Did you know that Green Bay Botanical Garden held its first annual Spring Thaw Symposium in 1985?  Even before our gardens opened to the public we were holding classes, symposia, and other events for our members and other gardening enthusiasts.

Symposium topics have ranged from tropical plants and roses, to native and edible landscapes, to water gardening and rock gardening.  We’ve featured speakers well known by the gardening community, such as Melinda Meyers, Tracy DiSabato-Aust, and Lauren Springer Ogden, as well as local favorites like Roy Diblik, Roy Klehm, Pam Duthie, and Lee Hansen. 

This year we are excited to have two mid-western authors speaking for our Spring Thaw Symposium – Busting Garden Myths, scheduled for Saturday, February 27.  Jeff Gillman, who wrote The Truth About Garden Remedies, The Truth About Garden Myths, and How Trees Die, is joining us from the University of Minnesota where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science.  Jeff will be sharing his studies and findings of the home-made and hand-me-down garden remedies that work and do not work.  He will also investigate the truths and myths that relate to good and bad organic gardening practices.

Lynn Steiner, author of Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin, is our other featured speaker.  Lynn will share the benefits of using native plants and bust some of the myths associated with growing natives.  Enjoy examples of successful landscapes and learn about lesser-known varieties suitable for your gardens. 

Green Bay Botanical Garden’s Spring Thaw Symposium is generously sponsored by Jan Wos, owner of the extraordinary Mayflower Greenhouse.  Jan will also be giving participants a sneak peak at the new up-and-coming products to be featured at Mayflower this year. 

Attend to learn something new about gardening or attend to get excited about the upcoming growing season.  Either way, we hope you can join in our spring tradition!