Workshops, seminars are packed with tips

It's time to get out the garden tools, get on your knees and tend to the task of planting your flowers and vegetables. For some, where to start is a daunting task.

//

Workshops and seminars held at garden centers and nurseries across the county are a good starting point.

Some are for the well-trained gardener, but many are designed with the beginner in mind.

"We usually do them across the board," said Jenny Addie, of Green Thumb West. "We also have a question-and-answer session afterwards."

While Green Thumb West already has held most of its workshops -- Addie said parking in the spring presents a problem for shoppers, so workshops there are held in February and early March -- the information presented at such gatherings runs the gamut.

From seed starting to pruning, to caring for roses to highlighting new plants for the season, the workshops are designed to make gardening less intimidating for everyone.

"We have people coming in with little note pads and writing down what we talk about," Addie said. "It's very informal."

She said the weather, along with the topic, often dictates how many people attend the workshop.

"Sometimes it's standing-room only, and other times there may be just five or six people," she said.

The Columbia County Extension Office offers a number of workshops throughout the year, including a Gardening at Lunch series that meets monthly at the Columbia County Library.

The meeting takes place from 12:10-12:45 p.m. and focuses on a different topic each month. For its April 2 meeting, the extension office will discuss the do's and don'ts of gardening. Future topics include rain barrels and water conservation and gardening for kids.

In addition to the Gardening at Lunch series, the extension office also promotes a Learn at Lunch seminar, which is held at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

For more information about the Columbia County Extension office seminar series, contact Charles Phillips at (706) 868-3413.