Events

Look at what is happening around Kansas City

If you’d like to list plants sales, gardening related meetings, classes and workshops, send details with contact information to elizabeth@kcgmag.com. Deadline for publishing in the July issue is June 10. This is a FREE listing.

CLUB MEETINGS

Greater Kansas City Iris Society
Mon, Jun 9, Gather 6:30p, Meeting 7-9p; at Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. Speaker: Our own Dr Jim Waddick presenting a program on Beardless Water Iris. He has traveled to a number of different countries, collecting uncommon Iris species. He was awarded the British Iris Society’s Foster Memorial Plaque in 2014 for “achievements and assiduous efforts in collecting and hybridizing irises.” He will share some of his extensive knowledge of the Genus Iris.

Heartland Hosta and Shade Plant Society
Sat, Sep 13, Hospitality at 9:30a brief meeting, speaker 10a-12p; at the Woods Chapel Community of Christ Church, 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. Guests are welcome.

Idalia Butterfly Society
Sat, Jun 14, 5p; at Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St, Overland Park, KS 66204. Program: “Butterfly Festival Adventures.” Located in the beautiful, biodiverse Rio Grande Valley, Mission, Texas has been called the “Butterfly Capital of the USA.” The National Butterfly Center in Mission has hosted the Texas Butterfly Festival for almost 30 years. This program will explore the history and the experience of attending this festival. Carole Tomlinson, avid gardener and butterfly enthusiast, has participated THREE times in the last ten years and is excited to attend again in 2025! She says this is an essential journey for any butterfly lover. Doors open at 5p for light refreshments and social time; program begins at 5:45p following a brief “business and announcements” session. FREE and open to all. Bring a friend! Questions? Please call/text 816-283-6258, or email us at idaliasociety@yahoo.com. Also, look for us on Facebook at Idalia Society of Mid-American Lepidopterists.

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners
Wed, Jun 11, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Dan Heryer from Compost Collective KC will share the basics, valuable impacts of composting and how converting food waste into a nutrient-rich compost helps to replenish soil. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more info contact Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.

Raytown Garden Club
Tues, Jun 3, 10a; at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64133. Program will be “Bringing Joy and Beauty to Our Gardens with Hyper Tufa”, presented by Keith Wheeler, longtime member of the Kansas City Hosta & Native Plant Societies. Guests are always welcome. For more information please check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub.

PLANT SALES | GARDEN TOURS

Kansas City Rose Day
Sun, Jun 1, 1-4p; at Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden in Loose Park. View the results of the Rose Show in the Garden Center with hundreds of blue-ribbon winners and gleaming trophies. In the garden, enjoy family activities, live entertainment, and an afternoon of beauty in this world-renowned rose garden. Free to everyone. Visit www.kansascityrosesociety.org for further information.

Fox Hollow Festival
Sun, Jun 1, 12-5p (12-2:30p for MGGKC activities); at Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 East Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64132. Enjoy an afternoon filled with fun activities for all ages. Attendance is free with optional items for sale. Proceeds go to Friends of Fox Hollow for trail maintenance and improvements. To enhance your experience, you’re encouraged to bring a folding chair, hat, bug spray and a refillable cup. We will have free cold drinks. This is a dog friendly event. Dogs must be on a leash and are not permitted inside the building. Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Children’s Programs will be presenting “Pollinators: Not Just Bees and Butterflies.” Children can learn about other living and non-living ways plants are pollinated, and discover these pollinators work by day and night. There will be an experiment using an insect to pollinate paper flowers and learn ways to help pollinators in their own home and community. MGGKC activities will be 12-2:30p. From 2:30 to 5p, enjoy festival activities such as food trucks, live music, and adult beverages. For more info visit https://lakesidenaturecenter.org/event/fox-hollow-fest-2/

Join us for the ultimate Garden Party as we toast 150 years of K-State Gardens!
Fri, Jun 6, 6:30p; at the Gardens, 1500 Denison Ave, Manhattan, KS. The Board of Directors of the Kansas State University Gardens is presenting events to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Gardens which are located on the KSU campus! This milestone celebration promises an unforgettable evening of fun and festivity–all in support of the beloved Gardens we cherish. Help us to make history together! (Event is better suited for adults) Register online by Fri, May 30 at k-state.edu/celebrate.

MGGKC Garden Tour
Jun 6 and 7, 9a-4p; Lee’s Summit. Join MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City (MGGKC) for our 2025 Garden Tour. We are featuring seven beautiful gardens in Lee’s Summit. The gardens–Viva Vegetables, Naturally Natives, Tree Tales, Cul-de-Sac Creations, Suburban Sanctuary, Lakeside Lessons, and Artistic Designs, provide unique experiences to delight both experienced and novice gardeners. Visitors will be inspired by the blending of art, native plants, vegetables mingled with traditional plantings, environmentally friendly gardening practices, secluded spaces, and plant specimens not always seen in residential settings. Tickets are $20 per person (children 12 and under attend free of charge) and can be bought online, in person, and at select retailers. For online tickets please use the following link: https://form.jotform.com/250194247684059. Tickets may be picked up at the “Will Call” table at Garden 1, Viva Vegetables. The address for Viva Vegetables “Will Call” will be included with your purchase receipt. On-site credit card and debit purchases may be made at Gardens 1, Viva Vegetables, and Garden 7, Artistic Designs. Cash purchases available at all gardens. Visit mggkc.org/our-projects/garden-tour/ for complete details.

Heartland Hosta & Shade Plant Society Annual Spring Plant Sale
Sat, Jun 7, 9am-2pm; at Woods Chapel Community of Christ Church, 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. The sale features over 1200 plants including 68 varieties of Hosta and plenty of shade/part shade perennials! Prices start at $10 and we have all sizes of Hosta from mini to giant to suit all size gardens. This sale is open to the public. Sale list with pictures and descriptions will be available on the club website prior to the sale. For more information please visit www.HeartlandHosta.club or the Facebook page www.Facebook.com/HeartlandHostaandShadePlantSociety/.

Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association Funday Expo
Sat, Jun 7, 8a-6p; at Douglas County Fairgrounds, Lawrence, KS, 2120 Harper St, Lawrence, KS 66046. Funday is an exciting annual event for beekeepers in the Midwest. This fun learning opportunity is for beekeepers with all levels of experience. There will be national and local speakers, a swarm demo with a bee beard competition, a marking the queen activity, in-hive demos, honey and wax workshops. Sessions include gardening for wildlife, designing a honey house, winter preparations, and swarm management. Also included is lunch, honey ice cream, vendors, silent auction, and more. There will also be a queen rearing workshop for the first 25 participants to contact Joli Winer at 913-593-3562. New this year is a photography contest and decorative hive painting competition. To learn more and to register visit www.nekba.org.

Free Flower and Train Tour
Sat, Jun 14, 9a-5p; at 1503 Ensley Circle, Raymore, MO. We have six Garden trains that run through the entire back yard, KOI pond with two water falls, we planted over 1,000 plants that will be in full bloom. You will not want to miss this tour.

Deep Roots Habitat Garden Tour and Native Plant Sale
Sat, Jun 14. Habitat Garden Tour: 9a-2p in Waldo, MO. Register at www.deeproots.org. Experience a diverse range of native plant gardens grown by Kansas City area residents. Meet other native gardeners and wildlife supporters and find inspiration and information to grow your own habitat garden. Native Plant Sale: 10a-2p at the Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Place your Pre-Orders today with vendors today for pick up at our Sat, Jun 14 sale at the Anita B Gorman Discovery Center! Vendors include City Roots Nursery, Sow Wild Natives, and Missouri Wildflower Nursery. Visit www.deeproots.org for more information.

Garden Sampler Tour
Sat, Jun 14, 9a-5p, Rain or Shine. Visit https://gardenclubofshawnee.org for latest information regarding Club and tour event.

Grow Your Knowledge: Gardening Tips & Hands-On Fun for Kids!
Sat, Jun 14, 8-11:30a; at The Gardens at Unity Village, 150 B Colbern Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO. Step into a century of history and nostalgia at The Gardens at Unity Village Produce Market. Nestled behind the iconic three-story barn, three cultivated acres yield a bounty of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. Volunteers from the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City will be on hand to share expert, research-based gardening knowledge with the community. Children can take part in a hands-on educational activity, discovering the wonders of gardening and plant life. This free event welcomes all ages, and no registration is required.

Produce Market at The Gardens at Unity Village
Sat, Jun 14, 8-11:30a; at Unity Village, 150B Northwest Colbern Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086. Step into a century of history and nostalgia at The Gardens at Unity Village Produce Market. Nestled behind the iconic three-story barn, three cultivated acres yield a bounty of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. Volunteers from the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City will be on hand to share expert, research-based gardening knowledge with the community. Children can take part in a hands-on educational activity, discovering the wonders of gardening and plant life. Free event.

George Owens Nature Park Native Plant Academy
Sat, Jun 14, Class 3: Native Flowers and Prairie Ecosystems. This 9-month course will deepen your knowledge about the native plants of Missouri as you network with other gardening enthusiasts through class and field work. Class work includes lectures, readings and a research project. Field work involves the creation of a community native plant garden and educational materials that will be used in the park. All classes are on Saturdays, 1-3p and designed for gardeners and naturalists 16 years and older. Limited to 35 seats. Cost: $50.00 per class. Price includes all materials. How to register: Follow the link below or call the George Owens Nature Park front desk at 816-325-7115, Tues–Sat, 9a-5p. Credit/ Debit card only. https://webtrac.indepmo.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?display=detail&module=AR&type=YOUTH,WELL,TRIPS,THEAT,SPORT,SPCEV,NATUR,IUM,FMLY,CLUBS,AQUAT,ADULT,ADAPT,60%2B&_csrf_token=bH6G706T0U6V3N40393B2S4G5B5X5G566H5F5S5F6T6Z6W4K6L511E004A5A541F4W5O556H1W5J4E516E025O614S6G07703X54501I685P54691K5S4L5B4R005P4S5S

Community garden Tuesday Talks
Tues, Jun 17, 6:30-7:30p; at Harmon Park, W 77th Pl & Delmar St, Prairie Village, KS 66208. The Prairie Village Community Gardens and the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office are partnering to offer a series of monthly educational garden workshops. These sessions will be held on the third Tues of every month from April through Sept. In case of inclement weather, the workshops will take place at the Harmon Park Pavilion. All are welcome to attend these free workshops. Bring your lawn chairs and notebooks!

Summer Solstice Fairy Garden Day
Fri, Jun 20; at Vinland Valley, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Celebrate the first day of summer with a day of fairy garden activities! Explore the fairy garden, make a fairy puppet, complete a fairy scavenger hunt, plant a fairy garden planter, and shop for supplies for your home fairy garden.vinlandvalleynursery.com; 785-594-2966

Summer Nights in the Greenhouse
Jun 20, Jul 18, Aug 15; at Vinland Valley, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Join us and stay late third Fridays in June, July and August for evening shopping, mocktails, and relaxation. vinlandvalleynursery.com; 785-594-2966

Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale
Sat, Jun 21, 9a-4p (Show opens at 10a) and Sun, Jun 22, 10a-3p; at the Elks Lodge, 515 East 99th St, Kansas City, MO. Presented by the Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society. For more information, check out our website: kccactus.com and our Facebook page: The Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society.

Daylily Open Garden Tour
Fri, Jul 4 and Sat, Jul 5, 9a-1p; at Hart’s Daylilies, 7460 W 255th, Louisburg, KS. Celebrating 33 years. Pre-orders taken for August delivery. Over 700 varieties to choose from. Call or text 816/769-4600 for more information.

Garden Railroad Tour
Sat, Jul 12, 8a-4p; Sat, Jul 26, 8a-4p; and Sat, Aug 23, 8a-4p. Adults and kids are invited to tour a variety of unique train gardens at homes in the greater Kansas City area. They are like a miniature world with model trains running through garden landscaping, with small houses and buildings, trees, plants, water features, bridges and tunnels. The admission for this self-guided tour is $10 per car which includes seeing all the gardens on tour. The host, MO-KAN Garden Railroaders will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to Harvesters. For tickets and tour guide, go to www.mokangardenrailroaders.org.

George Owens Nature Park Native Plant Academy
Sat, Jul 12, Class 4: Native vs. Invasive Species. This 9-month course will deepen your knowledge about the native plants of Missouri as you network with other gardening enthusiasts through class and field work. Class work includes lectures, readings and a research project. Field work involves the creation of a community native plant garden and educational materials that will be used in the park. All classes are on Saturdays, 1-3p and designed for gardeners and naturalists 16 years and older. Limited to 35 seats. Cost: $50.00 per class. Price includes all materials. How to register: Follow the link below or call the George Owens Nature Park front desk at 816-325-7115, Tues–Sat, 9a-5p. Credit/ Debit card only. https://webtrac.indepmo.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?display=detail&module=AR&type=YOUTH,WELL,TRIPS,THEAT,SPORT,SPCEV,NATUR,IUM,FMLY,CLUBS,AQUAT,ADULT,ADAPT,60%2B&_csrf_token=bH6G706T0U6V3N40393B2S4G5B5X5G566H5F5S5F6T6Z6W4K6L511E004A5A541F4W5O556H1W5J4E516E025O614S6G07703X54501I685P54691K5S4L5B4R005P4S5S

Gladstone Children’s Garden Day
Sat, Jul 12, 9a-12p; at Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum, 4109 NE Pleasant Valley Rd, Gladstone, MO 64119. Young children and their parents can experience visiting an active vegetable garden, take part in garden-themed activities, participate in a scavenger hunt for garden items from bugs to vegetables and flowers. They can experience MU Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) digging potatoes and leave with a sack filled with potatoes, onions, turnips and other vegetables that may be ready for harvest at the time. Extension Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer any gardening questions. Families welcome, children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult

Bug Extravaganza
Sat, Jul 19, 10a-2p; at Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64132. Join Lakeside Nature Center for this native wildlife event and observe a working beehive and a caterpillar zoo. There will be information tables that feature insect life cycles, supporting pollinator species and insect predators. MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Children’s Programs will be presenting “Flower Power.” Children will learn about the anatomy of flowers. They will discover plants can self-pollinate, cross-pollinate and that some true self-pollinators don’t need pollinators at all. Learn how and why flowers are pollinated, and what happens afterwards. For more information visit https://lakesidenaturecenter.org/

Miami County Fall Garden Tour
Sep 5-6, 9a-5p. “A September to Remember”, sponsored by the Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardeners returns. Five country gardens near Paola and Louisburg are showcased, including a certified butterfly and pollinator garden, a restored prairie, a high tunnel and herb garden, a container and art display, and an extensive cutting garden. The $20 ticket is good for both days and can be purchased at your first garden stop or at the Paola Extension Office. Watch for our ad with a map and descriptive articles in the July and August issues of the Kansas City Gardener. More information will be available on www.facebook.com/mdcemg, www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu or call our Paola Extension Office 913-294-4306.

Summer Youth Gardening Program
Univ of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City is conducting a summer gardening program for youth ages 9-13. In the Garden ‘N Grow Program, youths learn not only vegetable gardening, but also “cultivate” other science, math, and language arts skills and have fun! The goals of this program are to experience the fun of gardening, to enjoy a feeling of success, and to have the satisfaction of sharing harvested food with family and/or local food banks. Program will be held on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-11a, from Jun 2 thru Aug 14 at Fairview Christian in Gladstone. Registration is required—NO Walk-ins. There is a supply fee of $45 payable by check or cash at the first week of Garden N Grow. For more information contact Debbie Johnson, Extension Master Gardener at djw603@gmail.com or Cass Sullivan, Extension Master Gardener at cass.sullivan301@gmail.com.

CLASSES | WORKSHOPS

Garden Jargon
Thurs, Jun 12, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007. Master Gardeners Duane Horne, Pat Matthews and Linda Forsberg invite you to join them for an informational presentation covering several gardening terms (“Garden Jargon”) used by gardeners and how understanding their meaning can help you have a more successful garden. Subjects will include: the different types of gardeners; where to find online help with gardening questions; the different life cycles of flowering plants; understanding what is in a bag of fertilizer and choosing the best fertilizer for your garden. Also, companion gardening; preparing the soil; the different types of tomatoes; proper pruning methods. Questions will definitely be encouraged. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. More information contact Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.

Bucket Gardening in Small Spaces
Thurs, Jun 26, 7p; Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Have you always wanted a garden but have been limited on space or time? Bucket gardening is a great way to grow your favorite herbs and veggies with a minimal amount of space and effort. Growing in buckets also keeps weeds and pests to a minimum. Just water regularly and make sure your buckets are in a sunny location. You can harvest your crops all the way to the first frost for many types of plants. Come to our presentation with Master Gardener, Dianne Scott, to learn how to set up your own bucket garden! The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.