Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Attend January workshops on landscaping with MO plants

Landscape professionals and enthusiasts are invited to attend “Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind” from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Jan. 29 or 30 at the Rolla Technical Center, 500 Forum Drive. The Jan. 29 workshop is for landscaping professionals. The Jan. 30 workshop is for gardeners, homeowners and other landscaping enthusiasts.

Each workshop will provide practical in-depth information on landscaping with native plants to create beauty and to support biodiversity. The workshops will focus on landscape design techniques, plant selection, installation methods and maintenance practices.

“Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind” is sponsored by Grow Native! and Rolla Public Schools. Grow Native! is a cooperative program of the Missouri departments of Conservation and Agriculture to help protect and restore our state's biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use.

Author Dave Tylka will open the workshops with his presentation, “Native Landscaping – A Natural Way to Spice up Life.” Tylka will use his book, “Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People,” as the foundation of his presentation. As part of their registration fee, workshop participants will receive copies of the MDC companion book, “Tried and True: Native Plants for Your Landscape.”

MDC Natural History Biologist Lee Hughes will present “Know the Lay of Your Land.” Amy Hamilton of Hamilton’s Native Outpost will present “Put Plants in the Right Place.” MDC Private Land Conservationist Sarah Egly will present “Reconstructing Prairie.” MDC Resource Forester Mike Fiaoni will present “Native Trees for Landscapes Large and Small.”

The workshops will end with a hands-on application session that creates landscape designs for sites at the Rolla Technical Center. Participants also have opportunities to win prizes and visit with exhibitors displaying and selling related products and services.

Seating is limited. Registration deadline is Jan. 15. The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $25 if received by Jan. 8 and $35 after.
To register, visit GrowNative.org. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture at 866-466-8283, tammy.bruckerhoff@mda.mo.gov, or barbara.fairchild@mdc.mo.gov.

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