Gardening Education Day

Additional Information

General A.M. Session: “Keeping Flowers Healthy for Beautiful Blooms” by Michelle Grabowski Flowers bring beauty to our lives and provide food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife. When weakened by disease, flowering plants produce fewer blooms, suffer from reduced growth, andmay decline and die. Come learn practical steps to prevent and manage plant disease problems in the flower garden. Focus will be on cultural control practices and strategies that do not negatively affect pollinators. Michelle Grabowski is an Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on identification and management of common diseases of horticultural crops in Minnesota. She works with home gardeners, commercial fruit and vegetable growers, lawn and landscape professionals, arborists, and other members of the green industry.

General P.M. Session: “Magical Plant Communities” by Gail Soens Establishing plants in a community has benefits that go beyond just its beauty. Plants can positively impact humans, animals and the environment. In this session you will learn about selecting the best plants that not only support pollinators, but also eliminates the need for mulching, will reduce weeding, all while creating a place for relaxing magical garden moments. Gail was a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener in Dakota County for 6 years, has worked with Bailey Nursery as the Nord Trial Plant Coordinator for 14 years, and is a MN Nursery & Landscape (MNLA) Certified Professional. She has several degrees including a BA in Philosophy and Theology from the U of M as well as a M‐DIV in Religion, and coursework in clinical counseling as well as horticulture coursework at Dakota County Technical College.

Gardening Education Day Schedule:
7:45‐8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30‐8:35 a.m. Welcome
8:35‐9:35 a.m. Morning General Session
10:00‐11:00 a.m. Session A
11:15‐12:15 p.m. Session B
12:15‐1:30 p.m. Lunch/Door Prize Drawing
1:30‐2:30 p.m. Afternoon General Session
2:45‐3:45 p.m. Session C
3:45 p.m. Adjourn
Pre‐registration & payment required ‐ Must be received no later than Wednesday, March 1st, 2018
Fee: $30 per Registrant
Late Registration Fee (after March 1): $35
(Includes morning coffee, tea & rolls, box lunch, and session materials)
No refunds after March 5, 2018
Spaces will be filled as registrations are received.
Online Registration available: z.umn.edu/GardenEdDay

stearns-gardening-education-day-2018-flyer