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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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Millin’, Chillin’ and Grillin’ at Farm Science Review’s Utzinger Garden

September 7, 2012

LONDON, Ohio -- Landscapers searching for fall plant ideas, gardeners wanting to learn new techniques and practices, and people wanting a break from the tractors can all find what they are looking for at the Utzinger Memorial Garden during the Farm Science Review, Sept. 18-20 near London. 

“Some female visitors come to the garden, because they ‘cannot look at another tractor,’” said Carolyn Allen, horticulture program assistant at the Clark County office of Ohio State University Extension. “This is what one woman told me a few years ago. 

“The gardens provide a nice place to rest and regroup.” 

The Utzinger Garden is located at the center of the main Review grounds and is maintained by the Master Gardeners of Clark County. Each day, there will be Master Gardener volunteers from all over Ohio “millin’” around to answer gardening questions, Allen said. In addition, visitors can pick up some flower and vegetable seeds to take home for next year’s gardens. Livingston Seeds and Ferry Morris Seeds donate the seeds. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 19, garden visitors can do some “chillin’” in the shade and enjoy the calming sounds from the new waterfall and renovated pond, which has been converted from several small ponds to one large pond, Allen said. The Loosely Strung Band also will be playing bluegrass music throughout the day. 

On Thursday, Sept. 20, Carolyn Hennigan, a Springfield Caterer, will be “grillin’” some seasonal vegetables and fruit on the grill. 

“Stop in and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and have a nibble of tasty treats,” Allen said. 

In addition, Ohio beekeepers will conduct a series of hour-long beekeeping programs at 1 p.m. each day of the Review in the Utzinger Garden. Tuesday’s topic is beginning beekeeping, Wednesday offers an introduction to beekeeping, and Thursday’s program is on how to maintain a healthy and successful apiary. 

Other programs will take place at the garden throughout each day. 

Topics include managing your vegetable garden for maximum production, diseases of vegetables, how to identify types of evergreen trees, pond renovation, diseases of fruits, tree identification and easy garden design. Allen expects the beginning beekeeping, vegetable pest, and fruit and vegetable disease programs to be the most popular.

“These are topics that we regularly see clients coming into the office to get diagnoses for,” she said. 

Visitors can purchase trees grown by Secrest Arboretum staff at Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster. Buckeye t-shirts and tote bags also will be on sale to benefit the restoration of the arboretum, which was severely damaged during a tornado two years ago. 

Farm Science Review is sponsored by Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, OSU Extension, and OARDC. Pre-show tickets are $5 at all OSU Extension county offices. Tickets are also available at local agribusinesses. Tickets are $8 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 18-19 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20. 

For more information, see http://fsr.osu.edu. For the latest news and updates, follow Farm Science Review on Twitter (@OhioStateFSR) and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FarmScienceReview.

Author(s): 
Kyle Sharp
Source(s): 
Carolyn Allen