

For more information please call Marcia Loudon at 919-957-0266 or Martha Sanderford at 919-680-0105.

Top 10 Tips for Winterizing Your Roses

Mulch should be added to the bud union of roses
to protect from freezing. 

By Witherspoon Rose Culture

The blooming season comes to a close in autumn. During this dormant stage, take care of important gardening tasks, to ensure your next spring is as breathtaking as you always dreamed!

1.      Plants should be reduced in height (waist high) to prevent breakage from winter winds.  Climbers remain tall but should be secured to the trellis or fence.  Cut leggy branches from Tree roses to produce a rounded shape.
2.      This is a good time to apply lime as needed to obtain a pH of around 6 to 6.5. (The local Agricultural Extension Agency is a great resource for soil testing & evaluation)
3.      Mulch should be mounded around the base of rose plants to protect from winter freezes.
4.      Timed irrigation systems should be shut down for the winter.
5.      Container grown plants should be moved closer to the house to protect against winter winds. Extreme climates would require more drastic measures.
6.      Check the health of your plants and place an order for fresh bareroot roses to arrive  January through mid-April.  Replace plants that are spindly or reduced to less than 3 healthy canes (pencil diameter).
7.      Dilute Lime-Sulfur with water and spray over entire bed including the ground.  This is very important to rid your garden of pests and black spot spores that would harbor over the winter.
8.      Transplanting roses can be done successfully during this dormant stage.  Carefully prepare the new spot 16" deep, enriched with cow manure and soil conditioner.  Placing spade 10" from base of plant dig straight down into the bed in a circle around the plant, trying not to cut roots.  Lift the plant with the shovel and carry it directly to the new spot.  Fill in soil and cover the plant with a mound of mulch.  Water 3-5 gal.
9.      Make plans for new rose beds or additions.  Autumn is the perfect time to prepare the soil for winter or spring plantings as the soil has time to set and stabilize.  Turn over the soil 16" deep and apply proper soil amendments to produce a light loamy mixture.  (Or call a professional rose specialist)
10. Clean, sharpen and oil shears and pruners to prepare for spring pruning.

Feel free to call Witherspoon Rose Culture in Durham at (919) 489-4446 or (800) 643-0315 should you have any questions about your rose care. Or visit www.witherspoonrose.com. With over 60 years invested in the rose care and rose sales business, Witherspoon knows roses.

Jihye Shumann Teaches Special Occasion and Holiday Flower Arrangements, Nov. 13

Award-winning floral designer Jihye Shumann will lead a demonstration of three special occasion and holiday arrangements using affordable, easily obtainable materials Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Chatham Community Library.

The purpose of this class is to introduce holiday designs with affordable materials that are easily accessible for people without access to wholesalers. We will do three different designs primarily from three different sources. These sources will be from local gardens, the produce section, and grocery store bouquets. I have attached a picture of one of the designs I thinking about doing. This is for a table centerpiece, and the dimensions are around 17in. long x 8in. wide x 11in. tall.

Jihye Schumann began studying floral design 14 years ago in Seoul, Korea where she won several design competitions. In 2006 she came to the United States to continue her studies in horticulture at Texas A&M. She was awarded membership into AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) in 2007. She has given demonstrations at the Texas floral convention, assisted with classes for the Benz School of Floral Design, participated in several design shows, and given various presentations and workshops in floral design. She has worked for Dr. Delphinium in Dallas, Texas, which won National Retail Florist of the Year in 2012 by Florists’ Review Magazine and the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association. In 2013 she was awarded designer of the year by the Northern Piedmont Florist Association.


The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Chatham Community Library. Free and open to the public. Due to limited space, pre-registration is required. Call (919) 545-8084.

Wine Country Garden: Newton Vineyard

The winery possesses a breathtaking view of the
corkscrew topiaries and cypress trees that frame the
parterre garden, which cleverly covers the
chardonnay cellar and acts as natural insulation.
Photos by Eric Wolfinger.

Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley boasts some of the most distinctive and delicious wines in the world, but the gardens are equally exquisite

By Margot Shaw
FlowerMagazine.com

Devising a secretive method of tasting wine in his father’s cellar at age 9 was something of a giveaway about Peter Newton’s future passion for viniculture. The fact that this early childhood subterfuge took place in his home in London, England, would explain his proclivity for gardening. Combine these traits with a marriage to Su Hua—a woman of sophistication, imagination, and mad marketing skills, who honed her sartorial style on the catwalk for Coco Chanel and meanwhile procured an M.D. after her name—and have the essence of the personality of the gardens at Newton Vineyard in St. Helena, California. Molly Chappellet’s pronouncement in Gardens of the Wine Country (Chronicle Books, 1998), “Show me a garden and I’ll show you the person,” could be referencing this garden and its originators specifically.

The first Napa Valley vineyards and gardens date back to the 1860s when settlers from France, Italy, and Germany staked their claims and plowed the ground by hand and horse. They also, in the process, layered the land with their cultural DNA, thereby adding and immediate Old World dimension to the frontier. Building on this foundation, Newton—the Oxford-educated former newspaper writer, paper manufacturer, and lifelong amateur garden designer—purchased 560 mountaintop acres in the Mayacamas Mountains, and carved out vineyards and gardens. Newton, with his love of natural beauty and things English and continental, and wanting to add Chinese notes to the symphony, drew a landscape incorporating all of the above. His daughter, Gail Showley, once told the San Francisco Chronicle, “He loved wine and he loved gardens. I remember lying in the dirt with him, with a string, trying to figure out where to plant something or put the box hedges.”

Drive into Newton Vineyard and you’re met by a jaunty red British phone booth accompanied by a sleek, rusty-red Asian-style lamp, the first of many that pepper the property. Ascending the hillside to the winery and gardens, there’s a scenic overlook outlined in oh-so-British ancient staddle stones that look like playful mushrooms. Next, a hillside of English garden roses leads up to French parterres and exuberant English borders, surrounded by corkscrew juniper topiary trees to rival Versailles, and a phalanx of Italian cypresses. At the top of the gardens stands a shiny Chinese-red torii gate, signaling the private family residence further up the mountain. And for luncheon parties, tastings, or special events, there’s a terrace dotted with bright-red tables, chairs, and umbrellas. From there, guests enjoy a breathtaking view of the vineyards including a distant, lone pine tree poignantly perched at the highest point on the property. This tree, affectionately known by all in the area as “Pino Solo,” is the emblem on Newton Vineyard wine labels. The silhouette of this stand-alone tree articulates the mantra of the vineyard, “singular wines created from a singular passion.”
 
For full article, see http://www.flowermag.com/article/wine-country-garden/                                              

Give Thanks in Style: Create a Tablescape

Sybil Sylvester of Wildflower Designs created this tablescape for a Thanksgiving lunch. Flower list, large topiary: millet grass, sunflowers, autumn chrysanthemum, eucalyptus, berried viburnum, and mango calla lilies. Flower list, smaller topiaries: fresh lavender, fountain grass, viburnum berries, and Physocarpus. Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Rebecca Hawkinsrom, from Flowermag.com.

Nurturing Sustainable Community Gardens: How To Get Rooted In Your Community Seminar, Nov. 9

NOTE: Registration for this event is full.

 

Community gardeners from across North Carolina will gather for a day of learning, sharing and networking on Saturday, Nov. 9,  at Durham Technical College.

The event – Nurturing Sustainable Community Gardens: How To Get Rooted In Your Community – will feature presentations on community gardening topics from food raising to fundraising, a community garden tour, and a lively Pecha Kucha showcase of creative garden ideas. It is sponsored by the North Carolina Community Garden Partners (NCCGP) and Nourishing North Carolina.

Nourishing NC-funded gardens can send up to two gardeners for free! Limited number of tickets available so register soon!  For more information, FAQs, and registration visit: https://nccgp.eventbrite.com/

NC Cooperative Extension and the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch, NC Division of Public Health, facilitated the first statewide community garden strategic planning retreat in 2008 that led to the formation of NCCGP. Today, NC Cooperative Extension continues to provide strong leadership to the organization through the Board of Directors. For more information about the NC Community Garden Partners, please visit: www.nccgp.org

"Take Five" Video Highlighted at Nov. 5 Council Meeting

Durham Council members who attend the November 5 business meeting will be in for an inspirational treat with the showing of the Garden Clubs of America promotional video, "Take Five."

The video was produced for the 2013 centennial celebration of The Garden Club of America and was directed by Forest Hills Durham resident Sandra Jacobi. "Take Five" highlights five projects initiated by local garden clubs across the United States, each a member of The Garden Club of America.

 

http://vimeo.com/user7312045/review/60247871/68a4d8cf19

 

Video Summary: 

 

The video opens with a logo dance representing each of the two hundred member clubs. Take One is a story about a Los Angeles elementary school where large areas of school property were slated to be covered with tarmac but instead the local garden club created a school garden project to preserve space and develop it as vegetable, native plant, and shade gardens. Take Two is a story about a Pasadena conservation project of native plants and an adjacent building constructed entirely from local stone and recycled wood. Third, is a story about a butterfly garden in Maine where plants are grown to sustain the life cycle of different kinds of butterflies -- a way station for migrating monarch butterflies. Fourth is a story is about a 50 year preservation project of a large historic garden in Texas. Last, but not least, the fifth story features the reclamation and clean up of the polluted Reedy River in Greenville, South Carolina. The GCA centennial video then concludes with a summary of past and future projects.

November Calendar of Triangle Gardening Programs

Cherokee Village

NC Botanical Gardens

http://ncbg.unc.edu/classes-workshops/#hh_gardening

Location: 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC.

Preserving Our Culture through Land Stewardship: The Story of the Triangle Native American Society and the Wake County Indian Education Community Garden

Nov. 9, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
 Learn about the Healthy Native North Carolinians project in which Native youth, adults, and elders are working together to preserve cultural heritage, promote health, and foster land stewardship through community gardening and educational aquaponic gardening. Jeff Currie, member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and a community member of the Triangle Native American Society, helped start the educational gardens at the NC Museum of History. Advance registration recommended. Please plan to stay and join us for a special musical performance by UNC Unheard Voices at noon.



Musical Performance by “Unheard Voices”

Nov. 9, 12-12:30 p.m.

 “Unheard Voices” was officially founded in the 1970s as an American Indian spoken word performance group. Today, in honoring their roots, they combine spoken word advocacy with traditional songs for a unique and powerful expression of cultural pride and resiliency. “Unheard Voices” is an a capella performance subgroup of the Carolina Indian Circle, a student organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public. Advance registration recommended.

Edible, Utilitarian, and Religio-Medical Plants Used by the Cherokees

Nov. 9, 2-3 p.m.

An opening discussion will consider the origins of Cherokee plant lore and the extent to which the early white settlers in the Blue Ridge learned practical usage from them. A set of images depicting various plants (ramps, Indian hemp, May-apple, touch-me-not, poison ivy, etc.) will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on ginseng (as a trade commodity); river cane (blowguns, arrows, building material, mats, fences, etc.); buckeye and devil’s-shoestring (as a “fish dope”); green-headed coneflower (and other spring greens); plant dyes (basket splints and other items); and plants evoked in the “sacred formulas” (songs and chants) for religious and medicinal purposes. The lecture will be followed by a book signing by George and his wife Elizabeth. Their books include Mountain Passages, Blue Ridge Nature Journal, and Permanent Camp. Fee: $10 ($5 NCBG members).

The Occaneechi and Their Predecessors: Archaeological Discoveries Near Hillsborough, NC

Nov. 12, 12-1 p.m.

Between 1983 and 2002, Steve Davis, along with colleagues and students from UNC, excavated a late-prehistoric and two early historic Indian village sites just outside Hillsborough on the Eno River. The latest of these sites was occupied during the late 1600s and early 1700s by the Occaneechi Indians. Steve will talk about the results of those excavations and what he learned about the people who lived in these three villages. Steve is editor of the North Carolina Archaeological Society’s journal North Carolina Archaeology. Free, but advance registration recommended.

JC Raulston Arboretum
http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/calendar/events.php?year=2013

Location: Ruby C. Mc Swain Education Center, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC.

North American Rock Garden Society (Piedmont Chapter) Lecture/Friends of the Arboretum Lectures

Nov. 19, 10-12:30 p.m. (reception at 9:30 a.m. and optional lunch at 11:30 a.m.)
"Bulbs in the Garden" and "Inspired to Rock"
Ian Young, North American Rock Garden Society Traveling Speaker.

Plantsmen's Tour: "Lovely Laurels"
Nov. 12, 1 p.m.
Mark Weathington, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections.

Friends of the Arboretum Lecture
Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. (reception at 7:00 p.m.)
"The Greek Torch Continues to Shine in Our Everyday Life"
Constantinos Sfikas, Licensed Professional Guide,
Professor at National Guiding School and Program Director at Hellenic Educational Travel Services.

Traditional Japanese Tea Gathering: Dancing Leaves Tea

Nov. 16, 1-2:30 p.m.
Join us for a moment of respite in the Duke Gardens teahouse, where, as a guest to Tea, you will experience the warmth of a traditional Japanese tea gathering. Enjoy the aesthetics, poetry and serenity of this rich tradition over an enticing bowl of whisked green tea and a Japanese confection. Guests will meet at the Doris Duke Center to be escorted to the teahouse for these intimate gatherings. Children age 6 and older are welcome at Saturday teas with an accompanying adult. Participant limit: 10. $40; $30 Gardens members & Duke students/staff. Information/registration: 919-668-1707.

Fall Wreath Workshop
Nov. 23, 9 a.m.

Erin Weston, Weston Farms

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

http://gardens.duke.edu/events. Please call 919-668-1707 to register.
Location: 420 Anderson St., Durham, NC.

Autumn in the Arboretum

Nov. 8, 10-noon
A feast for the senses greets you in the Asiatic Arboretum, with fragrant fall blooming witch-hazel, a blaze of red, orange, yellow and gold foliage and fruit, and the smoky scents of autumn. Join curator Paul Jones and horticulturist Michelle Rawlins as they share the hidden gems of the autumn season. Meet at the Doris Duke Center. Participant limit: 15. Pre-registration required. $7; $5 Gardens members & Duke students/staff. Parking fees apply. Information/registration: 919-668-1707

Seasonal Floral Design at the Gardens: Thanksgiving Table Design

Nov. 9, 10-12:30 p.m.
Come work with floral designer Theo Roddy and create your own flower arrangement in each class. No cookie-cutter designs here! You will sharpen your design skills, learn of resources to purchase flowers, use flowers from your own garden and create a seasonal floral design. Students supply flowers (fresh or silk), a container and tools. A supply list and more information will be provided prior to each class. All other materials will be supplied in class.
Location: Sarah P. Duke Gardens greenhouse classroom. Participant limit: 20 (minimum 6). $50; $40 Gardens members and Duke students/staff. Discount available if registering for all four classes. Information/registration: 919-668-1707.

Plants of Distinction: Berries and Seeds for the Birds

Nov. 12, 2:30-4 p.m.
Learn about spectacular plants that offer both beauty and functionality with Stefan Bloodworth, curator of Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. Please note that this is the third of four programs. Meet at the Doris Duke Center. $7; $5 Gardens members & Duke students/staff. Participant limit: 15. Information/registration: 919-668-1707. Horticulture Certificate elective course.

Garden Guild Holiday Craft Sale

Nov. 16, 10-2:30 p.m.
Decorate your home for the holidays and find fabulous gifts for friends, including ornaments, gourd bird houses, jewelry, stationery, knitted goods and nature-focused gifts. All proceeds support Duke Gardens. All items made by the volunteer Garden Guild. Free admission. Parking free until 1 p.m.

Durham Garden Forum

"Outsmarting Critters," Nov. 3.

Meetings are held at Sarah P. Duke Gardens frequently on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. Membership is $25 for the year (which runs April – March) or each lecture is $10. No preregistration is required. Contact information is durham.gardenforum@gmail.com.

Outsmarting the Critters

Nov. 3, 2-4 p.m.
Learn to deter and manage pests with integrated pest management strategies presented by Master Gardeners of Durham County. Durham Co. Extension Agent Michelle Wallace will lead the talk.

NC Extension Gardener Seminars:

Complete program information at www.durham.ces.ncsu.edu. Registration required. Programs are free.

Worms in My Garden-Vermicomposting

Nov 10, 3-4 p.m.
South Regional Library, 919.560.7409

Cultivating a Garden of Acidic Lovers
Nov. 17, 3-4 p.m.
North Regional Library, 919.560.0231