Erie County MG'ers: Let us help!

I retrieved two publications from my mailbox recently – freebies, promotions. Guess what? Masters Gardeners in both of them! The first: "Serving Our Seniors." Jenny Ortolani and David and Kathryn Goerig-Eastlake are pictured in a course that will be held at the Center on Boalt Street twice. The first course will be offered on May 12 and May 19 from 10:00-11:30 am. Each session lasts for an hour and a half and each course is limited to eight people. The second course will be May 13 and May 20, also from 10:00 to 11:30 with a cap of eight people Entitled "Gardening in a Bucket," the program teaches Seniors over 60 to grow their own food. The three Erie MG'ers promote gardening as a fun and rewarding experience. The course is free. Green Circle Growers provides the plants for the program; Barnes Nursery provides the soil; an anonymous donor provides the buckets. Registration is required. Call the Reservation Line at 419-504-0585. Leave your name, phone number, the name of the Event, Gardening in a Bucket, and your preferred dates. Registration closes on May 1. Don't wait! Don't lose out! My second brochure, "Cover to Cover," a publication from the Sandusky Library, showcases "Vegetable Gardening Essentials." The description: "Discover the satisfaction and benefits of growing your own fresh, healthy vegetables in this three-part series. Whether you are a first-time grower or looking to refine your skills, you'll gain valuable information from these sessions." Three sessions are offered, March 16, April 20, and May 18. Our March 16 option has passed. The classes are at 6 pm. Registration is also required with a limit of 20 participants. You can register for either one or both of the remaining sessions. Call the library at 419-625-3834 or visit the library's website at www.sanduskylib.org OOPS! Our annual spring seminar program was yesterday at Messenberg Catering in Huron. The fun-filled day with speakers and food and door prizes is the perfect start to the growing season. Keep it in mind for next year. Holly Price chaired this annual celebration. How about some plants? Master Gardeners will be at the fairgrounds for their annual plant sale on Saturday, May 9. Susan Lowather and Beth Weichel can greet you. They explain that Master Gardeners clean their yards, divide their plants and bring their extras to the fairgrounds to sell. Money raised supports our annual scholarships. We would love to talk to you about what grows well in our gardens and hear what works for you. Expect some annuals, some perennials, often some trees and shrubs, herbs, some veggie starts…come check it out. Madonna Zahela is again starting to work with Naturalist Mike Hensley from Erie Metroparks to help with the community garden at Osborn Park. Would that be a good fit for you? Contact them at the Erie Metroparks website. Madonna also works with Holly Price and Richard Ries at OVH with residents in their greenhouse and around the grounds. Lynn Sparks would love to meet you at Back to the Wild. Pat Frey and Lou Cebull work with students at St. Peter's School in Huron and Perkins Furry. Look for their displays around the building or check out plantings in the courtyards when you pick up a kid or a grandkid. Lots of us will be at the Erie County Fair. Stop by our booth and say hello. And I almost forgot, can you use a speaker for a program for an organization that you support? Call us at the Extension Office or message us on Facebook. Mary Dobrea-Grindahl chairs our Speaker's Bureau and would be happy to help you out. For now, stay warm. The weather will improve, guarantee! Master Gardeners will be all around. We earn our hours and recertification through community outreach. We love to talk plants! Hope to see you soon!