I haven’t taught a children’s flower gardening workshop in a while.  Silly me.  And what better time to start up these delightful, interactive workshops than over April school break week in the Capital Region? Two workshop dates are available; Tuesday, April 10 and Wednesday, April 11.  Both workshops run from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.  I will be teaching these classes for, and at, Faddegon’s Nursery in Latham.  These interactive classes are filled with lots of fun and educational experiences for children to discover the joy of growing beautiful flowers. Children will learn how to plant and care for flowers; what makes a healthy soil; gardening for butterflies and hummingbirds; flower colors and fragrances; good bugs, and more!  Each child will plant and take home their own potted flower at the end of the class.  The workshop fee is $15 per child.  Children in grades first through sixth grade may participate.  To register, please stop by Faddegon’s Nursery at 1140 Troy-Schenectady Road, in Latham.  If you have questions, please call Faddegon’s at (518) 785-6726.  Class size is limited.

 
The Smart Plant Shopper’s Top Ten Lists for Exceptional Perennials, Shrubs, Annuals and More for Zones 3 – 7 is now for sale.  This e-book is designed to be a one-of-a-kind shopping tool for picking no-fuss winners at garden centers.  It provides 120 different color plant images along with in-depth information about each plant.  Both sun and shade plants are covered.  Twenty-six lists feature perennials, flowering shrubs, bulbs, climbing vines, groundcovers, annuals and more.  Many lists are updated from those in my first book, The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Top Ten Lists.

The ebook sells for $5.99 and can be purchased from Amazon.com, Google and Barnes & Noble.  To place an order with Amazon, click http://www.amazon.com/Shoppers-exceptional-Perennials-Annuals-ebook/dp/B0073HP4W2/ .  For Google and B&N, simply search by my name, Kerry Ann Mendez, to locate and purchase the ebook.

I am awed by how well my two top ten gardening books are doing.  The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Top Ten Lists and Top Ten Lists for Beautiful Shade Gardens are being sold in more locations that ever.  You can now purchase books online from Bluestone Perennials (http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/), Horticulture magazine’s GardenersHub.com (http://www.gardenershub.com/ ), Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/), and my web site.  They are also available at many local books stores including Barnes & Noble (ask for the book if it isn’t there!) and at many fine garden centers, including Gardener’s Supply Company (http://www.gardeners.com/ ).  For a list of retail locations, click on www.pyours.com/books.

Next month I will be teaching double-header gardening classes at Adirondack Community College and Hudson Valley Community College. These three-hour classes will combine two of my most popular lectures: The Perennial Plant Collector’s Corner and Branch Out in Your Gardening Adventures with Flowering Shrubs.  You’ll discover some of the most outrageous and easy to grow perennials in my gardens as well as knockout flowering shrubs and their care (including pruning).  The first double-header will be at Adirondack Community College’s Wilton campus (off exit 15 of I-87) on Monday, March 12 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Then two weeks later on Wednesday, March 28, I’ll teach an evening session at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.  The class fee is $40 per person at either college.  To register for the ACC Wilton campus call (518) 743-2238.  For the HVCC class visit www.hvcc.edu/communityed/index.html or call (518) 629-7184.

I was tickled pink to be invited to be one of the guest webinar presenters for the new Growers Success Summit sponsored by Corona Tools.  Starting February 16, some of the of the best growers and educators in the business will be providing easy to follow tips and techniques to have you gardening and landscaping like the pros this season! This FREE 2-week webinar series is loaded with topics that cover the basics for successful gardening and landscaping activities. The webinars are open to the first 1,000 registrants.  I will be one of the first presenters on February 16.  My topic is Tips for Plant Selection and Recommended Workhorses.  There are 19 different topics.  Each topic is 45 minutes followed by questions and answers. Sessions will be recorded so if you are unable to attend the live sessions, Corona will provide you with 24/7 access following the presentation.  To check out all of the great topics, presenters and to register, visit http://www.coronatoolsusa.com/resources/growers-success-summit-2012/.