2024 Activities at Landis: The Makings of an Exciting Year!

By Wilma Jozwiak

Landis has always been a place to learn about the natural world around us – and also to learn about ourselves in relationship to that world. Our activities this year will give you lots of opportunities for both. Let your fingers do the walking right to our website at https://landisarboretum.org/events for more information on all of this year’s great classes and activities. Scroll down to see dates and links to descriptions for our 2024 activities as planned to date.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have the friendship of Board member and nature educator George Steele, who will bring 13 classes to the Landis campus this year, including old favorites as well as such new options as Forest Bathing Mindfulness Exploration, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Watch Night Walk, and Big Sit Bird Count. Every year more people become “George groupies” after participating in his fun and information packed offerings. George’s classes are supported in part by a grant from Stewarts.

The spring Houseplant Swap returns this year for all houseplant aficionados - you won’t want to miss this event!

The Albany Area Amateur Astronomers are returning with their Star Parties - six opportunities to gaze at the stars in Landis dark skies. We have our fingers crossed that the weather cooperates this season!

Our Bookstore in the barn, a vast collection of books on every topic from plant- and garden-related to novels and nonfiction, will of course, be open during our two Plant Sales, but also on Book Sale Saturdays once a month during the season. All sales are by donation; our many satisfied customers say it’s a great deal!

Our new bluebird nesting box volunteer, Shayne Mitchell, is helping bring awareness of all things bluebird by facilitating two classes, Setting Up a Bluebird Nest Box, and Bluebird Trail Walk. Shayne is working with the Education Committee to plan a Bluebird Lottery that will give people a chance to guess which nest box will produce the first fledglings (check our website soon for more information on the lottery). Shayne also initiated the effort to develop a new bluebird trail brochure, drafted the text for our new website page on Birding at Landis, and wrote the first entry in our new Bird Blog.

We’ll have a spring writing series again, thanks to a grant from Poets and Writers. Susannah Risley will teach a four-session series on Nature in Flash Fiction. Writers of any experience level can sign up for one or more of the classes, as your availability allows.

Once again, the restorative, relaxing practice of Yoga comes to Landis with Vanessa Chambers’ Outdoor Yoga - Know & Nurture: An Adventure in Self Exploration. Vanessa focuses each of the five sessions on one aspect of the natural world.

We’ll soon be able to tell you who will be performing at our Live at Landis Full Moon Music Series. We know they will be great, and the outstanding acoustics in the Nicholas J. Juried Meeting House provides the perfect stage for the musicians.

The Landis Perennial Forest 5K has become a don’t-miss activity for many runners (and walkers) in the area. The 5K will be held on August 10 this year; visit our website for more information and to register.

And, of course, our wonderful Spring and Fall Plant, Book, and Bake Sales will return, with a members-only Pick of the Pots Sale (POPS) on the Friday evening before each sale (see below for sale dates). If you are not a member, you can join on arrival and enjoy the opportunity to shop early, AND enjoy light refreshments and beverages.

Finally, our Volunteer Recognition event will return in the fall, with an invitation to everyone who has been a volunteer AND anyone who is volunteer-curious. It’s always a great time to meet people, and to see the annual volunteer awards presented.

You can find all these great opportunities on our website at https://landisarboretum.org/events, or just click on the name of the activity below. If you’d like a printable two page calendar, click here. You can register online using PayPal and your credit card. You can also register by calling the office at 518-875-6935 with your credit card in hand. Programs and events continue to be added through the season, so keep checking back to see what’s up at Landis!

Setting Up a Bluebird Nest Box. Saturday, March 9, 10:00 AM. Instructor: Shayne Mitchell

House Plant Swap. Saturday, April 27, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Annual Spring Hawk Watch & Hawk Identification Workshop. Saturday, April 27, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Bluebird Trail Walk. Saturday, May 4, 1:00. PM. Instructor: Shayne Mitchell

Star Parties, hosted by the Albany Amateur Astronomy Association. Saturday, May 4, 9:00 PM; Friday, June 7, 10:00 PM; Saturday, July 6, 10:00 PM; Saturday, August 3, 9:30 PM; Thursday, August 15, 7:30 PM (AAAA Annual Meeting with Star Party to follow); and Saturday, September 28, 8:00 PM

Outdoor Yoga - Know & Nurture. An Adventure in Self Exploration. Saturdays, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, and September 14, 2:00 PM. Instructor: Vanessa Chambers

Mother's Day Bird Walk Sunday, May 12, 6:00 AM. Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Preparing for the 2024 Spring Plant Sale. Friday, May 17, 9:00 AM

Pick of the Pots (POPs) 2024: A Members-Only Spring Plant Sale Preview Party. Friday, May 17, 4:00 PM

Landis Book Sale Saturday at the Plant Sale. Saturday and Sunday, May 18 & 19, 10:00 AM

Landis 2024 Signature Spring Plant, Book, and Bake Sale. Saturday and Sunday, May 18 & 19, 10:00 AM

Woodcock Search and Sneak-up. Friday, May 24, 8:30 PM. George Steele, science educator

Nature In Flash Fiction. Sundays, May 26, June 2, 9, and 23, 1:00 – 3:00 PM Instructor: Susannah Risley

Waterfall Hike. Saturday, June 1, 2:00. PM. Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Landis Book Sale Saturday. Saturdays, June 8, July 13, and August 10, 10:00 AM – 2:00PM

Pruning 2024 - The Basics and Beyond!. Friday, June 21, 9:00 AM. Fred Breglia, Landis Arboretum Executive Director and ISA certified arborist

Strawberry Moon Celebration. Friday, June 21, 8:00 PM. Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Old Growth Forest Hike. Saturday July 6, 2:00 PM Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Pruning Part II: Hands-on Experience in the Field. Friday, July 12, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. . Fred Breglia, Landis Arboretum Executive Director and ISA certified arborist

Amphibian and Reptile Search. Sunday, July 14, 2:00 PM. Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Pond Exploration. Saturday, August 3, 2:00 PM Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Landis 2024 Perennial Forest 5K Run. Saturday, August 10, 8:00 AM

Summer Nature Walk. Sunday, August 11, 2:00 PM. George Steele, science educator

Preparing for the 2024 Fall Plant Sale. Friday, September 6, 9:00 AM

Pick of the Pots (POPs) 2024: A Members-Only Fall Plant Sale Preview Party Friday, September 6, 4:00 PM.

Landis 2024 Signature Fall Plant, Book, and Bake Sale. Saturday and Sunday, September 7 & 8, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Landis Book Sale Saturday at the Fall Plant Sale. Saturday and Sunday, September 7 & 8, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Forest Bathing Mindfulness Exploration. Sunday, September 8, 2:00 PM. George Steele, science educator

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Watch Night Walk. Saturday, September 28, 8:00 PM. George Steele, science educator

Volunteer Appreciation Event. Sunday, September 29, 12:00 PM

Big Sit Bird Watch, Sunday, October 13, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Annual Halloween Owl Prowl. Saturday, October 26, 7:00 PM. Instructor: George Steele, science educator

Decorating with Native Greenery 2024. Saturday, November 30, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Instructor: Donna Vincent, floral designer


Spring 2024

Volume 42 , Number 1

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