NEW TREE SCHOOL Winter offerings:

Native Arboriculture

American landscapes are dominated by non-native plants, much to the detriment of native ecosystems and built landscapes. Many native trees are beautiful and inexpensive to maintain, but are often overlooked by landscape designers and nurseries. At a time when exotic trees and other plants are being heavily promoted by commercial green industries, the need for increased expertise in sustainability demands increased expertise in native tree planting and preservation. If properly designed and managed, native tree communities can thrive with no artificial chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation.

This intensive course is primarily intended for landscape architects and designers, growers, nursery owners, aborists, land managers, educators, and other environmental decision makers. However, anyone who loves native trees is welcome. This course of study will teach native species selection, plant community design, natural cultural practices, tree protection and preservation. We will also share ideas for communicating the value of native trees and natural practices to clients. In addition to indoor presentations, dissection, and microscopy, we will use the woods as our classroom as weather permits.

 Session 1: Root, soil, and community interactions. Thursday, February 16. Session 2: Ecology of native design. Thursday, March 1. Session 3: Natural systems methods of caring for and preserving maturing trees. Thursday, March 22. Session 4: Planting and early care of native trees and shrubs. Saturday, April 7.

All sessions will meet from 8:30 to 12:30 in the Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, Iowa. Participants should bring note-taking materials and should dress for rugged outdoor activity. Required readings will be distributed via email prior to class. Tuition: $85 per session/ $300 for all 4 sessions. Register or get more information by contacting Jack Phillips at 402.571.7460. Enrollment will be limited to 10 for each session; priority will be given to returning participants. ISA CEUs will be available.

Faculty: Jack Phillips, Arboriculture Canada Training and Education and New Tree School. Local ecologists and conservationists will also present specific topics.

The Nature of Tree Care: Pruning Young Trees

An integrating method that provides the biological and ecological foundations for working with a tree’s natural strategies for growth and defense.  This workshop will include dissection, microscopy, and outdoor activity.

Faculty: Heather Byers, Great Plains Nursery; Jack Phillips, Arboriculture Canada; Howard Eyre, Delaware Valley College.

Faller Nursery and Landscape, York, NE. January 13, 9am -3pm. Tuition: $105 ($95 for returning NTS students). Lunch will be provided. Dress for vigorous outdoor activity. Register by January 6 by calling Jack Phillips (402) 571. 7460. Class size limited to 15.

NEW TREE SCHOOL Fall offerings:

Tree Anatomy and Biology tutorial and study group is being organized for those who are preparing for the ISA certified arborist exam. Contact Jack at 4o2.571.7460 or jackphillipsrca@gmail.com if you’re interested. The group will begin to meet in October. Tuition will be determined by number of students and frequency of meetings.

Tree Biology and Care: Sustainable tree planting and early care in urban and built environments.

City of Regina, SK. October 3 -4, 2011. Contact Heather McMillian at  hmcmilla@regina.ca  (306) 777-7064 for more information. Other courses this week (Oct. 5-7) include pruning and aerial lift operations.

Planting Trees for Good: Enlightened and sustainable tree planting for community leaders and volunteers.

October 8, 2011. Douglas County Health Center (bioretention area, 40th and Pacific St., Omaha, NE  9am – noon. Tuition: free! Registration required by Oct. 1st. Dress and plan for outdoor activity and planting. Contact Jack Phillips at 402.571.7460 or jackphillipsrca@gmail.com for more information and to register.

Finding a Muse in Oak: Tree biology for poets, artists, writers, and tree lovers. Second in a series. An intimate study of the lives of trees in the lab and in the woods.

Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, IA. October 22, 2011. 1:00 – 4:30pm. Tuition: $45.00. Plan for outdoor activity. Register by October 14. Contact Jack Phillips at 402.571.7460 or jackphillipsrca@gmail.com for more information and to register.

Growing Oaks from Acorn to Canopy: Native oak propagation, planting, preservation, and restoration. An intensive workshop for everyone who loves and cares for native oaks and oak ecosystems. Faculty include: Heather Byers, Great Plains Nursery; Chad Graeve, Pottawattamie County Conservation, Jack Phillips, Arboriculture Canada.

Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, Iowa. November 10, 2011. 9:00am – 3:00pm . Tuition: $95.00 ($85.00 for returning NTS members). Lunch will be provided. Plan for outdoor activity. Register by November 1st with Jack at (402)571.7460 or jackphillipsrca@gmail.com.

Planting Imagination: The ecological and symbolic power of community trees.

Omaha Friends of Jung, 10th and Farnam St. (Burlington Building). December 2nd, 2011. 3:30 – 5:30pm. Tuition: free! Contact Tim Swisher at timswisher@aol.com or 402.390.6044 to register by November 28.  Jack Phillips, presenter.