June 19th, 2010
10:00am-12:00pm
Saturday

Worthington, MA

Instructor:
Jim McSweeney,
certified MA arborist and horticulturist

Hilltown Landscapes in Western Ma

Join Jim McSweeney for a tour of three beautiful gardens he designed and installed two years ago. The gardens share basic design elements--hardscaping, herbaceous and woody plants, focal points, edibles, border gardens-- but each one has its own unique focus and flavor. The first landscape features a native tall grass and wildflower meadow, stonewalls and a home apple orchard. The second is not your ordinary "foundation planting." It is a haven for birds with its many native edibles. The third garden blends refinement and simplicity in one of the most beautiful settings in the hilltowns of western MA. This garden offers season-long color, and a variety of grasses for winter interest. See many design principles in action: site & soil analysis, use of drifts, bed proportions, plant selection, four seasons of interest, and learn tips for low maintenance.

May 22nd, 2010
10:00am-12:00pm
Saturday

Nasami Farm, Whatley, MA

Instructor:
Jim McSweeney,
certified MA arborist and horticulturist

Natural Pest Control

Learn how to apply natural or "organic" pest control techniques in this wide ranging workshop. The class provides information on a variety of insect pests, diseases, and weeds. Find out what pest control methods work and do not work in the home orchard, ornamental and vegetable gardens. Feel free to bring sample pests and lots of questions. Leave the workshop with information to defend your landscape from unwanted pests, using the most environmentally sensitive and effective products available today.

April 17th, 2010
10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday

Home Office,
Chesterfield, MA

Instructor:
Jim McSweeney,
certified MA arborist and horticulturist

Pruning Fundamentals

Join certified arborist and horticulturist Jim McSweeney to learn pruning basics that will benefit both the novice and advanced gardener. Proper pruning improves both the health and structure of woody plants, and allows the gardener to influence the aesthetic qualities of trees and shrubs. This workshop covers pruning methods for new and established plantings in the home landscape. Learn how to select basic tools, make a proper cut, determine which branches to cut, and the correct time to prune for different species. Bring hand pruners and a saw and leave the workshop with skills to take on most basic pruning issues in the home landscape.

October 3rd, 2009
10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday

Home Office,
Chesterfield, MA

Pruning Fundamentals

Proper pruning can improve both the health and structure of woody plants, and allows the gardener to influence the aesthetic qualities of trees and shrubs. This workshop covers pruning methods for established plantings in the home landscape. Learn how to select basic tools, make a proper cut, determine which branches to cut, and the correct time to prune for different species. Bring hand saw & pruners to try various cuts.

Home Office,
Chesterfield, MA

Join certified arborist and landscape designer Jim McSweeney for an in-depth look at his own newly created landscape. Implementation of the landscape design began in 2003 after construction of an off-the-grid solar-powered house. The major goal was to preserve the integrity of the existing forested landscape, while providing for vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and perennial beds. Choosing predominantly native plants, Jim and his wife Lisa created a landscape that features low maintenance and four seasons of interest. In this on-site seminar, Jim will discuss several components of the design, including plants, hardscaping, siting of structures, cultural conditions, and the balance between form and function.

June 14th, 2009
1:00pm
Sunday

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

Join certified arborist and horticulturist Jim McSweeney for a look the "organic" or natural pest control products available today. This sixty minute talk is free and open to all.

May 7, 2009
5:30pm-6:30pm
Thursday

Heath, MA

Tree-Pruning Workshop

Join FLT and certified arborist and horticulturist Jim McSweeney of Hilltown Tree & Garden LLC, who has generously volunteered his time, for a workshop on the reconstructive pruning of shrubs and small and large trees, with an emphasis on addressing damage from the December ice storm.

The workshop will answer such questions as: Do I need a plan? Is my tree a "hazard tree"? How and when should I prune? Will cables and braces help my tree? If I have to replace, what should I plant this time? Can this be avoided in the future?

For more information visit the Franklin Land Trust website.

March 26th, 2009
7:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday

Goshen Town Hall

Finding a Silver Lining

Dealing with Ice Storm Damage to Trees and Forests.
Sponsored by the Goshen Open Space Committee.

October 4th, 2008
10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

Pruning Fundamentals

This workshop is for beginners who have no experience or intermediates who want to refine their existing skills. For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

September 14th, 2008
1:00pm-4:00pm
Saturday

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

Design and Plant a Native Perennial Garden in the Fall

Fall is a great time to prepair and plant a native perennial garden. Join Jim McSweeney for this informative workshop. For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

Worthington, MA

Join certified arborist, horticulurist and landscape designer Jim McSweeney for an in-depth look at one of his clients landscapes.

June 1st, 2008
1:00pm-2:00pm
Sunday

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

This is a free worshop open to all who want to learn the basics of pest control without the use of chemicals. For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

Join landscape designer and horticulurist Jim McSweeney for a free 15 minute consultation and analysis of your home landscape. Bring your questions, notes and sketches. Jim will be consulting along side with students from the Conway School of Landscape Architecture.

For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

Mass Mutual Center
Springfield, MA

Learn techniques for preventing and eradicating weeds in the landscape.

For more information visit the Ecological Landscape Association website.

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

Nasami Farm,
Whately, MA

Learn the basics of pest control without the use of chemicals.

For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.

51 Pynchon Road,
Chesterfield, MA

Join Certified Arborist and Landscape Designer Jim McSweeney for an in-depth look at his own newly created landscape. Components to be examined include landscape design, plants, hardscaping, siting of structures, and cultural conditions.

For more information visit the New England Wildflower Society website.