Crowds flock to Lincoln College for Russel Allen Garden Day

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[March 19, 2015]  LINCOLN - This past Saturday the Logan County Master Gardeners enjoyed yet another successful Russel Allen Garden Day. The annual event is held at the Myers-Evans Student Center on the Campus of Lincoln College. Each year approximately 200 garden enthusiasts attend the morning event that includes break-out sessions on specific topics and a special keynote speaker at the end of the day.

The fundraiser event is named for Russel Allen, a charter member of the Logan County Master Gardeners. Allen was well known in the community and well thought of as an excellent gardener. Allen died in 2008.

The doors opened at 8 a.m. with registration going on until the first breakout session at 9 a.m. In the first hour, and between sessions, guests had the opportunity to visit with various special guests who had display tables set up. Each of these represented particular areas of interest from beekeeping, to Iris and orchid growing, to herbs, Bonsai, and roses.

At 9 a.m. the first session began offering three breakouts with three guest speakers.

In the Alumni Room Tom and Jan Ewald of Lincoln discussed growing hostas. Hostas are available in a wide variety of forms. The Ewalds shared information on what plants are sun resistant and slug resistant as well as which varieties are fragrant.

The arch-enemy of the Hosta is the slug, as the plants attract them in quantity.

In another part of the Student Center, Mary Buckles of Prairie Home Herbs was sharing information about herbs, how to grow them, and what their uses are in the kitchen and elsewhere.

At the end of her session during the question and answer time, the discussion turned to the use of herbs for medicinal purposes. She said that she doesn’t use herbs in that manner. However, she noted that once when on a trip in Europe, she became ill and was sent to the “chemist” who used herbs successfully.

Sherrie Snyder, the founder of Illinois Prairie Wild Ones, spoke about incorporating native grasses and plants into the home garden and landscape. She shared tips on how to plan an attractive native garden, and her ‘favorites' for the home garden.

She also suggested being a ‘good neighbor’ saying not every neighbor is going to appreciate the wild look of a native garden. She suggested talking to neighbors beforehand, but also, when you buy your plants, buy one for a neighbor as a goodwill gift, and to perhaps get him or her interested in natives as well.

The second set of breakout sessions began a little after 10 a.m.

Jennifer Doggett of the Wendell Niepagen Greenhouses and Garden Center offered a “make and take” session focusing on miniature gardening. Workshop attendees were able to make their own tiny gardens that can be maintained inside as houseplants or outside as an attractive addition to the patio.

Doggett also had on hand several examples of just how simple or how complicated such little gardens can be, depending on what the grower wants. She shared that miniature gardens are a great way to “repurpose” items around the house as they can be used as garden containers or small decorative items in the planter landscape.

Logan County Extension educator Jennifer Fishburn offered a workshop of composting. She explained that composting is a win, win, win situation. It keeps landscape waste out of local landfills, offers a valuable and inexpensive soil amendment product, and is good for the environment.

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She discussed tools needed for successful composting and spoke about the ration of green lawn waste, brown waste, and food scrap household waste.

Rich Hornbaker of Hornbaker Gardens spoke about pruning for healthy productive hydrangeas. While most hydrangea varieties should be pruned back in the spring, the Quercifolia or Oak Leaf Hydrangea should be pruned in the summer right after the bloom time is completed.

Hornbaker shared information on deadheading plants. He also spoke about a less common hydrangea variety, the Serrata, saying this is a plant that blooms off new and old wood, and will likely become more popular in the future.

Mitch Birky and Matt Eich of Bellas Landscaping offered tips and tricks for creating great curb appeal. The two talked about how to proceed in drawing out a landscape plan. They suggested creating a focal point in the lawn that could be a tree, plant, water feature, or a stone garden. They also recommended that landscapes be created using waves and curves instead of square corners.

Bellas Landscaping slide show included examples of focal points, before and after pictures of landscape projects and examples of plants they like to use.

Before the last hour of the day began, the Master Gardener drew out names of door prize winner. There was a large variety of door prizes this year that included live plants, planting supplies, and home décor with a gardening theme.

The last session was dedicated to the keynote speaker Guy Sternberg of the Starhill Forest Arboretum of Illinois College, who was introduced by Logan County Master Gardener David Schroder.

Sternberg spoke about trees with a focus on using native trees in lawns and landscapes. He also discussed trees for soil types and how to choose the right tree for the right place in the landscape.



Throughout the day, snacks were made available to guests courtesy of the college, and many enjoyed the sweet treats as well as freshly brewed coffee.

The Russel Allen Garden Day is one of the two major fundraising opportunities for the local Master Gardeners. The next fundraiser will be the 14th Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale. The sale will be held on Saturday May 16th at the Logan County Fairgrounds.

[Nila Smith]

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