Primrose flowers with soil und scoop on gray wooden, gardening background
Home & Garden Workshops
Asparagus. April 5. Few vegetables excite cooks to the degree asparagus does. The plant is not only nutritious and delicious, but also ridiculously easy to grow – the only difficult part is waiting for the planting to yield. This discussion will cover planting and growing this perennial vegetable. Participants will receive 10 plants (including the sweeter purple) for their backyard planting. 6:30 p.m. Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/.
Color and Interest for All Seasons. April 7. Alicia Bosela of Ironweed Nursery will go over a delightful range of options for creating year-round color and interest in your home garden with native plants at this Wild Ones Lexington chapter meeting. An overview will include uses of both specific plants and combinations for arriving at a harmonious composition. Handouts will be provided. 6:30 p.m. St. Michael’s Church parking lot, 2025 Bellefonte Drive. www.lexington.wildones.org/todo
Hellebores. April 12. These evergreen perennials are known for their late-winter bloom and elegant foliage. In recent years breeders have focused on creating improved varieties with showier flowers, double blooms and unique colors. Hellebores take a few years to hit full stride but perform beautifully for decades. Small plants in a nice assortment of named varieties will be provided. 3 p.m. Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/.
Perennials for Connoisseurs. April 26. This introduction to choice, harder-to-find perennial delights will cover culture and care, and send participants home with a generous assortment (8-10) of these less common gems. Plants will be bare root divisions or small plugs and need immediate planting or potting. 6:30 p.m. Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/
New Improved Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia). May 3. While certainly not the most widely planted perennial, kniphofia can be a wonderful vertical flower spike to contrast with all the mounding plants in a bed. Newer varieties feature compact size, spectacular colors and bloom several times per season instead of just once. Participants will take home several small plugs of these fast-growing beauties in an assortment of colors. 6:30 p.m. Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/
Growing Great Tomatoes. May 12. This class focuses on everyone’s favorite summer vegetable, covering everything from techniques for growing great tomatoes to how to avoid common pitfalls, with an added emphasis on disease prevention. Each class member will take home a hybrid tomato and an open pollinated heirloom for his or her own mini trial. 6:30 p.m. Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/
Perennial Hibiscus. May 19. Often called “dinner plate” hibiscus because of its giant flowers, perennial hibiscus have been around for a long time. Only in recent years have breeders turned their attention to making better varieties, with improvements including shorter plants, unique dark foliage and new colors that bloom for much longer periods. Participants will receive a nice assortment of easy-to-grow varieties to take home. 10 a.m., Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/
Some Peppers You Should Meet. May 26. Most people are aware there are hot peppers and sweet peppers, but few realize that sweet peppers can be fruity or slightly spicy and hot peppers range from smoky to scorching. This workshop will cover the wide range of flavors and uses peppers have, and how to grow them at home. Participants will take home a sampler pack of unique plants (predominately sweet) to plant at home. 6:30 p.m. Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-5582. fayette.ca.uky.edu/
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Garden Shows,Plant Sales, Tours & More
Central Kentucky Home, Garden and Flower Show. April 1-3. In its 41st annual installment, this show features state-of-the-art home and garden products at show-special prices. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Lexington Center, 430 W. Vine St. www.ckyhomeshow.com/index.html.
Athens Schoolhouse Antique Show. April 8-10, May 13-15, June 10-12, July 8-10. This monthly event showcases thousands of square feet of antiques and collectibles. The region’s most discerning dealers will display everything from furniture to vintage handbags and accessories. 6270 Walnut Hill Pike. (859) 255-7309. www.antiqueskentucky.com
Kentucky Christmas Tree Association’s 12th Annual Plant Auction. April 9. A variety of annuals, perennials, balled and burlapped trees and shrubs will be for sale at this event, with a portion of the proceeds used to provide one or more scholarships for students majoring in forestry or related sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Fayette County Extension Office, 1140 Red Mile Place. (859) 257-6955. fayette.ca.uky.edu/
Wild Ones Plant Exchange and Fundraiser. May 5. This social plant exchange fundraiser for the Lexington chapter of Wild Ones will feature seeds, perennials, grasses and sedges, shrubs, trees and vines, all native to the eastern United States (cultivars of a native plant are acceptable). If participants don’t have plants to exchange, bringing finger foods, beer, wine or other food or drink is encouraged. 7 p.m., St. Michael’s Church parking lot, 2025 Bellefonte Drive. For more information and criteria regarding the exchange, visit www.lexington.wildones.org/todo.
Arboretum Spring Plant Sale. May 7. Plants and garden items will be exchanged at this spring event. Plants to be traded must be delivered at 9 a.m., with the exchange beginning at 10 a.m. 9-11 a.m. The Arboretum Visitor Center, 500 Alumni Drive. (859) 257-6955. arboretum.ca.uky.edu/
Garden Clubs of Frankfort and the Bluegrass Iris Society “Garden Party.” May 14. Garden Clubs of Frankfort and the Bluegrass Iris Society have teamed up to present a full day of garden events, including two plant sales (State Capitol grounds, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Liberty Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.), as well as a spectacular flower show inspired by “My Fair Lady,” featuring educational horticulture exhibits, irises, fairy gardens, floral designs and more. 218 Wilkinson St., Frankfort. (859) 396-9691. www.bluegrassiris.org/
May 14. This community fundraiser features plants that are grown, nurtured and generously donated by local Down to Earth club members. Featuring natives, herbs, fruits, vegetables, perennials, wildflowers, grasses, hostas, shrubs, trees, annuals, container gardens, succulents, irises, decorative containers, gardening books, and lots of plants for sun or shade. Proceeds benefit a variety of community organizations. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., taking place rain or shine at Woodland Christian Church, 530 E. High St.
Down to Earth Plant Sale. www.downtoearthky.com.
Kitchen Tours of the Bluegrass. May 21-22. Now managed by Smiley Pete Publishing as a benefit for the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass, this annual self-guided kitchens tour will highlight beautiful and unique kitchens in Lexington homes. 10 a.m-5 p.m. Sat.; 1-5 p.m. on Sun. (859) 218-2322. www.kitchensofthebluegrasstour.com. ss