by Kristina Gabalski
The last hydrangea of summer, a deep rose, was in bloom October 18. The gardens are well protected by the castle and surroundings.A small group of avid gardeners enjoys their own “brown bag lunch” while Patty Love, the owner of Barefoot Permaculture and Program Director of the Rochester Permaculture Center discusses permaculture – a garden design system that works to create a harmonious integration of people and landscape in a sustainable way.
The setting is idyllic and one that any gardener would relish: Warner Castle in Rochester, the home of the Rochester Civic Garden Center (RCGC).
On this afternoon in mid-October golden sunshine streams through the brightly colored foliage outside the window and gardeners inside listen intently while Patty defines terms like polyculture, keyhole garden beds and easy bed creation with sheet mulching.
It’s one of the regular Brown Bag Lunch-time Talks hosted by the Civic Garden Center and is free to members of the RCGC. Participants can bring their own bagged lunch to enjoy during the presentation.
The sunken garden at the RCGC was designed by the same person who designed gardens at the George Eastman House.The RCGC is host to many events and activities year-round including Horticulture, Arts and Crafts and Floral Design classes, an annual symposium, the Castle Soiree held near the summer solstice in June, a summer garden tour, a seed and houseplant swap in late January, garden consultation and coaching, horticulture and floral design certificate programs and more.
Warner Castle, home to the RCGC since 1964, was built in 1854 by Horatio Gates Warner and was used as his family’s private residence. It is located a 5 Castle Park in Highland Park across from Mt. Hope Cemetery off Reservoir Avenue. RCGC is a not-for-profit horticultural education center founded in 1945 and chartered by the NYS Board of Regents in 1950. RCGC leases the castle from the Monroe County Parks Department and it is open to the public year-round.
Executive Director Christine Froehlich says the RCGC has gone through many changes over the years, starting out as an “arts and crafts” type place to what it is today, “a really good horticultural institution. We always have something going on.”
The castle also houses RCGC’s Horticultural Library which serves as the Horticultural Education Center for the Genesee Region. It offers a fascinating array of material including books from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, periodicals dating back to the early 1900s and reference materials. Froehlich notes the library’s holdings also include extensive information on Rochester’s horticultural history.
The garden view through a grated arch in the sunken garden.“We have old books and the latest new books,” she says. “People make contributions so we are able to order new books that you wouldn’t find at a regular library.
“We have a partnership with the Monroe County Library System,” Froehlich adds, meaning it is possible for members to pick up and return books at their local library branch.
Upcoming RCGC events include the annual Holiday Sale November 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Warner Castle. Seasonal floral arrangements and wreaths made by the floral design certificate students will be available for purchase and demonstrations are planned throughout the weekend with floral designers Alana Miller and Charlie Lytle.
November horticulture classes include organic composting, a light and trim the tree holiday demo, and low-maintenance trees and shrubs to jazz up your landscape.
Education Coordinator Judy Hubbard says ideas for classes come from instructors, participants and her own imagination. “There’s something for everyone,” she says whether you are a landscape professional wanting to beef up your skills or a beginner looking for some expert guidance and inspiration. “The garden is never really done,” she muses, “…it always keeps changing.”
Warner Castle, home of the Rochester Civic Garden Center.The next Seed and Houseplant Swap is set for January 26, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Froehlich says the event includes garden talks on dried floral and herb arrangements and terrariums. Refreshments will be served. A $15 fee includes both talks, the swaps and refreshments.
Those participating are encouraged to bring seeds or houseplants to swap, although it is not required.
All kinds of flower and vegetable seeds are available, Froehlich says. “You get to meet all these people in a laid back and fun Saturday morning.”
The public is welcome to come and tour the castle and its surrounding gardens. Extensive landscape work was completed in 1932 and includes the stunning sunken garden designed by Alling S. DeForest who also designed George Eastman’s garden. Froehlich says the RCGC and its volunteers are working to restore the gardens to their original glory and “we’re working to have classes in the gardens to provide hands-on experience.”
To register for classes or to find out more about the opportunities the RCGC provides, you can check out their website: www.rcgc.org. Class catalogs are available at the RCGC and at all libraries in Monroe County. The Rochester Civic Garden Center is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A full RCGC membership is $35 per year for individuals and $45 for families. Library only memberships are available for $5 per year.
