2015 Spring Gardening Conference
Presented by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners
Adapt, Evolve, Engage:
Gardenin Strategies for Today and Beyond
Saturday, February 21, 2015*University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office, 18410 Muncaster Rd., Derwood, MD
$55 per person or $100 for two, includes lunch
*Snow date – February 28, 2015 (In case of inclement weather, we follow Montgomery County Public Schools’ Weekend Activity Policy.)
Schedule of Events
Registration & Refreshments (8:30 – 9:00)
Welcome & Opening Remarks (9:00 – 9:15)
Session I (9:25 – 10:30)
A. Landscape Tricks of the Trade – Susan Bell
Susan will share tips and short cuts she has gathered over the years through her design/build/maintenance firm. Learn how to achieve design goals, resolve common mistakes, and improve your property value. Susan will also help you understand how to create healthy gardens and streamline your maintenance routine.
B. Capsicum College – Eric Wenger
From sweet to heat, if you love peppers, this class is for you! Come find out how to successfully grow, harvest, eat, and store all sorts of peppers from Eric, the Chile Master!
C. Water Gardens: An Engaging Ecosystem – Heather Zindash
Water gardens create a cool oasis, bringing peace and tranquility to any landscape. Whether a container water garden or an in-ground pond, adding a water feature will add a focal point to your landscape. Creating its own engaging ecosystem, it will attract and support beneficial bugs and local wildlife for your enjoyment and education. It will even attract friends and family!
Session II (10:40 – 11:45)
D. Bees, Beneficials and Blooms – Marie Rojas
Want to help the honeybees and other pollinators, but confused about what plants to put in your garden? Interested in attracting all of those insect “good guys” to your property, so that they’ll do some of the pest management for you? Learn what to plant and why and find out who’s providing what ecosystem services to your landscape.
E. Maximizing Small Garden Spaces – Susan Bell
Do you love to garden, but don’t have a lot of room? Susan will provide space saving ideas for smaller, urban gardens – from townhouse lots to apartment balconies. Emphasis will be on techniques for growing and maintaining a variety of plant combinations in confined spaces or containers.
F. DIY Irrigation – Les Rucker
Water is crucial for establishing new plantings and during prolonged drought. While some find great solitude in holding the
hose for hours on end, most of us are looking for an alternative –
particularly when planning to be away. Learn about affordable alternatives to commercially installed irrigation systems. Hear what Les has done to ensure that his garden receives the right amount of water and only when it is needed.
Lunch (12:00 – 1:00)
Informal lunchtime talks are open to anyone interested:
Master Gardener Demonstration Garden – Darlene Nicholson
Come learn all about this free resource for gardeners, right here at the Ag History Farm Park! This short presentation will highlight aspects of the wonderful demo garden – herbs, water features, perennial shade garden, deer deterrent planting,
children’s garden, butterfly garden, and planting structures.
Plant Clinics and How to Use Them – Plant Clinic team member
Got gardening questions? Plant Clinics have the answers! We have walk-in clinics 11 months of the year, nearly every day of the week, in Montgomery County. We’ll fill you in on what we do and how to best utilize this invaluable service.
Session III (1:00 – 2:05)
G. Lawns, Landscapes, the Environment and You – Eric Wenger
Learn about what is polluting the Chesapeake Bay, where the pollution is coming from, and what you can do about it.
H. Perennial Shade Gardens – Les Rucker
Les will give a brief overview of the importance of light, soil and moisture, and then share his personal perennial shade garden strategies. Special emphasis will be given to hydrangeas, as Les grows many species and varieties.
I. A Few of Our Favorite Herbs – Pat Kenny and Heather Whirley
Pat and Heather will define herbs, discuss in detail how to grow them, what parts to harvest, and how to use them. They’ll cover their top 15 herbs – an assortment of annuals, perennials, biennials and bulbs/rhizomes. Their combined knowledge includes 50+ years of growing (and killing) herbs, just the right recipe for learning!
Wrap-up (2:15 – 2:30)
Open question-and-answer forum with presenters. Last of the fabulous door prizes will be awarded.Click here to register: http://mcmgconference.eventbrite.com
