What Grows On in Rhode Island ~ News Blog

Poinsettia Sale and Exhibit ~ December 2009

Reminder that the URI Master Gardener Poinsettia Sale of experimental fabulous, unusual experimental varieties is at East Farm on Saturday at $12 each including tax, December 5 from 9 am to 12 Noon at East Farm, Route 108 (1 mile form the intersection with route 138) Kingston, RI.

AND ~ Through the month of December see the poinsettia exhibit at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence. When it's cold outside and snowy the Botanical Center is THE place to be ~ among palms, orchids, banana trees.... Every time I go it's different, as plants take turns showing off their colors. One of my favorites is the Bismarck Palm in the background of this photo. Lots of social events and weddings are held here, but the public hasn't yet discovered this welcoming, warm place within the city's premier park. Only $3 ~ so much less than even a Southwest ticket to Florida!

See What Grows On in RI Calendar for this and other upcoming sales and holiday celebrations.

 

The Wonderful World of Poinsettias ~ November 21, 2009 - January 3, 2010

From the URI Master Gardeners:

Unique plants cultivated by URI Master Gardeners will be the centerpiece of a seasonal exhibit at the Botanical Center. 

Every year, the URI Master Gardeners participate in Poinsettia growing trials to aid plant breeders in determining the growth habits and the viability of newly hybridized Poinsettia varieties.  This year, as one of only 30 trial sites in the country, the Master Gardeners volunteered hundreds of hours of their time to plant and cultivate over 1200 Poinsettias in their Kingston, RI, greenhouse facility.  

Consisting of 65 different varieties, these are not your typical, everyday poinsettias!  Plants can have varying shades of red, white, pink and green; some have combinations of one or more of these colors giving them a  "paint-splashed" or "tie-dyed" appearance,  while others may feature curly leaves or other unusual textural features.

This exhibit, the result of a partnership between the City of Providence, the Master Gardeners and the URI Outreach Center, will also feature an educational poster presentation outlining details about the plants such as their history, the myths that surround them, their intricate growing process, and their botanical "peculiarities".  The posters will also highlight the Master Gardeners and their roles as horticultural and environmental educators, researchers and highly dedicated volunteers. 

**** Exhibit opens Saturday, November 21, 2009  ****    and runs through Sunday, January 3, 2010
   ************************************************
Botanical Center Hours: 
Tuesdays - Sundays, and Monday Holidays, 11:00AM - 4:00PM
LAST TICKET SOLD AT 3:30PM
The center is also open on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Botanical Center Admission Fees:
Age 13+ - $3.00
Age 6-12 - $1.00
Age 5 & under - free

Climb Chopmist Fire Tower ~ October 17, 2009

DEM ANNOUNCES THAT PUBLIC IS INVITED TO CLIMB FIRE TOWER AT CHOPMIST FORESTRY HEADQUARTERS SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2009

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that on Saturday, October 17th, the public is invited to climb the fire tower at the Division of Forest Environment's Chopmist Headquarters at 1037 Hartford Pike (Route 101) in North Scituate. At one time there were 20 fire towers through out the state for the purpose of spotting and reporting forest fires.

Waterfowl Migration ~ October 18, 2009

From Appalachian Mountain Club ~ Narragansett Chapter

MIGRATION EVENT AT SACHUEST POINT

The Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club will be enjoying a special view of bird and waterfowl migration from the scenic shores of Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown on Sunday October 18 at 10:30 am.  Commentary will be provided by naturalists from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  This is a great way to learn about the birds that only stop here during migration and are therefore a treat to see.
Please contact Jack by phone 331-4553 or email jschempp1@msn.com for mandatory registration and more information.

The Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest nonprofit conservation and recreation organization. Information about the 2,600-member Narragansett Chapter’s activities can be found at www.amcnarragansett.org.

 

Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 35th Annual Harvest Fair ~ October 3-4, 2009

From Norman Bird Sanctuary:

Celebrate the Harvest!

Cross the monkey bridge, brave the mud pit, scale the greased pole, ride the “Mabel Express”, paint pumpkins…just a few of the activities at the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 35th Annual Harvest Fair! Featuring over 80 crafters, a Home and Garden competition, field games, contests of strength and skill, food, and family-oriented entertainment, this weekend-long event is a good old-fashioned country fair. Come celebrate the fall season and see why so many have made the NBS Harvest Fair a favorite family tradition!

EVENT: Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 35th Annual Harvest Fair
LOCATION: Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road, Middletown, RI 02842
DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th 2009
10am – 5pm

TICKETS: $6 Adults $3 Children (ages 3-12) Under 3 free
For further information please call 401-846-2577

Weekend Environmental Update ~ September 19-20, 2009

From Little Rhody's Biggest Environmental Calendar:

SATURDAY's (September 19th) menu includes:

• International Coastal Cleanup in more than 80 locations
• 3 other afternoon cleanups
• Open Garden Day in Providence (the poster has the wrong date because this event was postponded from last week)
• United Plant Savers Conference in Coventry
• 36th Harvest Fair at Coggeshall Farm in Bristol
• Waterfire

SUNDAY (20th) choices include::

• Coggeshall Farm's Harvest Fair continues
• Buffer Planting & Restoration Project
• Bird Banding (Audubon, Bristol)
• Blackstone River Wilderness Tour
• Autumn Advent at Kettle Pond Visitor Center
• Fish Ladder Groundbreaking Ceremony at Slater Mill Park, Pawtucket
• Wild Mushroom Walk at Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Impact of a Green Municipal Building in Tiverton

You can also keep up with news through the RI Feeds website which retweets on the ProvGardener's  Twitter. For more environmental news see:

• Feed of What Grows On in RI News Blog 
• Feeds of other RI environment-related feeds available for

• FOOD
• GARDENING, FARMING, LANDSCAPING
• NATURE/OUTDOORS
• GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

36th Coggeshall Farm Harvest Fair ~ September 19-20, 2009

The Harvest Fair at Coggeshall Farm is an annual event that began in 1973 and today attracts up to 5,000 visitors from across Southeastern New England.  Hours are 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, 2009.

Offerings at the Fair include quality vendors, traditional competitions, and unique entertainment.  At the heart of the Fair are live demonstrations of historic and traditional crafts and skills presented by artisans from across the Northeast.  It is this focus on artistry and craftsmanship that sets Coggeshall Farm’s Harvest Fair apart from other events, and makes it the valuable asset to the community it has proven to be for 35 years.

Admission

Adults $8.00
Member's, Seniors, and Children 6-12 $6.00
 Children under 6 - Free

Providence Sustainability Festival ~ September 26, 2009

From the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living:

The schedule for the first Providence Sustainability Festival has just been released, and it includes several interesting walking tours of Providence as well as informative workshops.

For instance, explore the Providence River banks, take an environmental justice walking tour, and/or take the Walk Downtown tour to experience the challenges pedestrians and bicyclists face and consider what can be done about traffic. There's also a tour of a green building.

Workshops of interest to homeowners include the pros and cons of replacement windows, "Simple Steps to a Green Home," LEED for homes, architects and sustainability, insulation, and composting.

Other workshops announced today address Rhode Island's food system, local food, what is a sustainable economy, 21st century entrepreneurial opportunities, green jobs, transportation and the environment.

If you don't want to do any of the above, there are bike rides (bring your own bike), alternative energy vehicles on display, a healing tent, the GEM energy pavillion, and an Open Skate (bring your own skates or skateboard). And Miss Earth United States 2009 is showing up.

The music lineup at the moment (September 11) with more to be added soon will be Mi Son Gaitero, Sol 18, Tim Taylor Blues Band, Santa Mamba,  Reasmey Kampuchea Music Group, and The Kris Hansen Kollective.

Thank you, Apeiron, for organizing this festival!

Tour the US EPA Ocean Survey Vessel Bold ~ September 7, 2009

From Narragansett Bay Estuary Program:

Join us Monday, September 7, 2009 to tour the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold.

  OSV Bold is EPA's flagship oceanographic research vessel. It will be docked at the at the University of Rhode Island's Bay Campus in Narragansett, RI.  On board, kids can experience marine life up close with a touch tank, and learn about oceanographic equipment including nets for collecting fish and plankton, water quality samplers, and side scan sonar instruments that map the seafloor.    Demonstrations of water quality sampling instruments and an underwater video camera will be provided by marine scientists from Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, University of Rhode Island, and EPA, who will explain the equipment and discuss research they have conducted in New England.   Several local environmental organizations will also be at the event, providing information and materials on their work. 

The Bold is visiting the area to do work in support of R.I.'s ocean special area management planning efforts that will guide offshore energy development. The NBEP and URI-GSO oceanographer Dr. John King secured the use of the EPA research vessel to conduct seafloor mapping and water quality sampling in R.I.'s coastal waters.   

Children of all ages have been tracking the progress of the Bold in New England this summer. You can see more information about this at www.epa.gov/boldkids/. For more info about OSV Bold in general visit www.epa.gov/bold.  

The event will be open all day from 10 to 3, so feel free to stop by any time! Directions to the campus can be found at: www.gso.uri.edu/about-gso/directions

Seal Watch Tours ~ November through April 2008

From Save the Bay's website:

Full info at Save the Bay Seal Watch Webpage

Join Save The Bay and The Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation for award-winning seal watch and lighthouse cruises around Rose Island aboard the M/V Alletta Morris. We provide binoculars and expert guides for the Bay's coolest winter family outing! Get a taste of the seal watch experience by watching video from a November 25 cruise with Capt. Eric Pfirrmann and Save The Bay Educator Amy Wright.

When: Weekends and school vacations, November 2007 through April 2008. Check schedule for departure times (based on low tide).

Where: Boat departs Bowen's Ferry Landing, Newport. Directions.

Cost: $20 per person ($15 for members of Save The Bay or Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, seniors and children ages 6 to 12). All programs are approximately 1 hour and are weather-dependent. For links to local marine weather and Newport tide information check roseisland.org.

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

            To secure your preferred date and time, you can make your reservations online today!             

If you have questions you may contact Save The Bay at 401-324-6020 or sealtours@savebay.org.