Cool-Season Vegetables: Peas, Potatoes, Broccoli and More, is on for
Sat. Feb. 13th from 2-4pm.
The class the same morning of the 13th 10:30-12:30 is Perennial Vegetables: Asparagus, Artichokes, Rhubarb, Fiddlehead Ferns and More.
Attend both that day for only $30 ! and be well on the way to cutting
your grocery bill for 2010. Between classes from 12:30 to 2 pm, you can
catch an inexpensive brunch (most dishes are $8-$9) two blocks away at Piedmont restaurant. And in class, you can drink their free, fresh-brewed coffee. ALSO, the class on Herbs scheduled for the morning of the 6th has been rescheduled for Sat. Feb. 27th from 10:30-12:30.
Check below for details about each class.
First Breath of Spring* Garden Academy
"The cost of these classes is the best money I've spent on gardening in quite some time."
--Nancy Proia
(okay, turns out I misquoted Nancy. She really said: "The cost of these classes is the best money I've spent on anything in quite some time." I stand corrected.) :-)
Watch a 90 sec. video highlight of a garden class at http://vimeo.com/2872427courtesy of videographer Bill Elias.
What: A variety of inspiring classes on organic/edible/native gardening as part of a sustainable and fun lifestyle. Slideshow, Q&A, handouts, some hands-on.
· Where: 700 Washington St.(corner of W. Geer St., next to the old Ballpark), Durham NC, 919-682-1311. Stone Brothers & Byrd Garden Center.
· When: Sat. mornings, 10:30am--12:30. Jan. 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20.
· Why: Because Feb. is the beginning of the gardening season in NC.
· How much: Twenty dollars per class, per person, cash or check only please. Make check out to Frank Hyman.
· Who: For new and experienced gardeners, whether you want to grow food or flowers.
Classes and dates (all from 10:30-12:30):
Jan. 16, Attracting Birds, Native Bees and Butterflies to Your Garden.
Jan. 23, The Liberated Gardener: Saving Your Back, Your Budget, Your Time and Your Planet.
Jan. 30, Cool-Season Vegetables to Plant in February: Potatoes, Peas, Parsnips and More.
Feb. 6, Growing Herbs for a Flavorful Kitchen and Beautiful Garden: Lavender, Bay, Rosemary,Thyme and More.
Feb. 13, Perennial Vegetables: Asparagus, Artichokes, Fiddlehead Ferns and More.
Feb. 20, Wildflowers for Shade Gardens: Trilliums, Trout Lilies, Mayapples and More.
(Find my bio at bottom of the page.)
Questions about classes? Contact me at:
fincaminor@mindspring.com
Thanks.
The Kings’ Daughters Inn
will also be hosting $5 weekday evening programs on Gardens and Landscapes around the US, Europe and the Caribbean.
204 N. Buchanan Blvd.
Durham, NC 27701
919-354-7000
************************************************************************Armchair Travelers Can Visit Gardens Around the Globe
At the King’s Daughters Inn, I’ll be offering slideshows of public and private gardens and landscapes from NC and around the world. These programs are only 15% about gardening “how-to” and 85% “Wow, look at that” and some lively travel stories. Because of that and no handouts and a shorter time and more seating, I can charge a low $5 per person--cheaper than a matinee movie.
· What: Colorful slideshow (and colorful stories) about gardens and landscapes I’ve explored in my travels.
· Where: King's Daughters Inn. Come to the side door on Gloria Ave. towards the back of the building. Look for a sign. Parking on Buchanon Blvd. or Gloria Ave.
· Why: Because I can show you some gorgeous places on or off the beaten path.
· When: Wed. 7:30-8:30 pm, Jan. 13, 20, 27, Feb. 3 and 17.
(NO Program on Feb. 10th. )
· How much: $5 per program, per person, cash or check only, please.
· Who: Those who like to travel and/or garden or who just want to be entertained.
Schedule (Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 pm)
· Jan. 13—Spanish Gardens of the Island of Majorca:
Gardens at Palaces, Monasteries, Quarries and Homes.
· Jan. 20—Staycations--Nearby Public Gardens In NC/VA:Gardens in the Triangle, Triad and Close Enough for Daytrips.
· Jan. 27—Islands, Gardens and Nordic Architecture of Denmark: Green Roofs, Cemeteries and Artist's Gardens.
· Feb. 3— Big and Small Gardens of Maine: Coastal Botanic Gardens, Desert of Maine, Canyons, Kitchen Gardens and One Voted the Prettiest Garden in Maine.
* (NO Program on Feb. 10th. )
· Feb. 17-- Gardens and Landscapes of the Caribbean Island of Bonaire: Aloe Fields, Bat Caves, Salt Flats, Cactus Groves and an Abandoned Lighthouse.
Performing as a guest docent at the First Thursday event at Duke's Nasher Museum of Art.
My fees for a program at your garden club or public garden are negotiable. Contact me at fincaminor@mindspring.com to make arrangements. I can provide an LCD projector and screen if your group doesn't have one.
Upcoming Lectures and Classes:
* First Breath of Spring Garden Academy resumes at Stone Bros. and Byrd Garden Center on Sat. mornings in Jan. and Feb. of 2010.
* I'll be speaking on Perennial Vegetables and being a Liberated Gardener at the Carolina Farm Stewardship annual conference in Black Mountain, NC from Dec. 4-6, 2009.
* Will be speaking on Mediterrnean Herbs in the Landscape and Deer-Resistant Gardens at the Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Short Course event in Virgina Beach on Jan. 25-26, 2010.
* Topic TBD for the Town and Country Garden Club on Feb. 9th.
* Speaking on Deer-Resistant and Drought-Hardy Gardens for the Treyburn Garden Club on Feb. 10th.
2009 Garden Programs:
Tues., Jan. 20th, 3-5 pm
Fearrington Garden Club, 542-9986--free for members
Growing Mediterranean Plants in the Piedmont
Duke Gardens --$5 for members/$10 for non-members
http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/
Hardscape Choices for Homeowners
Wed., Feb. 11th, 10 am
Roxboro Study Group, 336-599-3502--free for members
Five Deer-Resistant, Drought Hardy Gardens
Wed. Feb. 11th
Bloombury Garden Club, Raleigh--free for members
hwest@nc.rr.com
Fragrant Flowers Year Round
Sat.Feb. 14th, 3:30-5pm $19
UNC-Greensboro Cont. Ed.
The Food-Forward Garden
Sun. April 5th, 3 pm, $20
Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill
The Food-Forward Garden *
Want to harvest the freshest organic fruits and vegetables right from your own garden year-round? Once you've tasted the difference of home grown tomatoes, corn and sugar snap peas, you'll never go back. This class is timely for both new and experienced gardeners. We'll cover preparing the garden, making easy compost, mulching, watering and easy trellising systems so that you can harvest lots of vegetables without being enslaved by your garden. Slideshow and Q & A.
Fri. April10th, 10:30 am, $20
Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill
Growing Flowers with Fragrance Year Round *
(Despite Southern Soil and Weather)
Lilacs, tea olives, gardenias, sasanquas, roses, and many other fragrant flowering plants can be grown successfully in the south (yes, even the kind of lilac northerners are told won’t grow here). You’ll learn about new varieties with longer bloom periods and simple techniques to keep fragrant flowers coming year-round, even in a small garden. Slideshow and Q & A.
Sat. May 30th, 10 am--Free
Tryon Palace, New Bern, NC
Five Deer-Resistant, Drought Hardy Gardens
Tired of losing your favorite plants to deer? Want to know what to plant so the deer will look but won’t touch? You’ll learn about keeping deer away and you’ll also learn about the many plants and gardens deer tend to ignore. I've created 5 different kinds of deer-resistant gardens and you can too. Slideshow and Q & A.
Thurdsay, Sept. 17th, 7 pm
JC Raulston Arboretum--Free for members, $5 for non-members
http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/index.php
Five Deer-Resistant, Drought Hardy Gardens
Hope to see you at least at one event.
More detailed info on each program/slideshow/class and my bio below!
My bio:
Few garden designers have Frank’s breadth of education or experience: he studied horticulture under the late JC Raulston, namesake of NCSU’s arboretum and learned design from Will Hooker, who has had several installations at the NC Museum of Art. Frank is also a stonemason, carpenter and sculptor.
In his youth Frank farmed organic vegetables in Granville County, picked oranges in Spain and worked for tomato farmers in SC. He restricts his garden design/plant/build business, called Cottage Garden Landscaping, to what he calls the “bungalow neighborhoods” of inner city Durham and the Central Park area and yet manages to stay booked up as much as 3- 6 months in advance. He uses his knowledge to create innovative and beautiful gardens that don’t need babying. In addition to 'bungalow gardens' he has also created edible schoolyards and parks, co-founded community gardens and created an award-winning restaurant garden.
Frank has written about gardening for nearly 20 years and his writing has appeared in Horticulture magazine, N&O, Herald-Sun, Independent Weekly, Backyard Poultry and Carolina Gardener. He gardens with his wife at Bayleaf Cottage, their home in Durham,.
Detailed Descriptions of classes/lectures:
The Food-Forward Garden
“Local” and “organic” have become the two main buzzwords with people who really like food. And you can’t get more local, fresh or organic than when you grow your own food. Frank Hyman has been growing vegetables for 25 years—he used to supply Anotherthyme restaurant and Wellspring Grocery with organic tomatoes in the ‘80’s. He will share slides, stories and Q &A with students who want to grow their own basil for pesto, tomatoes for sauce as well as asparagus and berries and a host of other crops for fresh eating at home and with friends without getting beaten down by the weather. Students will learn how easy it is to harvest crops year round, how to prepare beds, choose crops, and maintain and harvest them.
Deck, Fence and Patio Choices for Homeowners
In the NC climate, you can be comfortable relaxing and entertaining outside almost any month of the year. Students of this course will also become more comfortable when making choices on how to spend their money on decks, fences, patios and other “hardscape” improvements. Frank Hyman will use slides, stories and Q & A to help homeowners learn some of the lingo and concepts behind what makes for good hardscaping, so they can be better educated consumers.
Five Deer-Resistant and Drought-Hardy Gardens
Suburban and rural gardens can be devastated by our huge population of deer. But Frank has created 5 kinds of gardens that are growing well and free of deer damage. Deer can be like children who only like things with mild tastes—anything with strong flavors or fibrous textures are mostly ignored by deer. Frank will guide students using slides,
stories and Q&A on how to plant gardens that the deer will pass by (woe be unto your neighbor). Students will learn how to choose a deer-free garden type for their property, what plants to choose and how to maintain them.
Moss: The Lawn with no Mower
Some people pay good money to try to get rid of moss in their lawn that just keeps coming back. A better idea sometimes is to go with the flow and let the moss grow. Some places are just better suited to moss than to lawns and with the water restrictions in place moss can be a choice with less maintenance than lawn. Using slides, tips and Q&A Frank Hyman will guide students in identifying good sites for moss gardens, how to start them, how to maintain them and choosing good companion plantings for moss gardens.
Plant a Green Roof on a Garden Structure
Green roofs—plant beds on top of a building—are the rage in Europe and are becoming more common in this country as a way to save energy, slow stormwater and create wildlife habitat in the city. Frank Hyman thinks they are great simply as another place to garden. He has installed them on doghouses and guided gardeners who have put them on their chicken coops and well houses. Frank will use slides, stories and Q & A to help students who want to create their own green roof on small garden structures. You will learn about designing a roof that can support the weight of a green roof, how to install a basic green roof, what plants to choose and how to maintain them.
Not Under the Tuscan Sun: How to Grow Mediterranean Plants in the Piedmont
The NC piedmont is about the worst place to grow Mediterranean plants like lavender, but Frank Hyman has grown gardens with robust Mediterranean plants for himself and his clients that have survived dry spells for the last 7 years. Just back from a journey in Spain, he will use slides, stories and Q & A to help students create a garden in the piedmont where Mediterranean plants like lavender, bayleaf, Algerian iris, Jerusalem sage, candytuft and culinary herbs like thyme, oregano and rosemary will thrive and be more flavorful. Students will learn how to prepare the soil, choose varieties, plant and maintain a low-maintenance yet high satisfaction garden of Mediterranean plants.
Flowers with Fragrance Year Round
(Despite Southern Soil and Weather)
Lilacs,
tea olives, gardenias, sasanquas, roses, and many other fragrant
flowering plants can be grown successfully in the south (yes, even the
kind of lilac northerners are told won’t grow here). You’ll learn about
new varieties with longer bloom periods and simple techniques to keep
fragrant flowers coming year-round, even in a small garden. Slideshow,
soils demo and Q & A.
Liberated Gardeners Get More Done:
Conserving the Earth, Your $ and Your Time
Would
you like to spend less time weeding? Less time bagging leaves in
autumn? Want to spend less money mulching and watering the garden?
Would you rather spend more time enjoying your garden than feeling
enslaved by it? In this class you’ll learn about getting rid of leaves
that don’t need bagging, making great compost that doesn’t need turning
and smart ways to hook up rain barrels so they really work (and also
function as water gardens—no kidding). And just for fun, you’ll learn
how to minimize weeds and maximize flowers.
Slideshow, demos and Q & A.
Native Woodland Wildflowers
Enjoy
hiking in the woods in early spring? Want to enjoy those spring
wildflowers (called ephemerals) like trillium, trout lily, mayapple and
spring beauty in your own garden? These plants are drought hardy
because they go dormant in the summer. In this class you’ll learn about
choosing, planting and maintaining wildflowers—and their companion
plants-- that can thrive in a shady, wooded yard. Slideshow and Q &
A.
Gardens of the Spanish Island of Mallorca
In Sept. of 2008 I took a two day whirlwind break from my stonemasons' guild's annual meeting on Mallorca to visit a handful of terrific gardens. Whipping around hairpin mountain curves in a rented 2-seater Smart Car with a rag top and Paul McCartney on the IPod I visited a monastery garden, a public garden called Botanicactus and even an apothecary garden at the bottom of a worked-out stone quarry as well as several Roman and neo-lithic stone villages. Come along for a ride through some amazing Spanish sites the tour guides don't know about!
Contain Your Enthusiasm, With Pots
Secrets
for successful containers and window boxes (that does not include
buying artificial flowers). Also directions for DIY self-watering pots.
Perennial Vegetables
Edible plants that come back year after year and beg to be put on your plate.
Daycations at NC Public Gardens
From
Charlotte to New Bern, public gardens--with natives, edibles and
ornamentals--that can inspire your gardening in the time it takes to
make a daytrip. And some of my random gardening advice.
Bird and Butterfly Gardens
Plant choices that support wildlife and make for a gorgeous garden.
Gardens of the Spanish Island of Mallorca
Virtual visits to a monastery garden, Botanicactus Garden and a Mediterranean botanical garden that I wish would hire me.
Tomato Growing Clinic
I
used to grow and sell organic tomatoes to Wellspring and Anotherthyme
restaurant. Just call me the Tomato Whisperer. Bring questions,
problems, successes, samples (weeds, bugs, diseases)—we’ll sort it out.
Cool-Season Vegetable Gardening
Skip
summer! Grow vegetables straight through from Sept. to June, when there
are fewer bugs, weeds, diseases, less drought and cooler weather.
Native Woodland Wildflowers and Edible Plants
Learn
how some natives survive the summer drought and the dense shade of
piedmont forests. If they’re that tough, they can probably survive in
your garden too.
WHY:
Eat fresher, more delicious, locally grown food, enjoy your own
fragrant garden, reduce the maintenance in your garden, get outdoors,
get exercise. In short--feel better, eat better and just have more fun.
HOW:Seating
is limited. And there's no pre-registration, so it's 'first come, first
served with regard to seating. Classes have been a great success with
the room at near capacity and attendees offering up many good
questions. Hope to see you at future classes.
HOW MUCH:
$20 per class
Payable with cash or check ONLY--made out to Frank Hyman--pay my right-hand man Howard Dunegan, before you're seated in the class. Thanks.
Attend any six of these classes and you'll be certified as a
Carolina Cottage Gardener.
Besides
gaining enough garden know-how to be a successful and happy organic
gardener for the rest of your life, you'll recieve a certificate
signed by me and suitable for framing (or sticking on your fridge with
a magnet!). You'll also receive in April (at the Duke Garden Plant
Sale), a hardy perennial propagated from our garden.
Because the classes at SB&B start at 10:30 am, you'll have time to:
*
swing through the nearby Farmers' Market just a couple of blocks away
on Foster St. to pick up a few things before class (There might be room
for groceries in a cooler at SB&B, but no guarantees that there
will be enough room.)
* After class, you might want to pick up some plants, garden tools or supplies from Stone Bros. & Byrd,
* and then grab brunch at Piedmont or Rue Cler just a few blocks away.
* Where does the name come from? Spring in NC
starts in Feb. and one of my favorite shrubs is called First Breath of
Spring (Lonicera fragrantissima--gotta love those Latin names) because
it blooms in Jan./Feb. with a clear citrus scent. Other plants are
coming out of dormancy at this time, making Jan. and Feb. great months
to be outside gardening.
My bio:
Frank
Hyman has created beautiful and sustainable gardens for 16 years as
owner of Cottage Garden Landscaping. He studied horticulture and design
at NC State University under the late JC Raulston (named one of the
world's top 25 horticulturists of all
time by Horticulture magazine). His Mediterranean garden at the Mad
Hatter restaurant won an award from the Durham Appearance Commission.
He's created gardens that are drought-proof, deer-resistant,
low-maintenance, organic and just plain pretty. He has spoken on
gardening at Duke Gardens, JC Raulston Arboretum, UNC-G and the
McLaughlin Garden (voted prettiest public garden in Maine) as well as
for garden clubs in Charlotte, Oxford, Fearrington Village and Chapel
Hill. He has written about gardening for nearly 20 years in the
Independent Weekly, the Herald-Sun, the N&O and Carolina Gardener
magazine. 