Cost: $20
Contact: Donna Aufdenberg
Partners: Cape Girardeau County Extension Master Gardeners and MU Extension
"Spring Into Bloom" with our Gardening Seminar!
Join us for spring gardening classes hosted by MU Extension Master Gardeners in Cape Girardeau County. Classes are slated for February 21, 2026 at the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. Class selections range from natives, seed starting, permaculture, small fruits, wild edibles and many more. For a full list of speakers and topics, please see weblink for registration. There is a $20 fee for the all-day program. It is sure to be a great day of learning and networking with fellow gardeners from across the Southeast Missouri Area. Register soon as there are limited seats available! Contact Donna Aufdenberg at 573-243-3581 for more information.
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Registration
8:45 a.m. Welcome and Announcements
Morning Breakout Sessions
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Seed Starting for Success - Seed starting doesn’t have to be hard. Learn what it takes to start your seedlings for this year’s garden season.
What’s Wrong with My Plant? - Steps on diagnosing a problem and what to do about it
Problems and Solutions for the Beginner (and not so beginner) Gardener - An interactive discussion on solutions for problems such as cost, space restrictions, building codes, drought, pests and more. Anna will present the problem, discuss the solutions that have worked (and not worked) for her and then open it to the room for a set amount of time for others to contribute. Participation in the discussion is not required, you can simply sit and enjoy the ideas.
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Adding Water Features to your Garden - Learn the basics of creating a peaceful water feature in your yard. Whether it’s a few plants in a barrel, or an elaborate system of ponds and streams with fish, this will get you off to a good start and help you avoid some common mistakes. With the right equipment and planning, it can be low maintenance and enjoyable.
Container Fruits - This presentation will cover the essentials of growing fruit in containers, including selecting the right plants, choosing appropriate containers and soil, and managing water and nutrients for healthy growth. Learn which fruits thrive in pots and strategies for overwintering your plants. Perfect for gardeners with limited space to help you turn any small area into a supplemental fruit garden.
Introduction to Permaculture - An intro class to the concepts, techniques, and design principles of Permaculture
Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Enjoy some scrumptious lunch courtesy of the master Gardeners (also Master Cooks). Browse our many vendors. Tour the CTC Greenhouse where you can see student projects, how fish are helping the plants grow, and maybe pick a ripe tomato.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Season Extension - Techniques and structures to extend the growing season for vegetables and fruit.
Propagating Native Seeds Indoors - Lisa will share how to collect native plant seeds; how to stratify the seeds to break dormancy; what you can use to enable seedling germination and finally plant the seedling.
Deer Decoded - See the native white-tailed deer in a whole new light: from nothing more than a pest to an adaptable, resilient, and social animal with a major comeback story. Learn about their senses, physical abilities, population dynamics, and how they communicate. By understanding deer and their place in an ever more human-dominated world, we can learn how to garden with less stress and more joy.
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Restoring the Ozark Chinquapin and How You Can Help - Did you know the Ozarks has their own version of the American chestnut? It is named the Ozark chinquapin, and it has been plagued by a fungal blight which has decimated this tree. The tree was once a huge part of Ozark culture having many benefits to wildlife and people. Today there is hope to restore this tree, and people like you can help.
Bird Boxes - Steve will share his experience with providing nesting boxes for our local birds. How to select the right box, care and maintenance.
The Forager’s Garden: Growing and Using Native Edible & Medicinal Plants in Southeast Missouri - Learn to identify local edible & medicinal wild plants in the Spring that could be growing on your land and even in your garden.
3:00 p.m. Announcements, Evaluations, and Door Prizes