This newsletter is brought to you by the Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum and was delivered to your mailbox because you directly subscribe to it or gave your e-mail address as part of your membership registration. If you have changed your mind and wish to unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of this page.

While you may view our full program on the Events Page of our website, we are pleased to highlight these upcoming programs.

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12TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY GARDEN CONFERENCE

Saturday, March 12 - 9:00 AM

The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County are teaming up once again to present their Annual Community Garden Conference. This year we will have two brilliant keynote speakers: Niki Jabbour and Ellen Ecker Ogden who will open and close the Conference.

It's going to be virtual again this year, but we have an impressive list of session speakers, all experts in their field. They will cover topics relevant to not only community gardeners, but backyard vegetable gardeners as well as garden managers and those trying to establish a new community garden.

Some of the sessions will be recorded prior to the Conference so you will be able to watch them at your leisure, and some will be live with a Q&A in real time on March 12.

This program is eligible for 7.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEUs.

For more information and to register, click on the CGC logo.

A SPECIAL POP-UP PROGRAM HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR SCHEDULE:

ROCK GARDEN PLANTS OF CANADA'S WET COAST, with Jay Akerley

Saturday, February 19 - 10:30 AM

VIRTUAL ZOOM PROGRAM

Jay Akerley is a rock gardening enthusiast with gardens in both Greater Vancouver and at Sun Peaks, Canada's second largest ski resort - two very different climates. He is the current President of the Alpine Garden Club of British Columbia. Jay's degree in Geography from Simon Fraser University and training at the Pacific Horticulture College in Victoria nurtured an interest in the world's montane and high steppe plants and landscapes.

The Friends are pleased to collaborate with the Watnong Chapter of NARGS (North American Rock Garden Society), who have graciously allowed us to offer this program to our members. Watnong members will receive the program link from their organization, which is an affiliate member of the Friends.

You may register by clicking on the adjacent photo -- please do so by February 16.

AN EVENING WITH JAN JOHNSEN AND HER NEW BOOK, FLORATOPIA

Thursday, March 24 - 7:00 PM

VIRTUAL ZOOM PROGRAM

Join Distinguished Speaker and Landscape Designer Jan Johnsen, as she shares her experience and contagious passion for flowers in her illustrated talk based on her new book Floratopia - 110 Flower Garden Ideas for Your Yard, Patio or Balcony. Jan offers illustrated tips and flower design suggestions. She underscores flowers' role as pollinator magnets and encourages combining grasses and flowers and using deer resistant selections. She stresses both perennials and annuals and gives recommended cultivars. Jan's aim is to ensure flower success for gardeners of all skill levels.

Jan is a principal of the award-winning Johnsen Landscapes & Pools firm based in Westchester County, New York and an admired garden designer and author. She taught at Columbia University for many years and still teaches at the New York Botanical Garden.

Please click on the book cover for more information and to register.

TODAY AT THE FRELINGHUYSEN ARBORETUM

The day started out sunny, in the mid-40's, but turned chilly and windy. The Witch Hazels and Pussy Willows are starting to bloom, love the splash of color and the fuzzy buds. Here are photos of a Magnolia denudata (Yulan Magnolia) bud, the flowers of Hamamelis vernalis 'Red Imp' (Witch Hazel) and the buds and blooms of Salix chaenomeloides (Giant Pussy Willow).

Click an image to see them all in our website's picture gallery. Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

YOU CAN STILL REGISTER FOR PREVIOUS ZOOM PRESENTATIONS

We are pleased to make several of our previously recorded events available in case you missed one or another of them.

Go to our new prerecorded-events Events page for more information and to register and pay online.

Retail Partners

When shopping at our fine Retail Partners, please remember to present your Membership card at the beginning of your check out transaction. Our Retail Partners need to enter the discount at the beginning of that process.

If you have not yet used this wonderful Member Benefit, you can view our full list of Retail Partners by clicking here.

Amazon Smile

Don't forget to "SMILE!"Amazon Smile, that is!

Amazon, through the AmazonSmile Foundation will contribute 0.5% of your purchases on Amazon to a charitable organization you select. Please consider selecting The Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum as your designated recipient from this wonderful program.

Click here and log in to your amazon account to designate the Friends as your charity.

That's it for this time. Hope you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter. Tell your friends about this handy way to keep up with activities at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum (click here for complete directions for subscribing.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Friends Staff will be out of the office until Fall 2021, however we will continue working remotely. Please note our new Post Office Box number and staff emails.

SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENTS

PANDEMIC SCHEDULE

Morris County Park Commission has reopened the Frelinghuysen, Willowwood and Bamboo Brook Arboreta 7 days a week, from 8am to dusk.

• Parking is limited. Buildings remain closed. Portajohns are available.
• HUNTING IN THE PARKS - Be aware that deer hunting is permitted in many of the MCPC facilities, including the arboreta, during the fall and winter. The schedule and type (bow or firearm) is listed on the MCPC website here.

We will keep you posted as further updates become available.

Visit our website: https://www.arboretumfriends.org.
Email your comments or suggestions to webmaster@arboretumfriends.org.

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is a facility of the Morris County Park Commission