The Master Gardeners of Hardin County are hosting "April Showers Bring Garden Flowers" from 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the Mid Ohio Energy Cooperative Community Room, located at 1210 W. Lima Street in Kenton, Ohio.

The registration deadline is March 31. The cost is $50.00 ($40.00 for active Master Gardener Volunteers) and includes continental breakfast, box lunch, handouts and door prizes. 

The first speaker is David McPheron who will speak on starting plants from seed, cuttings and division. Are you disappointed at the result? David will provide the steps to grow a plant to transplant size for your garden.

McPheron has a degree in Horticulture and is the owner of Star Farms Native Plants. He gathers local seeds and grows them into plants to sell for landscapes. Currently he is an emeritus Master Gardener, though was active for sixteen years and a Volunteer Coordinator for seven years.

Debra Knapke will speak about "The Marriage of Use and Beauty." Today’s gardeners want gardens and landscapes that fulfill multiple functions such as plants that are pleasing to see, smell and taste. The concept of edible landscapes dates to ancient times.

Debra has been a garden designer since 1994. She has a Masters degree in Horticulture and operates a design and consulting business. She has co-authored six books and will be available for book-signing. 

"Attracting Birds to the Landscape" will be the topic addressed by Jimmy Giannone, a wildlife biologist in Hancock, Hardin and Wyandot Counties. He works for Pheasants Forever. Jimmy graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in wildlife fisheries resources.

Dr. Timothy McDermott will talk about Container Gardening and answer questions about what can be grown in containers, type of soil to use, the water requirement and what type of container to use.

McDermott is an OSU Assistant Professor and has been an Extension Educator in Agriculture and Natural Resources for the past six years. He lectures locally, as well as internationally on Local Food Systems and Veterinary Sciences. He was in private practice for twenty years.

For more information or to register call 419-674-8012. A registration form is attached below.