Annual Garden Twilight Tour, Spooner Agriculture Research Station on Tuesday, August 23 from 4:00 pm until dusk.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Annual Garden Twilight Tour Tuesday August 23

The public is invited to attend the annual twilight garden tour at the Spooner Agriculture Research Station on Tuesday, August 23 from 4:00 pm until dusk.

There will be demonstration and displays on composting, drip irrigation, adaptive gardening, rain barrels, food preservation, raised bed gardening, native pollinators and beekeeping. Tasting of vegetables, fresh salsa, and grilled vegetables will also be offered.

UW-Extension Plant Pathologist Brian Hudelson from UW-Madison and UW-Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist Brian Smith from UW-River Falls are invited guests. These specialists along with Kevin Schoessow, Area Ag Development Agent and local UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to lead discussions and answer questions on a wide range of horticulture and gardening topics.

There will be an introduction of guests and speakers at 5 pm, followed by short presentations by Dr. Hudelson and Dr. Smith.

Participants can also see the newly installed “off the grid” drip irrigation system and a hoop house.

Schoessow reminds gardeners to be sure to bring your plant and insect questions. “Bring samples in plastic baggies, clearly labeled so that if we need to get back to you with an answer, we have your name and contact information”.

Visitors can see over 350 plant selections in the garden this year, both annual and perennial. Favorites include the cold hardy wine and table grapes, heirloom tomatoes, garlic, and of course the All American Selections Display featuring award winning annual flowers and vegetables from 2006-2011. There is also a landscaped perennial display garden featuring roses, flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses and other flowering perennials.

The demonstration garden is a joint effort between the Spooner Agriculture Research Station, UW-Extension and North Country Master Gardeners Association. The garden is free and open to the public August through September for self guided tours. Guided tours are available M-F 8am-4:30 pm.

There is no cost to attend this event, however participants are asked to bring a non perishable food item, to support local food shelves.

Upcoming events in the garden include the fall harvest garden walk on Tuesday Sept 27, the putting the garden to bed garden walk on Tuesday Oct 25, and a fall table grape pruning workshop on Saturday Nov 5.

The garden is located ~1/2 mile north of Hwy 70 on Orchard Lane, across from the Sheep Research Facilities at the Spooner Ag Research Station. The research station is located ~ 1 mile east of Spooner on Hwy 70. Watch for garden meeting signs.

Check the Station’s web site for more information and a map: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/sars/programs.html or contact Kevin Schoessow at the Spooner Area UW Extension Office at 715-635-3506 or 1-800-528-1914.