The Massachusetts Master Gardener Association will hold its 2016 Massachusetts Gardening Symposium, Inspirations for Next Year’s Garden, on Saturday, October 1 from 8:30 – 3:45 at Westford Academy in Westford, Massachusetts. The MMGA has chosen this year’s symposium speakers not only for their expertise and the respect they have earned, but also for their ability to inspire audiences with practical tips and techniques. Here is a sampling of what you can expect to learn.
MARGARET ROACH, author and radio/web site host – The 365-Day Garden
The garden is never really out of season, according to Margaret Roach. Creating year-round visual enjoyment requires a combination of tactics: Learn about “botanical stars,” site selection and – perhaps most importantly – how to engage your senses in planning for 2017.
ED BOWEN, plant breeder, horticulturist and nurseryman – The Best Plants You’ve Never Heard of
Tired of the “same old-same old”? There is a practical aesthetic value in employing alternatives in the garden. Learn about some lesser known cultivars and species of familiar genera as well as new collections from the wild, all suited to New England’s climate.
GORDON HAYWARD, garden designer, author and travel guide – Fine Art as Inspiration for Garden Design
A new way to look at your garden based on how artists and garden designers use similar elements of composition to construct their images…including creating foreground/background and the use of light and shadow, focal points, contrast, and positive/negative space.
BOB SOLBERG, nursery owner and hosta hybridizer – The Truth About Hostas: Why We Can’t Live Without Them
The dirt on hostas: Are they right for your landscape? How about minis? Are the new hosta hybrids the best hostas? How do you maximize performance and deal with pests?
REGISTRATION – $75 per person thru August 15; $95 per person August 16-September 24. Includes lectures, Garden Marketplace and lunch. No refunds after September 24, 2016. Register online at http://massmastergardeners.org/symposium/
