No matter how mild the weather, it’s still February, so if you’re dreaming of a day of gardening, then a seminar by that name, A Day of Gardening, is your best bet this early in the season.
Presented by the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, District III, this sixth annual event is still more than a week away, Saturday, Feb. 25, but organizers are offering a discount on registration received by Saturday, Feb. 18.
Gardeners of all levels of interest and experience are welcome. Presentations on various aspects of gardening by industry experts and master gardeners will be given at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Topics cover butterflies, honeybees, roses, daylilies, hydrangeas, mushrooms, herb gardens, landscape design and trees. Participants will choose one program for each hour-long time slot.
In addition to the presentations, a lunch of homemade soups, breads, desserts and drinks will included in the fee. The gathering takes place at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in East Ridge.
Signal Mountain Nursery plans a workshop on making living roof fairy houses and gardens using succulents on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 18. Participants may choose to do either project or both.If you go
* What: A Day of Gardening seminar.* When: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.* Where: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave., East Ridge.* Admission: $20 if registered by Saturday, Feb. 18; $25 at the door.* Phone: 423-618-4244.* Email: crymertfgc@gmail.com.
Spokeswoman Crystal Rymer says she always hopes for “a cold, dreary day” for A Day of Gardening, so that participants won’t mind being indoors.
“Gardeners want to rush to their gardens on a sunny 60s day in February,” she explains.
Registration is limited to the first 125 people. To reserve a space, make out a $20 check to TFGC District III, including an email address for confirmation, and mail before Saturday, Feb. 18, to Marilyn Smith, 279 Pine Hollow Rd., Dayton, TN 37321. Walk-ups will pay $25 at the door.
SCHEDULE
(Participants will choose one program from each time slot during A Day of Gardening.)
10 a.m.
* “Attracting Butterflies” (Master gardener Mike Payne)
* “Daylilies” (Master gardener George Gannaway)
* “Landscape Design Principals and Curb Appeal” (Scott Drucker of Dream Gardens USA)
11 a.m.
* “Hydrangeas” (Master gardener Carol Mathews)
* “Native Bees: An Untapped Treasure in Our Yards” (Ann Brown of Wild Ones)
* Why Would You Want To Have an Herb Garden?” (Ivana Paterson of Lavender ‘N’ Rust Herb Farm)
1 p.m.
* “Adding Mushrooms to Your Landscape” (Angel Miller of 2 Angels Mushroom Farm)
* “Getting Your Roses Ready for Spring and Summer Blooms” (Tina Jennings of Tri-State Rose Society)
* “Small Trees for Your Yard, Including Natives” (Tom Stebbins, Hamilton County Extension agent)
Did you know?
The Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs lists 15 member clubs within District III. There are four in Chattanooga, three in Cleveland, three in Dayton, two in Signal Mountain and one each in East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Pikeville. Source: www.tfgconline.orgHere are some gardening workshops on bees, pruning and other topics until then.* “Pruning With John ‘The Ornamentor’ Nessle”: 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road. This certified master arborist will give his expert advice for pruning trees and shrubs. Free, but limited to 30. Call for reservations: 423-886-3174.* “Valuing Our Pollinators”: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 18, University of Tennessee Extension office, 6183 Adamson Circle. Master gardener Kristina Shaneyfelt will talk about the critical role bees, wasps and other pollinators play in the food chain and how they are under siege from chemicals and environmental damage. This is one in a series of third Saturday classes presented by the Education Committee of Hamilton County Master Gardeners. Free. Register at education@mghc.org (include name, email, phone number and number attending).* “Cuba: Its Plants and Its People”: 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road. Tennessee Valley Chapter of American Rhododendron Society presents a free illustrated presentation by local gardening enthusiasts Hale and Susan Booth on what they learned on a recent botanical trip to Cuba with the Magnolia Society International. www.reflectionriding.org.* Living Roof Fairy House and Garden Workshop: 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road. Create a roofed house and miniature garden using miniature succulents. $50 to do house and garden, $30 for garden only, $20 for house only (parents should note that hot glue guns will be used). 423-886-3174.* “Pruning, the Healthy Thing To Do”: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Landscape architect Matt Whitaker teaches a hands-on pruning workshop, combining classroom instruction with hands-on work on the trees at the farm. Focuses mainly on apple, peach, fig and blueberries, but techniques are applicable to a variety of plants. Dress for being outdoors, and bring sharp, clean pruners, loppers or small hand saws if you have them (some loaners available). Limited to 25 participants. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. 423-4930-9155, www.crabtreefarms.org.* Terrariums & Succulents class: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, LaFayette-Walker County Library, 305 S. Duke St., LaFayette, Ga. Wendy Matteson, agriculture teacher at LaFayette Middle School, teaches how to build and care for a terrarium planting. $25 includes terrarium and all supplies. RSVP in person. 706-638-3015.* “Learning From Observation Hives”: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Benton Municipal Building, 6496 U.S. Highway 411, Benton, Tenn. Guest speaker Jeff Dayton addresses the monthly meeting (third Tuesdays) of the Ocoee Region Beekeepers Association. First-time beekeepers may sign up for a hive grant kit giveaway with basic starter equipment.