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 [email protected]. Deadline for publishing in the March issue is February 10. This is a FREE listing.

 

Heartland Hosta and Shade Plant Society
Sat, Mar 22, Hospitality 9:30-10a, Club Mtg 10-10:45a, Speaker 10:45a-noon; at Woods Chapel Community of Christ, 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. Topic: Companion shrubs, perennials and annuals for the part shade/ shade garden. Members, Guests and public welcome. See our website: www.heartlandhosta.club and on Facebook: https://facebook.com/HeartlandHostaAndShadePlantSociety.

Idalia Butterfly Society
Sat, Mar 8, 5p; at Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St, Overland Park, KS 66204. Our program will be “Container Gardening with Native Plants: YES You Can!”, given by Michele Livergood (MU Extension Master Gardener) and Carole Tomlinson (Idalia Society Treasurer). Native plants are beautiful, and vital to the bees and butterflies we all love. You CAN provide pollinator habitat without a traditional garden! Doors open at 5 PM for light refreshments and social time; program begins at 5:45 PM following a brief “business and announcements” session. This FREE program is a wonderful kick-off to your gardening season, and all are welcome. Bring a friend! Questions? Please call/text 816-283-6258, or email us at [email protected]. Also, look for us on Facebook at Idalia Society of Mid-American Lepidopterists. 

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners
Wed, Feb 12, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Robert Burns of the Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers’ Association (NEKBA) will discuss the basics of beekeeping, bee-friendly gardens, how to protect our pollinators and the importance of bees for our environment. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.

Leawood Garden Club
Tues, Feb 25, 10:30a; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206. Speaker: Michele Livergood, “Monarch Waystation in a Suburban Yard.” Monarchs are one of the most recognizable butterflies. We’ll teach you the requirements needed to turn your yard into a Monarch Waystation that will provide for the Monarch during their migrations. Monarch populations continue to decline. Your yard can provide a place that provides the needed resources from egg to chrysalis during their migrations. We will discuss nectar and host plants and the pros and cons of different types of milkweeds.

Raytown Garden Club
Tues, Feb 4, 10a; at Connection Point Church, 10500 E 350 Hwy, Raytown, MO 64138. The program will be “Sprouting & Microgreens Improve Our Lives”, presented by Iva Stribling, RGC Member. Guests are always welcome. For more information about our club, check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub

And 

Tues, Mar 4, 10a; Program will be “Improve the Well-Being of Our Bluebird Friends”, presented by Jack Corrigan, Certified Master Naturalist, Member of the Missouri Bluebird Society and Ambassador for their Nesting Box Program.

SHOWS | PLANTS SALES | SPEAKER SERIES

Houseplant Bingo
Sun, Feb 2, 2p; at Arnold’s Prairie Greenhouse & More, 1430 Hwy 58, LeRoy, KS 66857. Join us for winter fun. Find us on Facebook for all the latest news. 620-964-2423

Gardeners Connect Free Speaker Series
Tues, Feb 11, 7p; at Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater, Merriam, KS 66202. This program is part of the Gardeners Connect Free Speaker Series. Kansas City-area author of several cookbooks Judith Fertig has a special treat planned. An avid gardener herself, she loves visiting gardens for ideas and inspiration. She plans to share with a Gardeners Connect audience a program titled “The Gardens of Portugal.” She will present stories and photos she took on a recent tour from the capital city Lisbon north to Porto. “The gardens are a mix of somewhat formal gardens that were created around religious shrines (holy springs on top of mountains), vineyards, and kitchen gardens,” Judith said. Gardens in Portugal are noted for using hand-painted tiles, she said. Find out more about Gardeners Connect on Facebook or at GardenersConnect.org.

Yoderbilt Home & Flower Show
Fri, Feb 28, 12-7p; Sat, Mar 1, 10a-7p; Sun, Mar 2, 10a-4p; at Bartle Hall. Adults $13.75, Youth 16 & under are free! For details and a discount admission coupon: KCMOhomeshow.com

Spring Fling 2025
Sat, Mar 8, 1-4p; at 501 N Dodgion St, Independence, MO (next to Habitat Restore). Join Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City for Spring Fling 2025. MGGKC Speaker’s Bureau presentations will provide information about Adaptive Gardening, Natives in Containers, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Extension Master Gardeners from each of our gardens and projects will have gardening demonstrations and takeaways to inspire your creativity. There will also be activities for children to teach them about plants and beneficial bugs. Our motto is “Helping Others Learn to Grow” and we look forward to giving you the tips and information you need to help your garden bloom. Free to the public, children 16 and under welcome when with an adult.

Flower, Home & Garden Show
Sat, Mar 22, 9a-3p; at Heritage Event & Arts Center, 109 Delaware St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Admission $2 per person. Join us for a fun-filled and informative event! Visit our vendors and shop for flowers, plants, home decor, and garden equipment. Enter win 50/50 raffle and door prizes. Leavenworth County Master Gardeners will be making presentations throughout the event. 913-682-2122; www.heritagecenter-leavenworth.com

Kansas City Garden Symposium 
Sat, Mar 22, 9a-3:15p; at Rockhurst University Campus, Science Center 115, 54th and Troost Entrance, Kansas City, MO 64110. Three speakers. Four presentations. Lunch. Snacks. Gift bag. Tickets: $99. See website for details and register at gardenersconnect.org

Eat Local & Organic Expo
Sat, Mar 29, 9a-2p; at Avila University. Free admission, Free Parking. Kick off farmers market season at the Eat Local & Organic Expo! Shop with more than 30 KC Food Circle™ farmers who pledge to meet high standards for growing plants and mushrooms, beekeeping and raising animals. Attendees can talk directly with farmers as they sign up for weekly farm shares, buy transplants for their gardens, and get the freshest early spring products for their dinner tables. kchealthykids.org

Kansas Healthy Yards Expo 
Sat, Mar 29, 9a-2p; at the Shawnee Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Dr, Shawnee. This event will be free to attend. For more, visit www.johnson.k-state.edu or call 913-715-7000.

2025 Mid-MO Homestead Expo!
Mar 28-29; at Twin Oaks Event Center, LLC in West Central Missouri! Enjoy engaging speakers on foraging, high tunnel growing, and more, live blacksmith demos, knife sharpening, unique vendors, and a seed swap. General Admission is FREE! Premium tickets ($15) offer early access to reserve seats for limited speaker sessions. Tickets through our event page. https://facebook.com/events/s/2025-homestead-expo/360047573785897/ 

Paola Spring Plant Sale
Apr 24, 25, 26, New Location INDOOR SHOPPING at the Miami County Fairgrounds Bldg #2, 401 Wallace Park Dr, Paola, KS. Featuring pesticide-free locally grown plants. In addition to the usual selection of butterfly host plants, pollinator flowers and native perennials, there will be ornamental annuals, perennials, herbs, succulents, hanging baskets, trees and veggies. Extension Master Gardeners, including butterfly expert Lenora Larson, will be on hand to assist More info at www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdcemg or call the office: 913-294-4306.

Thyme for Kids Plant Sale 
Cornerstones of Care is hosting our 2025 Thyme for Kids Plant Sale on Apr 25-26. More details to follow.

 

CLASSES | WORKSHOPS

Winter Sowing
Thurs, Feb 6, 11:30a; in the Sunflower Room at the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Sponsored by Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. Naomi Ruff, a Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardener, will provide information about the advantages of winter sowing, what can be sown in the winter, and how to prepare containers for winter sowing. She will also demonstrate winter sowing. The public is invited to attend. Pre-registration is not required. A $10 class fee, payable by cash or check, will be collected at the door. If you have questions, give us a call at 913-299-9300.

Houseplants 101 
Sat, Feb 8, 1p; at Vinland Valley Nursery, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. In this workshop, we’ll cover basic houseplant care. We’ll provide plant lists detailing different maintenance levels and cultural requirements to help you select tropicals and succulents that will thrive in your home. You will take home a small tropical plant and 16-ounce bottle of Arber plant food to get your green thumb growing. $40 // Preregister by Feb 7, space is limited. 785-594-2966

Integrated Pest Management
Thurs, Mar 6, 11:30a; in the Sunflower Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Cory Creed, the Wyandotte County Extension Horticulture Agent, will present Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Garden, which is designed to help gardeners manage pests, while also minimizing negative environmental impact. IPM is a sustainable approach to pest control that combines multiple holistic strategies to manage problems in the garden. Registration is not required. A $10 class fee will be collected at the door. Questions: Call 913-299-9300.

30th Annual Beginning Beekeeping Workshop
Sat, Mar 8, Registration: 7:30-8a; Workshop: 8a-4:30p with breaks and lunch break; at The New Yellow Rock Barn, 8307 Westridge Rd, Raytown, MO 64138. Presented by Midwestern Beekeepers Association. Learn about Honey Bee Biology, Equipment, Acquiring and Installing bees, Seasonal Management, Bee Diseases, Pest Management, Extracting honey and much more. The complete course includes class, handbook, 1 year association membership, and a monthly newsletter. Breaktime refreshments and Lunch will be provided. www.midwesternbeekeepers.org

A Rose for Every Garden
Sat, Mar 29. Save the date. Time and location details to come. Program, “A Rose for Every Garden,” by Laura Dickinson. Anyone can grow beautiful roses. All it takes is understanding the plant’s needs and picking the right variety for your garden. This class will review basic rose care, rose varieties and how new hybrids are developed, and how to select the best roses for your gardening needs. Laura Dickinson is President of the Kansas City Rose Society and Master Rosarian. She is active in rose education in the Kansas City area and nationwide through the American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian program. She lives in Leawood, KS, and has a special interest in easy-care landscape roses. Her motto is: Roses are easier than tomatoes!