Welcome to the sultry summer month of July! As the heat begins to build, the warm-season plants at Mt. Cuba Center begin to shine. Lilium canadense, hydrangea quercifolia, and lobelia cardinalis make a colorful show all month long. See these beauties in the evening cool of our Summer Twilight Tour - Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 PM
The ever-changing meadow takes center stage in July. Our popular Meadow Studies class will be held on Saturday, July 9, from 10AM-12 Noon ($10). Dave Korbonits will walk you through the area that he has tended for over 20 years. If you prefer plant studies, investigate The Wonders of Milkweed (Friday, July 15, 9-11AM, $20.) You'll take home a milkweed plant to grow on your own. Great Native Plants for the Perennial Border (Wednesday, July 20, 10AM-12 Noon, $20) focuses on plants that love the sun, maintenance tips, and design strategies that will enhance your perennial garden. Take home a perennial for your border.
Out in the natural lands area, Limnology Lessons: Pond Study lets you see life beneath our 2 1/2 acre man-made pond. This late afternoon class involves a wade in the water, so wear wading shoes and shorts. (Saturday, July 16, 4-6 PM, $20.) This class will meet at the Mt. Cuba Center stables, 2936 Barley Mill Road.
Registration for the 2011 Native Orchid Conference at Mt. Cuba Center is still open. This four-day event - July 30, 31, August 1 and 2 - includes two days of lectures and two days of field trips. Full conference information and a registration form can be found on the Native Orchid Conference page of the Mt. Cuba Center website, http://www.mtcubacenter.org/. You can sign up for all events and tours there as well.
As always, I look forward to sharing the beauty of Mt. Cuba Center with you.
Sincerely,
Eileen Boyle
Public Programs Manager
