Siouxland Garden Show is Cure for Spring Fever

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Many cases of spring fever are being reported around Siouxland. The cure: the 2011 Siouxland Garden Show! This fifth annual event will feature 30 educational sessions presented by regional experts, nearly 50 businesses and clubs from across the greater tri-state region and free hands-on activities for children. Be a part of all this and more Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19, at the Marina Center in South Sioux City, Neb.

“This show is designed to meet the needs of anyone who has any interest in flowers, lawns, landscapes or gardens," said Adrienne Jansen, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension-Woodbury County program coordinator. “If you are looking to figure out how to do a project yourself or looking for a professional to do it for you, you will find what you are looking for at the Siouxland Garden Show.”

Whether attendees come to learn new things for their lawn and garden or to relax by the indoor pond, the Siouxland Garden Show has something for everyone.

“The list of quality regional experts being brought in as presenters for the informational sessions is incredible,” Jansen said.

Garden Show highlights

• Martha Stewart Living magazine Senior Garden Editor Stacey Hirvela, presents four times throughout the two-day event: at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Hirvela will discuss "Gardening For and With All Five Senses"; at 5:30 p.m. Friday, join Hirvela as she shares her ideas for Gardening in Containers; and at 3:30 p.m. Saturday she will demonstrate techniques for Small Space Gardening.
• Columnist and book author Jan Riggenbach will share "50 Treasures Tried & True" at 9:30 a.m. Friday and at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at 3:30 p.m., Riggenbach will speak about Organic Food Gardening.
• Former garden editor for Better Homes and Gardens, Susan Appleget Hurst, will be back by popular demand to present on two outstanding topics: "Garden Gadgets and Gimmicks for 2011" and "From Plant to Plate, Growing and Using Herbs."
• At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, catch a live cooking demonstration featuring local foods in the How-to Area by Iowa State University Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist Renee Sweers.
• Plus, other professionals will share their expertise on tree pruning, solving lawn problems, small space gardening, home brewing, cooking with local foods, and more.

Flowers will be the focus of this year’s Children’s Corner, a fun and interactive area for youth to learn a love for gardening. Story time with brilliantly illustrated garden themed books will be on the hour. The very popular scavenger hunt will keep kids engaged as they browse the exhibit area. Plus, every child who turns in their scavenger hunt will earn a prize that will inspire them to use what they learned at the Siouxland Garden Show in their own gardens or flower pots at home.

A wide variety of gardening items will be available for purchase, including pottery, plants, tools, fertilizer, outdoor décor, and more. Locally produced wine will be available for sample and sale. Over $4,000 in door prizes will be given away including a Cedar Potter’s Bench valued at $1,000. 

“The Siouxland Garden Show will give area garden enthusiasts a jumpstart on their spring and summer landscape and outdoor planning,” University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator Carol Larvick said. “This event will have something for novice flower and garden enthusiasts and those who have been gardening for many years.”

Hours of the show are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 19. Advance tickets are available at Iowa State University Extension-Woodbury County, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension-Dakota County, Mosher’s Greenhouse and Landscaping, and Earl May Nursery and Garden Center.

For a complete schedule of events at the Siouxland Garden Show, please contact ISU Extension-Woodbury County at (712) 276-2157 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/woodbury.

Sponsoring organizations

Mosher's Greenhouses and Landscaping, Del's Garden Center, Bomgaars, Outdoor Environments, Inc., Executive Lawns & Pools/Bloomers Lawn & Garden Center, Earl May Nursery and Garden Center, Sooland Bobcat, Avery Outdoor, South Sioux City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Powell Broadcasting, KCAU-TV and the Sioux City Journal.

About the event

Planning this event are Iowa State University Extension-Woodbury County, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Dakota County, Mosher’s Greenhouse and Landscaping, Prairie Pedlar, Earl May Nursery and Garden Center, and Woodbury County Extension Master Gardeners.

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Additional contacts:
Carol Larvick, extension educator, UNL Extension-Dakota County, (402) 987-2140, clavick1@unl.edu