Preregistration is required by Saturday, April 12. Registration materials are available by email from ISD318 Community Education at rpender@isd318.org, by calling (218) 327-5730 or at the district offices at 820 NW First Ave, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. Brochures are available at the Marcell Family Center, at local businesses or by calling (218) 327-7486.

Registration for the day is $15 and includes lunch, a keynote address and an opportunity to attend three sessions as well as to browse vendor and organization displays and enjoy a plant sale.

Bring your questions! Master Gardeners will also have a booth to provide gardening answers. Julie Weisenhorn, statewide director of the University of Minnesota Master Gardener program will speak at the initial general session on home landscaping. Participants will then be able to choose three breakout session topics ranging from stonescaping to choosing deer resistant plants.

In the morning session, Wiesenhorn will speak on choosing the right plant for the right place; Steve Aysta from the Itasca County Land Department will describe noxious weeds and how to avoid them; and Amber Kongsjord of Lloyd’s Landscaping in Marcell and Deer River will suggest some local hardy favorites.

In the first afternoon session, Daniel Dix, owner of WoodSpirit Gardens in Brainerd will speak on stonescaping; Shengrui Yao, research fellow at North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids will explain how to select and prune apple trees; and Bob Reed, master gardener, will describe plants hardy to Zone 3 that are resistant to deer.

The final session will feature Dave Wildung, retired U of M horticulturist, speaking on growing blueberries; Terry Nennich, horticulturist at the U of M, Crookston, describing irrigation systems; and Dix with ideas for lakescaping.

The day should be both fun and interesting, said Kongsjord. Her session will feature good, hardy plants that will perform in a garden – trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and containers. Some of her favorites, she said will include “Annabelle” hydrangea, Red Splendor crabapple and Stella d’Oro daylily; but she plans to touch on many more. Currently greenhouse manager for Lloyd’s Landscaping of Marcell, Amber graduated from the U of M Crookston with a degree in Plant Industries Management and a double degree in Horticulture-Agronomy. She and her husband founded Lloyd’s Landscaping eight years ago.

Currently Itasca County has over 35 Master Gardeners. In a classroom setting, the program requires eight days of classes over four weeks and a commitment to volunteer hours following the training. It’s a well-rounded group, said Evenhouse, who also pointed out that many didn’t begin the training as experts, but were and are willing to learn and help others learn about gardening.

Spring Fling is partially funded by a grant from the U of M, which has helped to make the program more affordable and will also provide for handouts, said Evenhouse.

“I think it will be a fun day for everyone,” she said.