(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Get ready to welcome spring by attending the Cass County Master Gardeners’ 2025 Spring Garden Seminar, scheduled for Saturday, March 8. This year’s seminar focuses on the “Flowers, Bees, Butterflies and Trees” and is open to anyone interested in learning more about local garden topics. The daylong event will be held at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, and feature four keynote speakers. In addition to the presentations, a variety of local vendors will be on hand with garden related crafts and décor, as well as local resources and information for gardeners of all skill levels and interests.

The event opens with registration and light refreshments at 8:30 AM. Vendor and resource tables will also be available to browse beginning at this time. The first session begins at 9 AM and will feature local garden designer and butterfly enthusiast Nicki Weiderstein sharing the monarch butterfly’s journey to their winter home in Mexico. The second speaker of the morning will be Andy Schmitz from the Brenton Arboretum with a deep dive into planting trees, including some hands-on demonstrations of root health. After the second morning speaker, a light lunch will be served and attendees are invited to visit the vendor and resource fair again to discover a variety of local treasures.

The afternoon begins with ISU Extension Bee Specialist Randall Cass, as he guides attendees through an exploration of the basics of beekeeping. Our final speaker of the day will be Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discussing hydrangeas and their uses, selection and care in the Iowa landscape. The program will conclude at 3 PM with giveaways and one more chance to visit the vendor and resource fair at the end of the day.

Plan now to join the Cass County Master Gardeners as we Gather, Learn and GROW together at the 2025 Spring Garden Seminar! Cost for the seminar sessions, including food, sessions and materials is $50 for the day if paid by February 15^th. After this date regular registration and walk-in registration will be available at $55/attendee. Registration is now open and can be completed online by visiting the online registration page at https://go.iastate.edu/8PQJHF. Online registrations may be paid by credit card or check. Registrations are not refundable but may be transferred to another attendee with advance notice.

A full schedule and program registration information is also available by visiting the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, or by stopping into the Cass County Extension office. Previous seminar attendees with a current email address on record will also receive a registration link by email. Questions can be directed to Kate Olson at 712-243-1132, or by email at keolson@iastate.edu. Mark your calendars, get registered, and plan to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for the 2025 Spring Garden Seminar on Saturday, March 8!