URI to hold Annual GreenShare Field Day

KINGSTON, R.I.-September 14, 1999 -- Attention gardeners, environmentalists, those who love nature or aspire to have a green thumb. The University of Rhode Island will hold its ninth annual GreenShare Field Day on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Field Day will be held in and around the Learning Landscapes Gardens on the corner of Upper College Road and East Alumni Avenue on URI's Kingston Campus. For more information, call 1-401-874-2900. (Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 26. )

Sponsored by URI's Cooperative Extension with support from Holly Ridge Nursery in South Kingstown and Distinctive Landscapes in North Kingstown, the event will include gardening and environmental activities that are free and fun for the whole family. The field day generally attracts more than 2,000 gardeners from around the state.

A highlight of the day is the wide selection of hard-to-obtain native and sustainable (disease and insect-resistant) plants. The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society will sell more than 75 different types of native and garden plants propagated by their members. Field day sponsor Howland Green of Holly Ridge Nursery will be selling a variety of sought-after ornamental shrubs, many of which are growing in the URI Learning Landscape Demonstration Gardens.

Jean Haley, author of A Handmade Garden, A Planner for Growing Flowers, Herbs, and Specialty Gardens, will also be on hand to sign her well-received book.

URI professionals, URI-trained Master Gardeners and representatives from leading Rhode Island garden centers and nurseries will be also on hand to analyze your soil pH (free - bring your soil samples!), answer your gardening questions and identify plant diseases, weeds and insect pests (again bring samples for analysis or identification). Plant sales by local nurseries and garden centers, environmental educational displays, lots of special activities for kids, food and music by Fourth Street will round out the day's activities.

Also on tap are three informative lectures: At 10:30, URI Landscape Specialist Marilyn Shellman will present "Landscaping by the Water's Edge." At 11:30, Gail Herman of Koi Villa will discuss "Water Gardening: From Beginners to Experts". At 12:30, URI Master Gardener Brook Williams will give a talk entitled "Incorporating Ornamental Grasses into your Home Landscape." All slide lectures will take place in the Cooperative Extension Education Center, located in the middle of the gardens. Capacity is limited so first come, first served.

Garden tour & demonstration schedule:

10:30 a.m. - Understanding and Managing the Impact of Drought in Your Landscape, a garden tour by Dr. Susan Gordon.

11 a.m. & 1 p.m.- Proper Pruning - Tools and Techniques, a demonstration by David Renzi, Distinctive Landscapes.

12:15 p.m. - Handling Your Hydrangeas, a demonstration by Robert Aube and Allen Redfern, Morningstar Nurseries in Richmond.

12:30 - Visual Metaphors in Sustainable Landscape Design by URI Learning Landscape co-designer Phil Thibaudeau.

1:15 - Managing Perennials for Maximum Bloom, a garden tour/demonstration by URI Master Gardener Cheryl Cadwell.

1:30 - Growing Great Apples in Your Backyard, a demonstration by Paul Lamore, Narrow Lane Farm in North Kingstown.

All-day demonstrations & exhibits include:

A Virtual Garden Tour of the Learning Landscape by John Peterson, URI AES

Identifying and Harvesting Wild Edible Plants, a book signing by Evelyn Dean

Custom Wrought Ironwork for the Garden by Traditional Blacksmithing

How to Build an Indoor Composter by Beaver River Associates

Beware of the Invaders: A Primer on Invasive Plants by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

Making Rose Bud Pomanders by Earth/Sea

About those Mosquitoes... by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Div. of Agriculture Mosquito Abatement Program

Lovely Lilies by the New England Lily Society

Water Gardening and Aquaculture by URI CE FAVS

Garden Tools, Accessories and Gifts by Garden Gear

Rabbit Care and Fall Cuttings by Dave Chris Farm and Nursery

Floral Sources of Honey in Rhode Island (live bees, weather permitting!) by the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association

Preparing the Garden for Winter by The Good Earth Organic Gardening Center

Making (& Tasting) Jonnycakes by Dick Donnelly

Wearable Flowers by Peggy Siligato, URI Floral Arts

Landscaping for Water Quality Protection by URI Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program

Apple Taste Testing by the Paul Lamore, Narrow Lane Farm and the URI CE Integrated Pest Management Program

Butterfly Caterpillars of Rhode Island by the Butterfly Society of Rhode Island

Marine Animals & How Watersheds Work by Save the Bay

RI Birds by The Norman Bird Sanctuary

Winter Bird Feeding by the R.I. Audubon Society

Biodiversity in the Backyard by the RI Natural History Survey

Making a Terrarium by Wedgewood Greenhouse

Bulb Gardens and Salad on a Stick by Nature Nuts 4-H

Protecting Open Space through Land Trusts by the South Kingstown Land Trust

Water Gardens! by Koi Villa Ornamental Plant and Fish Farm

Watershed Management and Litter Control by R.I. DEM Strategic Planning and Policy

The Relationship of the Decline of Songbirds and Coffee by Birdwatchers and Nature View

What's New in the Battle Against the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid? by the URI Intregrated Pest Management

For kids:

Insect Zoo by URI Cooperative Extension IPM and Entomology Program

Smokey Bear and Fire Prevention from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management

Beetle Rocks and Artful Flowers by the South County Center for the Arts

Earthworm Habitat by Master Composter Linda Los Tibbett

Chickens Alive! by Casey Farm

Sand Art by the Butterfly Society of Rhode Island

Native plant necklaces by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

Incredible Insects by George Christie

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For More Information: Jan Sawyer, 874-2116