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FIRST HOUR
Room 118 1001 – Painting Cement Mushrooms – Marilyn Ruff
PAINT 2 MEDIUM SIZE CEMENT MUSHROOMS or PAINT 1 SMALL & 1 MEDIUM SIZE MUSHROOM. This is just a fun thing to do. The handmade cement mushrooms will be already made & painted with a base coat of primer for you. You will paint them from a large assortment of colors. All paint & brushes will be supplied. This project is fast & easy & so much fun. Everyone can do it!
IMPORTANT: Bring your own small box & some packing material such as newspaper to transport your painted mushrooms home.
FEE: $12 – Limit:14
Bio: Marilyn has about 24 years of gardening experience with hostas and has over 800 varieties of hostas. She is obsessed with miniature hostas and has over 200 varieties of miniature hostas in her collection.
Room 412 1002 – Hosta and their Shady Friends – Bob Iiames
This PowerPoint will guide you through the culture, care, and many uses of the hosta. We will spend most of our time seeing and discussing the many and varied plant friends that hang out with the hosta. Some you may know but many will be new to you. Join me for an informative look at some new plant friends to introduce to your hosta garden.
Bio: Bob is a groundskeeper at the 173-acre Lange Estate in Ludlow Falls. He is a member of the American Conifer Society and the current president of the Miami Valley Hosta Society.
Room 115-117 1003 – Color and Texture in the Spring Garden – Glen Pace
New spring growth and spring flowers add color and excitement to the garden after a long cold winter. Even though there is a lot of green, there are multiple shades and textures that give dimension to the overall landscape. This presentation shows examples of plants to use to provide extra color and /or texture to the garden landscape.
Bio: Glen’s gardening enthusiasm started more than 50 years ago when a neighbor gave a 5-year-old child a bouquet of Salix discolor (Pussy willow) which was rooted while he was enjoying their catkins. Since that first tree, Glen has been propagating multiple plants by rooting, layering, and grafting. He has written many PowerPoint Presentations related to Woodland Gardening. He enjoys teaching others about his style of gardening and about the plants for which he holds great passion. Glen is known for pushing the hardiness envelope with his unique collections of plants and enjoys the time working in his private woodland garden, Pace Gardens in Clio, MI. “I break so many of the traditional gardening rules, you wouldn’t think I would be teaching gardening”.
Room 123 1004 – Kokedama – Ruth Bowell
Kokedama moss balls or “string gardens” are a unique way to garden vertically. Kokedama is a Japanese method of planting a houseplant in a self-contained moss ball planter that can be hung or displayed on a saucer. As you create your own Kokedama during this session, you will learn the process of correctly mixing soil, choosing plants, and wrapping your moss ball, as well as at-home care and maintenance. Best of all, your Kokedama will be ready to take home and enjoy.
Fee: $20 – Limit:16
Bio: Ruth Bowell owns and operates The Milkweed Patch , a small native plant nursery that specializes in plants beneficial to butterflies and moths. Ruth is a butterfly citizen scientist who has been learning about butterflies since childhood. Her home backyard in Troy, Ohio provides a habitat for butterflies, pollinators, and many other native wildlife species. This one-acre suburban lot is certified by several wildlife habitat organizations and was a survey plot for the 2020 Ohio Bee Survey. Ruth is also an active member of Wild Ones.
Room 302-LRC 1005 – Common Spring Woodland Wildflowers in the Midwest – Tess Park
The PowerPoint contains the pages of a pocket guide. Seventy-four of the common wildflowers (as well as a few invasives) found in the Midwest are described and/or photographed in a quick reference guide that is easy to identify, easy to read, and easy to pack in your pocket, either printed or in digital format for your phone. “A picture is worth a thousand words” comes to mind in creating this quick pocket guide and PowerPoint presentation. The intention is to provide a very brief description of the flower and plant size for a proper perspective and quick identification. Books will be available for sale for $10 cash before and for a short time after the presentation or in private.
Bio: Jay and Tess Park are hobby gardeners, who live in Zone 5 north of Indianapolis. In 1978, they began reclaiming 3.3 overgrown acres that included a 1905 cottage-style farmhouse and 1 acre of woods to highlight the wildflowers on the property. They collect conifers and unusual woodies. Parkwood Garden has been featured in 4 national and local magazines and one gardening book.
Room 121 1006 – Hosta Business Beginners Guide – Devon Smith
If you have ever thought about starting a hosta business, this is the class for you. I will give you the inside guide on where to buy hostas and other plants wholesale. You will learn how I overwinter potted plants with minimal losses. You will learn how to find cheaper supplies close to you. You will also learn what it takes to get plants into production.
Bio: Devon Smith, along with his wife Laura, is the owner of Hostasmith, a small nursery in East Central Indiana that specializes in hostas. They grow over 1,000 different varieties and do most of their sales on Facebook, shipping quality plants all over the U.S.
Room 221 A 1007 – Private Gardens in Europe – Lisa Quiggle
This PowerPoint will highlight rock and tulip gardens in the Netherlands, a rooftop and urban garden designer in Sweden, gardens in the Czech Republic, and if we have time, the botanical gardens of Utrecht, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, and Pruhonice.
Bio: Lisa was introduced to gardening by her grandmother, a Czech immigrant, whose garden was on a very steep hillside in southeastern Ohio. Every inch of the garden was filled with plants just like the garden catalogs, everything grew! Lisa gardens just outside of Hell, Michigan where she grows hostas, rhododendrons, sun, and shade plants. When she isn’t gardening Lisa works as a toxicologist for the State of Michigan.
Room 417 1008 – Frequently Asked Questions – Bob Solberg
A wide-ranging discussion of hosta topics frequently asked in my emails and by customers. There will be time for your questions. This is a student-driven class. A little opinion, philosophy, and fact.
Limit:29
Bio: Bob Solberg is the owner of Green Hill Farm Inc., introducing new hostas to the wholesale and retail hosta community. He is a hosta hybridizer with over 100 hosta introductions, publisher of the Green Hill Gossip newspaper, AHS Historian, and Regional Director of the Dixie Region.
Room 220 1009 – Designing Our Garden… Despite What My Husband Thought – Audrey Schilb
My presentation will be based on my humble experience in designing 3 separate areas in our garden.
A) Patio & Herb Garden Rehab… a Solution for Weeds, Weeds, Weeds.
B) The Trifecta – a Shade Garden, Japanese Dry River Bed, & Rain Garden…a Solution for Lake Schilb & Mud Pies.
C) Red Bud Garden… a Solution for Naked Dirt.
SECOND HOUR
Room 118 2001- Paint a Cement Mushroom – Marilyn Ruff
PAINT 1 LARGE CEMENT MUSHROOM – This is just a fun thing to do. The handmade cement mushroom will be already made & painted with a base coat of primer for you. You will paint it from a large assortment of colors. All paint & brushes will be supplied. This project is fast & easy & so much fun & everyone can do it.
IMPORTANT: Bring your own small box & some packing material such as newspaper to transport your mushroom home.
FEE: $12 – Limit:14
Bio: Marilyn has about 24 years of gardening experience with hostas and has over 800 varieties of hostas. She is obsessed with miniature hostas and has over 200 varieties of miniature hostas in her collection.
Room 412 2002 – Cohesion vs Chaos…Creating Design in the Hosta Garden – Bob Iiames
Are you a plant nut like me? Do you love to buy hostas and plants in general? Do you get home and wonder, “How am I going to plant these so they don’t look like soldiers in a row?” Join me for a look at some gardens and gardeners who have solved the collector’s garden dilemma. See how they have created a cohesive look in their gardens through the use of color, texture, shape, and form. We will talk about how to put it all together so you CAN have one of everything and still have a beautiful and harmonious garden.
Bio: Bob is a groundskeeper at the 173-acre Lange Estate in Ludlow Falls. He is a member of the American Conifer Society and the current president of the Miami Valley Hosta Society.
Room 115-117 2003 – Wonderful Woodlanders – Glen Pace
How can plants grow in the dense shade under mature trees? The spring ephemeral plants are some of the hardiest plants we can grow. They are some of the first plants that bloom in the spring and they sprout, grow, bloom, seed, and then go dormant just as the trees are coming into full leaf. This presentation covers several native and non-native spring ephemeral plants that can be grown in a USDA zone 5b garden.
Bio: Glen’s gardening enthusiasm started more than 50 years ago when a neighbor gave a 5-year-old child a bouquet of Salix discolor (Pussy willow) which then rooted while he was enjoying their catkins. Since that first tree, Glen has been propagating multiple plants by rooting, layering, and grafting. He has written many PowerPoint presentations related to Woodland Gardening. He enjoys teaching others about his style of gardening and about the plants which he holds a great passion about. Glen is known for pushing the hardiness envelope with his unique collections of plants and enjoys the past-time working in his private woodland garden, Pace Gardens in Clio, MI. “I break so many of the traditional gardening rules, you wouldn’t think I would be teaching gardening”.
Room 121 2004 – Crevice Gardening in a Trough – Esther Benedict
A demonstration of how to plant a trough in the crevice gardening style.
No fee – Limit:8 THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Bio: I have been gardening for over 35 years and particularly enjoy propagating, and seed sowing. This has led to the development of Benedict’s Nursery, which specializes in alpines and other unusual plants. With the help of my husband, we maintain numerous display gardens, including sand beds, a shade-loving tufa crevice garden, hypertufa troughs, bog beds, and a sunny crevice bed.
Room 221 2005 – Why Do You Need to Take a Soil Sample? – Gary Snyder
The why and how of taking and submitting a soil sample, and how to read the results report.
Bio: Gary received his Landscape Horticulture degree from Ohio State University, He worked 19 years with golf courses, worked for design/build landscape companies, as well as, lawn care and tree/shrub care contractors. He also has a background in irrigation and landscape lighting. For the last 30 years, he has worked on the supply side of the industry, helping customers build their businesses along with consulting services.
Room 306-AUD 2006 – Rocks, Rocks, Rocks…and More Rocks! (Part 1) – Don Rawson
Don has a liking for rocks in the landscape…lots of rocks! Since the Rawson home was built some 30 years ago, Don and his family have been on a mission to collect rocks and boulders to use among the hosta and flower gardens. He estimates that the total mass of the rocks hauled in from local fencerows and construction sites weighs nearly 3,000 tons. It is no surprise, then, that visitors to the Rawson garden often find themselves gawking over rock specimens rather than looking at flowers. In this class, Don will show how rocks and boulders can be used effectively throughout the landscape for walkways, edging, retaining walls, dry streams, and specimen showpieces. He will explain how rocks and boulders are a valuable addition to any flower garden for their practical application and interest. In addition, Don will give tips on where to find rock specimens, and show how to clean and coat rocks for maximum appeal
Bio: Don lives on four acres near Grand Rapids, MI. He and his wife have many flower gardens in which they grow hostas, irises, daylilies and other perennials. Don enjoys hybridizing new hosta cultivars and rock hounding … which explains why his landscape is filled with many one-of-a-kind hostas, as well as, unusual rocks and boulders. Don currently serves as the president of the West Michigan Hosta Society and the co-chairman of the Nomenclature Committee of the AHS.
Room 221 A 2007 – The Gardens of Scotland – Lisa Quiggle
This PowerPoint will highlight community gardens in Perth, a National Trust for Scotland – Branklyn Garden, a few private gardens, and the Royal Botanical Garden at Edinburgh, Logan, Dawyck.
Bio: Lisa was introduced to gardening by her grandmother, a Czech immigrant, whose garden was on a very steep hillside in southeastern Ohio. Every inch of the garden was filled with plants just like the garden catalogs, everything grew! Lisa gardens just outside of Hell, Michigan where she grows hostas, rhododendrons, sun, and shade plants. When she isn’t gardening Lisa works as a toxicologist for the State of Michigan.
THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Room 417 2008 – Advanced Hosta Hybridizing 2024 – New Trends and Projects – Bob Solberg
Hybridizing goals and how best to achieve them will be discussed. Then, what factors are important in selecting your best and most marketable seedlings? Then maybe a little show and tell.
Limit:29
Bio: Bob Solberg is the owner of Green Hill Farm Inc., introducing new hostas to the wholesale and retail hosta community. He is a hosta hybridizer with over 100 hosta introductions, publisher of the Green Hill Gossip newspaper, AHS Historian, and Regional Director of the Dixie Region.
Room 218 2009 – Garden for Wildlife: Habitat Certification from the National Wildlife Federation – Bethany Gray
In this Zoom presentation, you will learn about the steps necessary to certify your yard, school, business, church, or local park with the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat. We will discuss providing natural food sources and shelter for wildlife with native plants and trees as well as appropriate supplemental bird feeding. Learn how to increase the declining pollinator population on your property and how the removal of invasive plants helps birds and wildlife. Other tips include making brush piles, pesticide reduction/elimination, leaving some of the leaves, and appropriate use of nest boxes. Some Citizen Science programs and apps will also be reviewed to share your observation data with scientists.
Bio: Bethany Gray is an educator and an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) in the greater Dayton area. She has also been a certified Habitat Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) since 2018. In 2020, she worked with a team in the Village of Yellow Springs to certify the entire community with NWF, one of only three certified communities currently in Ohio. She is the co-founder of “Operation Bluebird,” a citizen science partnership with Yellow Springs Public Schools and Tecumseh Land Preservation Association, the subject of an article by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at NestWatch.org. She is also a recipient of two statewide awards—the Blue Feather Award by the Ohio Bluebird Society and the OCVN Education, Stewardship & Citizen Science Award by the Ohio State College of Food, Agriculture & Environmental Sciences. She served as Chair of the Glen Helen Association Board (a privately managed nature preserve) for two years and a Board member of the Tecumseh Land Preservation Association for six years. She is a past presenter for Hosta College, the Midwest Native Plant Society conference, the Ohio Bluebird Society conference, Ohio State Parks, and Aullwood Audubon Center among others.
THIRD HOUR
3001 – First Lunch Choice of Chicken Salad Croissant or Glazed Ham Sandwich Your choice/s of the following:
Broccoli Soup, Pasta Salad, Fresh Relishes with Dip, Fresh Fruit Bowl, Tossed Salad, Cookies and Brownies, Assorted Drinks
Room 412 3002 – The Glory of Autumn – Bob Iiames
Fall can be a glorious time in the garden as long as you’ve done a little planning. In this class, we will learn about plant selections that will bring a lot of color and interest to your autumn landscape. So…What does your garden look like after your hostas start to fade?
Bio: Bob is a groundskeeper at the 173-acre Lange Estate in Ludlow Falls. He is a member of the American Conifer Society and the current president of the Miami Valley Hosta Society.
Room 115-117 3003 – Maples for the Small Garden – Glen Pace
Maples, Acer palmatum, japonicum, and a few others that are garden-sized, interesting, and self-controlled enough to be used in the typical smaller garden. This class covers several varieties of these beautiful small trees with pictures to show their spring, summer, and autumn interest as well as general cultural information.
Bio: Glen’s gardening enthusiasm started more than 50 years ago when a neighbor gave a 5-year-old child a bouquet of Salix discolor (Pussy willow) which was rooted while he was enjoying their catkins. Since that first tree, Glen has been propagating multiple plants by rooting, layering, and grafting. He has written many PowerPoint Presentations related to Woodland Gardening. He enjoys teaching others about his style of gardening and about the plants for which he holds great passion. Glen is known for pushing the hardiness envelope with his unique collections of plants and enjoys the time working in his private woodland garden, Pace Gardens in Clio, MI. “I break so many of the traditional gardening rules, you wouldn’t think I would be teaching gardening.”
Room 216 3004 – What Other Plants Work with Hosta? – Mary Albrecht
You’ve planted hostas. Now what? There’s a world of plants that work well with hostas from astilbes to Zandeschia (okay, I cheated – that’s calla lily but I needed a “z”). How to mix in ferns, bulbs, and perennials to add depth and interest to the garden.
Bio: Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht, Professor Emerita, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, received her BS in horticulture from Rutgers, and her MS and PhD from OSU. She considers helping to lay the foundation for the UT gardens, Knoxville, as one of her most significant contributions to horticulture. After retirement, Dr. Albrecht continues her involvement with the UT Gardens, the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee, as an Adopt-a-Spot volunteer in the Cornelia Hall Tranquility Hosta garden, an AHS display hosta garden. As the Communications Director for the East Tennessee Hosta Society, she handles their newsletter, website, and Facebook Page.
Room 302-LRC 3005 – Thriving in the Dead Zone – Perennial Survivors for Dry Shade – Pat Greeson
Why do so many shade perennials gradually disappear or poop out in our area? The truth is they may not be cut out to live in our harsh desert-like shade. They are also probably great food for deer! We will look at perennial varieties that will flourish with very low maintenance in the toughest spot to garden in, and that will make it natural deer deterrents. As a member of the Natorp’s team, Pat will show you the keys to success in your yard, or your retail client’s yard or landscape design.
Bio: Patrick Greeson is an avid plant collector and garden enthusiast who has been with Natorp’s Nursery, one of the region’s largest plant producers, for 38 years. He specializes as a sales associate to retail garden centers and landscapers throughout the Midwest. He is a lifelong resident of southern Clermont County, Ohio, and has become very familiar with native and ornamental plants and their performance in harsh mid-western gardening conditions through research and trial and error in his gardens.
Room 306-AUD 3006 – Rocks, Rocks, Rocks…and More Rocks! (Part 2) – Don Rawson
One area of the Rawson landscape is covered extensively by boulders — some weighing 16,000# and 6 ft. across. These areas are not the work of an outside contractor. All of the rocks and boulders were brought in and put in place by Don and his own family…which probably means that he will eventually need hip or back surgery!
This is for certain: rocks are heavy. However, finding, hauling, and moving large rocks is not beyond your ability. So, how in the world can you do it? Don will demonstrate how to move large rocks with a stone bar, load rocks and boulders onto a truck or trailer, and how to make and use a stone boat.
Bio: Don lives on four acres near Grand Rapids, MI. He and his wife have many flower gardens in which they grow hostas, irises, daylilies, and other perennials. Don enjoys hybridizing new hosta cultivars and rock hounding … which explains why his landscape is filled with many one-of-a-kind hostas, as well as, unusual rocks and boulders. Don currently serves as the president of the West Michigan Hosta Society and the co-chairman of the Nomenclature Committee of the AHS.
FOURTH HOUR
4001 – SECOND LUNCH Choice of Chicken Salad Croissant or Glazed Ham Sandwich Your choice/s of the following:
Broccoli Soup, Pasta Salad, Fresh Relishes with Dip, Fresh Fruit Bowl, Tossed Salad, Cookies and Brownies, Assorted Drinks
Room 115-117 4002 – Radiance in the Shade: Hostas and Companion Perennials from Walters Gardens – Laura Robles
Enter into the enchanting world of shade gardening to learn about the latest and most mesmerizing Hosta varieties and companion perennials from Walters Gardens. What are some amazing selections that can complement your collection to provide an abundance of color all season long? Even if you’ve already heard a presentation like this from us, the kaleidoscope of new introductions from Walters Gardens and Proven Winners is ever-evolving, and you’ll be sure to find something you can use!
Bio: Laura Robles is a Regional Product Manager for Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, MI. Robles oversees sales in the Northeast and is also responsible for managing the trialing program sent out to customers. She was previously the Trials Manager for Walters Gardens. Before coming to Walters Gardens, she was with Neal Mast Greenhouses and Mast Young Plants, where she managed the R& D department. Robles has been involved in the horticulture industry for over 20 years; in various aspects including retail, public gardening, growing and research, and now sales and technical support. She received a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University and a B.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University, and is an alumnus of the Greenhouse Product News 40 Under 40 Class of 2013.
Room 123 4003 – Midwest Gardening for Butterflies & Moths – Ruth Bowell
What do Midwest butterflies & moths need, how do they use gardens, and how can you create a garden for their benefit without planting a butterfly bush? These questions (and more) will be answered along with several handouts so you can make 2024 your best butterfly and moth season.
Bio: Ruth Bowell owns and operates The Milkweed Patch, a small native plant nursery that specializes in plants beneficial to butterflies and moths. Ruth is a butterfly citizen scientist who has been learning about butterflies since childhood. Her home backyard in Troy, Ohio provides habitat for butterflies, pollinators, and many other native wildlife species. This one-acre suburban lot is certified by several wildlife habitat organizations and was a survey plot for the 2020 Ohio Bee Survey. Ruth is also an active member of Wild Ones.
Room 121 4004 – Rainwater Storage for Your Garden – Devon Smith
You will learn how to effectively collect, store, and use the rain that falls on your roof. You will also learn how to build a collection system using several different containers and how to get the most use out of it with different pumps. I will also show you how I have a 10,000-gallon system set up now for use at the nursery.
Bio: Devon Smith, along with his wife Laura, is the owner of Hostasmith, a small nursery in East Central Indiana that specializes in hostas. They grow over 1,000 different varieties and do most of their sales on Facebook, shipping quality plants all over the U.S.
Room 221 4005 – Soils-Plant Life Support – Gary Snyder
After you get the soil report back and what you need to do to improve your soils for best plant health.
Bio: Gary received his Landscape Horticulture degree from Ohio State University, He worked 19 years with golf courses, worked for design/build landscape companies, as well as, lawn care and tree/shrub care contractors. He also has a background in irrigation and landscape lighting. For the last 30 years, he has worked on the supply side of the industry, helping customers build their businesses, along with consulting services.
Room 220 4007 – Two Old Friends, My Garden & Me – Sandy Wilkins
A sentimental look at gardening through the seasons of life.
Bio: I am a long-time gardener and Mother of the Hosta College. It is a delight to watch it continue to become better all the time, and an honor to share stories with fellow gardeners. I look very forward to seeing old friends. I live in Jackson, MI.
FIFTH HOUR
Room 115-117 5001 – Hosta Production at Walters Gardens – Laura Robles
Embark on a journey into hosta production at Walters Gardens. Learn about everything that goes into developing and producing hosta at our West Michigan facility, from our breeding program through tissue culture and into bare root and liner production. Stay tuned at the end of the class for a sneak peek of some of the brand new and upcoming hosta varieties from the world-class team at Walters Gardens!
Bio: Laura Robles is a Regional Product Manager for Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, MI. Robles oversees sales in the Northeast and is also responsible for managing the trialing program sent out to customers. She was previously the Trials Manager for Walters Gardens. Before coming to Walters Gardens, she was with Neal Mast Greenhouses and Mast Young Plants, where she managed the R& D department. Robles has been involved in the horticulture industry for over 20 years; in various aspects including retail, public gardening, growing and research, and now sales and technical support. She received a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University and a B.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University, and is an alumnus of the Greenhouse Product News 40 Under 40 Class of 2013.
Room 216 5002 – It’s Greek to Me: How Plants Get Their Names – Mary Albrecht
A discussion of plant nomenclature including why Carl Linneaus made our lives easier when it comes to plant names, demystifying the rules of nomenclature, the difference between botanical names and common names, and what’s the deal with plant reclassification!
Bio: Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht, Professor Emerita, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, received her BS in horticulture from Rutgers, and her MS and PhD from OSU. She considers helping to lay the foundation for the UT gardens, Knoxville, as one of her most significant contributions to horticulture. After retirement, Dr. Albrecht continues her involvement with the UT Gardens, the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee, as an Adopt-a-Spot volunteer in the Cornelia Hall Tranquility Hosta Garden, an AHS display hosta garden. As the Communications Director for the East Tennessee Hosta Society, she handles their newsletter, website, and Facebook Page.
Room 121 5003 – Crevice Gardening in a Trough – Esther Benedict
A demonstration of how to plant a trough in the crevice gardening style.
No fee – Limit: 8 THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Bio: I have been gardening for over 35 years and particularly enjoy propagating, and seed sowing. This has lead to the development of Benedict’s Nursery, which specializes in alpines and other unusual plants. With the help of my husband, we maintain numerous display gardens, including sand beds, a shady tufa crevice garden, hypertufa troughs, bog beds, and a sunny crevice bed.
Room 221A 5004 – Tree of Life Wall Hanging – Donna McMillen & Sarah Adkins
You will be making a beautiful Tree of Life wall hanging using copper-toned wire inside a 9″ wooden hoop. We will provide examples to give you some great ideas and variations. All materials will be provided. Come and enjoy this creative and fun activity.
Fee: $14 – Limit: 15 THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Bio: Donna McMillen has been a member of the Midland Hosta Society in northeast Ohio since 2008. Past and now current president of Midland. Past board member and presenter for Great Lakes Hosta. Donna has been a lifelong gardening enthusiast and hostaholic. She also enjoys “playing” with cement and creating/sharing lots of art forms for the garden.
Room 302-LRC 5005 – All About Hostas – Don Rawson
This PowerPoint presentation covers much general information for the beginning and semi-advanced hosta gardener including a brief survey of hosta species, how to plant a hosta, fertilizer and mulch, watering techniques, and hosta problems such as slugs, deer, crown rot, hosta virus X and nematodes. Class notes are offered with the presentation.
Bio: Don lives on four acres near Grand Rapids, MI. He and his wife have many flower gardens in which they grow hostas, irises, daylilies, and other perennials. Don enjoys hybridizing new hosta cultivars and rock hounding … which explains why his landscape is filled with many one-of-a-kind hostas, as well as, unusual rocks and boulders. Don currently serves as the president of the West Michigan Hosta Society and the co-chairman of the Nomenclature Committee of the AHS.
Room 222 5006 – Hosta of the Year-Description-Growing Habits – Naomi Ormes
How to start your hosta collection of known, tested, and proven good growers
Bio: I am a native of Virginia, one of 14 children, an avid gardener, a creative floral designer, and a Master Design Judge. I am a passionate grower of hosta, daylilies, and other perennials. I am a member of Liberty Garden Club and we are affiliated with the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, a state organization of Ohio garden clubs. I am currently the State Sales Secretary for this organization.
Room 306-AUD 5007 – Keeping Varmints at Bay!! – Chas Wagner
Methods will be shared, from deer to voles, to keep critters to the minimum. All methods learned from previous hosta meetings and tried on our garden.
Bio: Upon retiring from 40+ years of teaching middle school, the Wagners became more involved in the Hosta Society. They are on the GL Hosta Board.
Room 417 5008 – Trends in Hosta Popularity over the Years – Bob Solberg
Hosta popularity tends to run in cycles. For a time, gold hostas may be our passion, then maybe we become infatuated with streaked ones. We will look at personal trends but mostly universal hosta trends through time throughout Hostadom.
Bio: Bob Solberg is the owner of Green Hill Farm Inc., introducing new hostas to the wholesale and retail hosta community. He is a hosta hybridizer with over 100 hosta introductions, publisher of the Green Hill Gossip newspaper, AHS Historian, and Regional Director of the Dixie Region
Room 412 5009 – Butterfly Gardening Using Host Plants – Ron Schilb
The life cycles of butterflies and moths will be explained along with an explanation of why host plants are necessary. A PowerPoint of plants, butterflies, and larvae will be shown.
Bio: Schilb Landscape Services, Metroparks Master Organic Gardener Graduate, Graduate of Cincinnati Zoo Garden Class Series, Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Certified Technician, Ohio Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Certification, Professional Horticultural Technician, Cox Arboretum, Island Park, Sunrise Park, 11 years, International Society of Arbiculture Certified Arborist, 5 years, Volunteer Curator Wegerzyn Witch Hazel Collection, 20 years.
SIXTH HOUR
Room 115-117 6001 – Blooming Brilliance: Unveiling the Secrets of Hardy Perennial Hibiscus from Walters Gardens – Laura Robles
Discover the beauty and resilience of Walters Gardens’ Hardy Perennial Hibiscus in this engaging presentation. Explore our breeding objectives, featuring exquisite varieties from both our non-branded and Proven Winners lines. Learn the secrets of successful greenhouse production and gain practical insights into growing these exceptional beauties in your garden. Join us for a journey into the world of hardy hibiscus, where tropical brilliance meets cold-hardy durability.
Bio: Laura Robles is a Regional Product Manager for Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, MI. Robles oversees sales in the Northeast and is also responsible for managing the trialing program sent out to customers. She was previously the Trials Manager for Walters Gardens. Before coming to Walters Gardens, she was with Neal Mast Greenhouses and Mast Young Plants, where she managed the R& D department. Robles has been involved in the horticulture industry for over 20 years; in various aspects including retail, public gardening, growing and research, and now sales and technical support. She received a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University and a B.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University, and is an alumnus of the Greenhouse Product News 40 Under 40 Class of 2013.
Room 118 6002 – Painting with Pam – Pam Rawson
Learn how to use a sponge by painting your own one-of-a-kind 15″ garden sphere. Metal spheres will be donated by Roeda Studio Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pam will provide plenty of colors of paint, sponges, brushes, and aprons. Students are welcome to bring their own acrylic paint, if desired.
Fee: $10 – Limit: 12 THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Bio: Pam lives on four acres near Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her husband have many flower gardens in which they grow hostas, irises, daylilies, and other perennials. Pam enjoys walking through the gardens and painting outdoor metal art. Pam currently helps in the West Michigan Hosta Society and enjoys Iris gardening.
Room 123 6003 – Native Plant Seed Starting – Ruth Bowell
Most native plant seeds contain germination inhibitors which must be overcome if you want success with seed starting. We will explore the requirements for starting several native plants from seed and discuss a few different strategies for success. An introduction to collecting, cleaning, storage, and preparation of seeds will also be provided. Participants will be able to take home a mini greenhouse planted with seeds of a native plant of their choice and several handouts.
Fee: $5 – Limit: 26 THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Bio: Ruth Bowell owns and operates The Milkweed Patch, a small native plant nursery that specializes in plants beneficial to butterflies and moths. Ruth is a butterfly citizen scientist who has been learning about butterflies sync childhood. Her home backyard in Troy, Ohio provides habitat for butterflies, pollinators, and many other native wildlife species. This one-acre suburban lot is certified by several wildlife habitat organizations and was a survey plot for the 2020 Ohio Bee Survey. Ruth is also an active member of Wild Ones.
Room 221A 6004 – Tree of Life Wall Hanging – Donna McMillen & Sarah Adkins
You will be making a beautiful Tree of Life wall hanging using copper-toned wire inside a 9″ wooden hoop. We will provide examples to give you some great ideas and variations. All materials will be provided. Come and enjoy this creative and fun activity.
Fee: $14 – Limit:15 This class is now closed.
Bio: Donna McMillen has been a member of the Midland Hosta Society in northeast Ohio since 2008. Past and now current president of Midland. Past board member and presenter for Great Lakes Hosta. Donna has been a lifelong gardening enthusiast and hostaholic. She also enjoys “playing” with cement and creating/sharing lots of art forms for the garden.
Room 221 6005 – Beekeeping Essentials: A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving Apiaries in Year One – Kent Wagner
Embark on a fascinating journey into the world of beekeeping with our beginner’s class. In this engaging and informative course, participants will discover the fundamental principles of beekeeping and hive management. Attendees will gain practical skills in handling bees, setting up hives, and harvesting honey. Whether you’re a budding bee enthusiast or simply curious about the essential role these pollinators play in our ecosystem, our beginner beekeeping class promises a sweet educational experience. Bio: Kent Wagner teaches middle school science at Cedar Cliff School district in Ohio. He has also served as an adjunct professor for 11 years at Cedarville University. Kent is in his first year of beekeeping and learning from mistakes and celebrating successes. He has worked closely with a mentor beekeeper and attended beginner and intermediate beekeeping classes. He is an active participant in the Greene County Beekeepers association and keeps two hives on his property in Cedarville Ohio.
Room 412 6006 – Ornamental Grasses – John Smead
Come explore the world of beautiful and versatile ornamental grasses
Bio: John enjoys a wide range of interests and activities. He has degrees in horticulture, secondary education, and engineering. While hostas are his favorite perennial, ornamental grasses are a close second. Their beauty, versatility, and almost year-round interest make them hard to beat.
Room 220 6007 – On the Street Where You Live – Sandy Wilkins
A look at the history of landscape in America, then home to our own backyard.
Bio: Sandy is a long-time gardener, and Mother of the Hosta College. It is a delight to watch it continue to become better all the time, and an honor to share stories with fellow gardeners. I look very forward to seeing old friends. I live in Jackson, MI.
Room 417 6008 – Propagation and Production of Hostas – Bob Solberg
Ever wonder about how new hostas find their way from a seed to the box that shows up on your doorstep via UPS? Not a hybridizing class but selection, propagation, and then production will be discussed. Also, what’s new?
Bio: Bob Solberg is the owner of Green Hill Farm Inc., introducing new hostas to the wholesale and retail hosta community. He is a hosta hybridizer with over 100 hosta introductions, publisher of the Green Hill Gossip newspaper, AHS Historian, and Regional Director of the Dixie Region. THIS CLASS IS CLOSED
Room 218 6009 – What a Non-Gardener Spouse Learned about Hostas from his Gardener Spouse – Don Ruff
1200 hundred hostas! You paid how much for a hosta? You need me to dig another hole, wait, what, four more holes?
This is a humorous talk about me, this nongardener husband, and how he was introduced to the wonderful world of hostas first by having 300 hostas at our house in Hudson, OH, and then to over 1000 hostas at our house in Marshallville, OH. Learn with me as I gain valuable knowledge about everything from a scape to a rhizome. See the vast sea of hostas in pots waiting to be planted when we moved from Northern Summit County to Wayne County. Then I was able to sit near the garden and watch a hummingbird dance among the flowers.
BANQUET
The 2024 Banquet will offer 3 entrees: Monterey Jack Chicken Breast, Sliced Beef Au Jus, and Roasted Vegetable Lasagna.
Meals include oven-roasted Parmesan Red Potatoes, Capri Blend Vegetables, Fruited Green Salad, Rolls/Butter, and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake or Black Forest Cake for dessert. Coffee, Water, and Iced Tea are included at $25.00 per person.