• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Rotary Gardens plans spring symposium

JANESVILLE — Everything from heirloom gardening to plant diseases will be discussed as topics of Rotary Botanical Gardens' Spring Symposium titled, "Our Gardening Heritage."

The symposium is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive.

Featured will be these topics and speakers:

-- Preserving Our Heritage Through Heirloom Gardening: Led by Diane OttWhealy, an expert gardener and co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange, the nation's premiere nonprofit seed-saving organization. OttWhealy will discuss heirloom gardening, self-seeding annuals, seed saving and creating a sustainable and edible landscape.

-- Gardening Insights and Inspiration From Wisconsin's Early Settlers: Led by Marcia Carmichael, historic gardens coordinator and author. Carmichael will speak of the ethnic diversity of Wisconsin's early settlers, their treasured plants and their favorite culinary and gardening traditions.

-- Midwest Victory Gardens: Potatoes, Petunias and Patriotism: Led by Lee Somerville, landscape historian, master gardener and author. Somerville will discuss lessons learned from history of victory gardens and government gardening propaganda.

-- Plant Diseases That Have Changed History: Led by Dr. Brian D. Hudelson, plant pathologist and senior outreach specialist and director of Diagnostic Services at the UW-Madison/Extension Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. Hudelson will share stories about far-reaching plant diseases and their impacts.

Admission to the symposium is $65 for gardens' friends members and $75 for the general public. This includes resource materials, a box lunch and light refreshments.

For more information or to make a special food request, visit rotarybotanicalgardens.org, call 608-752-3885 or email kris.koch@rotarygardens.org.