The Good, the Bad, and the Tasty: What’s growing in your backyard?
Spring will be here before you know it and the Rice County Master Gardeners are hosting an event for you to learn about your backyard on Saturday, March 10th. The day features speakers on prairie seed saving, dangerous plants, fruit trees & berries, and what the best summer annuals were in 2017. The event is held at Buntrock Commons on the
campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and rolls and will finish up the day around 3:30 p.m. Vendors, door prizes and a silent auction are also included in this educational opportunity.
The first speaker will be Alexander Watson, Regional Naturalist for Minnesota DNA, who will share his passion for the healthy plant communities managed in Minnesota State Parks. The second speaker will be Emily Tepe, U of M Research Associate in Fruit Production, she works on improving production techniques for fruit trees and berries in Minnesota while being kind to our environment. After the buffet lunch you’ll hear from Nancy Braker-Puzak, Director of the Cowling Arboretum at Carleton College, she will share her 20 years of experience working for The Nature Conservancy in land management, conservation planning, and monitoring of rare species populations, specializing in management of fire adapted natural communities. And wrapping up the day with the final session will be Laura Schwarz, Horticulturist and garden writer in Minneapolis, sharing what the best summer annuals were in 2017.
The cost includes morning coffee & rolls and buffet lunch. Registration is due March 2nd. The event has been approved for four continuing education hours for all attending MN Master Gardeners. For additional information and the registration brochure visit our website at: Rice County Extension
Or contact the Rice County Extension, 507-332-6109 or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ricecountymastergardeners
Christine Hamblin, whiterose55057@yahoo.com
