Seminars for Fall, 2009

Seminar Schedule

Also appearing on the Country Garden stage is Roger Martin,
performing “The Rat Pack Sound” on Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m.

    Do you want advice on how to keep your citrus healthy? Interested in learning how to grow organically the right way? Do you want to know what chemicals to mix to better help you get rid of those pesky weeds? Or do you want to have a thriving lawn that doesn't take up all your time watering it?

    These questions and much more can be answered at the Country Garden Seminars at this year's Bakersfield Home and Garden Show. Once again, Dale Edwards and Lindsay Ono have compiled another outstanding lineup of fun- and fact-filled seminars, presented by area experts.

    Edwards, known as the "Sultan of Sod," is operations manager for Old River Sod and is an expert on lawn grasses and lawn care with over 25 years of experience. He's also a Kern County native, born and raised in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Edwards is known for his down-home sense of humor and gardening expertise.

    Ono, whose nickname is the "Plant Professor," is the son of a local nurseryman and teaches environmental horticulture for Bakersfield College. With over two decades of horticulture experience, Ono possesses the rare ability to give technical answers for the experienced gardener and still be understood by beginners.

    Edwards says the overriding theme of all three days of seminars will be "Low water use gardening." Adds Edwards, "This means you can love looking and admiring your lawn without doing a lot of working in your yard." Edwards and Ono will present seminars every day of the show and their Saturday and Sunday presentations will feature Dave "The Flower Guy" Reimer.

    Other area experts making presentations will be Gary Moles of Willits & Newcomb, Kathy Robinson from Robby's Nursery, Giselle Schoninger from Kellogg Garden Products, Suzi Williams and Dean Powell of Bolles Nursery, Kings Nursery, and Rick Reed from Abate-A-Weed.

    Gary Moles, production manager at Willits & Newcomb, will take the stage at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. He will be speaking about how to protect your citrus from splitting. Willits & Newcomb, the citrus nursery, was established in 1946 and its goal has always been to provide growers, nurserymen, and backyard enthusiasts with the finest quality citrus propagating materials and trees.

    At 2:30 p.m., Kathy Robinson of Robby's Nursery will be discussing varieties of unique plants that can thrive here in the south valley. Robby's Nursery has been on the Bakersfield scene since 1953 and Robinson, the founder's daughter has grown up in the gardening industry and has gained tremendous, unmatchable knowledge from her life experience.

    Wrapping up the Saturday seminars will be Giselle Schoninger, the Organic Gardening Educator at Kellogg Garden Products. With her 27 years in the Garden Industry, Schoninger has accumulated a wide range of experience and knowledge. She joined the "Kellogg Family" seven years ago where she oversees the "Natural Organic" products such as Gardner & Bloome Natural & Organic Soils, Dr. Earth Fertilizers and Soils as well as a whole array of other natural products. Schoninger just completed her first commercial for Gardener & Bloome products, which will be aired on HGTV.

    So it's no surprise that her 3:30 p.m. presentation is entitled, "Growing Organic Correctly."

    Williams and Powell from Bolles Nursery will be presenting a seminar at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. They will be sharing how to plant pots that need small amounts of water, ideal for those who often travel. Bolles Nursery is a full-time nursery that specializes in shade trees but also offers other services including landscaping, plant installation, and sprinkler services.

    At 2:30 p.m., Kings Nursery and Outdoor Living will be discussing all things related to cycads. "Cycads are unique plants and the most common is the Cycas Revoluta. In fact, there are over 1.000 types of those plants in Bakersfield," says Kings Nursery. Kings Nursery and Outdoor Living is a brand new nursery in Kern County, located in Taft. They feature the largest selection of houseplants in the county and offer a variety of unique and unusual plants that can grow successfully in this climate.

    Closing out the seminars will be Rick Reed from Abate-A-Weed. Reed will be discussing how mixing sprays can make killing weeds that much easier. Reed does acknowledge that there are a handful of beneficial weeds, but most varieties can be harmful to plants and grass. Says Reed, "Weeds are just plants, found in an undesirable location." Find out how an expert like Reed gets rid of the weeds that cross his path. You won't want to miss Reed's presentation on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

    Everyone who has attended the Country Garden Seminars in the past knows they must always be on their toes when Edwards is around. He's known for throwing free bags of soil at the audience so he playfully warns that "you must be ready to duck and cover."

    The Country Garden Seminars have always been a crowd-favorite, so make sure to get there early to ensure a seat because most of the seminars end up being standing room only.