2nd annual spring expo
Amy Jordan
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Clear your schedule for this weekend, because it is the 2nd annual Spring Expo.
Held again at the Civic Auditorium Saturday and Sunday, will offer a wide variety of exhibits and an exciting line-up of educational seminars.
Be sure to stop by the K-State Research and Extension booth to pick up literature on many horticultural topics, or ask a Master Gardener volunteer your gardening questions. There will also be a small activity for kids.
Educational seminars will run throughout both days. They will be presented by Extension Master Gardeners, Horticulturists with K-State Research and Extension, and horticulture industry professionals. The seminars will be held on the stage at the south end of the auditorium. Here is a bit of information about each seminar to hopefully pique your interest.
Starting off the seminars on Saturday at 11 a.m. will be a session on Raised Bed Gardening by Steve Haller. Haller will discuss benefits of using raised beds, how to construct them, and how to maintain them throughout the growing season for maximum production.
Following Haller at noon will be a session just for kids. Presenters will discuss the importance and significance of honeybees in gardening, in a fun, interactive format.
At 1 p.m., Tracey Graham will introduce Our Community: A More Colorful Place. The goal of this effort is to encourage Kansans to plant more flowers in more locations in order to make our community more colorful. Learn some easy ways to add more color to your gardens to make Emporia a more beautiful place to live.
Next, Phil Sell will be discussing Water-Wise Gardening and Landscape Maintenance at 2 p.m. Get some tips on how to garden successfully using less water.
At 3 p.m., Joan Kuhlman will talk with participants about how to get started growing grapes with just a few plants, or starting a small vineyard.
Starting things off on Sunday at 12 p.m. will be Tracey Graham and Carolyn Turney discussing Master Gardener projects and events. Come learn about the Lyon County Master Gardener program and the rewards of being a volunteer.
Next will be Tony Zouplna at 1 p.m. with a lively discussion of Prairie Bloom Flowers. Learn about perennial flowers that perform exceptionally well in Kansas.
At 2 p.m., Mike Scheller will give a talk entitled “Lawn Care Made Simple”. Learn ways to spend less time maintaining your lawn and more time enjoying it.
I will conclude the weekend with “Preferred Trees for Lyon County”. I’ll discuss which trees to consider planting that have few insect or disease problems, grow well in our climate, and will be dependable for many years.