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 September issue is August 7. This is a FREE listing.

 

Garden Club of Shawnee
Thurs, Aug 6, 7p; at Shawnee Town, 1929 Town Hall, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. Our program will be “Native Plants and Shrubs for the Shade” presented by Ann Manzardo, JOCO Extension Master Naturalist. We will serve drinks and snacks, and great door prizes will be given away. As always, visitors are welcome! You can also learn about us at our website gardenclubofshawnee.org and our Facebook page.

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

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners
Wed, Aug 19, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Erin Busenhart, Family Tree Nursery will share tips on “the best and brightest of the year” including discussion on natives and cultivars. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth Co K-State extension office at 913-364-5700.

Olathe Garden & Civic Club
Tues, Aug 18, 1p; Grace Church, Chapel, 11485 S Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, KS 66061. Club Meeting & Flower Show Prep **Free & Open to the Public** Join us for a meeting with details about how and what to enter in the annual Flower & Horticultural show at the Johnson County Old Settlers event in September.

Raytown Garden Club
Tues, Sep 1, 10a; at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64133. The program will be “Growing Trees as Mother Earth Intended,” presented by Matt Evans, Ryan Lawn & Tree, Certified Master Arborist. Guest are always welcome. For more information about our club, check our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub

TOURS | SHOWS | SALES AND MORE

Water Garden Society Tour
See our ad on page 17 in the August issue.

Forest Forms
Now through Sep 30; at Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. An artful exploration of nature’s lines, rhythm and movement. 

Special Garden Experience at the Backyard Garden
Wed, Aug 5, 9-11a; K-State Backyard Garden, 35230 W 135th St, Olathe, KS 66061. Join the Johnson County Silver Clovers for an exclusive visit to the Backyard Garden—an educational garden normally closed to the public. Explore the All‑American Garden and see how plant varieties are tested, showcased, and grown using research‑based practices. Learn whether you’re a first‑time gardener ready to start or a seasoned gardener looking for new ideas and inspiration. Discover the purpose behind the Backyard Garden and how it supports learning, experimentation, and community wellness. FREE for Silver Clovers. Registration required: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/ then Classes and Events.

Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers Market
Sat, Aug 8, 8a-noon; at 11 Gallatin St, Liberty, MO 64068. Visit the Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City (MGGKC) at the Public Relations Table, where we’ll be sharing fun, research-based horticulture information along with details about Missouri University Extension services and programs! Free, Family-friendly (all ages) with children supervised by a parent or adult.

Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Shows
Aug 21-22 Missouri State Fair • Sep 4-5 Powell Gardens • Oct 2-3 Suburban Lawn & Garden (135th & Wornall Rd, KCMO). For more information on shows or regular meetings held at the Anita B Gorman Conservation Center, visit our website www.kcdahlia.org; Or email: greaterkcdahlia@gmail.com.

GKC Iris Society Plant Sale
Sat, Aug 22, 10a-3p; at Social Hall, Colonial Church of Prairie Village, 7039 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. New and historic varieties of iris grown by local members will be offered for sale. Members will be available to answer questions on growing iris.

Flower Fest at Powell Gardens Colonial Farms
Sat, Aug 22 and Sun, Aug 23, 11a-3p; at Powell Gardens Colonial Farms, 27610 East Wyatt Road, Blue Springs, MO 64014. Come bloom with us at Flower Fest at Colonial Farms! Since Powell Gardens took the reins, the farm has been bursting with family-friendly fun—and this event is no exception. Enjoy snacks, beverages, games, friendly goats, and the chance to pick your own beautiful bouquet. It’s a fresh-picked day of fun for the whole family! Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to help kids create pressed-flower bookmarks, share helpful, research-based gardening information and hand out soil testing kits. Family-friendly (all ages) with children supervised by parent or adult. Free, no registration needed.

Native Plant Sale
Sat, Sep 5, 8a-noon; at Lenexa Farmers Market, 17201 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66219. Fall is a smart time to plant native perennials to set them up for healthy spring growth. Get advice from area nurseries on how to pick easy-care, pollinator-friendly plants. For more information, lenexa.com/nativeplantsale.

Monarch Watch Fall Open House
Sat, Sep 12, 9a-2p; at Monarch Watch, Foley Hall, KU West Campus, 2021 Constant Ave, Lawrence, KS 66047. https://monarchwatch.org/events. We’ll be celebrating the arrival of migrating monarchs coming from the north. This is a free, family-friendly, and mainly outdoors event, with activities for both children and adults. We’ll also have tours of our gardens, numerous educational activities, tagging demonstrations, games, monarch butterflies, caterpillars, and (new this year) butterfly host plants available in limited quantities for fall planting. Check our event page on our website for further details and updates to our Fall Open House.

Urban Grown Tour
Sun, Sep 13, 10a-4p. This year’s tour features 15 farms and gardens across the Kansas City Metro and aims to connect to the community with the folks who grow their food. You can learn more about the tour at https://www.cultivatekc.org/urban-grown-tour/.

Terra Luna
Sep 10-12 and 17-19. Immerse yourself in a spellbinding experience created exclusively for the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens by Quixotic! Ticket sales opening Aug 3. https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/terra-luna/

Gesneriad Flower Show
Sep 25, 8a–4p (Entries and Judging), and Sep 26, 9a-2p (Show and Sale open to the public); at Overland Park Christian Church, 7600 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS. Heart of America Gesneriad Society, a chapter of The Gesneriad Society, Inc., Presents A Judged Flower Show “America, Land of Gesneriads.” Contact Linda Hall for entries: lhall@grm.net. Admission to the Show and Sale is Free.

Kaw Valley Farm Tour 22nd Annual
Oct 3-4. Get tickets and plan your adventure at: kawvalleyfarmtour.org

Houseplant Palooza Symposium
Sat, Oct 17, 9a-4p; at Fulkerson Center, Missouri Western State Univ, St Joseph, MO. Presented by Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners. Learn how to be successful growing indoor plants from preparing them for winter, propagation, succulents, and houseplant bonsai. Tickets $54 including lunch and a plant to take home. Register at https://nwmomastergardeners.org

 

CLASSES | WEBINARS 

Gardening with a Master Gardener: Growing & Drying Flowers for Floral Arrangements
Tues, Aug 4, 2p; Virtual, Free Webinar, offered by K-State Extension Johnson County. What are the best flowers to grow for dried arrangements? What are the different ways we can dry or preserve them? What are some fun ways to use them in wreaths, door decorations, table runners, and everlasting vase arrangements. Register at:
https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/consumer-horticulture/garden-hour/

K-State Garden Hour Webinar: Local Food Gardening Projects in Kansas
Wed, Aug 5, noon-1p. Virtual Webinar FREE. Extension is committed to community success and expanding access to healthy food. Join K-State Horticulture Agents from around the state to learn more about food gardening initiatives in Kansas. Explore the success stories of these gardens and discover how these programs give back to the community through education, volunteerism, and shared harvests. Dive into practical strategies that inspire collaboration and help expand food gardening opportunities statewide. Register at https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/consumer-horticulture/garden-hour/.

What to Do With Too Many Tomatoes!
Sat, Aug 8 | In-Person | $30.00; at Johnson County Extension Office. Tomato overload? Let’s cook! Join us to transform piles of ripe tomatoes into flavorful dishes, sauces, and preserves. You’ll leave with smart strategies for stretching your tomato harvest and fresh ideas to enjoy them beyond salad season. Register at: johnson.k-state.edu, then Classes & Events.

Gardening and Cooking with Herbs
Tues, Aug 11 | In-Person | $5/ $6 non-residents; at Johnson County Extension Office. Discover the joy of growing and using fresh herbs in this engaging, hands on session! Gardening and Cooking with Herbs introduces participants to the basics of cultivating common culinary herbs. The session also includes a delicious culinary component: simple demonstrations and tasting opportunities that highlight how fresh herbs can elevate everyday meals. Register at: johnson.k-state.edu, then Classes & Events. 913-715-7000

Soil Alchemy: Composting for Beginners
Thurs, Aug 13, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400, 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007. Join Leavenworth County Master Gardeners, Ernie May and Shannon Chambless as they present an overview of the basics of composting. They will discuss the benefits, what to compost and a detailed How-to. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County K-State extension office at 913-364-5700. 

Dig Your Dinner: All About Melons
Wed, Aug 19 | Virtual | FREE. Cool, sweet, and satisfying — join Anthony Reardon, Horticulture – Small Farms agent, and Chelsea King, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health agent, as they share tips for growing melons at home, creative ways to enjoy them, and their nutritional benefits. 913-715-7000

Beekeeping Classes
Starting Aug 19 at Johnson County Community College. If you’re curious about the buzzy pollinators of the world, these courses are sure to hit the sweet spot. Come discover the secrets of the beehive with like-minded enthusiasts! Questions? 913-469-2323. JCCC.EDU/WDCE

Eco-Friendly Gardening
Starting Aug 19 at Johnson County Community College. Dig into sustainable gardening. Explore classes that help you work with nature to create a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that supports pollinators, birds, and more. Questions? 913-469-2323. JCCC.EDU/WDCE

Soil Alchemy: Composting for Beginners
Thurs, Aug 20, 7p; at Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Join Leavenworth County Master Gardeners, Ernie May and Shannon Chambless as they present an overview of the basics of composting. They will discuss the benefits, what to compost and a detailed How-to. Free, open to the public. More information, call Leavenworth County K-State extension office at 913-364-5700.

Peony Grafting Class
Sat, Sep 12, 9a-noon; at Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 W 75th St, Prairie Village, KS 66208. The Heartland Peony Society is hosting a Grafting Class for tree or woody peonies. All necessary supplies, including rootstock and scions, will be provided. The grafts you make are yours to plant. To participate, you must be a member of the HPS and register online at peonies.org. Only 20 seats available and it is free.