On Saturday, September 9, 2023, the Henry County Master Gardeners will host the Sixth Annual Fall for Gardening Symposium at Heritage Park (97 Lake Dow Road, McDonough, GA) from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The theme for the event is Ready-Set-Grow.

Four speakers will present information on gardening while being thoughtful about plants, nature, and wildlife.
•The keynote speaker will be Joe Lamp’l who is currently creator, executive producer, and host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, Growing a Greener World ®.

Joe will present “Digging Deeper – Ecological Gardening for Beauty and Biodiversity.” Signed copies of Joe’s “The Vegetable Gardening Book” will be available for purchase after the presentation.

•Dr. Sheri Dorn will discuss “10 Plants for the Home Garden and Harvesting a Bounty of Benefits from a Garden.” She serves as Extension Specialist for Consumer Ornamentals and State Coordinator for the Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program at the University of Georgia.

•Kayla Tucker, a resident of Hampton who has completed the Henry County Master Gardener program, will speak on the care and cultivation of earthworms and will follow up her presentation with a demonstration of vermicomposting.

•Connie Gray, a plant professional for almost 50 years, will present “Plant Invaders: What’s the Big Deal and What Should We Do About Them?” Participants will gain an understanding of the invasive plant problem and solutions to it.

The day will also include local vendors offering plants and gardening-related items, a silent auction, and several door prizes. Lunch is included in the ticket price.

The proceeds from the program support the educational projects of the Henry County Master Gardeners, including college scholarships. Tickets are $40 and are available through August 15. To register, call the Extension Office at 770-288-8421 or stop by the Extension Office at 97 Lake Dow Road. Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended.