Heritage gardening to be seminar theme

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

“Heritage Gardening for the 21st Century” is the theme for the 10th annual winter seminar of the Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown, to take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave.

From 18th-century Monticello to the early 20th century, gardens of the past can tell us much today.

Discover some of the most successful, sustainable and simple plants common in the 18th through early 20th centuries — all available today.

These tough and adaptable plants, both pretty and useful, represent the foundation of our gardens. Additionally, the speakers will look at historic gardening methods that we can use today.

The seminar will explore the rich heritage of the garden and what it can mean to us. The books of the speakers will be available for purchase at the seminar.

The speakers follow:

Peter Hatch, professional gardener and historian, served as director of gardens and grounds at Monticello for 35 years. He has written several books, the latest of which, “A Rich Spot of Earth,” is devoted to all aspects of the Monticello vegetable garden. Hatch will discuss the fruits, flowers, and vegetables that still are planted at Monticello.

Marta McDowell, horticulturist, teacher and author, will take the audience on a garden tour of two literary figures with very different gardens: Emily Dickenson and Beatrix Potter. McDowell is the author of books on both, most recently “Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life.”

Jay Coy, collector and grower of heirloom tomatoes, will share his experiences in growing tomatoes and seed saving. He has an inventory of more than 350 tomato varieties from exchanges with growers from all over the world.

The seminar is co-sponsored by Mill Creek MetroParks.

For information or to download a registration form, go to the Winter Seminar site at mgcy.org/Pages/WinterSeminar.aspx or contact Robert McGowan, rjfmcgowan@aol.com, 330-518-6397.