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S25/25
Join us for an informative class on Goldenrod. As a keystone species, goldenrods are the host plants for more than 400 individual species of insects! Often mistakenly maligned for causing allergies, this herbaceous perennial is hiding more than just roots under its leaves. Learn more about its history, its impacts, and its identification in the second of our summer Keystone Species Lecture Series.
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S25/32
Each summer, do you find yourself with a bounty of veggies, with more than you can possibly eat? Do you find it hard to cook dinners in small batches, or like to have meals prepared in advance? This class is for you! We will cover everything the beginner canner and preserver needs to know. We will talk about canning jams, jellies, preserving vegetables, cooked meals, and more. Learn what tools you need, how to choose the best vegetables and fruits, how to safely preserve your bounty, along with great tips, recipes, and more!
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S25/26
Join us for an informative class on Willows. As a keystone species, willows are the host plants for more than 300 individual species of insects! More than just a statement plant, willows have a hidden depth of history and usage. Learn more about its history and its impacts, as well as identification, in the last of our summer Keystone Species Lecture Series.
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S25/31
Pollinators are part of the intricate web that supports biological diversity in nature which helps to sustain our quality of life. Pollinators are needed for reproduction of 90% of our flowering plants and one third of food crops. This program emphasizes the characteristics of each pollinator species and their specific needs. Because bees and other important pollinator populations are on the decline in Connecticut, it is important to know what we can do in our communities to protect and provide for them. We will also explore steps the state has taken to help with declining pollinator populations
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S25/27
This presentation covers results of three years of observations in a pollinator garden designed and managed by Master Gardeners at the Hill-Stead Museum. Starting with a discussion of soil vs dirt, the discussion covers what are the most beneficial native plants to consider. What makes native plants important. Which bees, butterflies, and moths are frequent visitors to a New England garden, when do they come, and what are their favorite flowers. A general planting scheme developed by the University of Rhode Island will be discussed along with a chart of recommended native flowers for pollinator gardens.
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S25/24
Join us for an informative class on Oak trees. As a keystone species, oaks are the host plants for more than 500 individual species of insects! Used by a variety of people for a a variety of purposes, these large specimen trees have on even larger impact on the new England ecosystem. Learn more about their history, their impacts, and their identification in the first of our Keystone Species Lecture Series.
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S25/33
In this lecture, Kerry will share how her outlook on flower gardening has evolved over the decades. In addition to following the latest earth-friendly practices and incorporating more natives, she has also shifted her focus from perennials to shrubs that provide months of radiant color but are far less maintenance. This eye-opening session features remarkable shrubs for front to mid-border gardens, as well as their pruning requirements. These stunning beauties also are ideal for over-wintering in containers.
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S25/39
This talk will be a discussion on how native plants, while not a solution to our broader climate change problems, can be a key component in making our landscapes healthier and more resilient to the negative effects of our warming climate. We can no longer afford to have our home landscapes be ecological deserts, and we need to find ways to change how we define beauty when it comes to our lawns, gardens, and public spaces. Dan will discuss how climate change is stressing our ecosystems in unique ways, and how our landscaping choices can be part of a solution rather than part of the problem.
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S25/36
Do you know the answers to these questions?
•Can you identify the weeds growing in your garden?
•Do you know why weeds appear at different times of the year?
•Are you controlling your garden weeds without chemicals?
Please join us as Advanced Master Gardener Peter Russell defines and discusses the characteristics and lifecycles of weeds common to Connecticut, their ID features, and approaches to weed control.
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S25/HT2
This is the recording of the Hot Topics for 2025 which is required for 2026 Active Certification. Access instructions will be provided upon registration.
Topics presented are: 'The Buzz About Honey Bees: Pollination, Honey, and Protecting Our Pollinators' by the State Apiary Inspector Paula Wolfe, 'How to Minimize Heat Related Disorders' by the COO of the UConn Korey Stringer Institute, Rebecca Stearns and a presentation on 'The Keystone Genus, Quercus' by the UConn Litchfield County Master Gardener Coordinator, Zac Bull. More ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
S25/37
By planting natives, avoiding pesticides, and reducing lawn, these simple steps in our gardens have been proven to create healthy, connected habitats for pollinators and wildlife as they struggle across the landscape to find new food and nesting habitats. Land Trusts, like Aspetuck, can’t save all the land, so we as landowners need to make our yards stepping- stones to heal and connect the landscape. The Aspetuck Land Trust Green Corridor is an initiative that combines land protection and land stewardship in a 6-town region to enhance regional biodiversity during this time of dramatic climate change. I will share all the ingredients to help landowners supercharge biodiversity with simple action steps that can have a big impact including highlighting the work we have done in the City of Bridgeport developing Micro-Forests, using the Miyawaki Method of forestry for the first time in CT. By planting small forests of different sizes at 7 schools in Bridgeport, a small but mighty forest of native trees and shrubs have helped to capture carbon, manage stormwater, cool the air, and improve biodiversity at a rate 3x that of a traditional forest and with a higher collective impact than street trees alone. Learn how the method was implemented by Building Bridges to the Bridgeport Community, the design, build, maintenance and the data being collected to measure climate smart impact.
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