SIDNEY — What’s going to be growing in your garden this year? That’s one of the questions the Shelby County Master Gargeners answered during the first of its three-part spring gardening series Tuesday in the Community Room of the Amos Memorial Public Library.
Master Gardener Ann Heeley opened the seminar by introducing new plant trends for 2018, including incorporating lighting and sound in yards, gardens and patios; space-saving gardening; continued focus on non-GMO foods or heirloom fruits and vegetables; and trying new things with annuals, unusual edibles, window boxes and houseplants.
Heeley, who has been a member of Shelby County Master Gardeners for 12 years, also presented a list of perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, fruits and vegetables that can be successfully grown in the Sidney area, which is known as “zone 6,” according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.
Cheryl Michael, member of SCMG for six years, spoke about the trend of indoor plants with a focus on the air purification possibilities from cultivating plants indoors. She briefly touched on “sick building syndrome,” a term coined by the World Health Organization to describe buildings with poor air quality, often leading to its occupants feeling ill or unwell.
Michael introduced nine houseplants that are easy to maintain and which clean the air around them, including garden mum, spider plant, dracaena, ficus/weeping fig, peace lily, Boston fern, snake plant, and bamboo palm.
A third Master Gardener, Nancy McGovern, who has been a member of SCMG for 10 years, spoke about local garden resources. Within Sidney, McGovern mentioned Sidney Flower Shop, located at 111 E. Russell Road, whose owners she said are “quite knowledgable and helpful;” as well as Lowe’s Home Improvement, located at 2700 Michigan St., which she said often has good sales on gardening supplies and plants.
The next Shelby County Master Gardeners seminar will be held March 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the Community Room at the library. This session is called, “March Madness: A Winning Season on Garden Prep.”
The event is free and open to the public. Visitors will learn more about techniques and tools in a three-month timeline for getting gardening chores done while still enjoying spring. Refreshments will be offered, as well as informative hand-outs. There will be a question-and-answer time and door prizes.
