Rutgers Gardens Series begins in NJ on Feb. 8

Nicholas Polanin, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Published 5:00 a.m. ET Feb. 2, 2020

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Video tour of Rutgers Gardens flowers
STAFF VIDEO BY MARK R. SULLIVAN

Are you suffering through the post-holiday doldrums of winter?

Rutgers Gardens has the remedy this month, as it has announced its 2020 Gardens Series just in time to get you thinking positively about the upcoming home gardening and landscape season.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Feb 8 would be your first winter doldrums’ antidote entitled “Houseplants – Bringing the Garden Indoors.” Houseplants are currently one of the hottest groups of plants since they not only aid in beautifying the home, but they improve indoor air quality. 

In addition, many of these plants can be moved outside during the summer months for outdoor enjoyment. Presentations will cover a number of plants that are easy to grow in a home, the cultural needs as well as some of the more common problems that can occur with indoor plants.

Your follow-up visit is entitled, “From Under the Earth - The Secrets of Growing Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Shallots, Asparagus, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichokes and Rhubarb,” from 10 a.m. to noon on Fe. 15. These vegetables are easy to grow and rarely attacked by disease, insects and critters. A potato harvested directly from your garden and within hours baked for dinner is like a tomato harvested warm from the afternoon’s sun.

READ: Gardener State: Planning and planting in 2020

That same day, from 1 to 3 p.m., “The Garden Flowers of 18th & 19th Century America” will be offered, featuring illustrated photographs of the 18th and 19th century bulbs, vines, perennials and annuals that were a part of most early American gardens.

Lastly, to complete your full recovery and launch you into spring, a Home Gardening Series is being offered in four separate sessions over two Saturdays, Feb. 22 and 29. Morning sessions will be from 9 a.m. to noon and afternoon sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. This series will cover everything from the fundamentals of design – graphics, balance, color, forms, sequence, scale and textures; incorporating a mix of hardscape and plant material to maximize shade, color, texture, interest and even sound in your garden and landscape; to adding proper landscape lighting to beautify your garden and landscape for life after dark.

Details and online registration for these and other educational opportunities at Rutgers Gardens are available at rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/education/adult-education.

Internships with Rutgers Gardens

Rutgers Gardens has recently announced the availability of student internships in various areas within the Gardens. These paid internships provide students with hands-on opportunities to learn about horticulture, farming, special programs and how a public garden serves a community and operates. These internships Include educational trips, degree credits, and valuable networking opportunities within the green industry. 

The Public Garden Management Internship offers many educational activities, hands-on training in basic and advanced horticulture techniques, equipment operation, understanding of various garden settings and the skills required to keep a public garden beautiful and functional. This internship is accompanied by a 3-credit course, “Public Garden Management,” which focuses on additional aspects of public gardens. This is a full-time opportunity, May 18 through Aug. 21, and interested students should contact Clayton Leadbetter at leadbetter@sebs.rutgers.edu.

READ: Gardener State: Become an environmental steward with Rutgers Cooperative Extension

The Youth Programs Internship provides students the opportunity to teach children about plants, food, healthy living and environmental issues. Interns help develop programs, work with youth, and plant and maintain the Community Youth Garden, used for programming and public display. This is also accompanied by a 3-credit course, “The Principles and Practices of Small-Scale Organic Farming.” The Youth Program runs part time in the spring, full time during the summer, with details available by contacting Debbie Henry at dhenry@sebs.rutgers.edu.

Finally, the Rutgers Gardens Student Farm Internship immerses students in small-scale organic vegetable production, emphasizing practices that are ecologically, socially, and economically responsible. Interns learn skills in crop planning, field preparation and planting, pest and disease control, harvesting, marketing, and more. Accompanied by a 3-credit course, “The Principles and Practices of Small-Scale Organic Farming,” this full-time internship is available for the summer months, with part-time hours available in the spring and fall. Details are available by contacting Alex Sawatzky at alex.s@rutgers.edu. 

For more information about these programs or to apply, visit rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/education/internships. Note that all applications are due by March 1.

Nicholas Polanin is associate professor, agricultural agent II, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension of Somerset County. Email him at polanin@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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