Hutchinson Horticulture Club
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A day filled with free gardening information for homeowners and gardeners will take place March 9. The Hutchinson Horticulture Club organizes and sponsors this event as their educational project for the community. It will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 407 East 12th, just west of the Cosmosphere. After missing two years because of COVID, the club held the event last year. If not for the COVID years, this would be the 35th year for the annual event.
"We follow the schedule, that's on our Facebook page, the Hutchinson Horticulture Club," said Betty Taylor with the club. You can come and go to whatever topics you want."
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with the morning session beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The first topic is Herbs-Growing, Using and Abusing by Kay Neff of Neff Family Farm located outside Sedgwick. She has been growing herbs for 35 years. Her program will include growing tips for several common herbs and she'll give suggestions and some recipes for using them.
Next, at 10:00 a.m., the topic Fall Gardening-Extend your Gardening Season will be presented by James Taylor, Retired Instructor at Hutchinson Community College. His program will highlight vegetables and some flowers that do really well in cooler fall weather. He'll provide a planting schedule and planting tips so gardeners can enjoy fresh produce after others have quit for the year.
"Somebody might say, why in the heck are you talking about fall gardening in the spring?" James Taylor said. "The reason is that there are some things that you might need to get to prepare for it. Now is the time to be making the order for shade cloth or special seeds. Also, you need to arrange your garden so that you'll have space."
The last presentation for the morning will begin at 11:00 a.m. Jarrod Bornholdt, of Bornholdt Plantland, has arranged for Eric George, a Monrovia Sales Representative from Paola, to present New & Newer Perennials, Shrub Roses & Other Shrubs. He will have suggestions for sunny and shady spots in your yard that might make your friends jealous.
The afternoon programs will resume at 1:00 p.m. with Krista Dahlinger from Mulvane, an officer of the Kansas Native Plant Society, addressing the topic of Less Lawn-More Habitat. She will present ideas on how low growing native plants can reduce watering and create a pollinator paradise in your yard. She will share lots of 'how to' resources.
At 2:00 p.m., Rob Mortko, of Made in the Shade Gardens in Olathe, will speak about Hostas: Everything You Want to Know About America's Most Popular Perennial. He is a nationally recognized Hosta expert and is known as 'The Hosta Guy'. He has been a Hosta aficionado for over 35 years.
The last presentation of the day begins at 3:00 p.m. The topic of Success in Making Colorful Containers will be covered by Jason French, Retail Manager and Plant Specialist at Stutzmans Greenhouse. He will talk about containers, soil, fertilizer and have a handout listing recommended combinations of plants to use in containers in sun and shade locations.
There will be no charge to attend any of the Gathering for Gardeners programs, although registration at the door is requested.
"I like to know how many people come and where they come from," Betty Taylor said. "We've had over 30 cities represented at our gathering for gardeners and some years we've had over 300 people attend. You only need to register once."
Door prize drawings will be held throughout the day.
For more information on the Hutchinson Horticulture Club, go to their Facebook page.
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