The Know Maintenance Approach

Roy’s thoughtful way to design perennial plantings welcomes fresh contemporary styles and plant diversity integrated with responsible stewardship concerns.   By using a selection of regionally dependable perennials and native plants, endless nature inspired plant patterns can be created, each relating to time and cost to nurture and care for.  He will discuss the developing partnership between the gardener, the plants and nature, always knowing the beauty is in the doing.

Attracting Monarchs and Other Butterflies to Your Yard and Garden

Monarchs and other butterflies are admired for their beauty, cultural significance, and role in the ecosystem.  In this talk, we’ll discuss ways to attract monarchs and other butterflies to your yard and garden and how to best provide for them.

Knowing & Amending Your Soil

For homeowners, gardeners and others interested in growing healthy, productive plants. Starting with favorable soil conditions is essential to promote good plant growth. You can improve plant growth by properly amending soil. In this presentation Andrew Stammer from the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene Soil and Forage Analysis Lab will discuss what makes a productive soil, how to evaluate soil conditions and diagnose common plant problems, and what amendments and composts can be helpful to ensure productive plant growth. Andrew has over seven years’ experience working with homeowners to diagnose common problems in their lawns and gardens and is excited to share this experience.

Low Maintenance House Plants

We love our houseplants, but we don’t always have time to pamper them. We’ll take a look at some of the most rewarding houseplants. The ones that almost seem to thrive on neglect and give years of joy for not too much effort.

Successful Container Gardening for Flowering Annuals

Tips and tricks in designing your containers with best annual flowers, containers and proper media

Pruning Shrubs

Have you considered pruning your shrubs, but felt like you just didn’t know where to start?  Or, even more challenging, started and not been happy with the results?  Aaron will provide some ideas to help you out, including discussion and videos showing various methods to prune your shrubs.  We will also discuss the best time of year to prune shrubs.  See you online!

Small Trees with Big Impact

Small-scale trees are key players in any well-designed garden for their year-round beauty and structure. Whether you’re after beautiful flowers, fruit, bark, form or fall color, there is a tree to fit your needs. The list of trees is large and keen horticulturists are creating and discovering new cultivars and species every year. Jeff Epping, Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, will sort through the top performing small-scaled ornamental trees for Midwestern gardens. Jeff will also illustrate great plant combinations that you can emulate in your own gardens.