Lectures Offer An Earful

The topics and dates of the popular Yard and Garden Lecture Series have been announced, and the first lecture’s coming right up.

“The Addicted Gardener,” discussed by a panel of local gardening experts, will be next Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Spokane County Ag Center, 222 N. Havana.

The series, titled “Magical Mystery Tour of Gardening,” is sponsored by the WSU Spokane Cooperative Extension. Pre-registration is not required, but space is limited. You can secure a seat any time after 6 p.m. The fee per lecture is $5.

Other lectures:

Jan. 25 - “Turning Fantasy into Reality”

Feb. 22 - “The Fine Art of Pruning”

Feb. 29 - “Greenhorn Gardening”

March 7 - “Perennials, Please!”

March 14 - “Landscaping with Phyllis”

April 4 - “The Happy Houseplant”

April 18 - “Gardening In Spite of It All”

April 25 - “Herbs and More”

May 9 - “Native Plants”

For a brochure about the lecture series, call 533-2048.

Planning ahead: It may seem misplaced to study a book about drying and arranging flowers in January. After all, the only flowers available are those from the florist. But those really interested in floral crafts need to plan ahead for abundant flower production, and one way is to order the appropriate seeds and plants from garden catalogs now.

And, for inspiration with this craft genre, turn to a new book from Reader’s Digest, “Flower Craft: Practical Techniques and Projects Using Fresh, Dried, Waxed and Pressed Flowers” by Jenny Raworth and Susan Berry ($25, 125 pages).

Crafts projects range from wreaths and garlands to floral ice bowls and potpourris. All you need then is a favorable growing season this summer, and you’ll have plenty of raw materials with which to work in the fall.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo