Ask the Experts

addition to 13 published authors, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. A welcome dinner, two lunches and three breakfasts are also included in the registration fee. Parking is free at the Overland Park Convention Center where the conference will be held.

All Are Invited

Question: Can I register for the conference if I’m not a Master Gardener?

Answer: Yes, you can! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience happening right here in your own backyard and we wouldn’t want you to miss it. Full conference early bird registration is $397 now through March 1, 2023. After that, registration is $459. Either rate is incredible when you consider it includes five world-renowned keynote speakers and your choice of more than 40 sessions led by botanical, horticultural and gardening professionals. Read all about them. Go to the IMGC 2023 website at www.imgc2023.com and click the Conference Overview menu.

Many Scheduled Tours And Workshops

Question: What other events can I expect when I register for the conference?

Answer: You can choose from 13 optional uptown, downtown, and out-of-town tours. What interests you? Visiting gardens, experiencing a tallgrass prairie, touring Monarch Watch, exploring a wetland, or sipping wine? Maybe you are interested in an insider’s tour of Kansas City iconic arts and architecture. These activities and more are parts of tours tailor-made for gardeners. They fill quickly, so register for the conference soon and make your tour selections.

If you enjoy exploration and hands-on projects, be sure to enroll in optional gardening workshops. Landscape design, nature journaling, native plant gardening, and plant pathology are just a few workshop themes.

Options

Question: Are there activities I can attend without registering for the IMGC?

Answer: There are several events open to the public. The Tour of Private Gardens will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18. You can visit six Kansas City private gardens rarely open for public tours. We selected the best of the best for this tour. Admission is $45.

Evening Featured Speakers presentations will be held on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings. Leigh Hunt of the Royal Horticultural Society, Kew Gardens, London, England will present on Sunday about making England a greener place. Tuesday, local author Sara Dykman discusses her experiences bicycling the monarch migration. Wednesday features a world-renowned plant explorer and breeder from the Seattle area, Dan Hinkley. Each speaker will have fascinating stories and amazing visuals. Each evening admission is $49 for one or bundle all three for $109.

Garden Thyme Marketplace is open to the public. Shop a wide array of garden related merchandise with many one-of-kind items from unique vendors. Over 50 vendors will display products for the garden plus nature-inspired art and unique plants. Stop by Monday, Noon to 7 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s free to attend!

Tickets for public events can be purchased directly through the Johnson County K-State Extension website at www.johnson.ksu.edu.

Registration

Question: How do I register for the conference?

Answer: Begin at our website, www.imgc2023.com. All the information about conference speakers, tours, workshops, presentations, and the marketplace can be found on the website. The Conference Planner helps you get organized and make your selections. Once you have made your decisions, go to the Registration menu, and click Register Here.

Become A Master Gardener And Serve Your Community

Question: If I wanted to be a Master Gardener, what are some of the projects I’d get to volunteer for?

Answer: First, you would complete an extensive horticultural training program that qualifies you to serve your community as a Master Gardener. Your volunteer opportunities include help lines, workshops, plant clinics, and creating and maintaining demonstration gardens.

I encourage you to join the estimated 80,000 Master Gardeners in the United States. Ready to enroll? Search online by entering the county and state where you live followed by Master Gardener program.

Find complete details about the conference and all purchase options by visiting www.imgc2023. com or call 913-715-7034 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/IMGC2023.

Koi Pond and Water Feature Designs

Hundreds of

and Organic Seed varieties

Monthly Maintenance: Don’t have the time to dedicate to maintaining your water feature? Our monthly maintenance programs will ensure your water feature remains in its best possible condition. Our maintenance team is knowledgeable and will cater to exactly what your water feature needs.

Other Services:

• Service calls. If you ever have a problem with your feature or landscape lighting, give us a call and one of our crew members will come out and fix it.

• Landscape lighting. AMP Lifetime Fixtures and Transformers.

• Hardscapes. Patios, walls, firepit, decks, and outdoor living.

• Full Retail Center. Pond/Lake maintenance products and equipment supplies, Koi and assorted goldfish, aquatic plants including lilies, lotus and marginals.