2013 Nursery School

Nursery School 2013- Lessons in Gardening

Saturday, February 16, 2013 from 8 A.M. - 4 P.M. i wireless Center, Moline, IL

Now in its 17th year, Nursery School is recognized as one of the Quad Cities' premiere gardening symposiums! University of Illinois Extension and the Rock Island County Master Gardeners bring together renowned local and regional horticulture experts to provide 13 different workshops on diverse topics. Nursery School is the perfect opportunity to get inspired for another successful gardening season!

The $45 fee includes continental breakfast, sit-down luncheon, afternoon snacks, handouts and outstanding lessons. You can register online at University of Illinois Extension, web.extension.illinois.edu/hmrs or call (309) 756-9978. Pre-registration required by Monday, February 11, 2013.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Rock Island County Extension 309-756-9978

During breaks and lunch, shop from gardening vendors. All participants are eligible to win one of the many fabulous door prizes donated by garden centers across the area!

Keynote Session One: 8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Kelly Norris Horticulture Manager, Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens presents
"Dig This! Stylish Gardens for Savvy Gardeners".  Gardeners need chic, sustainable, thriving plants for modern lifestyles. Plants after all are the very essence of fashionable gardening. Gardeners need to know the basics of gardening as well as have the opportunity to craft landscapes in their own unique style with plants that flourish sustainably for more than just a few seasons. The horticulture industry needs to re-shift and re-tool its focus on the style conscience of the young and young-at-heart, including how to market plants to a new generation of gardeners. Gardeners new and old have always wanted to make gardens that look like them and that reflect a personal, artistic ownership of the space outside their home, large or small. The 20-something plantsman Kelly Norris will take the audience on a journey through a world of hot, functional and head-turning plants–unusual, new, plus a few tried and true–that will inspire you to craft a stylish garden that's uniquely yours.

Session two 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. Choose one:
Bud LeFevre, Distinctive Gardens, Dixon, IL presents New and Trendy Annuals and Perennials. Get a sneak preview of plants new to the market this spring. We'll look at fun, easy and eye-catching ways to use annuals and perennials in container plantings. We'll also cover do's and don'ts for beautiful containers in every season of the year.

Cathy LaFrenz, Miss Effie's Country Flowers & Garden Stuff, Donahue, IA presents

Cut Flowers from Your Garden.  Discover the joys of growing your own cutting garden! With just a bit of planning and time in the garden, you can have fresh flowers in your home from May through October. We'll cover classic and popular varieties as well as helpful maintenance tips like dead-heading and supports designed to ensure a steady supply of blooms. Take a break from winter while we talk about pretty summer blossoms!

 
Peggy Burrows, Meyer Landscape & Design, Moline, IL presents Conifers: Dwarf, Small and Slender Varieties. Join in on this discussion and learn about many varieties of conifers, evergreens and some broad-leaf evergreens. Discover varieties that are better proportioned for smaller landscapes and those that work as wonderful sweeps and accent plants in any landscape area.

Darcy Rostenbach, Full Circle Soaps, Moline, IL presents Make-and-Take Laundry Soap. Make your own laundry soap using natural ingredients readily available in grocery stores. This economical and environmentally friendly alternative to commercial laundry detergents costs only pennies per load and really works! Whiter whites and colors that won't bleed! Discover how easy it is to help the environment and save money. Each participant will leave class with enough laundry soap to do LOTS of laundry and the knowledge to continue making more at home! Additional Cost per student: $12

Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m
Take a break and enjoy a luncheon with your gardening friends! The menu will include lasagna (please choose traditional lasagna with red sauce or vegetarian lasagna roll with white sauce), fresh green salad, bread, dessert and coffee or tea. After lunch stop and visit with and shop at the Nursery School Vendors featuring garden art, crafts, horticulture groups and more.

Session three 12:45 - 2 p.m. Choose one:
Ken White, Corn Crib Nursery, Coal Valley, IL presents Fruits in Your Garden. Learn how easy it is to provide your family with the freshest, most economical fruit ever! When it comes to healthy, environmentally friendly fruit, you can't beat growing your own. We'll discuss care and selection of fruit trees, along with berries and brambles, and how to make them flourish in your backyard garden

Chris Enroth, University of Illinois Extension presents Xeriscaping: Make Every Drop Count. Tired of dragging the hose around and hauling buckets of water to parched plants? Learn how to incorporate xeriscaping into your home garden. Whether you're looking for a minimalist landscape approach or crave a lush garden, you'll gain useful design strategies and learn proper plant selection to minimize your water usage and make every drop count.

Jeff Hawes, Black Hawk College East, Galva, IL presents Incorporating Fruits and Vegetables in the Flower Garden. Do flowers, fruits and vegetables get along? You bet! In this workshop, we will focus on creative ways to integrate fruits and vegetables into your flowerbeds – or vice versa. We'll discuss basic background, plant selection, compatibility and more.

Martha Smith, University of Illinois Extension presents Perennial Garden Maintenance. Cutting back, deadheading, pinching, layering bloom and dividing are common chores when maintaining a perennial garden. But which plant gets which treatment? Learn the basics of perennial garden maintenance based on common plant needs. Also – what should we expect after the 2012 drought in our perennial gardens? This session will help ease your maintenance anxieties!

Bud LeFevre, Distinctive Gardens, Dixon, IL presents New and Trendy Annuals and Perennials. Repeat of Session Two class.
 
Session four 2:15-3:30 Choose one:
Cathy LaFrenz, Miss Effie's Country Flowers & Garden Stuff, Donahue, IA presents

Canning for Dummies.  Canning may seem intimidating but it really is quite simple. We will discuss basic terms, equipment and safety. Walk away with lots of recipes and the knowledge that, "Yes, you can!" We'll even help you ease into food preservation with simple but delicious freezer jam we'll make during this class. Come get a taste!

Damien Parizek, Milan Flower Shop, Milan, IL presents Flowers for All Seasons. Learn how to design arrangements using flowers from your garden for every season of the year. From the first bright daffodils of spring to the fresh boughs of winter greenery, bring a touch of your gardens into your home year 'round.
 
Jeff Johnson, Sunnyfield Greenhouse and Garden Center, Galva, IL presents Sizing Up Your Landscape. Get acquainted with exciting new varieties of trees and shrubs for your lawn and garden! Learn how to ensure that you get the right plant for the right spot. We'll also discuss how to make new varieties complement your unique approach to landscaping and design.

Martha Smith, University of Illinois Extension presents What is your horticulture IQ? When is the best time to control powdery mildew? How well do you understand Latin or realize its importance regarding horticulture? Who is the father of horticulture? Are you up for a challenge regarding your gardening knowledge? This interactive program tests audience members through hand-held remote control answering devices. Don't worry – there are no grades given out!

Darcy Rostenbach, Full Circle Soaps, Moline, IL presents Make-and-Take Laundry Soap Repeat of Session One. Additional $12 fee.