URI to host Summer Gardening School

9 bi-weekly sessions will expand gardening horizons June 5-Aug. 21


KINGSTON, R.I. – May 4, 2007 — Amateur gardeners interested in learning more about their hobby are invited to participate in the third Summer Gardening School sponsored by the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension.


This informal series of nine bi-weekly sessions, including tours of the URI Botanical Garden, will be held on Tuesday evenings from June 5 to Aug. 21. All sessions will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.


“This year’s school is designed to provide gardeners with useful gardening tips and a thorough understanding of a wide range of gardening topics – from ‘deckscaping’ to composting — so that both new and experienced gardeners can get more out of their time in the garden,” explained Rosanne Sherry, coordinator of the URI Master Gardener program.


In addition to deckscaping and composting, participants may attend sessions covering tree planting techniques, healthy vegetable gardening, gardening with wildlife, roses for the 21st century, shade garden design, sustainable trees and shrubs, and managing lawns traditionally and organically.


“These are very informal sessions,” Sherry said. “They are not so much classes as evening strolls through URI’s gardens, lead by an expert in the field. Participants may attend as many sessions as they wish; it is not necessary to take the entire series.”


The sessions will be taught by URI Master Gardeners, Cooperative Extension staff and other experts. Most sessions will be held in the URI Botanical Gardens, located at 3 East Alumni Avenue, on the Kingston Campus. The fee is $15 for each session. No university academic credits are earned through this series.


For more information or to register for these events, call the Cooperative Extension Education Hotline at 1-800-448-1011. To download a registration form, visit www.urimga.org and click on the Summer Gardening School link.