2009 Summer Celebration Topics
Lush Plants That Don't Languish. 10 am & 2 pm. Can you have a lush garden without lavishing it with valuable water? Rita Randolph answers that question with a resounding, multi-colored, jazzy, psychedelic yes! Besides which plants to choose, learn some smart watering tricks.
Plants! The Unusual & Above Average. 11 am & 3 pm. Lucas Holman has it bad - the plant collecting bug that is! His stories about his passions, his successes and his failures will have you laughing as you learn. How can such a young fellow know so much?
Woody Plants - The Wonderfully Weird. 12 & 4 pm. It may say something about Carol Reese that she is attracted to the mutants - the weeping, columnar, dwarf, or contorted forms; and the variegated, golden or bugandy foliage. If you like your plants on the kinky side, this talk is for you.
Great Plants, Greener Gardening. 1 & 5 pm. Being "green" is a movement sweeping the nation. There are some definite "green" things you can do to protect the planet, our health and save you money. Join Sue Hamilton to learn nine proactive gardening steps that you can do to be more "green."
Let the Sun Clean It Up! 10 am & 2 pm. Let Craig Canaday teach you how to help free your soil of disease, insects and even some weeds using the sun's heat (aka soil solarization). Free (except for the inexpensive materials), easy and no nasty after-effects!
Amazing Facts About Tennessee Wildlife. 11 am & 3 pm. Go back in time with masterful storyteller Alan Houston as he describes the elk, panther and black bear that once roamed this area. Also learn about the surprisingly good deeds of beaver, coyote and moles.
A Garden Madness Shared By Two. 12 & 4 pm. Susan and Stephen Felts combined artistry and passion to create Gum Tree Farm, a gorgeous garden and specialty nursery in Hermitage, Tennessee. Its evolution is both mesmerizing and humorous.
Tomato Soup to Key Lim Pie. 1 & 5 pm. You can find an incredible smorgasbord of tempting plants spread before you. Let landscape designer and plantsman Troy Marden point you to the best of the colorful goodies.
Succulent Sweet Corn. 11 - 5 pm. Presentations every hour. Seating limited to 40 visitors per hour. There's nothing quite as tasty as corn on the cob just from the garden...unless it's these recipes for salad, salsa, quiche and more! Join the UT Extension Kitchen Divas to taste exciting dishes using this summer staple.
AgResearch Wagon Tour. 10 am - 6 pm. Wagons leave every half hour. People always comment on how much they enjoy this tour. It's certainly fascinating to see how farming and technology that came from AgResearch have meshed, but it could also be the comfortable seats on the covered wagon, enjoying the cool breeze and lovely views behind the humming tractor.
Succulents Gone Wild! 10 am & 1, 4 & 6 pm. This versatile group of plants lends itself to artful use, but this is beyond the pale. Jason Reeves has concocted an entire kitchen using sedums as his building material. Yep, the table, chairs, stove, even the cans in the pantry are bursting with succulents! Crazy! Beautiful!
Best for the Birds. 11 am & 2 & 5 pm. Learn from enthusiastic bird lover Tom Stallings how to create the best setting for your feathered friends. Tom will share his vast practical knowledge on feeding, best housing, tips on sighting, and protection from snakes, sparrows and other threats.
Twelve Steps For Herb-a-holics. 12 & 3 pm. It's true; once you start growing herbs you are hooked. They're easy, beautiful, versatile and add a gourmet flair to your food. Vador Vance, Memphis radio host and owner of Vador's Garden Center will share tips on best bets and culture.
On the Edge of Chaos. 11 am & 3 pm. This title is so very Paul Little. He's a man possessed, mostly by sedums and succulents. Paul is a very colorful and knowledgeable plantsman whose passion and creativity have helped put Memphis on the map, horticulturally speaking. Spellbinding!
Entertaining Annuals. 12, 2 & 4 pm. Annuals are fun, versatile and ever changing, perfect for those with a short attention span. Let the UT Staff experts guide you to the best of the best. You will know exactly which cultivar of petunia to buy next time!
Sea of Green. 1 & 5 pm. Are you longing to let your eyes move over a lush, immaculate lawn? Do you want to feel that soft cushion under your heels as you stroll your property? Let Jim Brosnan and Tom Samples answer your questions, solve your issues and lead you to that lush green oasis.
Roses To Rock Your World! 10 am & 12, 2 & 4 pm. Jimmy Mynes has studied these rose trials for several years now and he can look you in the eyes, unflinching and tell you, yes, Virgina, there is a rose that blooms all summer and never needs spraying. There are many of them in fact! Gorgeous, durable, easy!
Bring the Color Indoors. 11 am & 1, 3 & 5 pm. There is little more wonderful than a fresh arrangement of cut flowers and foliage from your own garden, wheter it is for your own pleasure or to share with others. Let the UT Staff teach you which perennial plants will bring you the most beauty for your vases.
Layer Cake Gardens. 11 am & 1, 3 & 5 pm. No Digging Needed! This is the hottest ticket in town. Let Annette Wszelacki teach you this easy way to create a dream garden. Sometimes called lasagna gardening, you simply pile up the right stuff and plant in it, suppressing weeds, disease and creating great soil!
Grow Your Own Groceries. 12, 2, 4 & 6 pm. The economy, the green movement, whatever the reason, many folks have decided to go to the garden instead of the grocery store for their veggies. Beth Babbit will tell you about "Back to the Basics," a wonderful primer on how to succeed. Learn which plants give the best reward for your labor.
A Walkabout with Carol Reese. 6 pm. She works here, so Carol gets to visit her favorite plants throughout the four seasons. Listen to her opinionated discussion on why she adores them and whether they might be the perfect solution for your landscape. Natural lore, too!
Master Gardener's Plant Sale. 10 - 6 pm. These devoted gardeners know their plants, so you can be sure you're getting a good deal. Choose from a wide selection of sedums, succulents and many other unique plant varieties! Buy the plants by themselves or buy them potted in the very distinctive, always versatile hypertufa pots.
Plant Diagnostic Center. 10 - 6 pm. Bring your unhealthy plants to our expert doctors from UT's Plant Science and Entomology & Plant Pathology Departments. They'll diagnose your problem and tell you how to treat it. The good doctors can also help you identify insects. So bring them along, too...if you're not too squeamish!