Starkville will host one of three major spring gardening events in the state March 21-22.
The sixth annual Everything Garden Expo will take place at the Mississippi Horse Park, located south of town at 869 East Poorhouse Road.
Gary Bachman, horticulturist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said March is a good month for Mississippians to plan their 2014 gardens.
“Three really good gardening shows happen in March. No matter where you live in Mississippi, you will be fairly close to one of them,” he said. “These events are great opportunities for the home gardener to get inspired to plant the newest trees, shrubs, and flowering annuals and perennials for the home landscape and garden.”
Daily seminars will feature some of the leading horticulture and landscape professionals in the Southeast.
The Expo will host horticultural personalities Felder Rushing on Friday and Rita Randolph on Saturday. Expo hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, and from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. Admission is $5 per person, and children 6 and under are admitted free.
The event will show both hobby and professional gardeners the latest in products and growing techniques. The Expo features seminars by the region’s leading garden and horticultural authorities on herbs, vegetables in flower beds, EarthBoxes, raised beds/container gardening, rain barrels and fire ants. A variety of vendors will be showing and selling equipment, plant materials and garden art. Cooking demonstrations are planned. There will also be activities for children.
The Starkville Area Arts Council teams up with MSU and other sponsors to present the area’s premier garden show. Other contributing sponsors include the MSU Extension Service, the Mississippi Horse Park, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
For more information, contact the arts council office at 662-324-3080 or visit their website at starkvillearts.org.
Speaker schedule, March 21
n 9:30-9:45 a.m. – Callie Wagner, “Pruning Crape Myrtles”
n 10-10:20 a.m. – Brian Templeton, “Including Vegetables into Existing Ornamental Plant Beds”
n 11-11:20 a.m. – Elizabeth Payne Tofte, “Pallet Gardening”
n Noon-1 p.m. – Main speaker Felder Rushing
n 1:30-1:45 p.m. – Dr. Alan Henn, “Common Diseases of Tomatoes”
n 2:30-2:45 p.m. – Dr. Gary Bachman, “Success with EarthBoxes”
n 3:30-3:45 p.m. – Dr. Wayne Porter, “Container and Raised Beds Gardening”
n 4:30-4:45 p.m. – Dr. Jay McCurdy, “Mowing 101”
n 5:30-5:45 p.m. – Ashley Fondren, “Cooking Demo: Making a Vinaigrette from Herbs in Your Garden”
n 6-7 p.m. – Community Nutrition Cooking Demo: Delicious and Nutritious Supper in Under 30 Minutes
Speaker schedule, March 22
n 9:30-9:45 a.m. – Dr. Lelia Kelly, “Using Herbs in Foods & Crafts”
n 10-11 a.m. – Main speaker Rita Randolph
n 11-12:30 p.m. – Backyard Gourmet Grill Off (sponsored by Thyme and Bell Building Supply)
n 12:30-12:45 p.m. – Judson LeCompte “Carnivorous Container Gardens”
n 1-1:15 p.m. – Dr. Blake Layton, “Controlling Fire Ants”
n 1:45-2:10 p.m. – Bob Brzuszek, “Workshop: Creating Your Own Rain Barrels”
n 2:30-2:45 p.m. – Dr. David Nagel, “Container Vegetable Gardening.”
Speakers and topics are subject to change. Visit starkvillearts.org for updates.
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