LEWISTON – A special fall workshop for learning how to improve urban yards as places of beauty, peace and thriving plant diversity will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Auburn Land Lab, North Auburn Road.

“The Urban Forest in Our Own Yards” will be a professionally led session aimed at providing practical knowledge about designing and maintaining a compatible relationship between a yard’s plantings and a house’s design; about how to plant in difficult areas such as dark shade or steep slopes; and about how to take advantage of new or novel trees and shrubs which can be grown successfully in Maine’s climate and soils.

A hands-on workshop on planting and pruning will also be offered by Lewiston’s professional arborist, Steve Murch.

The workshop is sponsored by the Lewiston Auburn Community Forest Board as an activity for celebrating the Twin Cities’ designation by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA.

The leaders are experts in the fields, widely recognized in the region for their knowledge and field experiences. All those registered will participate in the general sessions, one on coordinating yard design with house architecture and the other on learning about the latest developments in choosing uncommon trees and shrubs. Participants will also be able to select two additional workshops as practical information-sharing sessions relevant for different yard situations.

The workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 2:30 p.m. Advanced registration is required, and there is a $15 charge. The fee provides morning coffee, lunch and information to take home. Deadline for registration is Friday, Sept. 23, although if space allows, registration at the door is possible. The workshop is limited to 30.

Registration forms will be available at the following locations: Lewiston, Provencher’s Nursery on River Road, Clerk’s Office in City Hall and at the Public Works’ Office; Auburn, Gammon’s Nursery on Route 4, at the information desk in Auburn City Hall and at the Recreation Department at 48 Pettengill St. Forms can also be accessed through Auburn’s Web site, www.auburnmaine.org. Click the Community Forest Workshop link and print out the form.

Questions about the workshop can be addressed to the Auburn recreation superintendent at 786-2829, ext. 2.