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 April issue is March 10. This is a FREE listing.

 

CLUB MEETINGS

Garden Club of Shawnee
Thurs, Mar 7, 7p; at Shawnee Town 1927 Town Hall, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. Gabe from Food Forest Kansas City will talk to us about how to create a beautiful, edible landscape using the principles of permaculture. As always, we will serve drinks and snacks, and nifty door prizes will be given away. Visitors are always welcome! Please visit our website gardenclubofshawnee.org and our Facebook page for more information.

Heartland Hosta and Shade Plant Society
Sat, Mar 9; at the Community of Christ Church, 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO. There will be a continental breakfast provided by the club starting at 9:30a. After the breakfast and social time, the meeting will start at 10a. The meeting will be gardeners sharing tips, tricks and tools. Interactive, please bring your favorite tool and gardening questions to share! Also, please put on your calendar the plant sale that will be on June 1st.

Idalia Butterfly Society
Sat, Mar 9, 5p; at Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St, Overland Park, KS 66204. Ann Manzardo, Johnson County Extension Master Naturalist, will present “Hosting Bees in Your Garden.” Spring is coming and it’s a great time to learn about native bee species and their “preferred plants.” Ann will also explore bee survey results from the Pollinator Prairie in Olathe. Doors open at 5p for light refreshments and social time; meeting begins at 5:45p with a short session of business and announcements, followed by the speaker. Event is free and open to everyone. Questions? Please call or text Elizabeth Stoakes at 816-283-6258.

Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society
Sun, Mar 17, 1:30-3:30p; at Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. Can you graft any cactus onto another cactus? The answer is ‘no.’ Yet it’s accomplished successfully with many cactus plants. Join us for a discussion/demonstration, “To Graft or not to Graft?” Learn more about this fascinating and popular style of growing cactus plants. Refreshments will be served and we invite anyone to attend.

Kansas City Rose Society
Sat, Mar 23, 10a-noon; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Sign up for a free in-person program “Easy Care Backyard Rose Gardening,” presented by Jerry Dreyer, Consulting Rosarian and Central District Awards and Nominations Chair with the American Rose Society. Jerry will discuss basic steps for success in growing roses in Kansas City, along with a review of roses that thrive with minimal care. Jerry Dreyer has grown roses over 30 years, including backyard gardens in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas. Jerry serves the Kansas City Rose Society as a groomer and member of the Garden Committee, as well as contributing occasionally to The Kansas City Gardener Rose Report. Jerry has a passion for Hybridizing new roses with a goal of breeding disease resistant varieties for the Midwest. He also enjoys experimenting with different propagation methods and to date, has only semi-mastered the most basic – rooting cuttings. Participating in rose shows with roses and photographs is another of Jerry’s activities. When he and his wife returned to Kansas during a peak of the real estate shortage, they found a great home – except it’s on a totally shaded lot. So, he’s currently growing over 300 roses in pots which offers new challenges and opportunities for learning. For more info, go to kansascityrosesociety.org

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners
Wed, Mar 13, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Now is the time to plan your garden and prepare for the bountiful harvest that will come this summer. Canning is a great option for preserving your harvest and customizing foods to your palate and taste. Megan Gilliland, co-owner of Next to Nature Farm, will be our guest speaker. She will talk about how to preserve fresh foods into delicious treats that will last all year long. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.

Leawood Garden Club
Tues, Mar 26, 10:30a; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206. Our annual, fabulous and fun, silent auction is one more way of supporting our altruistic endeavors. The committee works very hard to obtain a wide variety of auction items. There will be gift cards from restaurants, service providers, nurseries and lawn companies. We will have live plants and planters plus gift baskets and more. You are welcome to donate cash to the Auction if you don’t win the bid on an item. Checks and cash can be used as payment for the purchased auction items. Monies collected will be allocated to the philanthropic organizations selected by nomination of club members. We hope you will join us!

Olathe Garden & Civic Club
Tues, Mar 19, 1-2:30p, at Grace Church, 11485 S Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, KS. *Free to attend and open to the public, club membership not required.* Please join us for our monthly club meeting and a presentation from Bill Nix of the Lenexa Historical Society. In Bill’s program, “Octave Chanute & His Lake in Olathe,” he will portray Octave, who was a very important part of this area’s history, as well as internationally known in the aviation world.

Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City
Sun, Mar 10, 1:30-4:30p; at Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St, Merriam, KS 66202. Open to the public. Beginners’ Group, Growers’ Q & A, and Monthly display of blooming orchids. This month’s speaker: Nicholas Rust, Rusty Exotic Orchids, on Habenarias, an easy terrestrial orchid.

Raytown Garden Club
Tues, Mar 5, 10a; at Connection Point Church, Raytown, MO. The program scheduled will be “Kansas City Fountains Enhance the Beauty and Tranquility of Our City” by Joanie Shields, Board Member of the City of Fountains Foundation. Guests are always welcome. For more information, please check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub.

Sho-Me African Violet Club 38th Annual Show & Sale
Sat, Mar 16, 9a-3p; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112. Show entitled: “Violets in 24 Sho-Me More.” No admission fee. For more information, call Lynn Canning 913-649-7334.

SYMPOSIUMS | SHOWS | SALES

Orchid Delirium
Powell Gardens reopens to the public March 1 after a two-month respite. Orchid Delirium is scheduled March 1 through April 14. For more info, visit powellgardens.org.

Groovy Garden Show
Sat, Mar 2, 9a-3p; at Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St, Lawrence, KS. Presented by Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners. This FREE Groovy Garden Show features Expert Speakers, Educational Booths, Workshops, Raffle & Silent Auctions, Garden Art and a Garden Garage Sale as well as Vendors and Food Trucks! Open to the public. For additional information go to our website: dgemgks.org or follow us on facebook.com/douglascountymastergardeners.

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Spring Fling 2024
Sat, Mar 9, noon-3p, Hiram Young School, (near ReStore), 505 Dodgion St, Independence, MO 64050. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about spring gardening. Join us for a family-friendly day of gardening ideas, presentations, and demonstrations. MGGKC Hotline will be available to take your gardening questions. Attend Free Presentations given by our MGGKC Speaker’s Bureau. Noon: Introduction to Vegetable Gardening by Michele Livergood. 1:00: Annuals vs Perennials by Lu Tarr. 2:00: Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden by Jeanette Hartshorn. Learn researched-based gardening techniques from Extension Master Gardeners. Throughout the day, there will be gardening demonstrations on composting, starting seeds indoors, soil testing, using planting calendars, and many more. MGGKC Children’s Programs will have fun activities for kids. No registration needed. For more information visit mggkc.org.

Spring Open House Event
Mar 15-17. Join us exclusively at Family Tree Nursery, Overland Park store for a fantastic event, including food trucks, live music, kids activities, and some unbelievably creative garden displays. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Kansas City Garden Symposium
Sat, Mar 16; at Rockhurst University, 1100 Rockhurst Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110. $99. Four Speakers. Six Presentations. Lunch. Gift Bag. Workshop and Presentations for the Gardener in All of Us! A Day of Gardening Delight You Won’t Want to Miss. For more info and to register, gardenersconnect.org/symposium.

Flower, Home & Garden Show
Sat, Mar 23, 10a-4p; at Heritage Event & Arts Center, 109 Delaware St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Leavenworth County Master Gardeners will be making presentations throughout the event. Join us for a fun-filled and informative event! Show features flowers, plants, home décor and garden equipment. Admission $2 per person. 913-682-2122; www.heritagecenter-leavenworth.com.

Homestead Festival
Sat, Mar 23 and Sun, Mar 24; at Colonial Gardens, 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014. Join us for any or all of this 2 full day festival to learn more about the basics of homesteading. You will hear from speakers on orcharding, edible trees, permaculture, cheesemaking, small container vegetable gardening, regenerative growing, beekeeping, foraging and more. With option to join our VIP speakers on A Foraged Culinary Experience, Mushroom Growing, and/or Whole Hog Breakdown. This is perfect for everyone that is interested in growing more on their own, from backyard gardens to full homesteading. For more information colonialgardens.com.

Native Plant Sale
Sat, Apr 20, 10a-2p; at Anita B Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO. Presented by GrowNative (www.grownative.org) and Missouri Prairie Foundation (www.moprairie.org).

Paola Spring Plant Sale
Apr 25, 26, 27; in the parking lot at the K-State Extension Office, 913 N Pearl (Old KC Road), Paola, KS. Thurs 9a to 5p, Fri 9a to 6p, and Sat 9a to 1p. The sale will feature 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 shoppers throughout the sale. Credit Cards welcome! More info at www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdcemg or call the office: 913-294-4306.

Moonlight On the Veranda
Fri, Apr 26, 5-8p; at Greenwood Vintage Market, 502 W Main St, Greenwood, MO 64034 (Lower Level). $10, Advance tickets required. A garden filled, limited entry event and first dibs on all the wonderful decor, furniture, beautiful plants and more before the general public. All tickets come with a gift bag and entry into a grand prize giveaway. Ticket sales through Apr 21 unless sold out. For tickets, go to facebook.com/GreenwoodVintageMarket/events/, the link to the tickets is in the event.

On the Veranda Garden Show
Sat, Apr 27, 9a-3p; at Greenwood Vintage Market (Lower Level) Free Admission: A show for garden lovers. Come shop wonderful garden decor, outdoor furniture, plants and more! 816-537-7172

Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale
Fri, May 3, 9a-5p, and Sat, May 4, 9a-2p; at Wildcat Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. There will be vegetables, fruits, herbs, perennials, and annuals for sale. Cash, checks, and debit/credit cards accepted.

Native Plant Sale
Sat, May 11, 10a-2p; at Anita B Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO. Presented by GrowNative (www.grownative.org) and Missouri Prairie Foundation (www.moprairie.org).

Kansas City Rose Show
Sat, Jun 1; at the Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. As usual, the show is free and open to all rose growers with assistance provided for first time exhibitors. There will be Classes for live blooms and rose photographs. Entries will be accepted from 8-11a. Visit www.kansascityrosesociety.org for the Show handbook with Class lists and Show rules. Also find links to tips on how to grow and show prize-winning roses there.

Kansas City Rose Society Rose Day
Sun, Jun 2, 1-5pm in the Loose Park Rose Garden. You can view the results of the Rose Show with hundreds of blue ribbons winners and beautiful silver trophies in the Garden Center. In the Rose Garden you can enjoy many family activities, live entertainment, and an afternoon of beauty in this world-renowned rose garden.

MOMGA’24 Headed to St. Joseph
The Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners will host the 2024 Missouri Master Gardener Conference September 27-29. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Doug Tallamy, acclaimed author and advocate that we can all take an active role in stopping the decline in pollinators and wildlife populations by planting native plants to create a Homegrown National Park. The conference will offer a wide variety of classes, workshops, and tours. The conference will play host to the Vendor’s Marketplace which will run Saturday and Sunday. There also will be the popular raffle and silent auction offerings. Registration opens March 1, and you’ll want to reserve your spot early. Be sure to check back often at momga.org/momga-conference for the latest information and ‘like’ the conference Facebook page, MOMGA’24.

CLASSES | WORKSHOPS

Beginning Vegetable Garden
Sat, Mar 2, 10-11a; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn how to start a simple and manageable vegetable garden. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Desert Retreat in the Winter: a Cactus and Succulent Workshop
Sat, Mar 2, 10a; at Colonial Gardens, 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014. Enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse at the Colonial Gardens Plant Bar. You will learn how to make stunning cactus and succulent combos, using your choice of plants and incorporating colored rocks and other objects for a truly unique to you Cactus Combo Planter. For more information visit colonialgardens.com or call 816-229-1277.

Native Bees
Thurs, Mar 7, 11:30a; at the Wyandotte County Extension office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City KS. Over 80% of our native plants (and many crops!) are pollinated by bees that are native to North America. In this talk, Kristen Manion will explain the difference between native bees and honeybees, go over the many different families of North American bees, how native bees help native plants, and what you can do to help protect native bees. Ms. Manion is a current Education Specialist at the Mr. & Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library and Environmental Learning Center in Wyandotte County, Kansas. She received her M.S. degree from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2021 and wrote her thesis on native, ground-nesting bees found in the prairie. This presentation is sponsored by the Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. Pre-registration is not needed. There is a $10 fee for the class, payable at the door (cash or check). Questions? Call 913-299-9300.

Growing Tomatoes
Thurs, Mar 7, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn how to grow a great tomato whether it be a cherry or a beefsteak, in the ground, or in a container. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Homestead Gardening 101—Your backyard greenhouse
Sat, Mar 9, 10a; at Colonial Gardens, 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014. From growing garden to saving money on the grocery bill, greenhouse manager Kevin Kielig will take you through how to have a successful vegetable garden. You’ll leave feeling empowered and with a few seed starts to get you moving in the right direction. For more information visit colonialgardens.com or call 816-229-1277.

Growing Tomatoes
Sat, Mar 9, 10-11a; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn how to grow a great tomato whether it be a cherry or a beefsteak, in the ground, or in a container. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Containers I
Thurs, Mar 14, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn how to grow flowers and vegetables in containers. What varieties work best. What soil to use and how to care for them to create a show stopper. Part II scheduled on Sat, Mar 16. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Containers II
Sat, Mar 16, 10-11a; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Hands-on workshop! Create your own container garden. $55 sign-up fee for up to 12’’ pot. Includes soil, 6 plants, starter fertilizer and soil moist. Pots >12’’ $ based on pot size. Bring your own pot or purchase one from us. Space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Homestead Gardening 101—Your backyard greenhouse
Sun, Mar 17, 11:30a; at Colonial Gardens, 27610 E Wyatt Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014. From growing garden to saving money on the grocery bill, greenhouse manager Kevin Kielig will take you through how to have a successful vegetable garden. You’ll leave feeling empowered and with a few seed starts to get you moving in the right direction. For more information visit colonialgardens.com or call 816-229-1277.

Raised Beds
Thurs, Mar 21, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn about different types of raised beds as well as what media to put in it for maximum results. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Getting Your Garden Ready and Early Spring Planting
Thurs, Mar 21, 7p; at Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Anne Rielly, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will present an informal program about cleaning garden beds, amending soil, cutting back plants and considering choices regarding what to plant and when. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700. 

Spring Container Workshops
Mar 22-24. Hosted at Family Tree Nursery three retail stores (Overland Park, Shawnee, Liberty). At this event, we supply all the materials needed to create a beautiful combo perfect for adding early spring color to your front porch, balcony, or patio. Registration is required for this event. Registration open Feb 22; visit familytreenursery.com.

Establishing a Garden Space and Creating a Native Garden Plan
Sat, Mar 23, 2-4p; at Eudora Giving Garden. The Eudora Giving Garden and Botanical Belonging will be creating a new Prairie Garden, featuring plants native to our area. The creation of the garden will be done through a 3-part workshop series allowing interested community members to participate and learn skills to grow native plants at home. All workshops take place at the Eudora Giving Garden. May 19 and June 16, 2-4p, Planting workdays. Sep 8, 2-4, First Year Garden Maintenance and Wrap-up. Registration is $75 and can be completed at The Eudora Giving Garden website: www.eudoragivinggarden.org.

Blooming Blue Springs-Grow Your Best Tomatoes
Sat, Mar 23, 9-11a; at Blue Springs Historical Museum Garden, 101 Southwest 15th St, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Do you love fresh tomatoes and want to grow your own? Whether you grow one tomato plant in a container, or several in your garden, this clinic will benefit all tomato lovers. Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) will show, through presentation and hands-on participation, how to get the most from your plant(s). EMGs will share research-based information on proper planting techniques, pruning, watering tips, and how to identify tomato pests and diseases. This event is free of charge. Please register at https://extension.missouri.edu/events/blooming-blue-springs-grow-your-best-tomatoes-jackson-county.

Getting Your Garden Ready and Early Spring Planting
Wed, Mar 27, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400, 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007. Anne Rielly, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will present an informal program about cleaning garden beds, amending the soil, cutting back plants and considering choices regarding what to plant and when. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700. 

Fruit Tree Trimming
Thurs, Mar 28, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn how to prune cherries, apples, peaches & pears for fruit production. This seminar will be held outdoors with a demonstration (weather permitting). There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Native Plants – Naturescape
Sat, Mar 30, 8a-12:30p; at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 Northwest Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Burr Oak Woods popular NatureScape event is back for 2024! At this free workshop you will learn how to beautify your landscape with some of Missouri’s best natural resources, native plants! There will be educational sessions on native trees, invasive species, gardening for wildlife, and many more. Plus, we will have a native plant sale so attendees can purchase plants and use their new knowledge to start native gardens at home. Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City will have free researched-based information at their display table as well as a presentation on Container Gardening with Natives at 11:30. Please register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/196416.

From Seeds to Table: Growing Your Own Food
Thurs, Apr 4, 11:30a; at Wyandotte County, Kansas, Extension Office Sunflower Room, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presented by Nancy Chapman, Johnson County Extension Master Gardener. In ground, raised beds, containers, trellises and perennials are all ways to fill a pantry! Everyone has a challenge, yet everyone can be successful. Learn the ins and outs of what to grow, growing requirements and pests of our common vegetables. Like raising children, there’s usually more than one way that works. During Q&A share what’s worked for you and we can learn from each other, too. Pre-registration is not required. A $10 fee, cash or check, will be payable at the door.

Herbs 101–Growing and Storing Herbs
Thurs, Apr 4, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn the basics of growing an herb garden. From site selection and soil preparation to harvesting and using. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Creating a Pollinator Garden 101
Thurs, Apr 11, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn what it takes to create a garden that the Bees & Butterflies will love. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Top 10 Annuals & Perennials
Thurs, Apr 18, 6:30-7:30p; at Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047. Learn about some of our favorite annuals and perennials and how to incorporate them into your landscape. There will be time for questions. FREE, but space is limited, so please RSVP at 785-842-3081.

Buds and Bloom for Spring – Contained Excitement 
Thurs, May 9, 11:30a; at Wyandotte County, Kansas, Extension Office Sunflower Room, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presented by Jean Tinberg and Lynn Wild, Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. An informative and in-depth class on Spring container gardening will feature floral and vegetable container planting using basic design principles, encompassing the art of color as well as container selection and placement. Pre-registration is not required. A $10 fee, cash or check, will be payable at the door.