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Spring Gardening Seminar and Plant Sale sprouting April 10 in Parkersburg

By Staff Reports 4 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Those with an interest in gardening and wanting to learn more can attend the Spring Gardening Seminar and Plant Sale on Thursday, April 10, at the Judge Black Annex in Parkersburg.

The plant sale will get underway at 5 p.m. with the seminar starting at 6 p.m. in the Fort Boreman Room of the Judge Black Annex of the Wood County Courthouse, 317 Market St., which is directly across from the entrance to the Blennerhassett Hotel in downtown Parkersburg.

The annual seminar is a chance for people to come out and learn more about gardening and what it takes for people to grow their own food, said Wood County Agricultural Extension Agent JJ Barrett.

"The Spring Gardening Seminar is a great educational opportunity for gardening enthusiasts of all ages in the Mid-Ohio Valley," he said. "The speakers we have this year are phenomenal, plus the seminar provides a great opportunity to network with other gardeners."

The first speaker is Karen Cox, agriculture agent in Ohio County for WVU Extension. Her background is in forestry, and she is an ISA certified arborist. She will be teaching about "Backyard Shade Tree Selection."

Many homeowners have questions about what type of tree to plant and where, organizers said. This decision will affect one's home landscape for years to come, as homeowners need to consider mature tree size, location and other factors.

Cox will share her knowledge on what trees work best for shade, wind breaks and beauty around the home, organizers said.

"Let's Grow Native" will be presented by Jennifer Johnson from Native Roots Inc. focusing on native plants.

Landscaping with native plants empowers gardeners to care for nature and enhance the local environment while adding beauty and diversity to their homesites, organizers said. Johnson will discuss how planting natives allows gardeners to support native pollinators and connect with the natural heritage of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Native Roots now offers over 100 species of perennials, shrubs and small trees. Each of these plants fills a special role for a wide variety of pollinators and other animals, organizers said.

Barrett will talk about "Top 10 Herbs for the Kitchen Garden."

"Many herbs not only enhance the flavor of our food but are medicinal as well," he said, adding he will talk about tips for growing these herbs and provide some delicious recipes.

The first 50 people who sign up and stay for the educational part of the seminar will receive a free tree seedling to promote Arbor Day, which is April 11. Arbor Day is set aside as a day when trees are celebrated and planted in order to preserve this valuable resource and improve our quality of life, organizers said. West Virginia celebrates Arbor Day on the second Friday of April each year.

There will be a variety of vegetables, flowers and herbs available during the plant sale and many local Master Gardeners will bring flowers, shrubs, gardening tools, flowerpots and gardening books to sell, Barrett said.

Master Gardeners are volunteers who are trained in small scale food production, horticulture and gardening. These volunteers, in turn, share their knowledge with the community. A number will be on hand to talk about gardening and more.

"I enjoy my volunteer work as a Master Gardener helping with the plant sale," Wood County Master Gardener Lynn Greenly said. "We will offer a variety of flowers, herbs, vegetables, gardening books, gardening tools and other items."

Master Gardeners undertake community-based gardening projects and help the public find solutions to gardening and horticulture problems. The Wood County Library Arboretum and the Armstrong Garden in Williamstown are some of the projects the Master Gardeners work on.

"The Master Gardener Program is a great way to enhance your gardening knowledge not only for personal use, but also to enable a person to assist their community through Master Gardener programs," said Joyce McDougal of the Wood County Extension Master Gardeners.

The seminar event is sponsored by the Wood County Master Gardeners and the Parkersburg Tree Commission.

The Wood County Master Gardeners invite all gardeners to come and enjoy the food, fun and gardening information at the 2025 Spring Gardening Seminar and Plant Sale. If someone would like to register for the seminar, or needs more information, they can contact Barrett at the Wood County WVU Extension Service Office at 304-424-1960 or jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu.

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