May 6 Column: Garden Expo
It’s almost here, gardening friends! “It” is Garden Expo, the largest garden event in the Inland Northwest, and that’s the topic of my latest column. Here is a link to it in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Annual Garden Expo back with classes, vendors, fun. (or you can read my column lower in this post)
This is the 19th year that our region has had a Garden Expo and it’s all thanks to the awesome Inland Empire Gardeners! The event features over 250 garden-related vendors and is completely free. The parking is even free.
And now for this week’s “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video. In it, I share some tips on growing members of the beet family (beets, spinach and Swiss chard) organically. It is soooo easy! Here’s the video:
Garden Expo garden column:
by Susan Mulvihill
Are you ready you for the most highly-anticipated garden event of year? Billed as “the show for gardeners put on by gardeners,” Garden Expo takes place on Saturday, May 12. The location for this event is the Spokane Community College Lair.
Hosted by the enthusiastic and tireless volunteers of the Inland Empire Gardeners, this event is not to be missed. The theme is “Garden Fiesta: Let’s Party!” and if there’s one thing this club has demonstrated over the years, they know how to put on a great party.
What you’ll find at Garden Expo
Attendees will have the opportunity to shop at the booths of more than 250 garden-related vendors offering plants, pots, garden art, tools, birdhouses, bulbs, hanging baskets, and much more.
Local plant vendors include Blumenhaus, Cedar Mountain perennials, Desert Jewels Nursery, Elithorp Farm, Northland Rosarium, Tall Grass Farms, the Tomato Lady and Wabi Sabi. There will be specialty nurseries from the Puget Sound region including Antique Rose Farm, Heavy Petal Nursery, Lael’s Moon Garden Nursery, Lily Pad Bulb Farm and the Rogerson Clematis Collection.
Since shoppers are certain to work up an appetite, there will be food vendors offering plenty of choices to help them maintain their energy level.
Garden Expo seminars and demonstrations
There will be free seminars and demonstrations throughout the day. Refer to the accompanying schedule to view the topics and speakers. In addition, door prizes will be given out hourly and live music will complement the fun atmosphere.
The region’s horticultural organizations will be on hand to share information about their groups. This includes the WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners, Inland Dahlia Society, Floral Art Designers, Friends of Manito, Spokane Lilac Society, Inland Empire Water Garden & Koi Society, Spokane Orchid Society and Inland Northwest Garden Railroad Society.
The Inland Empire Gardeners is the largest garden club in the region. They put on their first show, which was much smaller in scope, 19 years ago. It has grown dramatically over the years, with more than 25,000 people attending last year’s show.
The mission of this not-for-profit organization is to “deepen the public’s appreciation of horticulture and beautification, and to introduce education and commercial resources available to the region.”
In addition to Garden Expo, their annual service projects have included donations made to the YWCA Victims of Domestic Violence project, Second Harvest Food Bank, Spokane Humane Society, Bee Kind Garden for Abused and Neglected Children, Juvenile Court’s My Bag program, and local horticultural programs. They also host the Garden of the Month contest each summer.
GARDEN EXPO DETAILS
When: Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Spokane Community College Lair, 1810 N. Greene St.
Details: Over 250 garden-related vendors, seminars and demonstrations. Free admission and parking. Info: tieg.org.
Seminars in Lair Auditorium
10 a.m. _ Heather Kitchen, “Disaster Preparedness for the Home and Garden”
11:30 a.m. _ Maria and Ari Jr. Alvarez, “A Better Garden with Bees”
1 p.m. _ John Baumann, “Monarch Butterflies of the Inland Northwest”
2:30 p.m. _ Phyllis Stephens, “A Fiesta of Color in the Garden”
Demonstrations in Lair Conference Room
10 a.m. _ Nan Drye, “Alchemy with Plants: Eco Printing on Fabric”
11 a.m. _ Linda Beutler, “The Tex-Mex Clematis: Clematis texensis and Its Saucy, Sassy Hybrids”
1 p.m. _ Adam Gebauer and Melissa Johnson, “Beginner Soapmaking: Cold Pressed Soap”
2 p.m. _ Torie Foote and Mary Schmidt, “Using Herbs to Make Medicinal Teas”