Even more trees are coming to Denver! Building on the success of the March 2014 Tree Diversity Conference, five different tree experts will be speaking at the Denver Botanic Gardens this coming March to present more ideas about underutilized tree species and cultivars. The time of losing many of our ash trees to the emerald ash borer will soon be upon us and the urgency of making wise replanting choices is greater than ever.

Our outstanding new program includes a professor of plant sciences and horticulture who hails from a very cold climate, an experienced Asian plant explorer and arboretum collections director, one of our country's foremost tree nursery propagators and two of the Front Range's best-known urban foresters. In addition to specific trees, we'll be hearing about some of the challenges climate change presents and about the role government can play in promoting more varied tree selection. Join us to further expand your menu of tree choices and together let's develop a more stable and secure urban forest!

2015 Lineup

Kathleen Alexander, Boulder, CO City Forester

Kris Bachtell, Collections Director, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL

Tim Buchanan, Ft. Collins, CO City Forester

Greg Morgenson, Woody Plant Research Specialist, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

Keith Warren, Plant Propagator, J. Frank Schmidt Nurseries, Boring, OR.

$75, includes all programming and lunch

Rocky Mountain Gardening Elective

This class will help you to develop your skills in succession planting and extending the growing season to get 11-12 months from your vegetable garden. Learn the importance of plant family names and how to group them successfully and rotate them, cool and warm season crops and when and if you can replant for another season of certain crops. We will also cover techniques and materials to extend the season successfully so you can plant early in spring and keep certain crops going until late fall and into winter.

Members $39, Non-Members $44

Instructor: Patti O'Neal

See how easy and inexpensive it is to make your own facial steams with herbs, cleansing grains and creams, wonderful masques, including alpha hydroxy, herbal toners and astringents, and a rich creamy moisturizer that contains far more nutrients and anti-oxidants for your skin than anything available commercially.

You'll also learn how to make a profoundly healing cream for damaged skin and premature wrinkling. Learn a few tricks for blemishes and how to make a creamy, healing lip balm.

Take home an extensive handout, bag of steaming herbs, a month supply jar of moisturizer and a pot of lip balm.

Instructor: Christina Blume

$58 member, $63 non-member, includes $30 for materials.

This class provides an accessible introduction for anyone interested in raising backyard hens. Join Sundari Kraft, of EatWhereULive and Heirloom Gardens to learn how to choose the perfect chickens (best breeds and how/where to purchase), care for chicks and create housing and fencing. Participants also learn how to navigate financial considerations, overcome common challenges and get proper livestock licenses.

$35 member / non-member

Instructor: Sundari Kraft

Instructor:

Sundari Kraft is the owner of a beautiful flock of Denver backyard hens. She is the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading," and successfully worked with city officials to change Denver's chicken laws.

This class provides an accessible introduction for anyone interested in raising backyard dwarf dairy goats. Join Sundari Kraft, of EatWhereULive and Heirloom Gardens, to learn how to choose the perfect goats (best breeds and how/where to purchase), make housing and fencing, feed, collect milk, breed and provide proper medical care and hoof trimming. Participants also learn how to navigate financial considerations, overcome common challenges and get proper livestock licenses.

$35 member / non-member.

Instructor: Sundari Kraft

Instructor:

Sundari Kraft. Sundari is the proud owner of Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. She is the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading," and successfully worked with city officials to improve Denver's goat laws.