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This is the last article before our 7th annual Bonanza. It will be held Saturday, March 5, at Maranatha Church, near Forest Lake. If you haven’t already registered, you can do so at the door. Registration begins at 8 a.m. One change from previous years is that there will be no lunch for sale. Those who registered in advance had the option of purchasing a bag lunch. The ‘Cup of Faith’ coffee bar will be open and will also be selling a variety of beverages and snacks.

In the last few articles I have highlighted some of the speakers and classes that will be offered. Tom Dickhudt will have a class on native plants and Jerry Linser a class on beekeeping. Jerry Spetzman offers a class on lawn care and water quality and Jim Birkholz will be speaking on strawberries. Rod Elmstrand and I will offer a class on raspberries.

Elmstrand will conduct another class on blueberries and Birkholz will be speaking on apple care. I have already started pruning my apple orchard and I'm sure Jim has started pruning his orchard also. The difference between Jim's orchard and mine is while I'm pruning 80 trees, Jim is pruning a few thousand. One of the highlights of his apple class is he brings in some apple branches and prunes them during his class. This is the first year we will be taking orders for bare root asparagus plants so Joan Chouinard will teach a class on asparagus and tomato care.

Our two featured speakers will be Deb Brown and Chuck Levine. Levine will talk on the recycled garden. We will show you how to create a fantastic garden using free or almost free materials to add soil, sculptures, color and interest to your garden. Deb Brown has been at the U of M for 28 years as well as writing garden articles for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and several magazines. She will share serious and humorous questions that have been asked of her over those 28 years.

In one of my earlier articles I wrote about a class offered by Ken Schroepfer on moles, voles, and gophers. According to the Extension office, there has been a great deal of interest in this class. One gardener called me and told me that I should have added red squirrels to my article. Maybe Ken will cover them also.

There are other classes that need to be mentioned. Donna Tatting will speak on landscaping a mound septic system including septic systems that are freezing up due to poor snow cover. This includes my own mound system that froze about two weeks ago.

Cassie Clearence will offer a class on plants for water gardens and ponds. Dot Kirchmann is teaching a class on hostas. Patrick Weicherding will speak on tree diseases and Karen Santiano-Francis offers a class on basic gardening.

Many local businesses will be displaying and selling garden related merchandise. It’s a good time to talk to them as they are gearing up for the upcoming season.

Remember we are taking orders for bare-root blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and asparagus plants. You can continue to order up until the Bonanza, at the Bonanza, and after the Bonanza as long as the supply lasts. You can call the Extension office 651-674-4417 or me personally at 651-257-4496. See you at the Bonanza.

Please note: The Extension Office hours have been severely reduced due to staffing problems. We recommend you call before stopping by, 651-674-4417.

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