SPRING FLING - JUST IN TIME!

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Winter?  We're sick of it.  Come out to Spring Fling at the Agricenter today and tomorrow and revel in the Springness of it all!

SPRING FLING 2014 !!!

Mark your calendar now for Spring Fling!

March 21 & 22

9:00 - 5:00

The Big Red Barn at Agricenter International

 

Nationally known garden, floral and life-style expert James Farmer will be the headline speaker at the 2014 Memphis Area Master Gardeners Spring Fling Garden Show and Plant Sale. Farmer has been a popular and engaging speaker with gardening groups across the country, and has appeared on the Today Show and in numerous magazines such as Southern Living and Harper’s Bazaar. He is a nationally acclaimed author of five gardening, cooking and interior design books.

Now in its tenth year, the theme of this year’s Spring Fling is “Get Out and Grow!” The two-day event offers seminars from national, regional and local experts and enthusiasts; hands-on instruction; farm-to-table cooking demonstrations; and fun children’s activities. In addition, more than 50 vendors from six states provide unique plants, accessories and garden-related items in a rare “one stop shop” gardening marketplace.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring their gardening dilemmas to the free “Ask A Master Gardener” Clinic for recommended solutions.  All events are free and open to the public.

Dr. Chris Cooper, UT Extension Agent for Shelby County, says that the Memphis Area Master Gardeners Spring Fling “is unique.  It is the only free garden event in the county devoted entirely to horticulture education and gardening. Many well-known local nurserymen as well as state extension employees support Spring Fling with their contributions and time.”

For more information on this event, contact Shelby County UT Extension at (901) 752-1207 or visit the website. 

Here's a sneak peek!

Memphis Area Master Gardeners (MAMG): The Master Gardener Program is offered by The University of Tennessee Extension Service. Volunteers undergo extensive training and become certified as Master Gardeners. MAMG projects include a wide range of horticultural activities which promote research-based education within the Shelby County community under the supervision of the University of Tennessee Shelby County Extension Service. 

SPRING FLING!

Get yourself out there on this beautiful Friday and Saturday!

For schedule and details, check this article in Friday's Commercial Appeal.

Get out to Spring Fling!

Yay!  The sun is shining and Spring Fling opens today!  It looks like the weather will be the perfect payoff for the hours and hours of hard work invested by the Spring Fling committee and volunteers. 

Spring Fling is the perfect way to get motivated for the new gardening season!  So get out to the Agricenter and see what's happnin'!!!

Spring Fling Spotlight: For your Shopping Pleasure!

In addition to the MAMG Crafts Booth, there will be numerous shops and organizations with merchandise to sell and information to share.

Spring Fling Spotlight: Crafts

Some of the items which will be offered for sale in the MAMG Craft Booth:

• garden spinners
• hand painted chimes
• hand painted windows
• suet cake holders from found objects
• large lady bugs made from bowling balls
• earrings from found shells

Come early to get the best choice!

Spring Fling Spotlight: Starting Seeds - Cheaper by the Dozen

When Master Gardener Tom Mashour was a Cub Master in California, his pack raised money by going door to door selling cardboard egg cartons pre-seeded with 12 varieties of tomatoes.  They sold 200 in about 2 hours at a buck apiece.  That was 40 years ago!

Spring Fling Spotlight: Recycle Right

Want to learn how to be a better steward of the environment?  At Spring Fling we will teach you:

• what can go into your kitchen compost pail (and what can't!)
• what to do with the lint from your dryer
• new uses for toilet tissue and paper towel holders and for egg shells
• how to crochet those ubiquitous plastic bags into washable, reusable totes
• ways to use wood scraps in floral arrangements
• to fashion yard art from found items, including broken garden tools

  

You'll get tips on how to share your new-found knowledge with your family, friends, and neighbors so that we can all be better stewards of our air, soil, and water. 

The best part?  It's fun, inexpensive, and efficient!

Spring Fling Spotlight: the Speakers

Spring Fling activities include opportunities to hear knowledgeable and entertaining gardeners speak about their favorite subjects.  From nationally known Felder Rushing to our very own Carl Wayne Hardeman, there is surely something that you'll enjoy learning!

Spring Fling Spotlight: Children and Butterflies!

A child is a butterfly in the wind,
Some fly higher than others,
But each one flies the best that it can.
Each one is different,
Each one is special,
Each one is beautiful.
          -Author Unknown


Children are naturally drawn to gardening and this year's Spring Fling will have butterfly activities to encourage their interest.  The children will plant Echinacea seeds in small containers that they can decorate with butterfly and flower stickers.  They will also make a small garden stake for their little pot.  Hanging butterfly cutouts have secret colors that will be revealed!  Butterfly booklets will be given to each child and glitter pens and other washable (!) pens will be available for the children to decorate the booklet covers.  Parents, bring your cameras and take pictures of your little ones as butterflies in our photo fence!

A special treat:  one of our new Master Gardener interns is The Balloon Lady!  She will create butterfly and flower balloons for the children.





The Children's Booth will be open Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 til 4:00 and all activities are free.  For more information about Spring Fling, click here.