Let's Get Growing offers gardening tips

It’s that time of year: University of Minnesota Master Gardener groups around the state are preparing their spring horticulture education days. Our own UMN Master Gardeners of Douglas County are knee deep in the planning and preparation of Let’s Get Growing! This year’s event occurs on March 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alexandria Technical College.

Al Batt is our keynote speaker. A Minnesota native, Al writes three humorous weekly newspaper columns and is host of a nature radio show carried in Austin, Albert Lea and Mankato. He has been named Birder of the Year by Wild Bird Magazine, has received the Ed Franey Conservation Media Award from the Minnesota Izaak Walton League, and was honored with the National Eagle Center’s Hero Award. Come start your day with Al and “Gardening is for the Birds.” If you’d like to check out some of Al’s articles before the main event, visit his website at http://albatt.net/index.cfm.

After Al’s talk, attend a selection of morning and afternoon workshop sessions presented by UMN Master Gardeners, UMN Researchers and Extension Educators, and Horticulture Professionals. Topics include: Rain Gardens, Composting, Edible Landscaping, Garden 911, Finding Your Perfect Tree, 2010 Annual Varieties, Butterfly Gardening, Shade Gardening, Straw Bale Gardening, and more.

Registration is $20 per person by March 16, $25 per person after March 16. Registration includes refreshments, lunch, workshops and educational materials. For more information or to register, contact Douglas County Extension at (320) 762-3890.

If you’re interested in attending other county horticulture education days, mark these dates on your calendar:

• March 19: Stearns County Horticulture Education Day at St John’s University, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; $27.

• March 19: Perham Horticulture Days at Perham High School, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $25; (218) 385-5420.

• April 2: Garden Expo 2011 at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; $25; (218) 824-1068.

• April 9: Chippewa County Horticulture Day at Chippewa County Courthouse, 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; $10.

Hope to see you at one or more of these events!

Until next time, happy gardening!

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“There ought to be gardens for all the months in the year, in which several things of beauty may be then in season.”

– Francis Bacon, Of Gardens, 1625

Tags: country, extension