Released: February 23, 2005

Sedgwick’s Extension Master Gardeners Working, Not Celebrating Anniversary

WICHITA, Kan. – “Ladybug Sings the Blues” is the theme Sedgwick County’s Extension Master Gardeners are displaying at this year’s Wichita Garden Show, March 2-6 in Century II.

The volunteers started planning their exhibit last year. Their first step in putting it together in 2005 was to paint a 1973 Volkswagen red with black spots – in ladybug fashion. Their design center was 4-H Hall, its floor encased in plastic, at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center.

The hall next gave birth to a 7-feet-tall and 12-feet-long praying mantis. Then came a giant spider in similar scale and habitat pieces to match.

The ladybug now really does sing the blues – Billie Holiday style. She’s a literal representative of this year’s garden show theme: “Springtime Rhythm and Blues.”

“This year also is the 25th anniversary for the state Master Gardener program, headquartered at Kansas State University. But the ladybug booth isn’t unusual for us. Our county’s Extension Master Gardeners always go all out – not only to try to blend in with the amazing commercial exhibits here but also to attract show goers to some research- and experience-based information about horticulture,” said Bob Neier, K-State Research and Extension horticulturist.

This year the tree-loving contingent of the Sedgwick group are also selling a hot-off-the-press book called “Trees for South Central Kansas.” It describes and pictures the trees that survived best through this year’s record-setting ice storm in the Wichita area. Proceeds go to educational programs.

Plus, the Master Gardeners always offer a series of educational seminars for those attending the Wichita show, which is acknowledged as one of the top 10 in the United States. This year’s slate:

* Wednesday - Beneficial Insects in the Garden, Kid-Friendly Gardening Ideas, Great Purple Plants, Native Grass Combinations in the Landscape, Ornamental Vines, Container Plant Design, Pruning Storm-Damaged Trees.

* Thursday - Planning a Veggie Garden, Growing Blueberries in Kansas? Crabapples: The Crown Jewel of Spring-Flowering Trees, Nut Trees in Kansas, Basics of Organic Gardening, Cooking With the 2005 Herbs of the Year, Stronger Trees for South Central Kansas.

* Friday - Propagating Roses, Five Links to a Healthier Landscape, Turning Your Dirt into Soil, Pruning, Creating a Natural Landscape, Basic Landscape Design, Stone Scaping: The Transforming Power of Natural Stone, Building Planters for Your Patio/Deck, New Perennials for Sun and Shade, Great Wildlife of the Great Plains.

* Saturday - Conifers on the Plains, Buffalo Lawns, The Real-Live Gardener Guy, Wildflowers, Backyard Birds of the Plains, Stronger Trees for South Central Kansas, Fish for the Pond and How to Care for Them.

* Sunday - Sunroom Greenhouses, Building and Maintaining a Home Greenhouse, Growing Orchids, New Bedding Plants for 2005.

“They’re a busy group,” Neier said. “And these seminars are sort of a sample of the events and workshops they offer throughout the year to anyone who’s interested in attending. The dates are always part of our county Extension Web site.”

The Web site can be found at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/sedgwick/SGHort/master_g.htm .

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Kathleen Ward
kward@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News