Area gardeners and others with an interest in gardening are invited to attend the summer gardening programs being offered at the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County.  

This summer the Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are sponsoring three educational demonstration programs in the Friendship Gardens located at 960 W. Kohler Street in Kenton, which is behind Harco Industries.  

Follow the ‘Friendship Gardens of Hardin County’ signs to a parking area off of West Kohler Street.  The events are planned to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings and will last about an hour. 

The first educational garden program is scheduled for Saturday, June 15.  The topic will be ‘Getting Started in Beekeeping.’  Learn from area beekeeper Mike Hubbell as he will have an observation hive with a marked queen.  He will speak on the importance of pollinator plants, projects, native and alien plants used by bees for nectar and/or pollen sources.  

Hubbell will bring examples of equipment, tools, and clothing needed to get started in beekeeping.  He will also discuss bee products and uses along with diseases and pests that impact bees.

‘Fairy Gardens’ will be the focus of the July 20 garden program.  Master Gardener Kim Thomas will share her knowledge of miniature fairy gardens.  Participants will learn how to make a fairy garden and have the option to make their own for a $7.00 fee if interested.  Participants are asked to bring their own container for their ‘take home garden.’ 

Other supplies will be furnished for this event, which allows a person to make an imaginary place for “fairies to live in your garden.”  This class is appropriate for ages 6 to adult.  All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The final summer garden program ‘Monarch Butterflies’ is scheduled for Aug. 17.  Come and learn why Monarch butterflies are in trouble and what we can do to help them.  Attendees will search for Monarch caterpillars in the Friendship Gardens and learn how to raise them until they emerge and are able to fly to Mexico.  There will be books and butterfly containers for a few lucky participants.  This information will be shared by Master Gardener Carol McKinley.

For more information about these programs, contact the OSU Extension office at 419-674-2297 or view the Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardeners Facebook page.