Gardening heats up with the weather, as does gardening events. Here are some that are taking place in the next week or so:
• • Columbus Garden School has a couple of options on Wednesday. Backyard Composting, online at noon, shows how to maintain a compost box or a compost container without “unpleasant side effects”. Participants are invited to schedule a visit to the garden school’s compost bins to see what is going on there. The cost is $ 10. Or, take an online course at 6:30 pm to learn the basics of “Planning Your Vegetable Garden,” from organizing your site to preparing the soil and choosing the right plants for your location. The cost is $ 25. For more information or to register, call 614-404-7236 or visit www.columbusgardenschool.com.
• Bexleys “Love your alley” The program is offering two free courses to the public this week. “Native plants in the living area”, a zoom class on Thursday at 7 p.m., deals with how native plants are selected and integrated into a garden. Gardening for Butterflies is a personal class on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Bexley Community Gardens South in Ferndale and Mayfield Place. It will include how to choose host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for butterflies, and what conditions both enjoy. Further information and registration can be found at bexley.org/loveyouralley.
• Learn how to garden with annuals Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden Zoom course on Thursday at 6pm where you will learn about the top performing varieties and how to grow them in containers or as part of a garden. The class costs $ 25 or $ 20 for members. For more information, please call 614-715-8156. To register, visit fpconservatory.org.
• What is celebrated as the largest two-day plant sale in central Ohio takes place at Chadwick Arboretum Perennials, annuals, native Ohio plants, heirlooms and organic vegetables and herbs are available for purchase this weekend. The event will take place on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Arboretum on the northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive. Free parking is available in OSU Gray Lots 1 and 2. Checks and credit cards are only accepted for payment, masks are required, and entry to sale is limited to allow social distancing. For more information, call 614-688-3479, email ChadwickArboretum@osu.edu, or chadwickarboretum.osu.edu.
• If you’d rather swap out some plants, consider these Second annual Westgate Plant Swap at 3195 Parkside Road. Take some plants with you to swap in containers you don’t mind parting with on Friday from 6pm to 8pm, then come back on Saturday lunchtime to pick out new plants. If you’re looking for new plants but don’t have any to offer, the friends of the park are happy to accept donations to help improve the park. Recommended plants for swap are hostas, irises, daylilies, black-eyed susans, purple coneflowers, and others. Indoor plants are also welcome. More information can be found at friendsofwestgatepark.org.
• Try the spring herbs in the form of various teas in a personal class on Saturday at 1 pm Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St., Gahanna. Participants will try teas and learn how to use herbs in them, and then go home with tea samples and a handout. The cost is $ 35. For more information, call 614-642-4372 or ohioherbcenter.org.
– Margaret Quamme
margaretquamme@hotmail.com
