Instructor: Carlton Burke

Wednesdays, Sept 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 6

1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

$119 Member/$134 Public

Limit: 20 students

In this series of classes, students will learn the basic identification and natural history of many of our mountain wildlife species. Each week we will cover a different group of vertebrate animals – fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds through the use of powerpoint presentations, hands-on activities, worksheets, and by observing live animals in the classroom. Fulfills elective requirement for BRN Certificate of Merit.

Instructor: Alison Arnold

Thursdays, September 2 & 9

1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

$19 Member/$23 Public

This class, for new or newly transplanted gardeners, will teach the “ins and outs” of gardening in the western NC Mountains. Topics
include soil management, plant selection, weather and climate information and the many helpful resources that area available in the region. This class is offered in two sections with the first session in the classroom and the second as a garden walk learning and identifying plants.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Instructor: Robert Priddy

$175 Member/$198 Public

Limit: 12 students

Class 1: Monday, Sept 6, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Class 2: Tuesday, Sept 7, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Class 3: Thursday, Sept 9, 4:30 p.m. - Sunset
Class 4: Sunday, Sept 12, 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

This curriculum is designed for advanced beginning to intermediate photographers who are interested in developing intermediate skills
in photography using the 35mm SLR digital camera. Participants should have a good working knowledge of their cameras. The sessions consist of a mix of classroom instruction and field exercises at the Arboretum. Classroom instruction includes lectures on composition, and seeing and effectively using light in photography, and develop an understanding of how light changes based on time of day and weather conditions. Students will need a digital SLR camera with the instruction manual and accessories (lens, batteries, memory cards), and tripod. A digital point and shoot can be used if it offers manual control but some functions available on a digital
SLR may not available on such a camera. Students should also bring a flash, removable hot shoe flash preferred, and a lens with close focusing capability if possible.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Instructor: Alexandra Holland

Wednesdays, Sept 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27

9:30 a.m. to Noon each session

$119 Member/$134 Public

Limit: 18 students

Plants have amazing abilities to make their own food, pull water hundreds of feet into the air against gravity, and trick insects and other animals into helping them reproduce. Participants will explore plant structure, function, evolution, classification, and ecology. Blue Ridge Naturalist graduate Alexandra Holland teaches this 20-hour course that is primarily academic lecture with some hands-on activities, short outdoor walks and discussions of practical applications of botanical principles. Fulfills core requirement for BRN Certificate of Merit.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Instructor: Diane Almond

Tuesday, September 14

Noon to 4:00 p.m.

$19 Member/$23 Public

Diane Almond is founder of BeeHab–The Pollinator Project whose mission is education, providing resources to help reverse the loss of pollinator habitat, and to help create more pollinator stewards. Any size yard can be used to create habitat for vitally important pollinators. This class will discuss pollinator/plant relationships and will focus what to plant and where to plant, and how to provide nesting and overwintering features in your gardens and landscape. Class will stroll through selected Arboretum gardens to look at pollinators and plants in action.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Instructor: Sylvia Elwyn

Wednesday, September 15

10:00 a.m. to Noon

$11 Member/$14 Public

Containers add color and interest to any size landscape. In these seminars, Sylvia Elwyn discusses unique ways to create beautiful seasonal container gardens. Container types, appropriate plants and combinations, and successful designs for containers will be explored. She also hosts a "hands-on" exercise. A perennially popular Arboretum instructor, Elwyn was a finalist in Fine Gardening Magazine's 2007 Container Design contest.

Instructor: Robert Priddy

Thursday, Sept 16; Wednesday, Sept 22, & Thursday, Sept 23

4:00 to 7:00 p.m. each session

$125 Member/$144 Public

Limit: 12 students

This curriculum is designed for advanced beginner to intermediate photographers who are interested in developing intermediate skills in close-up and macro photography using the 35mm SLR digital camera. Participants should have a good working knowledge of their cameras. The sessions consist of a mix of classroom instruction and field exercises at the Arboretum. Classroom instruction includes lecture on equipment requirements, light and managing backgrounds, and working with flowers and insects. Students will need a digital SLR camera with the instruction manual and accessories (lens, batteries, memory cards), and a quality tripod. A digital point and shoot can be used if it offers manual control but some functions available on a digital SLR may not be available on such a camera. Students should also bring a flash, removable hot shoe flash preferred, and a lens with close focusing capability if possible. Students who do not have a close focusing lens are encouraged to wait until after the first session to make a purchase, as equipment will be covered on September 16.

Instructor: Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain

Saturday, September 18

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

$13 Member/$17 Public

Wondering how you can help reduce pollution and lessen your impact on landfills? Learn how to grow mushrooms on trash you thought you couldn’t compost. Turn cardboard, cereal boxes, and more into fresh mushrooms using the fruiting kit provided! Have fun growing and eating your mushrooms, then add your leftover “fungi farm” to your garden to attract worms and enrich the soil, creating a circular system that’s a winner!

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Instructor: Sandi Ford, Clinical Herbalist and Educator

Saturday, September 18

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

$11 Member/$15 Public

Learn about the medicinal uses of mushrooms, many of which can be found in our region. Using mushrooms to promote immunity, vitality, and good health is an ancient practice in many cultures. Sandi will discuss health benefits of specific mushrooms and you will learn easy and practical ways to incorporate them into your diet.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.

Day Trip to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and the Schiele Museum of Natural History, located outside Charlotte, NC.

Tuesday, September 28

Transportation departs Arboretum at 8:00 a.m. Transportation returns to Arboretum approximately 6 p.m.

$55 Member/$63 Public

Fee includes:
• Admission and guided tours of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, including the new Orchid Conservatory, which each September becomes a living butterfly house!
• Admission to the Schiele Museum of Natural History
• All transportation
• Drinks and box lunch

Located just minutes from Charlotte in
Belmont, N.C., Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is one of the jewels in the Queen City’s crown. Named one of the nation’s 20 Great Gardens in HGTV’s popular book, Flower Gardening, the Garden sits on 380 acres along the banks of Lake Wylie. Part nature preserve, part showcase for the best of Southern horticulture,
there are over 110 acres in cultivation for guests to enjoy including approximately 10 acres of manicured, themed gardens: the year-round Four Seasons Garden, the tropically-themed Canal Garden, four distinct Perennial Gardens, the nostalgic Cottage Garden, the fragrant
Conifer Garden, the Encore Azalea® spring and fall blooming Garden and stately West Gardens.

The natural wonders of North America and North Carolina coupled with the rich history of our region are all reflected in The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s exceptional exhibitions and diverse programming. Visit the Hall of North Carolina Natural History, the Henry Hall of American Indian and see the outdoor Catawba Indian Village.

Interpretive guides will lead small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types.  Depending on the season, topics of discussion include wildflower and plant identification, natural history and tree lore, and the cultural and land use history of the Arboretum campus.  Guides may include such areas as the National Native Azalea Collection as well as the course of Bent Creek. Handouts after class may include such information as identification keys for plants, or lists of common wildflowers.

Program participants should dress for the weather as programs are held rain or shine.  Individuals should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as well as plant and animal identification guides as desired.  Program may last between one and two hours, depending upon the interest of the group, and will be approximately one to two miles in length.