For the City Times

Spend a Saturday morning with the Wood County UW-Extension Master Gardeners at a seminar that will be held from 8:00 a.m. to noon on April 8.

Dr. Brian Smith, an UW-Extension Horticultural Educator and a State Commercial Fruit Specialist, will give the presentation “From the Depths of Despear and Going Plum Crazy to Finding Your Berried Treasure, Fruit Growing for Cheeseheads.”

He will educate others on the development of new cultivars to improve profitability via efficiency guidelines and cultural techniques.  Dr. Smith conducts research resulting in the creation of new strawberry, grape, plum, apricot and cherry cultivars at the 28-acre UW-River Falls Research Facility. He has also grown many crops commercially in South Dakota, including strawberries, watermelons, greenhouse crops and Christmas trees.

Lynn M. Steiner, a longtime gardening editor, writer, photographer and landscaper with 20-years of experience tending her own extensive home gardens, will give a presentation titled “Grow Native:  Bringing Natural Beauty to Your Garden.”  Lynn is the author of numerous articles about Midwest’s native plants and has written several books on the subject.

This will be held at the Wisconsin Rapids Mid-State Technical College campus, located at 500 32nd St. North.

Cost to participate in the seminar is $10 and includes refreshments. This event is open to the public. Advanced registration is suggested as there is limited seating.

Deadline for registration is April 1.  To register, call Wood County UW-Extension, 715-421-8440 or visit http://wood-county-master-gardeners.org for more information.