Press Release: Gardeners' Conference registration is open
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All gardening enthusiasts are welcome to register for the 2024 Gardeners’ Conference sponsored by the Davidson County Extension Master Gardeners which is slated for Feb. 8, 2024. The event is open to the public.
Vendors are invited to sell at the event. {Contributed Photo}
Registration costs $45 and the event offers morning refreshments, a hot buffet lunch, vendors for shopping, and a day packed full of fun and learning about gardening.
Two main speakers and two concurrent breakout sessions are offered at the conference. Participants may choose from five different topics for the concurrent sessions.
Dr. Patrick McMillan, the Emmy Award winning host of the popular EdTV program “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan”, will be the keynote speaker. Dr. McMillan has been a professional botanist and horticulturist for over 30 years. His long list of accomplishments includes the transformation of the South Carolina Botanical Garden, professor at Clemson University, and most recently director and curator at Juniper Level Botanical Garden near Raleigh, NC. His presentation at the conference will showcase some exciting new plants that he has encountered in his extensive travels and show how they can be used in the home landscape.
Mark Weathington, Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, will also be a featured speaker. He is author of Gardening in the South, The Complete Homeowners Guide from Timber Press and has been published in a number of horticulture and gardening magazines. Prior to coming to NCSU he served as a horticulturalist at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and as Director of the Norfolk Botanical Garden. At the conference he will focus on how to make gardening easier and will identify shortcuts and techniques to take some of the work out of gardening to make it a more enjoyable pastime.
Between the main speakers registrants may attend two of the five concurrent sessions. This year’s line-up includes “Hydrangeas: More than Mopheads”, “Gardening Impact on Wildlife”, “Tools for Lifelong Gardening”, “Native Plants for Beneficial Wildlife”, and “Lavender: A Grower’s Experience”.
Between each educational session participants can shop at an array of vendors who will have gardening supplies, plants, and artistic crafts.
The Gardeners’ Conference will be held at Center Church of Welcome and will run from 8 am to 3:30 pm. on Feb. 8. In the case of inclement weather, a snow date has been planned for Feb. 15.
This will be the 11th annual conference for gardeners offered to the public by the Davidson County Extension Master Gardeners.
Registration is limited to 200 people. {Contributed Photo}
Registration is limited to 200 so early registration is encouraged. On-line registration is available at Eventbrite.com. Type “gardeners conference” in the search bar.
If preferred, paper registration forms can be obtained at the Extension office, 301 E. Center St. in Lexington or downloaded from the Davidson County Extension Master Gardeners Facebook page.
Questions can be directed to the conference chairman at bethleonard2003@yahoo.com or extension office at 242-2091.
