Friday, January 16, 2015, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

My Miro Inspiration: The Experience of Seeing in Gardens and Art 

Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Nasher Museum present a special opportunity to tour the exhilaratingexhibition Miró: The Experience of Seeing and find inspiration inMiró to create your own botanical “sculpture.” We begin at the Nasher Museum with a curator tour of Miró: The Experience of Seeing. Then, moving to a workshop at Duke Gardens, you will create a sculptural arrangement from botanical and found materials.

The exhibition of Spanish-born artist Joan Miró’s work reveals a tireless creativity and an intimate connection to nature and the human figure. Discover the joy and inspirations of one of the great masters of 20^th century art while awakening your own. An online image gallery of the “My Miró Inspiration” creations will be available afterward on both Nasher and Duke Gardens websites. All materials/tools will be provided along with guidance and assistance from Nasher and Duke Gardens staff. Please bring any personal embellishments you would like to include. Refreshments will be served during the workshop portion at Duke Gardens.

We recommend that you park at Duke Gardens and walk over to meet the group at the Nasher Museum. Fee includes ticket to Miró: $20; Gardens members and seniors $16; $10 Duke staff/faculty; $6 Duke students.

Registration required; please call 919-668-1707.

Organic Vegetable Gardening: Winter

3 Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 20 from 6:30-8:30 pm, 1 Saturday session Jan. 31 from 9:30-11:30 am.

Andy Currin, avid vegetable gardener and Duke University campus horticulturist

Winter allows you time to slow down in the garden, evaluate the season and plan for next year. This class will focus on winter season strategies, including sowing winter cover crops and extending your growing season with cold frames and other techniques. Class includes indoor discussion and outdoor practice in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. Class textbook is included for those beginning this series.

3 Tuesdays, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 6:30-8:30 pm, Saturday field session Jan. 31, 9:30-11:30 am

Participant limit: 15 Fee: $110; Gardens members $90

Qualifies for Home Horticulture Certificate elective course (8 hours)

Registration required; please call 919-668-1707.

 

Plants with Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to the Aphrodisiac Herbs, Fruits, Flowers & Veggies in Your Garden 

Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 7-9 pm

Helen Yoest, author and garden writer

Are some plants aphrodisiacs, or is that just a myth? Garden expert and plant detective Helen Yoest takes us on a romp through history, lore and ethnobotany. She explores a roster of 45 plants to uncover how they got their “hot” reputation, and what modern science has to say about it. Discover which common garden plants and favorite edibles have that “something extra,” and why.  Helen’s latest book, “Plants with Benefits,” is filled with lush photography, growing tips, and recipes for preparing teas, potions and tasty treats for your pleasurable use.  Helen’s book will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 7-9 pm

Fee: $10; Gardens members $8

Registration required; please call 919-668-1707.

 

Mushroom Logs

Saturday, Feb. 7, select from two sessions

Section a: Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 am-noon

Section b: Saturday, Feb. 7, 1-3 pm

Andy Currin, avid vegetable gardener and Duke University campus horticulturist

Enjoy fresh shitake mushrooms grown in your own garden! Each participant will be supplied with a 12” section of log, pre-drilled and ready to “plant” with mushrooms. Andy will take you through the process of seeding the log, sealing it with wax, and then maintaining it for the six months it will take to grow your first crop of mushrooms. Each log should produce mushrooms for several years.

Participant limit: 15

Fee: $35; Gardens members $30

Registration required; please call 919-668-1707.

 

Basic Botany and Plant Growth

4 Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 10 from 6-9 pm

Alec Motten, associate professor, Duke University Department of Biology

How does a plant grow? How does it manage water and nutrients? What factors influence the production of flowers and fruits? This course will explore these questions and more through a combination of lecture and hands-on approaches. Previous participants have commented that Alec’s enthusiasm and skillful instruction make the topic come alive.

4 Tuesdays, Feb. 10–March 3, 6-9 pm

Participant limit: 15

Fee: $130; Gardens members $110

Qualifies for Home Horticulture Certificate required course

Registration required; please call 919-668-1707.