All activities are held at the Hort Farm unless otherwise specified.

Email info@friendsofthehortfarm.org for reservations. Please note that we request an RSVP for speakers and events, due to limited capacity in the Blasberg Building.

MASTER GARDENER HOURS:
MGE = These events have been approved for Master Gardener EDUCATIONAL hours;
MGV = These events have been approved for Master Gardener VOLUNTEER hours.


Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec


Photo by Sarah Montgomery

JANUARY

January 20, Wednesday
6pm – 8pm
Gardens of England (MGE) 
Join Charlotte Albers of Paintbox Garden, LLC for a visual tour of RHS Wisley, the Savill Garden at Windsor Great Park and the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show in London. Spend a winter's night viewing gorgeous plants, garden sculpture, whimsical structures and more to get design inspiration for your own garden!

FEBRUARY

February 6, Saturday
10am – Noon 
Bats: White Nose Disease
Will it be species extinction? Join South Burlington "bat advocate" Barry Genzlinger for a fascinating overview of Chiroptera and the impact of this powdery white fungal infection on Vermont’s bat population.

February 12-14, Friday - Sunday
NOFA 28th Annual Winter Conference, (MGE)
“Celebrating The Heart of Organic”, Davis Center, UVM.  
 
February 27, Saturday
10am - Noon
Design A Mixed Border Using Native Plants (MGE)
Missed the 2009 Landscape Design tour in Shelburne? This presentation will feature slides of the mixed native border? certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and designed to create privacy, screen undesirable views and reduce lawn size. Charlotte Albers of Paintbox Garden, LLC will present.

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MARCH

March 10, Saturday
6pm – 8pm   
Speaking Naturally about Organic Soils (MGE)
The healthiest peoples of the world, in terms of both longevity and vitality, share one thing in common? they eat a wide variety of nutrient packed plants grown in living soils. Mike Ather, a naturalist, photographer and wild edible enthusiast leads this discussion.Learn how to apply these principles to your own yard and garden.

March 13, Saturday
8am - 4pm   
Trip to the “Gorgeous Gardens & Green Living” Show Riley Rink, Manchester, VT (MGE)
Limited to 36 participants. $65 travel fee, includes ticket to enter the show. Please note on your check: for BUS TRIP/GREEN LIVING SHOW. Lunch is on your own. Bus leaves from the Hort. Farm at 8am sharp. Pre-registration and pre-payment required by February 22nd.

March 27, Saturday
9am - Noon   
Crabapple/Apple Pruning Workday (MGV)
Mark Biercevicz, Crabapple Collection Curator and Terry Bradshaw, Apple Technician and co-director of the UVM Hort Farm will display proper pruning techniques. Bring pruning tools and saws, if you have them. Bring pruning tools and saws if you have them..

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APRIL

April 17, Saturday
8 am – 4 pm
Rustic Cedar Arbors
Join Brian Gluck as we learn about and build a rustic white cedar arbor for the entrance to the Woodland Walk. Bring gloves, pruning tools, cordless drills, saw horses and hammers if you have them. A list of additional supplies will be posted on the website. Dress warmly. Pre-registration is required. Pre-payment of $40 is due by April 3rd. Limited to 20 participants. Rain date is April 18th.

April 18, Sunday
11 am – 2pm
Conifer Garden/Shrub Collection Workday (MGV)
Volunteers needed to help clean out gardens and mulch.

April 24, Saturday
9am – Noon
Perennial Garden Workday (MGV) 
Help Brian Vaughan, Perennial Garden Curator, “wake-up” the Perennial Garden. Volunteers needed to help clean up the collection in time for our May 22nd Bloomtime Festival. Bring pruning shears and weeding tools if you have them. 

April 24, Saturday
9 am – Noon
Lilac Pruning Workday (MGV)
Jeff Young, Lilac Collection Curator will give a quick review of proper lilac pruning techniques. More experienced pruners pair up with “green” pruners to help beautify the Hort. Farm’s lilac collection in time for our May 22nd Bloomtime Festival. Bring pruning tools and gloves if you have them.


Benefit Plant Sale 2008. Photo by Sarah Montgomery

MAY

May 2, Sunday
9 am - 4 pm
Lilacs 101 (MGE)
Jeff Young, Lilac Collection Curator reviews how to properly choose, plant, grow and prune this sweet smelling spring shrub.

May 8, Saturday
10am - Noon
Perennial Garden Maintenance (MGV) 
Brian Vaughan, Perennial Garden Curator, needs many volunteers to help tidy up the garden in time for our May 22nd Bloomtime Festival. Learn proper techniques for dividing perennials. Bring pruning shears and weeding tools if you have them. Take home a free perennial plant! .

May 20, Thursday
5:30pm - Noon
Lilac Walk & Talk (MGE) 
45 minute tours of the Hort. Farm’s extensive lilac collection with Jeff Young, Lilac Collection Curator. Catch a tour starting at 5:30pm, 6:30pm or 7:30pm. Bring your lilac questions, friends and a picnic!

May 22, Saturday
10am – 3pm
16th Annual Bloomtime Festival & Burlington Garden Club (BGC) 76th Anniversary Plant Sale!
Open to the public. Come awaken your senses to the scents of lilacs, flowering crabapples, magnolias and more! Perennials, lilacs and gardening books will be on sale. UVM Greenhouse will be on hand selling indoor plants..

May 22, Saturday
9am - 4pm
Lilacs 101 (MGE)
Offered on the same day as our Bloomtime Festival. See May 2nd for description.

May 23, Sunday
9am - 4pm
Lilacs 101 (MGE)
See May 2nd for description.

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 2008 Bloom-Time Festival. Photo: Sarah Montgomery

JUNE

June 1, Tuesday
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Lilac Walk & Talk (MGE) 
See May 20 for description.

June 2, Wednesday
6 - 7:30pm
Rhododendron Walk and Talk with Hal Bill, Collection Curator (MGE)
Rhododendron Walk and Talk with Hal Bill, Collection Curator A great opportunity to tour the Rhododendrons and Eastern U.S. Native Azalea collections in bloom. These “Jewels in the Crown” are one of best collections in New England. Rain or shine.

June 5, Saturday
10am - Noon
Rhododendron Walk and Talk with Hal Bill, Collection Curator (MGE)
See June 2 for description.

June 5, Saturday
9 am – 4pm
Lilac Pruning Workday (MGV)
Lilac Pruning Workday Jeff Young, Lilac Collection Curator will give a quick review of proper lilac pruning techniques. More experienced pruners pair up with “green” pruners to beautify the Hort. Farm’s lilac collection. Bring pruning tools and gloves if you have them.

June 19, Saturday
9am – Noon
Botanical Identification and Illustration
Join Jane Neroni, painter and illustrator, and Denise Quick, botanist and Master Gardener to learn how to observe, identify and draw native plants. Bring a sketchbook, sharpened #2 pencils, an eraser and a pigma micron .02 pen (a very thin marker pen). A hand lens and Newcomb's Wildflower Guide is helpful as well.

Bat Talk and Walk at the 2008 Bloom-Time Festival. Photo: Jen Mills


Iris in the Perennial Garden. Photo: Jen Mills




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JULY

July 7, Wednesday
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Marijke’s Perennial Gardens Tour, Starksboro (MGE)
Let Marijke guide you through her 30 exquisite display gardens in this stunning mountainous wildlife setting. Optional: Meet at UVM Hort Farm at 5:30 pm sharp to carpool. 

July 17, Saturday
10am - Noon
Perennial Garden Maintenance Day (MGV)
Perennial Garden Maintenance Day Brian Vaughan, Perennial Garden Curator. Volunteers needed to help weed, deadhead and stake perennials. Bring pruning shears and weeding tools if you have them. Brian will review specific perennials in the garden, their uses and their cultural needs.

July 24, Saturday
9am - Noon
Annual Plant Sale Set Up
Annual Plant Sale Set Up Volunteers needed to help set up tents and organize plants for Sunday’s sale. If you can help, contact Stephanie Miner, Volunteer coordinator, at (802) 863-1876.

July 25, Sunday
10am - 3pm
Friends of Hort. Farm 16th Annual Plant Sale 
Select from a wide variety of ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials and other plants donated by gardens and nurseries throughout Vermont. Includes a 9-10am Members-Only Preview Sale. Reminder: Be sure your membership is renewed beforehand so you can attend the Preview!

July: TBA
Garden Bus Tour with Professor Leonard Perry
http://perrysperennials.info/mbg09an.pdf

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Cinnamon Fern. Photo by Sarah Montgomery

AUGUST

August 4, Wednesday
6pm - 8:30pm
Visit Full Circle Gardens, Essex (MGE)
Visit Full Circle Gardens, Essex For this new, evolving perennial nursery, sustainability is a necessity. Come see how Full Circle Gardens in Essex strives to meet sustainability goals through its business practices. See their stringent recycling program, learn about their integrated pest management program (IPM) and check out the retrofitted used fuel oil greenhouse furnace that now burns wood pellets. The tour includes a visit to the perennial and display gardens as well. Optional: Meet at UVM Hort Farm at 6 pm sharp to carpool.

August 14, Saturday
10am - Noon
Edibles & Medicinals (MGE) 
Join Naturalist, Laurie DiCesare, on a walk and talk about trees and shrubs that Native Americans and Colonists valued for food, medicine, household goods and ceremonial uses. Many are still used by herbalists today! Pre-registration required. Limited to14 people. 

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SEPTEMBER

September 11, Saturday
9 a.m. - Noon
Leaf Casting Workshop
Come create natural objects with Nancy Simson. Make leaf casts using your favorite large-leaved plants. Pre-registration is required. Limited to 12 participants. Additional materials fee of $25 will be collected.
 
OCTOBER
 
October 2, Saturday
10am - 1pm
Mushroom Walk & Talk (MGE)
Join Robert Resnick and Stephanie Miner for a fun-filled walk and talk in the Hort. Farm woods followed by a lively discussion of your “finds”. Bring a basket or a paper shopping bag. Bring a basket or a paper shopping bag. Pre-registration required. Limited to 25 participants.
 
October 16, Saturday
12:30pm - 3pm
Annual Members Meeting
FHF Members gather to review the current year’s successes. Come hear about the latest on-site research. We urge you to attend with suggestions and input for the future. Refreshments served.

NOVEMBER

November 17, Wednesday
6pm - 7:30pm 
Herbs for Vermont Winters
Join Laura Brown, owner of Purple Shutter Herbs for an invigorating talk about herbs/plants that are best used to strengthen your winter immunity and to combat stress, aches & pains. Sip some delicious tea and relax. Each participant will take home healthy tea samples.

DECEMBER

December 4, Saturday
10am - Noon
Holiday Arrangements Workshop
Create a holiday evergreen centerpiece. Bring your favorite waterproof container. Evergreens, pinecones, red twig dogwood, ribbon and oasis will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Limited to 15 participants. Additional materials fee of $20 per person.

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