Gardening

Rainwater Harvesting
Don’t let your rain go down the drain! Saving water in your yard is something that you can do with ease. Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist – Water Resources will share basic water harvesting strategies, how to calculate the amount of water that you can capture and then help you construct your own rain barrel. Just in time for our spring showers, this class is a must for anyone who is trying to conserve water on their property.

5/21 at 12pm, $75

Rain Gardens
These days, every drop of rain counts. Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist – Water Resources  will show you how to use the rain and make it good to the last drop! Find out unique ways to capture and use water in the landscape as well as the best plants to use in a rain garden. This unique style of gardening will show you some innovative ways to really put the rain to work for you!

5/21 at 9am, $25

Creating a Sustainable Landscape
Did you know that 40% of the nutrients that we put out in the garden never makes it to your plants? Sustainable gardening reduces the amount of time, money and labor that goes into your yard and is gaining popularity across the country. Derek Little, Certified Landscape Professional and author, will show you how to have a healthy, vibrant and beautiful landscape by using techniques that conserve resources without stressing yourself or the environment. Come find out how to create a lush landscape without all the work.

2/26 at 12pm, $25

SO SAVE THE DATE
 
Oak Cliff Earth Day 2011
Sunday April 17, 2011
Noon to Five (12 - 5)
Lake Cliff Park
 
The registration forms are being put on the web site, so stay tuned.
The cost of the event remains the same: free for non profits; 25.00 for
businesses or for profit groups; 30.00 for food vendors.
If you have attended OCED in the past you should be pre approved, all new
vendors must complete a simple pre approval form before you can register.
Thanks
Roger Bolen, Co Chair
Oak CLiff Earth Day, 2011
www.oakcliffearthday.com <http://www.oakcliffearthday.com/> 

Thu, Feb 10 - Make a Rain Barrell from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist - Water Resources will be teaching this class and will provide participants the opportunity to construct a 55 gallon rain barrel as well as discuss installing an efficient irrigation system. The rain barrel is yours to take home! Cost is $40.00 for each barrel and they measure 24 inches in diameter and 36 inches tall. Bring a vehicle large enough to haul your rain barrel(s) home. Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Pavilion Building, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas 75252.

1pm Organic Rose Gardens by Carolyn Hayward, Master Consulting Rosarian. Care for your roses organically. Carolyn covers disease and pest control among other maintenance issues you can solve using non-toxic, earth friendly practices.

Mon, Mar 14th 10am
Critters in the Garden: Remove unwanted guests humanely & organically by Bonnie Bradshaw, Wildlife 911. Sponsored by Dallas North Garden Forum. Got armadillos? Bunnies? Squirrels? Then you'll want to be sure to join us for this great program on tips to keep your garden safe from these unwanted critters while maintaining a balanced relationship with nature. All humane and organic methods used.

2:30-4:30 Vanishing of the Bees A FREEscreening.  www.vanishingbees.com [ibimage==1626==original_size==none==self==ibimage_left]

"Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. Commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that make up one out of every three bites of food on our tables. Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees."

Saturday, May 21, 10 am to 2 pm. Butterfly Plant Sale.
Snap up hard-to-find butterfly host and nectar plants. We grow them here, giving you the benefit of organic plants tuned for Dallas summers. Free garden admission.

Friday, May 20, 2 pm to 4 pm. Butterfly Plant Safari.
This pre-sale tour shows you how to incorporate native and adapted plants into your landscape. Bonus! If you enroll in the walk, you can purchase plants at our Member's Special Preview Night, which starts at 4 p.m. $25; $20 members.