Saturday morning, March 5, 2016
9-11 Hughes Educational Building

One of the most conscientious bluebird trackers in the state, Karl Jungbluth, will lead this class. Come find out what makes bluebirds keep coming back each spring. Or did they stick around this winter? What do they like to eat? He will talk about all kinds of bluebird behaviors - migration, scouting, nesting, feeding, fledging, and back to migration. Get an update on the Arboretum's bluebird trail. Learn what you can do to support these beautiful birds as their habitat continues to shrink. Karl will guide us in discovering the best design features among many bluebird houses on the market. You will take home the plans for building your own bluebird box. We will also have bluebird houses for sale in the Arboretum gift shop.

Karl gardens with wildlife around his rural Boone home. He is retired from the National Weather Service and is President Emeritus of the Iowa Audubon Society.

Sunday afternoon, March 20, 2016
1-3 PM Hughes Educational Building

The calendar says this is the first day of spring but the weather may be telling us otherwise. Let's cheer on spring with paper blossoms till the real ones emerge. This is definitely a hands-on class. You will learn to make a variety of paper flowers from super simple to gently challenging. We will use repurposed as well as higher end materials. Everything will be supplied, except we ask you to bring along scissors. You will take home a colorful bouquet with seasonal accents. Nan Bonfils and Sandy Gossman are co-leaders.

Children as young as grade two can participate, but an adult must accompany every child. Grown-ups without youngsters are also welcome.

Sunday, April 24, 2016
1-3pm Cafferty Building

Join Sandy Gossman, professional floral designer, in this hands-on session exploring the possibilities for building garden glass ornaments out of repurposed dishware. Sandy will show you many examples and then teach the basic principles and best practices. You will take home a whimsical glass mushroom and a fanciful ceramic bird feeder. Or is it a votive candleholder? You will leave with plenty of ideas to spark your imagination and all the skills you need to bring them to life.

We will be using glue that sets best with 24 hours to dry so we recommend that you leave your pieces at the Arborteum to dry and pick them up later. We will help you pack up your pieces for the road if you can not leave them at the arboretum.