Who hasn’t stopped to admire the curb appeal of vibrant azaleas in bloom and wished their own yard looked as good?
Avoid yard envy this year by attending one of three talks that Robert “Buddy” Lee will present during the seventh annual Master Your Garden expo presented by the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County.
In addition to plants, expo vendors will have a variety of garden-related items for sale, such as these novelty birdhouses. / Master Gardener contributed photoLee, developer of the popular Encore Azalea, will speak on “Easy Steps to Grow Beautiful Azaleas,” “Trialed and Trusted Plants, Distinctly Southern” and “New, Better, Yours – Plant the Best Plants This Spring.” He’ll also be on hand to answer visitors’ questions about problems specific to their plants.
The expo will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14, in Camp Jordan Arena.
Focused on gardening and the outdoors, the expo brings together a wide-ranging array of exhibits, demonstrations, educational activities and vendors of interest to experienced gardeners and novices . There is also a children’s area for ages 2 to 12.
The Master Gardeners will man a booth at which guests can ask for advice on gardening problems in their own yards. Saturday only the expo will include a silent auction.
If you go
› What: Master Your Garden Expo› Where: Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge› When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 13; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 14› Admission: $10 ages 13 and up, cash or check only› For more information: www.MGHC.org
“Our goal is to present the latest information on gardening and techniques to the Chattanooga community,” says Carol Mathews, show chairman.
“In addition to our featured speaker, our annual expo will offer a wide range of informative lectures and demonstrations, as well as our market place, where people can browse a variety of exhibits, talk to knowledgeable vendors about plants, tools and garden art and purchase a wide range of garden-related items.”
In addition to Lee’s three presentations, there will be 11 talks presented by local and out-of-town experts. Their topics will range from “Sprouting Kids with Deep Roots for Gardening” to pesticides, growing vegetables in containers and growing daylilies.
On-going live demonstrations will cover composting, ergonomic tools, hydroponics, insects, butterflies, mulching and rain barrels.
The $10 ticket is good both days of the expo. Proceeds from the expo help fund Master Gardener scholarships for agricultural and horticultural students in Tennessee.
For more info, go to: mghc.org/garden-expo/.