The Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury is more than just a pleasant experience with nature, although it is definitely that. It is a place to learn and become more in tune, not just with what nature has to offer, but the drastic changes taking place in our ecosystem on a daily basis.

Traveling first along the learning curve, on Tuesday, July 19 from 1 to 4 p.m., Diane Nicholls will be giving lessons in sketching. A painter, illustrator and landscape historian (kind of like the Derek Jeter of the outdoors — sorry Boston fans, but at least for this week time to give the man his due) — Ms. Nicholls will be leading participants on a sketching journey. The class includes lessons in perspective, sketching and developing a personal shorthand. Classes are $35 or $30 for PHA members or $30 and $25 for members when purchasing two or more classes (Ms. Nicholls leads workshops throughout the summer).

On Wednesday, July 20, Kris Bachtell leads a discussion on how global climate change is affecting wordwide ecosystems. Mr. Bachtell is the vice president of collections and facilities at the Morton Arboretum and a veteran plant explorer. His talk is not just another in a series of gloom and doom pronouncements. Rather, Mr. Bachtell will be discussing how plant exploration in remote parts of the world could help meet our present day challenges. Recently, he travelled to China in search of an ash tree resistant to emerald ash borer, an insect that is destroying ash trees across the U.S.

The talk begins at 7:30 p.m. at the newly renovated Far Barn. The cost is $10 or 5 for PHA members.

For more details, call 508-693-9426.