Cass County Master Gardeners Celebrate 20 Years of Spring Garden Seminar
Get ready to welcome spring by attending the 20th Anniversary of the Cass County Master Gardeners’ Spring Garden Seminar. The event is celebrating a milestone in 2018 with a new format, new location and a prominent keynote presenter. This year’s seminar, “GROW-Weaving Plants Throughout Your Life” is truly a celebration with lots of exciting changes. Even if you are not a gardener, this seminar will get you excited for spring and help you to learn how flowers can brighten your home and your life.
The event will feature J. Schwanke, a true flower celebrity, author, award winning speaker, and the most trusted voice in the flower industry. J.Schwanke is a 4th generation florist, host and creator of “Fun with Flowers and J”, and a frequent guest on P.Allen Smith’s Garden Home. The seminar will also welcome local celebrity baker and owner of Miss Nini’s Fine Desserts, Janine Knop. Miss Nini will share a demonstration of a dessert created especially for this year’s garden seminar.
A new addition this year will be 80 minutes of “lightning learning” where attendees will have the opportunity to rotate between five minute demonstrations on topics such as herb candles, preserving dried flowers, pollinator plantings, Glenwood’s Giving Garden, unusual container gardens, seed bombs and garden tapes. J will also be offering copies of his award-winning books for sale throughout the event, and will be on hand during the lightning learning sessions to sign them and visit with attendees.
“GROW-Weaving Plants Throughout Your Life” will be held on Saturday, March 17th at the Cass County Community Center. Registration begins at 8:30 AM and the seminar opens at 9 AM with the keynote “How to Create Your Own Life in Bloom” by J Schwanke. The keynote will be followed by lightening learning sessions. A catered luncheon will be served while conference-goers enjoy a dessert demonstration by Janine Knop, attendees will enjoy one of the featured desserts with their meal. A second presentation by J Schwanke entitled “Fun with Flowers” will complete the day by 3 PM.
Cost for the day, including continental breakfast, lunch and all sessions, is $35. A schedule and registration form are available at the Cass County Extension office, or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Cass County Master Gardeners are encouraging those interested to register early, as space is limited. For more information, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email [email protected]. Register now and plan to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for the 20th Annual Spring Garden Seminar- GROW!
Bonus Event! Want to hear more of J? Join the Cass County Libraries for a fun and enjoyable evening event with J Schwanke, Saturday evening March 17th following the Garden Seminar. A separate event from the Garden Seminar; doors will re-open to the public at 6:30 PM, and J will present at 7 PM. He will entertain with helpful tips and stories while creating beautiful floral displays. A few lucky attendees will even take an arrangement home! Event admission is a free will donation; proceeds will be used for the purchase of online resources for all Cass County Libraries. Contact your local library for more information or view a flier on the Cass County Extension website. Cass County Master Gardeners are pleased to partner with the Cass County Library Association to help them raise funds to expand their services to the local community. Master Gardeners will be on hand during the evening event for book sales and signing as well.