Gardener's Palette 2009

Join us March 7^th at John Wood Community College to be inspired! Relax and surround yourself with beauty at the annual Gardener's Palette, gardening conference. "Gardeners Go Green" is the theme of this year's popular event. Fourteen garden-related presentations will be given by speakers from across the Midwest. There will be special emphasis on topics that stress environmentally sustainable approaches to lawn and gardens.

Mike Nowak of Chicago will offer a humorous look at lawn care in America. A Master Gardener, Mike Nowak hosts a popular Sunday morning, radio garden-show in Chicago; and he is an award-winning writer for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. In his talk entitled, Organic Lawn Care: Are You Brave Enough, Mike will suggest ways to have an attractive lawn using organic methods. Mike's slides and hand-out materials will be helpful for years to come.

Author Carolee Snyder, will present two programs. Her passion for herbs is addictive! Carolee elaborates on her own "Herbal Beginnings" with stories, herb lore and gardening ideas. Join her as she celebrates useful plants. With show and tell, you'll discover lots of crafty and delicious uses for many basic herbs. Carolee's second talk discusses "Hot Herbal Trends" showing 2009 trends in herb gardening, and where herbs are headed in the future. Carolee is author of the book "Herbal Beginnings" and owner of Carolee's Herb Farm at Hartford City, Indiana.

Another interesting presenter is Chicago Master Gardener Bill Shores. Bill runs a garden management and design firm that focuses on small-scale gardening systems; plus he teaches the U of I "Master Composter" program. Bill is currently working with restaurateurs Rick and Dean Bayless at their popular organic gardens and restaurant, Frontera Grill in Chicago. Bill will explain an overview of composting at the Bayless restaurant, with great slides that show how effectively composting systems can fit into the urban environment.

Ten other topics are included. Rose enthusiasts will enjoy, "A Year in a Rose Garden" by award-winning rosarian, Milford Clausen from Waterman, IL. Milford has over 200 different rose varieties in his home garden. Other great programs by U of I Educators and area professions include: Plant Propagation, Ferns in the Garden, WaterSmart Gardening, Ornamental and Native Grasses, Perennials for Late Summer and Early Autumn, Water Gardens and Fountains, Cooking Spring Greens, Midas Touch (using gold accents in plants) and more.

Gardeners Palette is sponsored by the U of I Extension Master Gardeners in cooperation with John Wood Community College and the City of Quincy. The March 7^th event will be held at John Wood Community College. A registration fee of $40 includes lunch, morning snacks and coffee, printed materials for all the sessions and a vendor fair showing the latest in gardening-related ideas and products. To register contact the Extension office 217-223-8380; 330 S 36^th Street in Quincy; or register online at www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams.