2004 Year in Review

Spring Gardening

Everyone is looking for a sign of spring: maybe the first robin, the first blades of green grass, or early spring flowers. Those things are not far off but a real sign of spring for the gardeners in Whiteside County is the Ready…Set…Grow Workshop.

Anyone biting the bullet to get their hands dirty might enjoy spending a day of instruction at Sauk Valley Community College put on by University of Illinois Extension. Classes include fertilizing, lawn maintenance, ornamental grasses, and backyard fruit and vegetable gardens. Other classes teach herb, container, aquatic, tropical, cactus, and organic gardening.

Classes begin at 9:15 am and keynote speaker Jeff Epping of Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin, will give a session titled Inspirations from English Gardens at 1:45 pm. His slide program stems from trips to England and Wales where he visited over 40 public and private gardens.

The program fee is a nominal $20 per person (including morning refreshments, lunch, and handouts). Forms are available at Whiteside County Extension, 100 E. Knox, Morrison.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
March 1, 2004