UMC to Host First Annual Horticulture Extravaganza June 15-16
Garden enthusiasts, Master Gardeners, commercial nursery and turfgrass professionals alike are invited to attend the first Annual Horticulture Extravaganza at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) on June 15-16. Participants can register for this two-day extravaganza, for one-day options on Friday or Saturday, or Friday afternoon tours. Overnight campus housing accommodations are also available. The event should prove informative and entertaining, and it would make an ideal Mother’s or Father’s Day gift for a gardening aficionado. Gift certificates are available.
Jane Sims, Director of the Center for Adult Learning, expects over 150 attendees from Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba for the two-day seminar series. “We have a wide variety of topics, including sessions that highlight University of Minnesota faculty and researchers in their area of expertise. This is a great opportunity for professionals and garden or landscape enthusiasts of all ages to learn about new techniques and new plant varieties,” says Sims. Certified Nursery and Landscape Professionals (CNLP) and Master Gardeners can also earn continuing education credits and workshop hours.
Friday, June 15, sessions will cover topics on greenhouses, turfgrass disease and irrigation and ornamental grasses, hostas, and iris. Roger Wagner, Director of UMC’s Horticultural program, will discuss greenhouse structures and maintenance. John Erwin, a Ph.D. from the U of M, Twin Cities, will present sessions on greenhouse nutrition, pests, and diseases. “Turfgrass experts will provide the latest information on turf diseases including new research on snow mold and dollar spot and on irrigation installations,” says Sims. Extension horticulturist Mary Meyer will share her findings from extensive research on the ornamental grass plots at the UMC campus. Clayton & Michele Oslund, horticulturists and authors, will discuss “Hosta at Work.” A tour of Wentzel Farms Greenhouse and Gardens, with over 400 varieties of iris, fills out the day’s events. Friday evening will feature a horticultural-inspired dinner with a surprise local personality as a guest. Area gardeners will also open their gardens to guests for self-guided evening tours of northwestern Minnesota landscaping.
Saturday, June 16, events include topics presented by University of Minnesota educators and researchers and local personalities and growers with guest presentations on specialty topics. A sampling of the sessions includes: Butterfly Gardening, Herbs for Everyday Use, Garden Pests, Landscaping, Native Plants, Horticultural Judging, Bonsai, Soils and Fertility Structure, Planting Under Trees, Canadian Plant Materials, and much more.
“This is the first year of what we plan to make an annual event,” says Sims, “as we showcase the beautiful UMC campus and unique horticultural features of northwestern Minnesota to our guests.” Each day includes guided tours of the campus grounds. The Annual Horticultural Extravaganza is sponsored by UMC: Center for Adult Learning, Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Horticulture Department, Natural Resources Department; and by the University of Minnesota Extension Service: Polk and Pennington counties, and the Master Gardener Clusters of Pennington and Polk counties.
For information or to register, contact the UMC Center for Adult Learning, (800) 862-6466 ext 8681 or (218) 281-8681, or e-mail requests to hbertsch@mail.crk.umn.edu. Visit the website at www.umcrookston.edu/cal/horticulture2001 for information on the Mother’s Day gift certificate offer.
Posted 05/03/2001
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435