Garden Talks
Most classes are two hours or less. Longer "workshop" styles programs can be tailored to fit your needs. To request a program, inquire about speaking fees or for further information please email Betty.
Disease - Pest or Beneficial Insect Classes:
Home Landscape Management for Pests, Diseases and the Environment
What's wrong? Things happen (good and not so good) to plants in the summer outdoor garden. I'll help you identify whether the concern is a beneficial insect, pest insect, plant disease (biotic) or an environmental stress (abiotic). Management options will follow. I'll also show you how to protect valuable plants from hail and weather extremes. 60 or 90 minute class.
Managing Japanese Beetle in Landscapes
Japanese beetles have been causing plant damage in many states since 1916 when they first arrived on the East coast of the United States. Betty will cover how to best control both adult Japanese beetles and their grub offspring (next season’s adult beetles). She will show you management options that include simple, no or low cost covering techniques and proven spray and lawn products that work with respect to our beloved pollinators. Betty will also talk about the beneficial bio-control releases along the Front Range which have been proven in other parts of the country to reduce Japanese beetle feeding. When using correct practices and management options, this voracious plant pest will not ruin your summer and outdoor gardening experiences.
Take home a handy chart on management controls for both adult and larvae. 90 minute to two hour class.
Welcome Butterflies and other Friendlies
Nothing says sit out in the garden and stay a while than enjoying butterflies, birds and pollinators. If you plant or build it, they will come! I'll take you through the plant and environmental needs for an actively friendly garden. 60 or 90 minute class.
General Landscape Classes:
Beautiful Low Water Plants
The Rocky Mountains are a semi-arid region. This presents challenges for plant choices and landscape care for gardeners. I will take the guess work out of plant choices, with this presentation based on choosing attractive water thrifty plants. 60 or 90 minute class.
Charming Bulbs
The fall season is the time for many gardeners to take a deep breath and enjoy late summer blooming plants, and cooler weather - all good! Before the last leaf has dropped and the ground has frozen take the time to plant spring and summer bulbs. I will take you through the planting basics including choosing bulbs for your landscape plus how and when to plant for years of enjoyment. 60 minute class.
Designer Container Secrets
In one hour learn how to create gorgeous containers that will have your guests and neighbors asking for your design tips. I will take you through the easy steps of planting flowers, foliage plants, herbs or vegetables in many different types of containers for a long season of wow. Best window for this class in April to early June. 60 or 90 minute class.
Dreaming of Spring (landscape focus)
Get your garden ready for the spring and summer season. I'll include putting in new planting beds, building simple raised beds and transplanting basics. Best window for this class is January to March. 90 minute class.
Fall to Spring Landscape Care Punch List
The season is about over and you're pretty much spent from summer gardening. There are a few things left to do that will ensure a healthy, happy landscape through the winter. I will take you through key to dos including dividing perennials, rose care, and fall bulb planting. Best window for this class is August, September or October. 90 minute class.
Garden Folklore or Fact
From using coffee grounds, epsom salts to eggshells in the garden, what does the science say about these and many more garden additives and handed down advice. I'll bust the top garden myths and suggest researched garden practices that work! 60 or 90 minute class.
Great Plants Start with Great Soil
Unlike other parts of the country where ornamental plants grow easily in their nutrient rich, moist soils, living in the Rocky Mountain region has a few soil challenges. This is nothing a little basic information on how to help your soil's drainage (either lack of or too much), texture, and fertility can't fix or at least help get plants started off on a good beginning. I'll cover what you need to know to get your outdoor gardening season started. 45, 60 or 90 minute class.
Outdoor Winter Containers
Tired of looking at dried, dead foliage from last summer's containers all through the winter or empty containers that are unwelcoming and sad? There are inexpensive and creative ways to fill outdoor containers from fall to early spring - let me show you how easy it is to have decorative pots to chase away the winter blahs. 60 minute class.
Plant Select® for Gardeners
Gardeners are always seeking and asking for the very best plants for our sunny, hot dry summers and variable winters. Plant Select® plants are the answer for your landscape. If you don’t know about Plant Select® plants or wish to know more, this is the class for you. Plant Select® plants are extensively tested for exceptional performance, long season of interest, adaptability and more. I’ll share my favorites. 60 or 90 minute class.
Roses - Herbal Delights
Most people think of roses as delightful colorful and fragrant additions to beds and borders (they are). But roses have a long history, beginning 35 million years ago just south of Colorado Springs at Florrisant National Park. Confucius, Cleopatra and many Kings of great lands grew roses for their herbal qualities including rose water, rose oil and perfumes. Learn about the rose as an important historical plant and its many uses that continue today. 60 minute class.
Shrub Roses for All
Shrub roses, also known as landscape roses are splendid choices in landscapes for their trouble-free care, winter hardiness, striking colors, and repeat bloom. Many are fragrant! Their versatility in the garden for use in borders, as hedges, groundcovers or background plantings makes them a perfect addition for gardens. I'll cover many roses for you to choose from, along with planting and care tips that will keep your shrubs the blooming stars they will become. 90 minute class.
Spring through early Summer Landscape Care Punch List
The garden "to do" chores can be long and overwhelming. I'll take you through an easy and manageable month-by-month chore list starting in late winter through May. 90 minute class.
Starting from Seed - Ornamental Annual Focus
Seed starting at home is easy once you know the basics and give it a try. I'll cover setting up and filling the seed trays (or re-purposed containers) with sterile soil, when to fertilize, lighting and more. I'll show you how easy it is to set up a low cost indoor lighting system. I'll provide tips for growing success and of course, it's all about the timing! 60 or 90 minute class.
Vegetable/Herb Gardening Classes:
Beautiful Herbs for the Garden
Herbs are one of the easiest groups of plants to grow in your garden. They mix well planted among your existing landscape or as a stand alone garden. Many herbs have a long blooming period, take little water and do double duty as culinary assets to your kitchen. I’ll cover planting, growing and care of several perennial and annual herbs that do especially well in the Rocky Mountain region. I'll include harvest tips so you’ll be ready this spring and summer to enhance your meals and impress your friends! 60 or 90 minute class.
Beginning Vegetable Gardening 101
If you have never planted edible plants or had little success at growing your own vegetables, I will take you through the ABCs from planning, soil preparation, plant choices, watering, fertilizing and harvesting vegetables. You'll take home a handy spring, summer and fall planting guide. Minimum 2-hour class.
Container Vegetable and Herb Gardening
Edible gardening in containers can be just as rewarding and plentiful as in-ground beds. I'll show you how to plant for a long season of healthy producing vegetables and herbs. Harvest and preservation tips will be included. 60 or 90 minute class.
Garden Folklore or Fact
From using coffee grounds, Epsom salts to eggshells in the garden, what does the science say about these and many more garden additives and handed down advice. I'll bust the top garden myths and suggest researched garden practices that work! 60 or 90 minute class.
Great Plants Start with Great Soil
Unlike other parts of the country where vegetable plants grow easily in their nutrient rich, moist soils, living in the Rocky Mountain region has a few soil challenges. This is nothing a little basic information on how to help your soil's drainage (either lack of or too much), fertility, and veg choices can't fix or at least help get plants started off on a good beginning. I'll cover what you need to know to get your outdoor vegetable gardening season started. 45, 60 or 90 minute class.
Growing Great Garlic
The Rocky Mountain region has an excellent climate for garlic, and fall is the best time for planting. Get tips on the best varieties to grow, preparing the planting area, caring for your garlic throughout the season, harvest, storing and culinary tips. Best window for this class is May through early October. 60 or 90 minute class.
Indoor Edible Garden
Growing herbs indoors is not difficult if you know which herbs do the best under indoor conditions, plus proper lighting and growing conditions. I'll show you how to successfully grow herbs and microgreens that you can eat and enjoy all fall, well into winter. Many can be transplanted outside in the spring. 60 or 90 minute class.
Intermediate Vegetable Gardening
I'll cover the most popular edible vegetables and herbs, plus a few lesser known and grown for season-long growing success. Previous knowledge of Idaho gardening basics including soil and bed preparation is helpful since the class emphasis is on growing specific crops. We can choose the vegetable list together or I'll come prepared with the plants to cover. Minimum 90 minute class.
March Vegetable Gardening
This class gets you ready to plant cool season vegetables in March using techniques to warm your soil and construct easy homemade tunnels. You will be harvesting home grown lettuce, spinach and more in 30 to 60 days. Learn how to plant more cool season crops in late summer for a fall harvest. Best window for this class is January through March. 60 or 90 minute class.
Putting your Vegetable Garden to Bed
The growing season is about over and you're looking forward to Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. There are a few key tasks left to do that will ensure a healthy, happy vegetable garden while it is resting through the winter. I will share harvest and storing tips, growing cover crops and fall seeding for a jump on the early spring garden. Best window for this class is August, September or October. 60 or 90 minute class.
Smart Container Gardening
Smart Pots® - American made re-usable containers are the ultimate advancement in container gardening. Take growing flowers, herbs or vegetables to a whole new almost fool-proof level. Use Smart Pots® in small spaces like patios, balconies or any size garden where lighter weight containers come in very handy. They’re great for all levels of gardeners. Use them to try new plants without taking up more space in your in-ground beds. This is a demonstration class where I will show how to fill the container and seed or plant. 60 or 90 minute class.
Starting from Seed - Vegetable Focus
Seed starting at home is easy once you know the basics and give it a try. I'll cover setting up and filling the seed trays (or re-purposed containers) with sterile soil, when to fertilize, lighting and more. I'll show you how easy it is to set up a low cost system or use one of the commercial light stands that are popular too. I'll provide tips for growing success and of course, it's all about the timing! 90 minute class.
Tending Your Summer Vegetable Garden
The vegetable garden is planted and everything is up and growing, now what? I will take you through the best summer and fall care practices to get you through the growing and harvest season. I'll include watering and fertilizing tips, when to harvest and tips for storing fruits and vegetables. I'll also cover the important third season of planting - mid-July through October, including garlic. Best window for this class is from June through early October. 60 or 90 minute class.
Tomato Success
Despite being one of the most popular homegrown vegetables, tomato growing isn't as easy as growing radishes! Learn how to care for them from starting from seeds (indoors) to setting out as transplants through the growing season with healthy, delicious results. 60 or 90 minute class.
Please Suggest a Class - It Might be up my Alley!