For 2006 Horsford Gardens and Nursery offers a series of five informal seminars on topics of interest to gardeners, landscapers, and plant enthusiasts. The seminars meet on Saturday
mornings at 10:30 on the nursery grounds off of Route 7 in Charlotte. There is no admission charge and all are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is not required.

On May 6, meet under the locust trees with owner/landscape architect Charlie Proutt and field manager Ralph Fitz-Gerald. We will begin with a brief survey of the older trees at the nursery and end in our growing fields. Discussions include tree biology, tree identification, and tree selection. This is a wonderful opportunity for a behind-the- scenes view of how trees are grown, dug, burlapped, and planted.

On May 13, meet with landscape architect Ann Milovsoroff and garden shop manager Joanne Doyle to view our greenhouse bulb collection. This collection highlights a great variety of tulips, narcissus, and daffodils. Discuss the best varieties for our climate and wonderful combinations you can use.

On May 20, join horticulturist Leo Roberts and owner Charlie Proutt in a hands-on lilac workshop. Learn how to prune and fertilize old lilacs in the landscape. Find out which soils and exposures lilacs crave and how to help those in less-than-ideal locations. Finally, learn about the best varieties grown in Horsford’s growing fields.

On June 3, join Ann Milovsoroff to discover the untapped world of underused annuals and annual combinations. Whether assembled in pots or containers, mass planted in borders, or tucked among perennials, there is a bounty of new and old-fashioned plants to freshen up your garden.

On June 17, join manager Sue Longe and landscape architect Tricia King on a tour of Horsford ’s perennial growing area. Horsford Nursery was founded in 1893 as a mail-order perennial nursery. Discover plants offered in the early 1900’s that are still being grown today. Learn the inside scoop on how the nursery grows and cares for perennials as well as how to choose and select the right plants for your garden.

Maps are available to guide visitors to the many display gardens and growing fields found on the property. Visitors are encouraged to explore the nursery on their own following each of the seminars.