Get ready for spring with Garden U

Three speakers will be warming up Garden “U” this Saturday, March 19 at the Valley House. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The event runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost is $30 and includes lunch.

The annual education event is sponsored by the St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners Association.

Amanda Gevens, PhD, will present “What Happened Last Summer,” about managing vegetable diseases in warm, wet conditions.

Gevens holds professor and extension specialist positions with UW-Madison Department of Plant Pathology. She’ll focus on identifying and managing bacterial plant diseases and improved disease control on garden vegetables

Donna Frawley, an herbalist from Midland, Mich., will present “Those Dynamic Herbs,” about using herbs in cooking to improve flavor and cut down on salt. Frawley suggests planting gardens with herbs you will actually use, and planting them in the best spot. She lists the dynamic dozen of fresh herbs for taste and use.

Horticulturist Heidi Doering will discuss “New Garden Annuals” in the last presentation of the day. She’ll cover new plants coming to garden centers this spring and will showcase new annuals and how to used them in gardens. Doering is a horticulturist, willow grower and artist. She traveled to numerous plant trials during late summer armed with a camera and notebook and will share the results of those plant-centric excursions.

Advance registration is encouraged by calling (715) 549-6438, e-mailing stcroixvlymga@pressenter.com or sending a check to SCVMGA-Barrette, 1358 County V, Houlton WI 54082

Who is Donna Frawley?

Donna Frawley is a national speaker and native Minnesotan. She comes to Garden “U” by way of her sister Sandy Madsen, who is a town of St. Joseph resident.

She started her business, Frawley’s Fine Herbary, in 1983. Her interest in herbs started in the culinary area and grew to include all aspects of herbs. She began by selling at a local farmer’s market and that fall opened a home-based business which continues today. Frawley majored in home economics and worked at a private country club in Minnesota. She used that interest and skill to develop 59 culinary herb blends, eight herb-flavored vinegars and seven herbal teas. More information is available at www.frawleysfineherbary.com.

Tags: home and garden, lifestyle, garden, events