Gardening Saturday 2026
Join us for the 39th Annual Gardening Saturday at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on April 11th!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
| 7:45 - 8:45 AM | Registration |
|---|---|
| 8:45 AM | Welcome |
| 9:00 AM | Session One General Session - Keynote Speaker Creating Natural Landscape Beds | Rock, Mulch, Contours, Design, and Plant Selection - Kevin Hollatz I’m excited to share my methods and ideas for creating landscape beds with you. We’ll view 100s of before-and-after photos of my 15-year project (so far), where I’ve installed over 200 tons of rock and soil, as well as over 500 varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials. I can’t wait to meet you! |
| 10:10 AM | Break and Silent Auction Bidding |
| 10:30 AM | Session Two (Concurrent Programs) |
Home Food Preservation: Know the Facts and Myths - Tammie Nadeau Food preservation guidelines have changed through time. Learn the facts and myths of current food preservation recommendations. | |
All About Hydrangeas - Alec Charais The world of hydrangeas is full of innovation and inspiration and options! In this session, learn about the main difference in species of hydrangeas and why it matters from gardens to containers. We will also share insight into the world of breeding where you will learn about how new varieties are developed. | |
Gardening With the Principles - Jaden Deckert Do you wish the soil in your garden was more vibrant? Come learn about gardening with the 5 soil health principles. Learn how to shift your garden from a normal soil medium to a full functioning ecosystem that increases the nutrient density of your produce, increases your water efficiency, and can reduce disease and pest pressure. | |
Winter Sowing - What It Is, What It's Not, and How To Do It! - Jane Meyer Outdoor winter sowing is a fun, easy way to get a head start on plants for your flower and veggie gardens. I’ll introduce you to information, techniques, and hints to help you get started with it! | |
Park River Centennial Arboretum - Joel Hylden & Brandon Mathiason Explore one of North Dakota’s hidden gems - the Park River Arboretum. This session highlights the diverse trees and shrubs found throughout the arboretum and shares insight into how they grow and adapt to our local climate. | |
| 11:30 AM | Lunch, Vendors, and Silent Auction Bidding |
| 12:35 PM | Session Three General Session - Keynote Speaker Maintaining Your Landscape Beds | Tree and Shrub Pruning, Project Timing, Weed Control, Best Tools - Kevin Hollatz What have I done? How will I take care of all of this? I’ll show dozens of before-and-after photos of pruning projects and weed-control methods, and share many of my favorite tools used for best productivity. |
| 1:45 PM | Session Four (Concurrent Programs) |
| All About Hydrangeas - Alec Charais | |
| Gardening With the Principles - Jaden Deckert | |
Should I Consider Grafting My High Tunnel Tomatoes? - Harlene Hatterman-Valenti North Dakota’s short growing season has made the use of high tunnel tomato production a necessity. We will explore whether grafting a rootstock tolerant of colder soils and other abiotic/biotic stresses can further increase yields. This session will also cover considerations in high tunnel construction, including site selection, structural design, etc. | |
Small Spaces Can Have Great Gardens Too! - Emily How No backyard garden spot? No problem! This session covers efficient layouts, vertical gardening, plant selection, and low maintenance solutions to grow a bountiful garden in your small area. | |
| 2:45 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | Silent Auction Bidding Ends |
| 3:15 PM | Session Five (Concurrent Programs) |
| Home Food Preservation: Know the Facts and Myths - Tammie Nadeau | |
| Winter Sowing - What It Is, What It's Not, and How To Do It! - Jane Meyer | |
| Park River Centennial Arboretum - Joel Hylden & Brandon Mathiason | |
| Should I Consider Grafting My High Tunnel Tomatoes? - Harlene Hatterman-Valenti | |
| Small Spaces Can Have Great Gardens Too! - Emily How | |
| 4:15 PM | Pick Up and Pay For Silent Auction Items Turn in Evaluations Pick Up Gift |
Requests for accommodations related to disability should be made to the event contact person at least two weeks in advance of the event.
