Did last weekend’s warmer weather have you anticipating spring, planning a summer garden? Were you ready to dig in the dirt?
Area nursery owners, landscapers and horticulturists sure were.
They’ve scheduled several weekends of educational workshops to help homeowners get their gardens in, whether they are Master Gardeners or just masters of backyard mowing. Topics vary from those that are broad in scope, such as container gardening or gardening with kids, to specific interests such as bonsai or fruit trees.
The countdown to spring gardening starts Saturday when members of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs host their annual Day of Gardening at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
“Day of Gardening is open to anyone, and we will accept walk-ups,” says Crystal Rymer of Cleveland, Tenn., a Master Gardener, president of the Ocoee Garden Club and a member of the Federation. “It’s part of our outreach to the public. We’d like to introduce everyone to gardening.”
Rymer says there will be nine professionals in break-out sessions speaking on pollinators, roses, container gardening, bonsai, fungi, basil and lavender, the importance of trees, attracting wildlife, and native plants. Sara McIntyre, executive director of Crabtree Farms, will discuss the local farm-to-table movement during lunch, which is included in the $25 ticket.
To coincide with the conclusion of PBS’ hit “Downton Abbey” on March 6, Signal Mountain Nursery is hosting Downton Abbey Days on Saturday-Sunday, March 5 and 6. Chloe Mattingly, a staff member at Signal Mountain Nursery, says it will be “a celebration of English gardening,” and visitors can register to win an Anna’s Promise rose, the first in a series of garden roses inspired by the British television series. It is named in honor of Anna, lady’s maid to Lady Mary Crawley on the drama.
The Tennessee Valley chapter of Tennessee Wild Ones has scheduled its annual symposium, “Celebrating the Southeast’s Bounty,” on March 5 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The native-plant advocates have three speakers: Dr. Larry Mellichamp, who will name the best Southeastern natives for the home landscape in his first presentation and share some bizarre native plants in his second; Ron Lance, who will teach identification of Tennessee oaks and hickories; and Tony Glover, who will focus on native woody fruit plants easily grown in the Southeast.
Books written by the three speakers will be on sale and they will sign any purchase. In addition, local nurseries will have native plants for sale and local artists will sell their botanicals.
Whether you’re in the mood for wildflower walks or growing shiitake mushrooms on a log, check out the list to the left for where to find it.
SPRING GARDEN WORKSHOPS
FEB. 27
‘ Day of Gardening: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave., 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $25, includes homemade soup lunch. 423-618-4244.
‘ Bonsai Seminar: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th St. Place, 11 a.m., $10; bonsai instruction, not a make-and-take; class participants receive a 10 percent discount for the day at The Barn. 423-698-2276.
‘ The Art of Bonsai: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 11 a.m., $54, includes pot and Juniper bonsai; James Szadek teaches how to prune and care for plant. Limited space, registration encouraged. 423-886-3174.
MARCH 5-6
‘ ‘Downton Abbey’ Days: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, free; celebration of English gardening, register to win an Anna’s Promise rose. 423-886-3174.
MARCH 5
‘ Native Plant Symposium: UTC University Center, 642 E. Fifth St., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., local chapter of Tennessee Wild Ones hosts speakers, vendors and exhibits. Tickets until March 1 are $50 for Wild Ones members, $60 nonmembers, $20 for students with ID, $70 for everyone at the door; all prices include lunch. Register: tennesseevalley.wildones.org/2016-symposium.
‘ Perennials Class: Holcomb Garden Center, 5513 Highway 153, 10-11 a.m., free; Tim Holcomb discusses choosing, planting and care for perennials. Limited space, call to reserve seat. 423-877-8782.
MARCH 8, 15, 22, 29
‘ Beginning and Newcomer Gardening Classes: UT Extension Office, 6183 Adamson Circle off Bonny Oaks Drive, 6:30-9 p.m., $50 includes notebooks, door prizes, refreshments; sponsored by Hamilton County Master Gardeners. Tuesday-night series is open to the public; payment due before classes begin. To register: 423-653-7009.
MARCH 12
‘ Barn Nursery Open House: 1801 E. 24th St. Place, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., free; hourly classes: 10 a.m. Backyard fruits; 11 a.m. How to grow and use herbs, with recipes and samples; Noon Choosing and planting trees; 1 p.m. Lawn care with soil testing, 2 p.m. Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds; 3 p.m. Container gardening. 423-698-2276.
‘ Rain Barrel Workshop: Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St., 10 a.m.-noon, $25 members, $35 nonmembers; learn to convert a 55-gallon drum into working rain barrel with experts from Ace Hardware. Fee includes pre-drilled barrel and kit with hose adapters, spigot and basket for trapping debris. www.tnaqua.org.
‘ Wildlife Photography Workshop: Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; lectures and digital shows combined with hands-on photography. For fees and to register: 423-821-1160, ext. 102.
MARCH 19
‘ Growing Vegetables in Containers: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 1-3 p.m., free to Crabtree Farm members, $10 nonmembers, register: 423-493-9155, ext. 10; Master Gardener Cindy Gregg teaches container gardening, from choosing the best container and location to which veggies grow best in containers. She also will discuss gardening in raised beds.
‘ Lawn Care: UT Extension Office, 6183 Adamson Circle off Bonny Oaks Drive, 10 a.m.-noon, free; community class taught by Mike Payne, sponsored by Hamilton County Master Gardeners. Register: mghc.org.
‘ Ready to Garden Workshop Part I: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 10 a.m. to noon, free to Crabtree Farm members, $10 nonmembers; learn garden site preparation, soil testing, planning a garden; Part II on seed selection, planting schedule and pest/disease control is scheduled April 2. Register: 423-493-9155, ext. 10.
‘ Spring Cleaning Hike: Harrison Bay State Park, 8411 Harrison Bay Road, 3-4 p.m.; moderate hike along Lake Chickamauga shoreline to identify wildflowers and pick up litter. 423-344-6214.
MARCH 20
‘ Welcome Spring Fairy Garden Workshop: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 10 a.m., $29.99. Registration requested: 423-886-3174.
‘ Wildflower Hike: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 3-5 p.m., $10 plus $5 parking; guided walk through Sitton’s Gulch to identify and record wildflowers, for ages 10 and older. Register: 706-657-4050.
‘ Wilds of the West Rim Day Hike: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $5-$7 per person plus $5 parking; Stephanie Fischer leads 5-mile hike to learn park’s plants, wildlife and geology; bring brown bag lunch and water, wear closed-toe shoes. Register: 706-657-4050.
MARCH 21
‘ Habitat for Wildlife Build Day, Native Trees and Shrubs: Trailhead Nursery, 54 Miller Cove Road, Lone Oak community in Walden next to Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. gtrailheadnursery.weebly.com.
MARCH 26
‘ Build a Shiitake Log: Angels Mushroom Farm in Harrison, register online to receive directions to farm, 10 a.m., $45; make and take your own shiitake log to grow mushrooms. Register: www.2angelsmushrooms.com.
‘ Easter Celebration: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; free activities throughout the day. 423-886-3174.
‘ Growing Blueberries and Other Fruits: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St., Ooltewah, free; 9 a.m. Jim Yates covers selecting the right variety, planting and caring for fruit trees; participants receive booklet and coupon for use that day at nursery. 423-238-9775
‘ Wildflower Hike: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 10 a.m.-noon., $10 plus $5 parking; walk through Sitton’s Gulch to identify and record wildflowers, for ages 10 and older. Register: 706-657-4050.
MARCH 27
‘ Wilds of the West Rim Day Hike: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $5-$7 per person plus $5 parking; Stephanie Fischer leads 5-mile hike to learn park’s plants, wildlife and geology; bring brown bag lunch and water, wear closed-toe shoes. Register: 706-657-4050.
MARCH 30
‘ Kids In the Garden: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St., Ooltewah, 2-4 p.m., free, children must be accompanied by parent or caregiver; Faith Sharp leads hands-on experience for ages 5-10, kids will learn about seed germination and pot a live plant to take home. Children should wear sturdy shoes for walking, and clothes that can get dirty. 423-238-9775.
MARCH 31
‘ Straw Bale Gardening: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St., Ooltewah, 3:30 p.m., free; Greta Basham shows how easy and inexpensive it is to grow vegetables or flowers in straw bales. 423-238-9775.
APRIL 2
‘ Perennials for Sunshine: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th St. Place, 10 a.m., $10, led by Craig Walker. Register and receive 10 percent discount that day at The Barn. 423-698-2276.
‘ Spring Wildflowers Series: Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; kickoff of four-part series in partnership with Tennessee Aquarium. More information to come. www.reflectionriding.org.
‘ Straw Bale Gardening: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St., Ooltewah, 10 a.m., free; Greta Basham shows how easy and inexpensive it is to grow vegetables or flowers in straw bales. 423-238-9775.
APRIL 3
‘ Wildflower Walk: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 2-5 p.m., $4; Tennessee Aquarium horticulturist leads walk at park and a private farm in Rising Fawn to learn wildflowers of the area; bring a camera. For ages 12 and over, children must be accompanied by an adult. www.tnaqua.org.
‘ Wilds of the West Rim Day Hike: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $5-$7 per person plus $5 parking; Stephanie Fischer leads 5-mile hike to learn park’s plants, wildlife and geology; bring brown bag lunch and water, wear closed-toe shoes. Register: 706-657-4050.
APRIL 9
‘ Landscaping for Pollinators: Ooltewah United Methodist Church, 6131 Relocation Way, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., EarthCare workshop led by Trailhead Nursery. www.earthcareonline.org.
‘ Perennials for Shade Gardening: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th St. Place, 10 a.m., $10, led by Craig Walker. Register and receive 10 percent discount that day at The Barn. 423-698-2276.
APRIL 9-10
‘ Master Your Garden Expo: Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 13 and older, sponsored by Hamilton County Master Gardeners; vendors, 17 gardening lectures by local and out-of-town experts, live demonstrations, educational workshops, children’s activities and door prizes. www.mghc.org/garden-expo.
APRIL 15-16
‘ Spring Native Plant Sale: Reflection Riding and Arboretum, 400 Garden Road, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day; annual sale of native plants, workshops and wildflower walks. www.reflectionriding.org.
APRIL 15-17
‘ Spring Plant Sale: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; annual sale of sustainably grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers; free workshops Saturday and Sunday; craft vendors, children’s farm activities. www.crabtreefarms.org.
APRIL 28
‘ Planning Your Organic Garden: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St., Ooltewah, 3:30 p.m., free; Kat McGraw teaches basic principles of laying out a garden, building soil, companion planting, disease deterrents and crop rotation. 423-238-9775.
APRIL 30
‘ Build a Mushroom Bed: 2 Angels Mushroom Farm in Harrison, register online to receive directions to farm, 11 a.m., $45; build a Wine Cap mushroom bed; receive instructions and live spawn to take home and plant your own bed. Register: www.2angelsmushrooms.com.
‘ Plant a Mixed Flower Container: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St., Ooltewah, 9-11 a.m., free; make-and-take workshop, nursery will supply soil for up to 12-inch container, you bring container or buy one at nursery, buy flowers at workshop. Participants receive discount coupon to help them get started. 423-238-9775.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.