Growing with Master Gardeners

Nineteenth Annual Conference for New & Experienced Gardeners & Environmentalists

Presented by the Master Gardener Association of Wayne County, www.mgawc.org

Sponsored by the University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center

a   2008 Conference:  12:20 to 1:15 PM Workshops   b

Saturday, September 13, 2008, 8 AM to 5 PM, at U of M–Dearborn

Please choose a first, second and third choice for this time slot.

7.     Storm Water and Rain Grdens

Shannan Gibb-Randall

InSite Design Studios Architect, designer of the plan for the Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC) rain garden, past programming chair for Ann Arbor Wild Ones

Explore ways to slow storm water.  Shannan will explain the basics of storm water management and provide examples of innovative solutions including potential applications for homeowners before visiting the rain garden on campus.

8.     Heirloom Tomatoes

Royer Held

Organic vegetable gardening enthusiast, Leslie Science Center, Project Grow Community Garden and Seed Saver volunteer

Remember when tomatoes were red, tasty and good to eat.  Royer will share his passion for the best cultivars of delicious tomatoes that you will want to grow, as well as organic gardening tips for creating and sustaining an ecology for healthy plants and a bountiful harvest.

9.     Hummingbirds

Rosann Kovalcik

Owner of Wild Birds Unlimited and long time birder

Attract beautiful birds that pollinate flowers and eat insects.  Rosann will offer advice on how to attract hummingbirds with plantings and feeders.  She will also share photos and fascinating facts about these high energy garden visitors.

10.   Blooming with Seniors

Susan Powers

Gardener and Residential Living Advisor at the Village of Westland senior residence with raised beds and various gardens (butterfly, rose, waterfall and memory).  Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association member, Master Gardener

Make sure everyone enjoys gardening in their golden years.  Susan will discuss her favorite projects for making gardening a lifelong activity including an intergenerational garden with high school students and this year’s Victory Garden.

11.   Plants to Avoid

Kim Roth

Perennial buyer at Christensen’s Plant Center, a major supplier of trees, shrubs and perennials

Figure out what you don’t want, and the rest is easy.  Based on years of professional and personal experience, Kim will run through her picks for invasive, non-performing and chronically unhappy plants that waste your valuable resources—time, energy, garden space and money.

12.   Delphiniums:  Royalty in Cottage Settings

Mark Stanow

Bamboo, pond plants and perennial enthusiast, semi-retired garden writer, Master Gardener

Add interest to your garden with a standout perennial that is less fussy than its reputation suggests.  Mark will talk about history, varieties, fall planting, care, mixture of colors and companion plants including herbs with scents to enjoy.