2020 Cabin Fever Gardening Symposium
There is an event coming up in the spring that you need to know about: the Cabin Fever Gardening Symposium, which is put on by the Spokane County Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County.
Why do you need to know about something that won’t take place until March 21? Because tickets for it sell out quickly and I don’t want you to miss out!
Cabin Fever is a daylong educational event that is so much fun. Here’s how it works: you get to choose 4 classes (on all sorts of gardening topics) out of 12 options. A box lunch is included. There will be a keynote address by author Karen Chapman. There are door prizes. I mean, what more could a gardening want?!
Here are the classes (and you’ll notice I’m teaching one of them):
Morning Session I: 9:15-10:15 a.m. (choose one)
Intro into Using Water in Your Garden, with Marilyn Lloyd: Water gardens bring soothing sounds and distinctive plants to the garden. In recent years the use of water in our landscape has become popular. There are many ways water features can be achieved ranging from a tabletop fountain to a natural pond with rocks and plants. This presentation will cover yard ponds and pond basics, bird bath water features, container water gardens, fountains, bog gardens, dry stream beds and the aquatic plants and fish the home owner may consider to use.
Growing Edibles in Your Garden, with Susan Mulvihill: Learn seed-starting tips, using sheet mulch for warm-season crops, choosing varieties that produce well in our Inland Northwest climate, dealing with commonly-seen insects organically, and much more. Prepare to have your best vegetable garden ever!
Pruning Tips for Your Shrubs, with Tim Kohlhauff: Pruning in the home landscape can be confusing and create questions. How do we respond to the damage caused by our Spokane winters? As gardeners, we want to do it right, but what is right? Come learn why it’s less about right and wrong and more about good and “less good.” For good pruning results, what you need is a plan, some basic plant knowledge, and sharp pruning tools. This talk can help you with two out of three, (sharp pruning tools not included).
Morning Session II: 10:30-11:30 a.m. (choose one)
Permaculture Concepts for Landscape Design: Zones and Guilds, with Beth Mort: Correctly identifying the zones for your garden and landscape can make all the difference in a functioning design. Similarly, crafting a recipe for the types of guilds you need to increase your specific yields, can set you on the right track for success. Learn some examples for each and tips to increase your overall permaculture design success.
The Pleasure of Gardening in Shade, with Eva Lusk: A look at the different types of shade in our garden helps us to choose plants that enhance those areas. Lighter colors are more visible in shade, and texture as well as shape variations add interest. We’ll look at the many plant choices available for Spokane area shade gardens, keeping in mind that shade is often missing in early spring, and varies in length and depth throughout the seasons. We don’t need full sun everywhere to attract bees, butterflies, birds and other charming and attractive creatures.
Pruning Tips for Your Trees, with Ben Kappen: Ben will guide us in finding practical, healthy solutions to ensure the success and longevity of our trees. Learn about science-based tree care including pruning, pest diagnosis and management and soil care.
Afternoon Session III: 1-2 p.m. (choose one)
Small Plants for Borders and Pots, with Barbara Safranek: Today we will look at the world of smaller plants – shrubs, perennials and annuals – that fit small spaces and containers and reduce garden maintenance. We will see how small plants fit in every size garden, adding accents of color and texture and offering close-up delight.
Pruning Tips for Your Roses, with Lynn Schafer: Learn the best practices for properly pruning your roses. You will benefit from Lynn’s expertise as she demonstrates when, where, and how to make cuts that best shape the plant and remove dead growth for its ideal beauty and health.
Get Off the Grass! A Turf Replacement Program Story, with Kristen Zimmer: Landscape irrigation use is a significant component of urban water demand and is responsible for seasonal water use variability. This is especially true in the Spokane region where water use quadruples in the summer months. SpokaneScape, a turf replacement rebate program specifically designed for front yards is making an effort to make installing a water-smart landscape a seamless process and change the local culture’s love of turf. This program provides education to residential customers on the multiple benefits of low water use landscapes and supports landscape market transformation.
Afternoon Session IV: 2:15-3:15 p.m. (choose one)
Deer-Resistant Design, with Karen Chapman: Discover time-and taste-tested design strategies, tips, and tricks that will help you create a beautiful fence-free garden that thrives despite the deer.
How to Espalier Woody Plants for Fruit Production, with Sean Cruz: Espalier is the ancient practice of controlling woody plants for fruit production. By careful pruning and branch manipulation, we can optimize plant growth to produce higher quality, larger and tastier fruit. This method is also widely used to give a decorative and tasteful appearance, especially in gardens with limited space. Fruit trees can be grown in a wide variety of attractive patterns, flat against a wall, upon a trellis, a fence or freestanding. This method works great with popular trees and bushes like apples, peaches, berries, grapes, and more.
Bring the Outside In, with Steven Nokes: When it’s cold outside, it can be green and lush inside. An indoor garden can be your refuge from the outside world, and for many people it is a source of great joy. Not only are indoor plants a great addition to any room or area and makes the spaces more inviting, being around thriving plants also boosts your mood. A houseplant is therapeutic and gives you something to nurture.
So what does this day of education, fun, lunch and camaraderie cost? $65. To view more about the classes and to register, go to the Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County’s website.
Hope to see you there!