Sunday, February 15, 2015

Garden Expo


“Dig In,” the 2015 Garden Expo, was held this past weekend at the Alliant Center in Madison, WI.  I was there on Valentine’s Day, and it was cold.  The day started with single digit temps and eased toward zero in the afternoon as the late winter wind roared out of the northwest, sometimes at 35 miles and more an hour.

Yet they came.  Winter weary people looking for a hint of spring, a new idea or two about gardening, perhaps some new ornament with a gardening theme.  They came from Iowa and Illinois, and from all parts of Wisconsin.  I talked with people from Ashland and Mt. Morris, from Wild Rose and Wausau, from Janesville and Green Bay, and many, many more.  Nonstop talking.

During the afternoon, in a workshop called “Garden Wisdom,” I talked about gardening as I remembered from my days growing up on a farm, working with mother and father, both excellent gardeners.  They had to be as we depended on our vegetable garden for much of our food.  Four-hundred twenty people came to my session.  Packed the room.  A humbling experience as I realized how many people would take time to listen to my gardening stories for an hour.

I’m also pleased that so many people are interested in gardening. Wisconsin Public Television, sponsors of the Expo, estimated 20,000 attended the three-day event.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS.  A hope of spring on a frigid weekend.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Tuesday, February 24, 7:00 p.m. River Falls Library. The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.

Wednesday, February 25, 11:30-1:30 Chapter 2 Bookstore, Hudson, WI. The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County & The Quiet Season.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835




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