Events

Online registration is now open for the 2023 WNC Gardening Symposium, to be held October 11, 2023 at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, North Carolina.

• Linda Vater, a popular YouTuber and our keynote speaker, will kick things off with, Creating an Elegant and Edible Garden: Aesthetics and Practicalities.
  What constitutes an ELEGANT AND EDIBLE Garden? Linda will help us explore this topic from both practical and aesthetic angles, and see how it can be applied to your own garden lifestyle and unique garden challenges.
• Brannen Basham, of Spriggly’s Beescaping, will round out the morning with, Native Bees and the Habitats They Require.
  European honey bees take a backseat to the almost 4,000 species of bees native to North America. Learn about the lives of these pollination juggernauts through an exploration of common species and the habitat each requires for nesting and survival.  From the largest to the smallest, native bees are fascinating and extremely beneficial. Supporting them in your spaces is easier than you might think. This session offers approaches you can infuse into your everyday gardening that make a huge difference to the bees and other beneficial wildlife around you.
• Leslie Harris,podcaster of Into the Garden with Leslie, will begin the afternoon with, Choosing Your Season to Garden.
  Can we loosen our horticultural grip in autumn? Do we really need to put beds to bed? Leslie will discuss how her fall and winter garden routines have changed over the years as she has learned about sustainability and habitat in her garden.
• Heather Andrews, of Garden Thoughtfully, will present Gardening Lessons from My Grandfather.
  Growing up in North Carolina, Heather was one of 12 grandchildren who spent time in the garden with her Grandfather. Learn the secrets he shared with her that clinical trials confirm, that will help you grow a sustainable garden that is suitable for hosting wildlife.
• Craig Mauney, NC Extension Agent and popular speaker, will end the day with Adventures in Horticulture.
  From working with North Carolina Extension Master Gardeners to traveling the country and the world to help people create gardens and learn sustainable agricultural techniques, Craig Mauney has had an adventurous life, to say the least! In a departure from our usual topics of “how to garden on slopes” and “what can I plant that deer won’t eat”, Craig will regale us with his most interesting stories!

The symposium fee is $60 if you register by midnight on August 31 and $65 after that date. All registrations must be received by September 4. This event usually sells out before the August 31 early-bird deadline, so please register early.

Click here for more information and to register:
2023 WNC Gardening Symposium