2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

Tuesdays, January 8 - April 1 ~ Winter lecture series, seed-starting & photography courses, composting workshops &  more. Check local papers, bulletin boards &  www.villagesoup.com for dates & times.

Saturday, February 2 ~ Winter Ecology Festival: Sponsored by Mid-Coast Audubon, Tanglewood  4-H Camp & Learning Center and Merryspring. Dog sled demonstrations; live owls; Maine mammals, birds, bird feeding and much more. Hot drinks and refreshments throughout the day. A free event for the entire family, contributions accepted. Call 338-5675 or 236-2239 for more information.

Saturday, February 16 ~ Designing Continuously-Blooming Perennial Gardens
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This workshop, led by local garden designer Lee Schneller, is for gardeners of all levels. Cost is $35 for Merryspring members; $40 for non-members, and includes materials and handouts. Pre-registration required and space is limited. Please bring a bag lunch and the measurements for a garden bed to work on.

Thursday, March 20 ~ Vernal Equinox (01:48 EDT)

Saturday, March 29 ~ Pruning Workshop with Cheryl Denz 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Tuesday, April 22 ~ Earth Day (expect festivities on Saturday the 19th)

Saturday, May 3 ~ Composting Workshop with Jim Sady 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Saturday, May 10 ~ Astronomy Day: As part of the nationwide Astronomy Day celebration, Merryspring Nature Center and the Central Maine Astronomical Society (CMAS) will be hosting a variety of astronomy-related events.

Friday, May 16 – 18 ~  Warbler Weekend: Sponsored by Merryspring and Coastal Mountains Land Trust.  A talk and slide presentation Friday evening followed by a bird walk Saturday at Merryspring and Sunday at Ducktrap.

Saturday, May 17 ~ Merryspring’s Annual Plant Sale: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the park featuring perennials, herbs, rosemaries, various used tools and equipment, divisions from Merryspring's own gardens as well as from other local gardens. Members have the advantage of buying early at "Members Only" night on Friday, May 16th, from 4 – 6 p.m.

Tuesdays, June 3  through August 26 ~ Summer Lecture Series: A different speaker will be presented at noon every Tuesday. Bring a brown bag and learn about horticulture, nature, photography, art and more. Check local papers for each week's topic or call 236-2239. Talks are free for members; $5.00 non-members.

Thursday, June 20 ~ Summer Solstice (7:59 p.m. EDT)

Saturday, July 19 ~ Common Sense Chainsaw Safety for the Homeowner: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Merryspring. Peter Green will show how to safely use, maintain and sharpen your saw. Bring your saw and gear to learn the proper attire and more with a certified logging professional. $5 members; $7 non-members.

Sundays, July 20; August 17; September 7 & 28 ~ Identifying Wild Mushrooms with Greg Marley. 9:00 - 11:30 am. With more than three decades of mycological teaching to his credit, Greg has a contagious mix of enthusiasm and expertise. Participants should be adults who are physically able to walk over uneven ground.

Wednesday, August 6 ~ Merryspring’s Annual Kitchen Tour: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Visit eight uniquely designed kitchens in the towns of CAMDEN, ROCKPORT, & LINCOLNVILLE, Maine. Enjoy demonstrations and tastings from specialty growers and chefs throughout the day.

Thursday & Friday, August 7 & 8 ~ Painting With Soft Pastels with Sally Loughridge 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 23 ~ Field Trip to Shleppinghurst Gardens, Ken Cleaves' Japanese-inspired woodland garden in Lincolnville, Maine.

Sunday, September 22 ~ Autumn Equinox (11:44 a.m. EDT)

Friday, October 31 ~ All Hallows Eve Enchanted Forest: at around 4:00 p.m. a chance for wee sprites and goblins to be guided through a jack-o-lantern lit wood filled with fairytale vignettes, and to enjoy twilight refreshments in the garden. Merryspring and Ashwood Waldorf School co-sponsors.

Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7   ~ Holiday Bazaar at Merryspring: Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Each year during the "Christmas By the Sea" weekend, we offer a variety of plants, greens, wreaths, live arrangements and lots of exciting gifts for holiday giving and decorating. Pay special attention to the "Members Only" date of Thursday, December 4th  , from 2 - 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 21 ~ Winter Solstice  (7:04 a.m. EST)
Email: mersprng@gwi.net      Phone: 207-236-2239      www.merryspring.org