The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cornell University Cooperative Extension-Allegany and Cattaraugus counties will present a free gardening lecture series called Wednesdays in the Arboretum.
Every Wednesday in July and August, there will be two lectures at the Nannen Arboretum, 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. There are informative programs planned for each evening. Master gardeners and other local experts will be conducting the classes.
Participants may plan to come to one or all of the classes. All are free of charge and will be held in the outdoor classrooms at the arboretum. In case of rain, classes will be held indoors.
The series begins July 11 at 7 p.m. The first presentation by Pat Kerl, master gardener, will be on pruning. Hugh Dunne, retired regional director of Allegany State Park, will discuss and demonstrate the growing of shiitake mushrooms.
For the first two weeks of the series, participants will also have the opportunity to take home perennials. For a small donation, they can increase the variety of plants within their own gardens.
Linda Blackmar will present "Inspirational Gardens" and Tina Szulewski will lead "Pruning for Bloom" beginning at 7 p.m. on July 18.
On July 25, "Micro Greens" will be led by Barb Kozlowski and "Touring and Learning in the Carolyn Lowe Herb Garden" will be presented by Judy Ragona.
Mistine Keis will lead "Vermicomposting" and Nan Miller will host "Trick with Sticks" on Aug. 1.
Aug. 8 will feature David Clark's "Celebrate the Herb of the Year, Roses, Growing and Demystifying Them" and Miller's "Vertical Gardening."
Lyn Chimera will host "Gardening on a Dime with Less Time" and "Importance of Adding Native Plants to Your Garden" on Aug. 15.
"Weeds - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly" with Nancy Hann and "Gardening on a Slope" with Vicki Bruning will take place Aug. 22.
Crystal Abers' "Herbs: What to Plant and How to Use Them." and Miller's "Easy Ways to Increase Yields in Your Garden and Have More Fun" will close the series on Aug. 29.