Come delight in our inspirational and info-packed garden talks that more than 6,000 people have enjoyed. Classes are usually single-session and include outside applications in the gardens (weather permitting) or colorful, educational PowerPoint presentations. We teach at our home in Ballston Spa, at beautiful bed and breakfast inns and other fine establishments, and for neighborhood garden clinics hosted throughout the Capital District, NY.  In addition to our 2-hour and 3-hour classes, we offer full day programs.  

 Most 2-hour class fees are $25, $35 for 3-hour courses (featuring two popular 2-hour classes and their complete handouts taught in a condensed format to save you 30% on class fees).  Day-long class fees vary by site.  All fees include detailed handouts, refreshments and more than $60 in dollar-saving coupons for perennials and other great landscaping products and services.  

Class size is limited.  Students must pre-register.  Classes are held rain or shine.  Classes are usually held weekdays, weeknights, or Saturdays. Classes are designed for beginner gardeners as well as those more experienced, including Master Gardeners.  Detailed handouts cover a range of information that can be applied at whatever level you are in your gardening walk!   
 
Please note:  To hear what others have to say about these unique, interactive classes, click here.  


CLASSES BY START DATE

January - March classes
April - June classes
July - August classes
September - November classes

January 2008

February 2008

2    Outdoor Living in Style. Join Keith Davitt and myself for this exciting lecture covering 
      how to design an enchanting outdoor retreat from structural design elements, to hardscaping,
      to plantings. Keith will discuss the facets of designing and building the foundational 'bones'
      of the room that fit your style and existing space. I'll then show you some spectacular plants
      that lend beauty, texture, fragrance, form and color. The workshop will conclude with a
      question and answer session. Keith Davitt has been designing and building landscapes
      nationwide and abroad for over twenty years. He is the author of four books: Small Spaces:
      Beautiful Gardens; Beyond the Lawn; Hardscaping: How to Use Structures, Pathways,
      Patios, and Ornaments in Your Garden and Water Features For Small Gardens. For more
      about Keith and his services check out his web site at www.keithdavitt.com. The 2 ½ hour
      class includes colorful PowerPoints, handouts, and dollar-off coupons for perennials and
      more from participating garden centers. BONUS HANDOUT: Tips for Jump-Starting
      Your Gardens in Spring. Saturday, February 2, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the
      Ballston Spa Public Library. $25 per person.  Class size is limited.  Please use 
      the Perennially Yours class registration form.

March 2008

8   Designing Ever-Blooming, Low-Maintenance Gardens for Smaller Spaces.  Garden
     talk hosted by the Women's Club of Albany as one of their special fundraisers. I'll cover
     design strategies including light analysis, soil prep, laying out plants for three seasons of
     interest, as well as captivating plants for making the most of smaller spaces. Both urban
     gardeners as well as those with more expansive gardens will benefit. Included in the
    discussion will be tips for giving facelifts to existing gardens.  The class includes a colorful
     PowerPoint, handouts, and dollar-off coupons for perennials and more from participating
    garden centers. Saturday, March 8, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the Women's Club of 
    Albany, 725 Madison Avenue, Albany.  $25 per person. Registrations are being
    collected by the WCA. Please contact Janet Wikoff, garden committee chairperson,
    at janet.wikoff@gmail.com  or leave a message at 518-434-0135 for reservations. 

15  Triple Header: New, Unusual, & Underused Perennials and other Remarkables;
      Creative Container Gardening; and Discover Your Inner Self through Gardening.
      Class at the Glens Sanders Mansion in Scotia.  Join Suzanne Balet of Balet Flowers &
      Design (www.baletflowers.com); Merci Miglino, professional speaker, trainer and coach
      (www.mercimiglino.com); and myself for uplifting and informative program that will be
      topped off with a gourmet hot luncheon buffet. Suzanne, owner of a fabulous flower farm 
      in Saratoga Springs, will kick off the program with her incredible knowledge and gift for
      creating showpiece containers. A sought after designer, she was featured in Country 
      Gardens magazine in 2005. Next, Merci will have you doubled over with laughter as she
      helps you release your inner self through the therapeutic value of gardening. Prior to starting
      her own business, she was Director of Communications for both houses of the New York
      State Legislature and chief of staff for a prominent New York City congressman. She has a
      monthly show on WNYT 13 as well as Fox 23. To get an idea of the exhilarating experience
      you're in for, check out her web site. Finally, I will close the 'show' with some 'way cool' 
      new, unusual, and underused perennials and other eye-popping plants that are great choices
      for upstate New York. A colorful PowerPoint will bring these plants to life. Saturday,
      March 15, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Glen Sanders Mansion   
     (www.glensandersmansion.com).  $45 per person includes all three talks, handouts,
      dollar-off coupons, and hot Tuscan luncheon buffet.  
   
25  Gardening Without Guesswork: A Designer's Trade Secrets for Buying
      Phenomenal Perennials for an Ever-Blooming Garden. Discover how to zero-in-on the
      best perennials at garden centers, the savvy way to use mail-order catalogs, and
      hands-down winners for longest-blooming, lowest maintenance perennials!  Class includes
      handouts; colorful PowerPoint presentation; refreshments; Bluestone Perennials catalog; and
     dollar-off coupons for perennials from participating garden centers. Tuesday, March 25
      6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Niskayuna Reformed Church, 3041 Troy Schenectady Road,
      Niskayuna. (#785-5575). $18 per person.  A portion of the class fee will be used for
      the church's fundraiser for community mission and service outreach.
 
April 2008

4 & 5  Fifth Annual Great Gardens and Landscaping Symposium. The Equinox Resort in
       Manchester, VT.  Friday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Enjoy six
      dynamic lectures by renowned professionals in their fields. Last year the symposium sold out
       two months prior to the event. Guest speakers are Tara Dillard, a national award winning
       author, designer, speaker and former TV host on CBS from Atlanta, Georgia; Shepherd
       Ogden, a renowned speaker, author, teacher, horticulturist, and founder of The Cooks
       Garden (a pioneering organic seed company); Mardell Steinkamp from Sunny Border
       Nurseries, one of the largest wholesalers of perennials and new introductions in the
       northeast; Kerry Mendez, a popular speaker, teacher, writer, consultant and former TV 
      show host; and Kelly Sweeney, master designer, landscaper and head gardener for the 700
      acre Basin Harbor Club in Vermont (one of the Historic Hotels of America). Topics include
      The Art of Garden Design, New Perennials for 2008, Creating Focal Points In The Garden,
      Sensational Flowering Shrubs, Step-by-Step Organic Vegetable and Flower Gardening, and
      All About Annuals. New in 2008 will be the opportunity for the public to enjoy the exhibit
      area at no charge on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Advance registration and payment
       is required for the symposium. Package price for one night's accommodations,
       welcome reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres and cash bar, full breakfast, gourmet
       luncheon buffet, six garden lectures with handouts, garden gift, chance to win great
      door prizes, and all taxes and gratuities is only $276.97 single or $406.79 double
       ($203.40 per person). Two night packages available. Day rates available starting at
       $75. For package reservations, call the Equinox Resort (www.equinoxresort.com) at (800)
      362-4747. For day rates and registration forms, as well as the agenda and topics, please
       visit www.pyours.com/Symposium2008.html  or call (518) 885-3471.

8   Double Header: The Plant Collector's Corner AND Decorating Your Home and
     Gardens with Style. Class at Genevieve's Home and Garden Décor  in Ballston Spa.
     Christi Kerls-Tacy, owner of Genevieve's Home and Garden Decor, and I will team up 
     for an exciting garden program. Christi will share her expert tips on using ornaments in 
     your gardens and home for breathtaking effects as well as how to create vanishing 
     thresholds between outside and in. Christi's decorating finesse has been featured in 
     several national magazines including the fall and winter 2007 issues of Better Homes and
     Gardens' Do It Yourself and in this spring's 2008 Better Homes and Gardens' 
     Bath  Makeovers. I will then step up to the 'threshold' and introduce you to some
     unique, collectable plants to transform your gardens from ho-hum to EXTRAORDINARY.
     And I promise these plants will not be fuss buckets to care for. To top it off, I will even 
     tell you where you can buy them! This garden program will take place at Christi's store,
     Genevieve's, on Front Street in Ballston Spa. Class includes colorful PowerPoint, great
     handouts, light refreshments, and dollar-off coupons for perennials and more. 
     Tuesday, April 8 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Genevieve's Home and Garden Décor
     (www.genevieveshomeandgarden.com) in Ballston Spa $25 per person.

12   Powerhouse Perennials and Time-Saving Garden Tools for More Beautiful,
      Lower-Maintenance Gardens. Class and luncheon at The Glen Sanders Mansion
      in Scotia.  Special Program for Red Hat members. Others may attend, space
      permitting.  This class will  introduce you to some sensational perennials and other beauties
      that generate rave reviews with little help on your part. You'll also discover some nifty tools
      for saving time on tedious lawn and garden tasks so you can enjoy more leisurely
      pursuits…perhaps even reading an uplifting book in that underused hammock.  The class
      includes super handouts, dollar-off coupons for perennials, door prizes, a special flowering
      shrub catalog from Spring Meadow Nursery, and a gourmet hot luncheon buffet.  $39 per
      person includes lunch.  Saturday, April 12 at The Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia,
     10:00 a.m. - noon class followed by lunch. To inquire about space availability or 
      Red Hat group reservations, please call Kerry at (518) 885-3471 or email
      pyours@nycap.rr.com .  NOTE:  This event sold out one month ahead of time in 2007!

19  10 MOST WANTED Trade Secrets for a Stunning Perennial Garden. Discover
       practical and "must-have" trade secrets for a spectacular, easy-care perennial garden. We'll
       cover a broad range of topics from soil, mulch, plant selections, design tips, and more sure
       to benefit both the amateur and seasoned gardener alike.  BONUS HANDOUT:  Tips for
       Jump-Starting Your Gardens in Spring.  VERA - the Valatie Economic
       Redevelopment Association is hosting this fundraiser to support the Main Street hanging
       baskets and flower box project. The cost per person is $25.00 and includes handouts,
       dollar-off coupons for perennials, and a colorful flowering shrub catalog. Refreshments will
       be served followed by drawings for door prizes. The workshop is Saturday, April 19
       from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Valatie. Registrations
       will be collected by VERA. You may call Judy Secovine at 518-965-6312 or Maureen
       Mooney at 518- 210-6079 to register or for questions. E-mails may be sent to
       veraevent@aol.com . Checks/money orders may be mailed to VERA, PO Box 463,
       Valatie NY 12184.

24  How to Design a Glorious, Ever-Blooming Flower Garden. Class hosted by the 
      Van Rensselaer Garden Club. Discover easy-to-follow steps for planning and designing 
      a show-stopping perennial garden. Topics include light analysis, soil conditioning, how to
      select the right flowers plus simple design techniques for drawing a garden map, and a 
      list of some of the easiest and longest blooming perennials. BONUS HANDOUT: 
      Money-Saving Tips for Thrifty Gardeners. $25 per person.  Thursday, April 24 
      from 10:00a.m. - noon at the Rensselaer Historical Society in Troy. Please use 
      the Perennially Yours class registration form and mail to Perennially Yours.

May 2008

9 & 10  Garden Inspiration: Spring Talks at The Otesaga Resort  (www.otesaga.com)
       in Cooperstown, NY.  Friday, May 9 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 10 from 9:00
      a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Overnight packages and day rate available.  Three outstanding presenters: 
      Ruah Donnelly, Duncan Brine, and Kerry Mendez.  

      Ruah Donnelly is the author of The Adventurous Gardener: Where to Buy the Best
      Plants in New England and The Adventurous Gardener: Where to Buy the Best Plants
      in New York and New Jersey, both outstanding resources for exploring the best specialty
      nurseries in these areas. To learn more about her books, visit
      www.adventurousgardener.com. Ruah is a lively speaker and also a
      trustee of the New England Wildflower Society and former Vice
      President and trustee of Tower Hill Botanic Garden. In 2003 she won 
      a Silver Medal of Honor from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society
      honoring her achievements in Horticulture. On Saturday Ruah will
      present Where To Find The Best Garden Plants.  

       Duncan Brine founded his naturalistic landscape design and
       installation firm, Horticultural Design, Inc., in 1984
      (www.GARDENLARGE.com ) They specialize in native plants and
       whole property gardens. Recently, Anne Raver of The New York Times wrote about
      Duncan's own 6-acre "dream-like  landscape" in Pawling, NY. She
      wrote, "there is… drama at play here: The plants have been given
      unexpected roles, in unusual places, and the delight comes in seeing
      what they will do on this ever-changing stage." The Garden
      Conservancy, "which visits America's best private gardens," features
      the Brine Garden as an Open Days selection. With his Saturday
      presentation, Structuring Nature: Background Before
      Foreground,  Duncan will share naturalistic design techniques for
      particular garden and landscape situations. Duncan is an instructor at the New York
      Botanical Garden and the New England Wild Flower Society.  

      Kerry Mendez, garden consultant, designer, writer, teacher, former TV garden spot host,
      and guest on HGTV, will present the Art of Cottage Gardening on Friday evening at
     7:00 p.m. that features design tips and some of the best cottage plants to incorporate into
      gardens. She will then 'bookend' Ruah and Duncan's Saturday presentations with two new
      garden talks: Three Seasons Of Color - Hit the Easy Button where she'll show you the
      tricks of the trade for having the WOW factor in your garden
      month after month. And because it will also be low
      maintenance you will finally be able to 'ease' back in the 'easy'
      chair! Her second talk, The Plant Collector's Corner,  is for
      plantaholics seeking unusual, fun, outrageous, fetching, or
      underused perennials that are sure to have heads turning and
     onlookers mumbling "What is that?" As an avid collector, she's
      walked many  miles in her muck boots to find some unique plants that transform ho-hum
      gardens intoeye-popping, extraordinary ones. 

     Special Package rates:  The double room rate of only $203.50 inclusive per person
     covers one night's accommodations; gourmet food at breakfast and lunch;
     participation in five garden lectures led by gardening experts; the opportunity to 
     win super door prizes; and a gardening gift. Single and Single/Other packages (for those
     with a partner who is not attending the garden talks but who might want to enjoy a round of
     golf on the Otesaga's world-class golf course) are available. The day only Saturday rate is
     $75 per person and includes four presentations, morning coffee, lunch, entry into
     door prize drawings, and a garden gift. Friday cottage gardening lecture and
     Saturday programming is $85 per person.  For overnight package reservations, please
     call The Otesaga at (800) 348-6222.Day only registrants should use the garden class
     registration form at www.pyours.com/classregister.html.  

June 2008

1 & 2 Spring Garden Program at The Mirror Lake Inn and Resort, Lake Placid, NY. 
     (www.mirrorlakeinn.com) Sunday afternoon, June 1: tours of private gardens in Lake
     Placid.  Monday, June 2: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. includes four garden lectures and lunch. 
     Sunday afternoon we'll tour some very special private gardens in Lake Placid. Tours will
     start at 2:00 p.m. from the inn's main lobby and finish by 5:00 p.m.  Sunday evening is
     open for folks to enjoy dinner on their own and stroll Main Street. 

     For Monday's garden talks I will be joined by Steve Silk, a renown professional in the field
     of garden design and garden photography. Steve has traveled the world, especially South
     America and Southeast Asia, exploring remarkable plants and tropicals that he grows in his
     ever-expanding Connecticut gardens. He is an award-winning  
     photographer and travel writer. In 1996 Steve became the
     Managing editor of Fine Gardening magazine and is currently a
     Contributing Editor. His photography has garnered two Garden
     Writers of America awards for best portfolio. He collaborated
     with Sydney Eddison on Gardens to Go, a book about container
     gardens. Steve and Sydney also worked together on The
     Gardener's Palette: Creating with Color in the Garden. Steve
     has appeared several times on HGTV's "Gardening by the Yard"
     and he is a past President of the Connecticut Hardy Plant Society. 

     Steve will give two talks. Garden Photography: Seeing the Picture where he will teach
     you the art of taking great garden photographs regardless of what kind of equipment you
     have - from high tech to point and shoot. In his second presentation, Quest for Color,
     Steve's eye-opening slide lecture will detail Steve's search for unconventional ways to use
     color in the garden.  I will 'return the volley' with two lectures. The
     first titled, Three Seasons Of Color - Hit the Easy Button
     where I'll show you the tricks of the trade for having knockout
     gardens month after month. Then I'll give a PowerPoint on Seven
     Months of Color for Less Than Full Sun Gardens. Monday's
      program will conclude by 3:00 p.m. 

     Overnight packages include Sunday afternoon garden tours, four
     garden talks, handouts, garden gift, door prizes, breakfast and
     lunch on Saturday, and accommodations in a Noonmark room.
     The total with taxes and gratuities for two is $419.08 ($209.54
     per person) and for one is $271.00. Single/Other packages
     are also available for those with a spouse or friend that would prefer to golf or do some other
     activity (can it be?) on Monday instead of attending the workshops. Please call the Mirror
     Lake Inn and Resort directly at (518) 523-2544 for reservations. There are a LIMITED
     number of day only openings. These fees are $95 for Sunday and Monday; $85 for
     Monday only. Day only attendees need to register through me by using the registration form
     on my web page. 

August 2008

6   Perennially Yours Open Gardens and Plant Sale.  44 Chapman Street, Ballston Spa. 
     6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  Starting at 5:00 p.m. for GOLD Club members

September 2008

20  Putting Your Garden to Bed for Winter, Plant Divisions, and Other Timely Tips.
      This class covers a range of sought after fall garden advice. Topics include wintering over
      your gardens with minimal loss, how and when to cut back flowers, which plants shouldn't
      be cut back, winter care for roses and flowering shrubs, divisions tips and techniques, how
      to winter over potted perennials, and more. The class includes handouts, dollar-off coupons
      for perennials, a 130-page flowering shrub catalog from Spring Meadow Nursery, and a
      flowering bulb catalog.  This will be an outdoor class in the gardens of Perennially Yours.
     Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. $25 per person.

21 & 22 GARDEN PROGRAM AT THE MAGNIFICENT BASIN HARBOR CLUB.
     Overnight and day only rates available. This will be our second annual garden party at
     this dreamy 700 acre resort in Vergennes, VT (just southwest of Burlington, VT). This
     one-of-a-kind club features great dining, breathtaking gardens, nature trials, an 18-hole golf
     course, tennis courts, a heated outdoor pool, sandy beach, and so much more. It is one of
     the prized Historic Hotels of America. And the icing on the cake will be the gorgeous fall
     foliage approaching peak color. 

     This year's program will be led by myself as well as David Chinery, a brilliant and
     entertaining horticulturalist. We all have favorite speakers and David has to be on my top five
     list! David is a Cooperative Extension Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of
     Rensselaer County, NY. He serves as the turf grass educator for Albany, Schenectady, and
     Rensselaer counties. He earned a B.S. degree in Plant Science from Cook College, Rutgers
     University, and a M.S. degree in Landscape Horticulture from Ohio State University. David
     is an extremely popular speaker with a huge fan club. 

     David will present two dynamic talks.  His first is titled The Eccentric Garden: The
     Wonder of the Personal. I saw this presentation several years ago and it was
     OUTSTANDING. The colorful slide presentation will have you oohing, aahing, laughing, and
     pleasantly surprised as you enjoy virtual tours of eclectic gardens. Then David will introduce
     you to the world of climbing vines. We all could go a little more vertical for added pizzazz
     in our yards. And wait until you see the exciting options. 

     I will present one of my most popular talks on Outrageous Foliage Plants. Allow me to
     dazzle you with some dramatic specimens that create sensational gardens that are also lower
     in maintenance. My second talk, Surefire Shortcuts for Showy Landscapes will follow the
     low-maintenance theme. We will not only discuss time-saving tools and techniques but also
     planting strategies. 

     The program kicks off Sunday evening, September 21 with a 6:00 p.m. wine & cheese boat
     cruise on Lake Champlain. The next day features garden talks from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
     The one night package includes Sunday night's accommodations in one of the main
     guest houses; the wine and cheese boat cruise; breakfast and lunch buffets on
     Monday; four garden talks; handouts, colorful garden catalogs, and a garden gift.
     Package rates are $205 for a single and $290 for a double ($145 per person). For a
     studio cottage the packages are $230 for a single and $315 for a double
    ($157.50).  Taxes and gratuity are additional.  The Sunday and Monday day
     package (includes all the above except overnight accommodations) is $161 per person.  
    The Monday only day package is $110 and includes the garden program, handouts,
    morning coffee, lunch, and a garden gift.  To see how incredible these rates really are,
    check out the video tour on their web site at www.basinharbor.com . Overnight packages are
     to be booked with the Club by calling1-800-622-4000. Day only reservations must go
     through me by using the registration form at www.pyours.com/classregister.html .

October 2008

1   E-Z Pass Fast Lane for Gardeners. Looking for a quick way to capture the basic
     essentials for planting & caring for a low maintenance, perennial garden? This popular class is
     a condensed marriage of two classes: How to design a Glorious, Ever-Blooming Flower
     Garden and Don't be a Deadhead - Maintenance Strategies for a Winning Garden
     Presentation. Come ready for practical info and lively discussion. The class includes
     handouts, dollar-off coupons for perennials, a 130-page flowering shrub catalog from Spring
     Meadow Nursery, and a flowering bulb catalog.  Class held at Perennially Yours in Ballston
     Spa. Wednesday, October 1st from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. $25 per person.

November 2008

8   Special Gardening Program at The Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia, NY
     (www.glensandersmansion.com ).  Please plan to join me and my special guest, Ellen
    Ogden, on Saturday, November 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ellen is a professional food
    and garden writer from Manchester, VT. She is the author of From the Cook's Garden
    cookbook and The Vermont Cheese Book. These books have been featured in
    Horticulture, Martha Stewart Living, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Fine
    Gardening, and many others fine publications. To develop her outstanding culinary skills, she
    has trained with Marcella Hazan in Italy and with Darina Allen at Ballymaloe in Ireland.  

    Ellen will present two inspirational talks. The Art of the Kitchen Garden offers step by step
    visuals from designing to planting kitchen gardens. It includes a marvelous slide show of
    other's kitchen gardens to provide ideas for adding more 
    colorful and culinary elements to your own garden designs.
    What Grows Together - Goes Together or Cooking
    from Your Garden features some of Ellen's famous recipes
    from her cookbook. She will show you how to reap the
    benefits of the fall harvest. The presentation will inspire you
    to make the most of your own cook's garden, with recipes
    and tasting samples included. 

    I will add my 'two cents' with Money-Saving Tips for Thrifty Gardeners with a special
    emphasis on how to get great buys at fall clearance sales. This eye-opening talk will have you
    smiling as you learn my special tricks that keeps more money in my pockets while yielding
    great gardens. Then The Plant Collector's Garden will introduce unusual, fun, and
    underused perennials that create the WOW factor in gardens with little effort on your
    part. 

    The registration fee for four great garden talks; morning coffee; a gourmet hot
    luncheon buffet; super handouts; colorful catalogs; and door prizes is only $69 per
    person. Pre-registration is required. To reserve your spot, please use the registration form at
    www.pyours.com/classregister.html and send it to Perennially Yours. 


ADDITIONAL CLASSES TO BE ADDED