The next four weeks are a great time to look for signs of spring. See if you can identify these heralds of spring and then visit The Arboretum and start looking for them! Send us a list of which ones you find within The Arboretum boundaries and the person with the most will win an Arboretum Spring Wildflower book. In the event of a tie, we will draw a name out of a hat. Send your list to [log in to unmask] by the deadline of April 10, 2012. By the way, sound counts so there is no need to slog through a pond to look for the frog. :) The answers to the quiz are at the bottom of the newsletter.

by Lig Taurins

Here at The Arboretum, I work as the Horticultural Technician – Gardener. I hold a shared position between two departments – 75% of my annual time and job responsibilities are within The Arboretum and 25% within the Department of Plant Agriculture. Read more....

Lig Taurins

On Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. we will be presenting another Children's Theatre performance, sponsored by Stone Road Mall: DuffleBag Theatre presents The Three Musketeers. Join us for another fun filled and hilarious interactive evening of theatre. In their refreshing adaptation of this fairy tale, audience members are invited into the show to play the main parts. Tickets: $8.00. Tickets can be obtained by contacting Bev Healy at The Arboretum at ext. 52358 or by visiting Simply Wonderful located downtown Guelph.  Click here for a printable flyer.


Dufflebag Theatre

Join us on Thursday, March 29th at 7 p.m. as Dr. David Galbraith explores the challenges ahead with creating beautiful, low-maintenance gardens in a rapidly changing climate, both around the world and in our own backyards. Dr. David Galbraith is Executive Director of the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network and Head of Science at the Royal Botanical Gardens. This event, brought to you in partnership by The Arboretum, Healthy Landscapes-City of Guelph, the Guelph & Wellington County Master Gardeners and the Waterloo-Wellington Wildflower Society, promises to be fascinating and insightful. For a printable flyer please click here.

Pruning, An Ecological Vegetable Garden, Urban Wildlife Habitat Gardening, Gardening Fundamentals and Introduction to Birds workshops are all approaching. The dates and registration deadlines can be found in our Coming Events listing in the column on the left side of this newsletter. A detailed description of each course is available on our website. Help us promote our programs … please forward this e-mail on to your friends and colleagues who may be interested. The more participants we have, the more programs we can offer.

For further information and / or to register please call Bev Healy at 519-824-4120 ext. 52358 or [log in to unmask]

Please note that a decision is made on the registration deadline as to whether the workshop will run or not, based on the minimum number of required registrants. You may still register after the deadline as long as the workshop is running and there is space.

The birds are clearly excited about spring, or at least the males are. Singers proclaiming territories include Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove and Northern Flicker. A Cooper's Hawk was seen adding sticks to its nest and a Bald Eagle flew over our site. At least one Northern Shrike is still around but will be leaving for its northern breeding range soon. To see more of our sightings please go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52649814@N05/

 
Northern Cardinal
photo by Chris Earley

Bald Eagle
Photo by Joey Addesi

Cooper's Hawk
Photo by Joey Addesi

Be a part of the BetterPlanet Project by donating on-line:
Your donation can be directed to The Arboretum online through the secure University of Guelph The BetterPlanet Project site! Follow these easy steps:

• Follow this link http://www.thebetterplanetproject.ca/bpp_donate_2.html
• Choose your type of gift "-One-time gift-", "-Sustaining gift-", or "-Tribute Giving-"
• On the drop down menu "-Choose a Program-" select Arboretum" and fill in the amount of your donation
• Click Calculate
• Fill in your personal information

It's that easy!

If you prefer not to make an online donation, there are several other ways to provide your financial support. You can choose to donate by telephone, mail, fax, or in person:

UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
Attention Alumni Affairs
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Tel: 1-888-266-3108 ext. 56934
Tel: 519-824-4120 ext. 56934
Fax: 519-822-2670
Email: [log in to unmask]

Please identify The Arboretum as the focus of your donation. If you would like information on bequests and planned giving to The Arboretum please contact:

Ross Butler
Director, Gift Planning
at (519) 824-4120 ext. 56196 or by e-mail at [log in to unmask]