A daylong seminar sponsored by the Connecticut College Arboretum Nov. 4 will offer homeowners a how-to on designing home landscapes from a naturalistic point of view.
"Inspired by Nature: a Naturalistic Approach to Home Landscaping," a Smaller American Lawns Today seminar, will be held in Blaustein Humanities Center, Room 210, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The seminar will feature varied speakers and experts in the field, and related books will be available for sale. Registration is required. The fee, $51 for members and $60 for general public, includes a continental breakfast, lunch and breaks. For registration, call 860/439-5060.
The SALT movement was conceived by the late Dr. William A. Niering, internationally renowned environmentalist and botany professor at Connecticut College. SALT promotes the practice of designing environmentally sound landscapes that encourage biodiversity.
Paul Tukey, co-host of an HGTV gardening show every Sunday and author of an upcoming book on organic lawn care, in a talk titled "Organic Lawns: Seeing is Believing," will show how to apply organic principles to effective lawn care without using chemicals and still have "the best lawn in the neighborhood."
Noelle O´Connor, art historian and independent scholar, will introduce the man whom Carolus Linnaeus called the "greatest natural botanist" in her talk, "John Bartram: A Curious Man and His Plants."
A talk by Mike Nadeau, designer and builder of ecological landscapes, "Meadows and Myths: What Works & What Doesn't," is designed specifically for the homeowner.
A presentation by Peter Picone, wildlife biologist with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, "Enhancing Seasonal Habitat for Songbirds, Hummingbirds, and Butterflies with Native Plants," will emphasize the value of native plants and give examples of the seasonal interdependency of native plants and wildlife needs.
For further information on the SALT movement, or the Connecticut College Arboretum, visit the website or e-mail arbor@conncoll.edu.