January 29, 2017
The weather outside may be quite variable and uncertain, but it’s always predictable that the 2017 WHA Garden Expo will be bright and cheerful and offer warm conditions with plenty of greenery and flowers in bloom.
There is always so much to see and do over the three days of the Expo. Fortunately, if you volunteer for the Sierra Club booth for just one shift at our booth, you will receive a free pass that will get you in all weekend. Signing up is easy to do - simply go here and choose the shift of your choice. You’ll receive an Expo pass in the mail, instructions as to where to go and what we will be promoting at our booth. You'll not only get to connect with other Sierra Club volunteers, but also talk to lots of interesting people at the event.
This year's Expo features:
- Hundreds of exhibitor booths selling seeds, plants, books, tools, lawn equipment and other exciting merchandise for gardens and yards of all sizes.
- Nearly 150 free educational seminars and demonstrations on topics such as growing Mexican vegetables, color theory in garden design, square foot gardening, growing peonies from seed, crevice gardens and passive hydroponics.
- Meet and learn from WPT's Around the Farm Table host Inga Witscher, PBS show Growing a Greener World host Joe Lamp'l, nationally-known gardening expert Melinda Myers, Wisconsin author Jerry Apps, Wisconsin Public Radio's Larry Meiller, filmmaker Catherine Zimmerman and best-selling author Joel Karsten.
- Join us Friday from 5-8 p.m. in the central garden for botanical-themed craft cocktails, developed by mixologists from Madison restaurant and bar Graze. Take time to enjoy the beautiful plant and flower display put together by members of the Wisconsin Nursery and Landscaping Association and enjoy music from Dave Stoler, a featured member of the Tony Castaneda Latin Jazz Sextet.
- Garden Expo’s first-ever aquascaping competition will challenge participants to create a small aquarium display on site at Garden Expo. Come watch contestants build their displays on Friday and Saturday and attend the awards presentation at noon on Sunday.
- UW-Extension horticulture experts will be available to offer insight, plant identification and tips to gardeners and amateur landscapers of all levels.
- A 1,600-square-foot Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association (WNLA) Central Garden - a welcome spring-like respite in February.
- Nonprofit organizations specializing in mulching, various plant species, rain gardens, rock gardens, conservation efforts and more will have booths to share their information.
- An exciting Garden Expo raffle for prizes including landscape packages, equipment, decorations, tools and more. The raffle ticket proceeds support WPT.