On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA February-March 2016 | Page 10

REGIONAL NEWS & NOTES Clark County 17th Annual Perennial Flower School in Springfield, Ohio. Jo Ellen speaks on March 19 at the Allen County Master Gardeners Spring Program in Lima, Ohio about “Fabulous Foliage.” She begins teaching the City Gardener Program for the Purdue Extension-Marion County office March 24. On April 3, she talks to Hancock County Master Gardeners about “Great Plants for the Midwest Garden” in Greenfield, Indiana. Jo Ellen has been appointed to Indiana Landmarks’ Cultural Landscape Committee, and recently joined the board of directors of Indy Food Co-op, which operates Pogue’s Run Grocer in Indianapolis. Maria Zampini of UpShoot LLC, presents “Garden-pedia: The What, When, Why and Where of Gardening,” which includes misunderstood gardening terms, new plants, garden trends and more, Feb. 27 at the 2016 Columbus Dispatch Home & Garden Show in Columbus, Ohio. She makes the same presentation March 9 for the Gates Mills (Ohio) Garden Club. On March 12, Maria is scheduled to present “2016 Gardening Trends for Your Outdoor Space” at the 2016 Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Additionally, Maria serves as director of plant development for the HGTV HOME Plant Collection. She once again displays at the California Spring Trials, April 9 through 14. The HGTV HOME Plant Collection display is located alongside annuals partner Dummen Orange at Edna Valley Vineyards, San Luis Obispo (springtrials.org) Irvin Etienne will speak about Carmen Miranda in the Midwest, and Thug-a-licious (When Bad Plants go Good) March 3 at the Clark County 17th Annual Perennial Flower School in Springfield, Ohio. Jo Ellen will talk about Ground Covers: More than Ivy and Myrtle, and Spring Bulbs and Companions. On March 8, you’ll find Barry Glick speaking at the Mid-Atlantic Inn-Keepers Trade Show and Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. On March 19 Barry Glick of Sunshine Farm and Gardens heads south to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to speak at the Cumberland County Master Gardeners Festival at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. On April 2, you’ll find him in Cleveland to present a program for the Design Network of Northeast Ohio. Barry is back in West Virginia April 15 for the Master Gardener Statewide Symposium in Lewisburg. 10 On March 19 Barry Glick of Sunshine Farm and Gardens heads south to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to speak at the Cumberland County Master Gardeners Festival at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. On April 2, you’ll find him in Cleveland to present a program for the Design Network of Northeast Ohio. Barry is back in West Virginia April 15 for the Master Gardener Statewide Symposium in Lewisburg. Van Wert, Ohio. Additional speakers include Pam Bennett, Irvin Etienne, Amanda Thomsen, Barbara Wise and Maria Zampini. Garden enthusiasts and friends from surrounding states will gather for a full day of informative speakers, Q&As and book signings. Continental breakfast and lunch are included in the $45 admission. For tickets, call 419-238-6722, or visit NPACVW.org. Celebrity garden designer P. Allen Smith is a keynote speaker during the Van Wert Blooms Gardening Symposium, April 16, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Chris Hansen reports that he has sold his shares of Great Garden Plants to his business partner, Mary Walters. The two founded greatgardenplants.com in 2007. Regional meeting in Chicago, March 12 The GWA Region III Meeting, sponsored by the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, is promising more exciting story leads for garden writers from across the country on opening day of the show at Navy Pier, March 12. Bring your camera! The day begins at 8 a.m. with entry to the show before it opens to the public at 10 a.m. Continental breakfast is provided. The Region III business meeting starts at 10:15 a.m. Sue Markgraf says that garden writers will get a preview of CHICAGO IS, the theme of the 2016 Chicago Flower & Garden Show, from Tony Abruscato, director and owner. Following that, Katie Rotella, Ball Horticultural Company, and Diane Blazek, National Garden Bureau, will present the season’s hottest plants. Scott Stewart, director of the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, has exciting news about this important, four-season city garden as it steps into its second decade, following his first year of leadership. Ponds and water features are increasingly complementing home gardens and fitting nicely into small landscapes. Aquascape’s Brian Helfrich will show how – with beautiful results. James and Sandy Syburg, Purple Cow Organics, will make the connection between healthy soil, healthy plants and healthy people. Chicago is buzzing over bees, so we thought it might be fun to hear from Laura Ekasetya of the Lurie Garden and Adam Sturtewagen of Chalet Garden Center about the unique flavor profiles and foraging characteristics of The City Bee and the Country Bee. Tim Pollak, Chicago Botanic Garden, will wrap up the day with key lessons from the ongoing science of Titan (Amorphophallus). We’ll hold the business portion of our meeting during lunch, generously provided by Tony and the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. The day will conclude with exciting raffles and prizes! Don’t miss out. Bring a notebook and dress comfortably for a fun-filled news day at an affordable price. Registration is $30 for members/spouses and $50 for nonmembers. To register online now, visit gardenwriters.org. For information about the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, including the many GWA members participate in its Seminar Series and Gardening Live presentations, visit chicagoflower.com.