August 1 - Naturalistic Landscaping

“Naturalistic Landscaping appeals to the kind of person who likes wild nature, modified just a bit… He is willing to tip the scales of nature with one finger, not spend his life trying to grow plants in anti-ecological unnaturalness.”

           -Warren G. Kenfield, 1966. The Wild Gardener in the Wild Landscape.

Many gardeners and land managers find themselves constantly fighting Nature to maintain the aesthetic appeal they desire. Another approach is to work with naturally occurring events and plants to achieve a landscape that is sensually, intellectually and emotionally satisfying. This workshop continues that discussion and demonstration of ecologically-based naturalistic landscaping and its benefits. There will be information presented for both those familiar with this form of wild landscaping and those new to it. With an understanding of natural processes you will learn how to work with the land to develop an attractive and healthy landscape. With weather permitting, most of the time will be spent walking the woods and fields of Aton Forest observing managed and natural habitats. There will also be time to talk about participants’ land management issues.

LARRY WEANER has been creating native landscapes since 1977. He founded award winning Larry Weaner Landscape Associates in 1982 and has gained a national reputation for combining ecological restoration with the traditions of garden design. He is an active guest lecturer and instructor for horticultural and environmental organizations throughout the United States.

Location: Aton Forest Headquarters - 270 North Colebrook Rd. Norfolk, CT 06058

Date: Thursday August 1, 2013

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Tuition: $30

Continuing Education Units (CEU's) are available for CT Forest Practitioners (2.0) and CT Pesticide Applicators (5.0)

July 10 & 11 - Sedge Identification

This plant identification workshop focuses on field identification, ecology, and indicator value of genus Carex, i.e. the “sedges”, the most diverse genus of vascular plants in Connecticut.  Considered by many a “cryptic” (i.e., hard-to-identify) group, the sedges are actually a well-behaved taxonomic group with relatively little hybridization. The majority of sedges are in fact identifiable in the field with no more than 10X magnification, and many Carex species have high value as indicators of hydrologic regime, fertility regime, and natural community types of special biodiversity significance. The workshop will emphasize development of field identification skills, as opposed to collection and keying out of specimens in the lab.  If/when weather is severe, we will work inside with collected specimens. For the information of those who have attended our earlier Carex workshops, we will cover several of the same habitats and most of the same species as in previous years, but we also visit some new sites and habitats, and will cover some species not covered in previous years. Also, there will be new, improved editions of the class handouts available.

In addition to the field sessions there will be an optional lab session offered on July 10^th after a dinner break.

Each participant should bring: a good quality hand lens with at least 10X magnification; fine-pointed forceps that can be carried in the field; a centimeter/millimeter ruler; hip or chest waders; his/her choice of insect repellent, sun protection, etc. The waders are not absolutely essential, but participants should in any case be prepared be in thigh-deep water/muck some of the time. A waterproof field notebook and collecting bags are highly recommended.

Taxonomy will follow Arthur Haines' Flora Novae Angliae.

BILL MOORHEAD is an independent consulting field botanist based in western Connecticut.  He has specialized for 20 years in the search for populations of rare plants and their habitats, and the study of plant communities and the factors determining their species composition and distribution.  He leads plant and plant community walks and canoe-trip “eco-tours”, and teaches plant identification workshops in difficult plant groups, such as sedges, grasses, asters and goldenrods, as well as invasive species and their native look-a-likes.

Location: Aton Forest Headquarters - 270 North Colebrook Rd. Norfolk, CT 06058

Date: Wednesday July, 10 – Thursday July, 11 2013

Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuition: $150 - we accept check by mail (PO Box 509 Norfolk, CT 06058) or card via PayPal, lunch and refreshments provided.

• 5 CEU's are available for CT Forest Practitioners
• 4 Credits are available for Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals
• 1 Renewal Point is available for the Society of Wetland Scientists' Professional Certification Program

Workshop limited to 15 participants, registration and payment required in advance.

For more information/registration please contact us at (860)542-5125 or contact@atonforest.org

Note: If a session is canceled by us for any reason, tuition payments will be refunded in full, by mail.  If a registered participant cancels, tuition may or may not be refunded, at our discretion, depending upon the final class size.

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