By Susan DeBlieck
International MG event in Council Bluffs will expand gardeners’ knowledge of plants and animals native to Midwest
The biennial International Master Gardener Conference will be held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs on Sept. 22–25. Co-hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, the conference theme “Horticultural Horizons in the Heartland” will be explored with 15 presentations on plants and animals native to the Midwest.
“At the International Master Gardeners Conference, it’s exhilarating to have so many exciting presentations to choose from under one roof,” said Jan Riggenbach, author, feature writer for Midwest Living magazine and a presenter at the conference. “I particularly like the Midwest Flavor track, showcasing some of this region’s unique prairie gems that are fantastic candidates for home gardens.”
Five presentations featuring native plants include:
- Lisa Hickey, urban horticulture extension educator with University of Florida, Palmetto, Fla., will present the topic “Meet, Greet, and Eat Your Midwestern Prairie Natives.”
- Heather Holm, author of Pollinators of Native Plants and landscape designer from Minneapolis, Minn., will present “Native Bees and Their Role as Pollinators of Native Plants.”
- Joanne Langabee, science teacher and master gardener volunteer at Lauritzen Gardens in Bellevue, Neb., will present “Gardening with Wildflowers.”
- Lynn Loughary, horticulture extension educator from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., will present “Gardening with Insects.”
- Jan Riggenbach, feature writer for Midwest Living magazine, author of Your Midwest Garden, An Owner’s Manual and syndicated garden columnist from Lincoln, Neb., will present “Little Prairie by the House.”
- “Gardeners nationwide play a crucial role in supporting habitat for 4,000 bee species and other pollinators when the appropriate plants are provided,” said Heather Holm, author and landscape designer from Minneapolis, Minn. At the conference participants will learn about the amazing diversity of bees that call North America home and what types of plants are needed to attract bees.
The conference includes 10 tours of attractions to showcase Iowa and Nebraska’s landscapes. One of the tours includes a trip to Iowa’s Loess Hills State Forest to explore the unique land formation and see various prairie species at the Lavender Farm in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Participants in the tour of Lincoln, Neb., will visit Pioneers Park Nature Center to experience tallgrass prairie and rain gardens.
Registration
The 3-day conference’s early registration price is $385 by June 30; the cost after July 1 is $440. A single-day registration option is also available. All fee options include lunch; registration closes Aug. 31. The Mid-America Center is located at 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The 2015 International Master Gardener Conference is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Iowa Master Gardeners, Nebraska Master Gardeners and the International Master Gardeners.
For more information or to register, visit http://mastergardener.unl.edu/imgc2015. If planning ahead, the 2017 International Master Gardener Conference will be July 10-14, 2017 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.