Michigan Garden Classes and Events Spring 2013

New DOW GARDENS KNOW & GROW SEMINAR, Saturday, February 23,  8:15 to 3:30 pm at Bullock Creek High School, 1420 Badour Road, Midland.  The speakers are: Suzy Bales author of "The Down to Earth Gardener"), Dan Hinkley author of "The Forgotten Elements of Good Design" and "New and Exciting Perennials, Shrubs and Trees for American Gardens"  and Chuck Martin author of  "Favorite Ferns, Funkia (Hosta) and other Foliage Flora" The early registration fee is $60.00. Registration after February 8, 2013 is $75.00. More information at

 https://www-12f.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_dowgardens_start.html?ctlsrc=1360078248751&src=01d

You can register by phone at 1-800-362-4874.

New Michigan Wildflower Conference, Sunday and Monday, March 3 & 4, MSU Kellogg Center, East Lansing, MI.  Class topics include: Mushroom Cultivation; Wildflowers in a Michigan Garden: Transforming an Urban Lot into a Native Oasis; Educating Tomorrow’s Naturalists; Monarch Watch & Monarch Tagging; Milkweeds: Diversity, Ecology, Threats and Solutions. For more information call 517-881-3431 or go to http://www.wildflowersmich.org/index.php?page=41

New- MICHIGAN HERB ASSOCIATES CONFERENCE and BANQUET, Friday and Saturday, March 8 & 9th, MSU Business College, which is on the corner of Bogue and Shaw Lanes, MSU, East Lansing Mi.  The theme is “Passing Along the Joy of Herbs”.  There are 4 classes each day, book and plant sales, silent auction and other things to see and do.  Box lunches available and there is a banquet in the evening with an additional speaker. 

Cost for non-members is $100 for both days and $70 for a single day.  Lunch and the Friday banquet are additional.  You can get a list of classes, more information and register at  http://miherb.org/?path=registration

New- GROWING GREAT GARDENS, Saturday, March 16, in Taylor, MI, 8am to 4pm, at Wayne County Community College. The cost of the conference is only $20 and includes two keynote presentations, two additional classes, a box lunch, and a chance to win many garden-related door prizes. It is expected to sell out very quickly, so registration is required and advanced registration is highly recommended. Walk-ins will be accepted on a space-available basis.

Registration forms are available online at www.taylorconservatory.org and www.taylorgardenclub.org; at D & L Garden Center, the Taylor Community Library and the City of Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation; and by calling Patti Kehr at (313) 292-8316.

New- HURON COUNTY SPRING INTO GARDENING CONFERENCE: Saturday, March 23, 8-4pm NEW LOCATION -  Knights of Columbus Hall, 1038 S Van Dyke (M-53), Bad Axe, MI.   Choose from a selection of four classes and listen to a keynote speaker.   The cost is $50 if you register before March 1, which includes a goodie bag, catered lunch, and door prizes.  Master Gardeners get 5 education credits.  For more information, call Marie at 989-859-1294

Spring Design Program - Saturday - April 27, 2013 - 8 am- 4:15 pm at the Plant and Soil Science Building, 1066 Bogue Street, MSU, East Lansing, Michigan.  This event is not part of the Master Gardener Program, it’s being offered by the MSU Horticulture department.  There will be four speakers, Janet Macunovich, Art Cameron, Bob Schutzki, and Norm Lownds.  Perennial garden design and garden creativity are the themes of this garden conference.   There will be a large garden marketplace at the event also.

Cost of the event is $79 if you register before April 17th and $89. after that.  Lunch is included.  For class descriptions and registration visit http://hrt.msu.rdu/sd-register or you can call Jennifer Sweet at 517-355-5191 ext. 1339

Healing Herbs and Whole Foods- Saturday March 9, 10 am - 1 pm at Heavenly Scent Herb Farm, 13730 White Lake Road, Fenton, Michigan.  Certified CNHP Susan Palmeri will discuss whole foods, probiotics, and herbs that promote good health.  Learn about herbal teas, poultices, infused oils, bath herbs and other items.  There will be lots of handouts and samples.  Cost is $58.75.  Call 810-629-9208  for reservations/registration- class size is limited.

*A Master Gardener class is going to be offered for those who are not already MG’s and are interested in the class.  Registration is open from now until February 15 with the class beginning Monday, February 25 and running through June 3.   The classes are from 5-9 pm each Monday and are held at the Capac Lions Club, 315 West Meier Avenue, Capac.   Cost of the class is $300.  Classes cover a wide range of gardening topics.  A volunteer commitment of 40 hours is required to be certified.

You can register for the class at http://events.anr.msu.edu/w2013capacmgp  Call Lisa Sharrow at 810-329-3722 for more information or help registering.

*Here are some free gardening classes that some of you may want to attend to help keep your certification up.  Our friend Jenny Burrows teaches some of them.   The Mt. Morris Beautification Group will host a free gardening program at the Mt. Morris Library.

Class dates are, Feb. 7, 14 and 21 from 7 to 9 p.m.  You don’t have to live in MT. Morris to attend the classes.    A variety of subjects will be covered, including indoor and outdoor plants, soil conditioning, pests and landscape design.  For more information, call Beautification President Waneita Bovan at 810-686-4950.

*Photography Workshop: Using Natural Light and Composition in Nature Photography with Dale Vronch Saturdays, February 23 & March 2- Seven Ponds Nature Center, Dryden - 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

During this workshop participants will examine five types of natural light in conjunction with basic composition principles that may be used when photographing nature. Discussion will center around the influence that natural light and composition techniques have on the subject of your photograph and methods that can be employed to fashion that influence and achieve the desired image. This workshop will have classroom instruction and shooting times at the center, weather permitting. Open to beginners, intermediate, and advanced photographers but familiarity with your camera is a prerequisite. There will be a group critique to be decided at a later date for all the participants to showcase their photography. Dale Vronch works out of his Lone Willow Studio in Lapeer. He is a retired teacher who conducts photography classes and workshops throughout the year and enjoys working with photographers of all levels.
Pre-registration is required. Fee: $110.00 per person. Limit 10 participants.

*A Gardener’s Essentials: Flora, Food & Frivolity” – a symposium, Saturday, March 16, 2013 The Master Gardeners of St. Clair County invite you to attend a symposium on Saturday, March 16, 2013 from 9 am to 4 pm. A Gardener's Essentials:  Flora, Food & Frivolity will be held at Cornerstone Church, 4025 North Rd, Clyde, MI 48049. Speakers include Adrian Bloom, Pat Stone & Jennifer Bartley.  Early bird registration is $80 and after 2/23/13 the fee is $90 (all in US funds.) The registration form, which contains all the details, can be found online at the MSUE St. Clair County website http://msue.stclaircounty.org/ . You can also call Registrar Alicia Cannon at (810) 367-6966 or email her at alican@comcast.net. Be sure to register without delay, as this event always sells out quickly.   *  Conservation Stewards Program February 23-April 29- Oakland County MSU Extension This program is designed for anyone interested in current conservation issues, outdoor recreation, nature study, natural area management, and a variety of other topics such as lake/stream monitoring and habitat restoration.  Through participation in this program you will learn essential strategies to help restore and conserve ecosystems in Oakland County and throughout Michigan. There are 9 evening classes and 3 Saturday classes.  The series, led by experts in various fields of conservation and natural resources, will include lectures, interactive learning and field experiences.  Cost is $275.  Click here for an application packet. http://www.oakgov.com/msu/Documents/2013_csp_application.pdf *Transforming Urban Spaces to Native Landscapes- Wednesday, Feb 6, 7:30  to 9 pm Presented by Cheryl English Cheryl is an Advanced Master Gardener and owner of Black Cat Pottery. Her abiding interest in things natural and indigenous is reflected in her whimsical creations. (Doors open @ 7:00pm) Clarkston St. Daniel Church Cushing Center 7010 Valley Park Drive (NW corner of Miller and Holcomb) Clarkston, MI Questions? Contact Laura Gruzwalski at: 248-535-3338. Email Anne Bushroe to register: annebushroe@hotmail.com *All About Food: From Farm to Fork Thursday, February 14, 9 am - 4pm A one day conference for people who grow, produce, process, market, distribute, prepare or EAT food (this means you). $15 if you pre-register by January 31, 2013. $20 at the door. Includes lunch.  Held at the Macomb County ISD, 44001 Garfield Clinton Twp., MI 48038.  To register go to www.macombfood.org *Cooking for Crowds- Tuesdays, Feb. 19 and 26- 7-9 pm, Lapeer MSU Extension, 1800 Imlay City Road, Lapeer. This class is for anyone who cooks for crowds, especially at fundraisers and other volunteer functions.  You’ll learn all about food safety as well as planning the menu and preparing it.  Cost of the class is only $10 which includes a 115 page manual. You must pre-register on line at www.events.anr.msu.edu.  If you can’t register on line call 810-667-0341.