Family Fun Day in the Garden (Wayne, NJ)

Celebrate summer’s end at Family Fun Day in the Garden at Laurelwood Arboretum on Saturday, August 24 from 11 AM to 3 PM, rain or shine. This first-ever event will feature activities for kids of all ages–scavenger hunts, art projects, nature crafts, plant-a-pot workshops, nature story time and more.

Laurelwood Arboretum is located at 725 Pines Lake Drive West in Wayne, NJ. Visitors can park conveniently at the Pines Lake School, 511 Pines Lake Drive, and take a free shuttle bus to the arboretum. Admission to Family Fun Day in the Garden is $10 for a family of up to 3 children and $5 for each additional child.

Master Gardener’s Conference: Planting for Our Future (Los Alamos, NM)

The Los Alamos Master Gardeners’ Association is proud to announce the 2024 NM Master Gardeners’ Conference built around the theme of ‘Planting for Our Future’. The Conference will be held Saturday, September 14, 2024, in Fuller Lodge located in the Historical District of Los Alamos, NM. This all-day event will cover topics essential to the future of our gardening environment – from changes in climate to recovering pollinator populations to recruiting and maintaining our gardening population.

2nd Annual Bonsai Weekend (Louisville, KY)

Waterfront Botanical Gardens in partnership with the Greater Louisville Bonsai Society is pleased to present the 2nd Annual Bonsai Weekend from August 23 – 25, 2024. With dozens of bonsai trees on display, this show and weekend festival includes a People’s Choice Award and special guest judging by Phil Malhiot. Event highlights include bonsai demonstrations and workshops, cultural activities for the whole family, Asian-inspired cuisine, bonsai vendors, and more! Special thanks to presenting sponsors Mac and Catherine Willett. Tickets are on sale now!

OldhamFest: Bluegrass Edition (Crestwood, KY)

What do you get when you bring together Yew Dell, our friends at 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, the hiking trails that connect the two, and throw in a fantastic slate of bluegrass music? Just what’s shaping up to be the most awesome event of the summer season! Beyond the music you’ll be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods, 3rd Turn’s fantastic brews, educational offerings, and a whole lot more.

Five incredible bands:
1p-2:30p: Bibelhauser Brothers at 3rd Turn
3p-4:30p: Allen Lane Band Trio at Yew Dell’s Woodland Pavilion
4:30p-5:15p: Kaintuck Band at Yew Dell’s Rounsavall Pavilion
6p-7:30p: Larry Sparks at Yew Dell’s Rounsavall Pavilion
8:30p-10p: Hot Brown Smackdown at 3rd Turn

Ticket prices:
OldhamFest with parking (either at 3rd Turn or Yew Dell) is $80
OldhamFest without parking is $65

Bromeliad Show & Sale (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)

South Bay Bromeliad Associates Annual Show and Sale will be highlight a wide
variety of members’ specimen bromeliads including Tillandsia, Neoregelia, Dyckia, Vriesea,
Aechmea, Billbergia and Guzmanias, and an artistic arrangement section. Chances are excellent
that you will see bromeliads you have not seen before. Bromeliads are easy to grow and offer a wide
variety of colors and interesting forms. Club members will be available to answer questions. Plants
for sale are from local Southern California commercial vendors and from members’ own
collections

Plant-O-Rama Plant Sale (Corona Del Mar, CA)

Sherman Library & Gardens hosts this retro-event, which debuted in 1972 and
features plants and plant experts from these participating plant societies – California Native Plant
Society, Los Angeles International Fern Society, Newport Harbor Orchid Society, Orange County
Begonia Society, Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society, and Southern California Carnivorous Plant
Enthusiasts. Former Gardens Director, Wade Roberts started the event in 1972 as a fundraiser for
the Sherman Foundation. At the time, former Horticulture Manager John Bishop managed the
nursery at the Sherman Foundation Experimental Center in Dana Point. “People always asked us if
we sold plants from the garden. It seemed like the right thing to do and we had the facility to grow
the plants,” recalled Bishop. “It was a very popular event. People would arrive early, and wait in the
parking lot until the gardens opened,” he added. Plant-O-Rama showcased local plant societies as
well as a unique variety of houseplants, tropical, hanging baskets, and succulents. Fast forward to
2024, this special event supports Sherman Library & Gardens and local plant societies.

Small Container Gardening (Santa Monica, CA)

Do not let limited space limit your gardening ambitions! Join University of California
Master Gardeners Beth Cross and Joy Tucker who’ll focus on container gardening and raised beds,
discussing benefits, site preparation, key to success, materials and what and how to plant. Limited
seating. Please bring your own chair or blanket.

Summer Short Course (Pittsburgh, PA)

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Penn State Extension invite gardening enthusiasts to explore composting at this year’s annual Summer Short Course. With a robust line-up of local experts, attendees will learn about topics like composting principles, common contaminants in urban soils, using compost and so much more.

Summer Short Course sessions will include the following:
Composting Principles for Organic Plant Production | Lily Means and Jesse Barrett
Soil Texture, Soil Structure, and Compost | Margaret Sams
Community Composter School | Dora Walmsley
Digging into Common Contaminants in Urban Soils | Hayly Hoch
Using Compost | Dr. Elsa Sánchez

Summer Short Course, presented by Phipps and Penn State Extension, will be held in-person on Tues., July 30 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Registration costs $95. This event will be held in the Special Events Hall at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This conference counts for Master Gardener Continuing Education credit, and elective hours for Phipps certificate programs: Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape and Garden Design.

Incognito Art Auction (Memphis, TN)

The Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG) is pleased to announce the Incognito Art Auction & Party
will return in 2024 after a year and a half hiatus. Incognito, now in its 14th year, was traditionally held in
January, but starting in 2024 this beloved event will take place in July. The artwork is on view July 8-28 in the
Garden’s Visitors Center and Grand Hallway with online bidding open July 15-28.
The in-person Party will take place on July 28 from 6-8 pm. Attendees will mix & mingle with the Incognito
artists at this exciting culmination of the art auction. Live music from Kenneth Jackson will delight while
attendees make their final bids on the diverse selection of artwork up for auction this year. Small bites & two
drinks are included with each ticket. Party tickets are $35 for MBG Members and $45 for non-members.

Pruning for Natural Areas Workshop (Seattle, WA)

Advance registration required.
Cost: $87

Natural area landscapes hold an important place and functions in the urban environment. Managing vegetation along trails, roads, and other edges can pose a variety of challenges for the available stewardship resources. This lecture and hands-on workshop will cover how to manage and prune native vegetation adjacent to trails, drives, and streets for optimal environmental functions, appearance, safety, & visibility. The lecture will include current best pruning practices and how they translate for the specific goals and functions of natural area plantings. Considerations for reducing long-term labor needs and how to lengthen the time between pruning cycles will be covered, along with common pruning techniques that are ineffective and why. After the lunch break, the class will students get practice using the best pruning techniques for the most effective results, working on a variety of native plants. Field session will be held in the Union Bay Natural Area at the Center for Urban Horticulture. This class is open to everyone, but geared towards public works, maintenance, and landscape crew members as well as community stewardship volunteers, supervisors, and field staff.