MARINETTE, Wis. — Registrations are now being accepted for the 2019 Spring Garden Conference by the Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association.

This event, now in its 24th year, will take place Saturday, March 30, at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay-Marinette Campus. A new approach for the conference this year is to offer attendees a choice between two highly qualified UW Madison keynote speakers.

Brian Hudelson, director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, will cover common methods for disease control, their pros and cons, and how those techniques can be adapted for use in the home garden. His clients include agribusinesses, home gardeners, and plant health consultants. He says he does tons of outreach and loves the variety of what he gets to do.

Laura Jull, associate professor and extension specialist for Woody Ornamental Horticulture, will share her experiences with good replacements for invasive trees and shrubs in Wisconsin. Her research interests are diverse and include woody plant evaluation, tolerance of ornamentals to urban conditions, best management practices and plant propagation. In addition to teaching, she has written numerous articles for the UW Extension, and taught an Italian study abroad course.

This year’s conference will provide a wide range of educational sessions, many of which are taught by trained Master Gardener volunteers, the keynote speakers and area professionals. Hands-on workshops continue to be popular sessions and will again be offered. Attendees should plan on a full day event, starting with registration at 8 a.m. that includes continental breakfast; a soup, salad and sandwich buffet; a choice between the two keynote presentations Hudelson’s “Growing Healthy Plants: Basics in Plant Disease Management” or Jull’s “But Wait, There’s More: Alternatives to Invasive Trees and Shrubs”; sessions; displays; raffle; and sale of garden related items. The all-inclusive registration fee for this event is $40. Workshops will have an additional fee to cover materials.

Brochures covering the sessions and registration are available at local libraries, partnering businesses and the UW Extension office. A printable version, registration, and more information can be found online at https://marinette.extension.wisc.edu and on Facebook. Registrations must be received with payment before March 18. Early registration is recommended, as many sessions and workshops fill rapidly.

Northern Lights Master Gardener Volunteers and the UW Extension partner to provide learning opportunities by helping communities better understand horticulture and the environment. In 2018, Northern Lights MGA volunteers reported 4,992 hours of community service. At the start of 2019, there are 54 certified Master Gardeners serving Marinette and Oconto Counties and Menominee and parts of the UP. Many of educational events are conducted at Harmony Arboretum or other community locations.

Master Gardener training for 2019 will be from 6 to 9 p.m. April 4 to June 20 at the Riverview Town Hall, 15471 Highway 32, Mountain, Wis. The MGV program is designed for those individuals who want to learn more about gardening and share their knowledge with others by assisting the UW Extension in their outreach with the public.

Contact the Marinette UW Extension office at 715-732-7510 or go online to https://marinette.extension.wisc.edu for further information on the conference, MGV training or other horticulture questions.